Brand new SUV purchase - Manual Transmission

[zlcrazy]

Hi all,

A friend of mine is looking at buying a brand new small SUV. In this case either Kia Stonic or Mitsubishi ASX.

Both are very popular and more than suitable for her requirements. However she is keen to order one with a manual transmission. She is planning to keep the car approx 3 to 5yrs then update again.

Her concern is resale or even if a dealer will trade it back since the manual transmission isn't a popular choice in this market.

Any advice or thoughts would be very much appreciated. Pros and cons, anything. She wants to know so you can be harsh lol.

Anyways thanks in advance
James

[kypez]

If you're buying considering resale, then you want to buy what will appeal to the most buyers. Small SUVs are dominated by buyers who just want an auto.

Manuals are a niche and depending on the segment can score you extra resale but I doubt it in the small SUV segment.

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[zlcrazy]

It's not that she is thinking about resale so much but more fearing getting "Stuck" with it. No one at all wanting it so to speak.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

It's not that she is thinking about resale so much but more fearing getting "Stuck" with it. No one at all wanting it so to speak.

And that’s a real possibility today, maybe even more so in the future when
almost all used vehicle buyers in that segment want/expect an auto.

[whitelion65]

I don’t think so!
Small number of manuals paired with a small group of buyers who want manual.
Probably evens out. In the longer term, the manual could be MORE desirable.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

Hi all,

A friend of mine is looking at buying a brand new small SUV. In this case either Kia Stonic or Mitsubishi ASX.

Both are very popular and more than suitable for her requirements. However she is keen to order one with a manual transmission. She is planning to keep the car approx 3 to 5yrs then update again.

Her concern is resale or even if a dealer will trade it back since the manual transmission isn't a popular choice in this market.

Any advice or thoughts would be very much appreciated. Pros and cons, anything. She wants to know so you can be harsh lol.

Anyways thanks in advance
James

Good luck with that one.Even Nissan has discontinued them on the new Qashqai due soon.The take up rate in this country is very low. Second hand might be the only way to go. I use to own a manual 6 spd Qashqai TI variant.Absolutely no issues with it.

[Citroënbender]

If it’s available, isn’t the core question really whether purchase price difference (assuming it costs more as a variant) plus projected loss on resale, is a digestible sum?

How well kept is its current “predecessor” vehicle? Is the buy/sell an established pattern with this person?

I’m totally cynical because of repeatedly hearing similar stuff that seems to be invariably followed by an emotive purchase outside of both budget and cited brief.

[Big_Daz]

Just tell your friend that if they want a Manual, buy the Manual... Will it be harder to trade? Not at all.. Will they get less than an Auto Equivalent? Yeah probably, but the price of admission now will probably be less also.... I dont get this mentality of going "Brand New" but not getting what you want just because of what may happen 3/4/5 years down the track...

Another thing as well, when it comes to Manual's still available to buy in that small SUV segment you are generally stuck to the base Model only...

[DFB FGXR6]

If the manual is what she wants, then just get one. I see no reason to buy something on the prospects of what the next person will want.

Also, do not go to the dealer say that you 100% want a manual. Better approach here is say "I'm looking for XYZ car, wanting to know what's available, I'm happy to consider a manual......" Otherwise the salesman will see an opportunity to cash in on the special request for a manual.

[CyberWasp]

Small SUV, Manual and good Resale.

[Ben73]

There will always be people who want manual. For a small to midsize SUV the manual market wouldn't be huge, I guess she will either have a quick, easy trade in at a lower price or a longer sale at a reasonable price.

If her plan is to trade it in, yeah she won't get a huge price, but it will be easy.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Small SUV, Manual and good Resale.

image

They are awesome, but the problem is at the moment they are hugely overpriced… if you can get a new one from a dealer at retail it’s worth it though..


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[SumoDog68]

For those models demand for manual is near zero and resale is non existent . If buying to enjoy driving get something else like that Jimny or even better Fiesta ST or i20N . Manuals are only appealing to enthusiasts so best to avoid non sporty non niche cars . People who buy ASX aren't interested in manual gear shifting.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Small SUV, Manual and good Resale.

image

Looks mint, I love those things and I hate 4WDs

[Vesper Martini]

Quite a few years ago we bought a V6 Grand Vitara in Manual, these also had a proper low range, and back then I kept getting told Auto was more popular, so it was hard to find.
It was a great car and fun to drive, pretty handy off road too.
+1 for the Jimny above

but I cannot understand why anyone would want a Kia Stonic or Mitsubishi ASX in Manual.
each to their own but there is a reason Auto is far more popular,

Autos are much better today as well the Vitara I mentioned about was a 5 speed manual the Auto was a 4 speed slush box

[Swordie]

Less people are getting manual licenses these days.