cnp

I am on the verge of acquiring an anthracite 6 MT TL, and am debating lease versus purchase. As I typically acquire a new vehicle after three or so years, I fear the difficulty in selling a manual TL, if I purchase, to a limited market that prefers automatics. If I can secure the AHF 2.9%APR this weekend, I will be tempted. Lease deals so so (MF .0020 avg./52-55% residuals). What are some experiences/expectations/opinions out there that forum members have about unloading manual shift cars? (I typically like to keep vehicles out of dealer trade-ins to extract a better deal, but have done it before - complicates the 'game').
cnp

93SHOcar

Manuals may not be as attractive to a dealer on trade-in but I think you are going to find that there will be a private sale market that seeks the used 6 speeds out. As long as you don't have to deal with daily stop and go traffic, I think the extra engagement that driving a manual offers more than outweighs the potential hit at re-sell time.

6mtV6

Even in private sales, auto will still be easier to sell. Not a lot of people know how to drive manuals.
I tried selling my 2003 Accord coupe 6speed/navi. I tried everything. Autotrader, etc. Posted for about 3 months. I could've sold it in a week if it was auto. I ended up trading it in to the dealer.

93SHOcar

Yes, I agree that in both markets the auto will always be the easier sell. I am a little surprised that you had such bad luck with the Accord. Maybe the market for manual transmission, loaded Accords (navi, etc.) is a very tight niche and fact that it was so new may have actually made it even worse (the enthusiast that would be interested in the Accord would rather opt for a new one?).

Still, I would not let the tougher resale market sway me away from the decision to get the manual. Just recognize that it is not going to be something that you will be able to turn over extremely fast without taking a financial hit.

6mtV6

When I purchased the Accord I thought it would be easy to sell because of it's 6mt/navi. It was a rare car. Honda didn't make many of them.

93SHOcar

Luck definitely plays its part when you are trying to move a rare car. There were probably less than 4K 1993 5 spd SHOs made. However, when I mentioned to the manager at a glass shop I was considering selling my SHO and moving to the TL, he put me in touch with a friend who had purchaded 5 SHOs over the years. Ended up selling the SHO for a good price without ever having to advertise it. I was just lucky enough to the find the one guy in the area who was an even bigger SHO fanatic than I was!

JoganJani

You need to decide what you want to drive and will be a pleasure factor for you. It is fun to drive this generation TL in manual believe me. However, there are less people buying manual than auto since Acura manufactures 15% manual to auto. Same when selling used. However, with this kind of perfomance there will always be an enthusiast drivers looking to buy 6MT TL in used buyers category. I think you need to find a better place to sell cars if your accord could'nt be sold in three months.

Find a tradeoff in pleasure driving manual and selling manual.

6mtV6

I posted on Autotrader, ebay, edmounds.

6mtV6

My Accord could've been sold in a week if it was auto. It's not hard selling an Accord. The majority of the population still don't know how to drive a manual. Once I mention it's a 6mt they changed their minds.

roadman

Do they have a balloon purchase option ?

ensley696

That model is still rare. I almost purchased one when I realized I needed 4 drs instead of 2. Very nice car.

NBP04TL4ME

I just recently sold my 94 Accord EX with 5-Speed. I was going to trade at dealer but they wouldn't give me anything for it - $1500 to 2000. They said if it was an automatic, they could give me $3000. I sold it on my own for $3995. Took about a month, but I'm up $1000 to 1500 and I know I enjoyed the stick much more than I would have an automatic. Even back in 94, I had to order the car. Seems most folks opting for the higher end cars (yes I know an Accord isn't a higher end car, but the EX is/was top of Honda's models) don't want to have to deal with manual trannys. I think the same is true with TLs, G35s, 3 and 5 series. Oh, and by the way my TL is a 6 Speed. Get what you want to enjoy driving.

NBP04TL4ME

I just recently sold my 94 Accord EX with 5-Speed. I was going to trade at dealer but they wouldn't give me anything for it - $1500 to 2000. They said if it was an automatic, they could give me $3000. I sold it on my own for $3995. Took about a month, but I'm up $1000 to 1500 and I know I enjoyed the stick much more than I would have an automatic. Even back in 94, I had to order the car. Seems most folks opting for the higher end cars (yes I know an Accord isn't a higher end car, but the EX is/was top of Honda's models) don't want to have to deal with manual trannys. I think the same is true with TLs, G35s, 3 and 5 series. Oh, and by the way my TL is a 6 Speed.

Get what you want to enjoy driving.

Hybrid

The population is losing that ability as the years go by, not gaining. I think fewer and fewer, at least as a percentage, can drive a manual as they years go by. I suspect that in not too many years, some sort of "padde shift" clutchless manual will take over the manual market - basically still a manual with the clutch automated so most of the skill required to drive it won't be needed, but the efficiency is still there.

GaleForce

Dealer told me 6MT doesn't effect trade-in value so much. Didn't say anything about supply vs demand to me though.

mischa

For the Americans who still know how to drive MT... (those in europe and asia still drive manuals)... buying a car gets easier and easier each time!

THere will always be a car with a manual gearbox to choose from. it's wierd (but very nice) how the TL didn't used to have a manual, but now it does. and the Accord V6 didn't used to have a manual, but now it does. In europe, the E38 BMW 7-series (1995-2002) has a manual transmission option.

i know i'm ranting, but it's sad that Porsche's #1 selling 911 model in North America is the Automatic (tiptronic) Cabriolet - non turbo; the slowest, heaviest, 911 model.

No matter how far into the future though, there will always be an enthusiast's car that will feature an MT.
(think Elise, S2000.. )

NITE!

-mischa

Shoot2Thrill

Not buying the six speed because of residual value -Please- Just by a ES300 you be a whole lot happier. Manuals will never go out of style! Sounds like a accounting convention. By the way ebay has a pair of NSX autos up for auction. This is american ! sticks, fat tires and hot babes never will go out of style. I'm so sure a stick will be worth so much more. Never found otherwise in 30 years of driving.

04TLMan

I am going for the manual. At my age (early 40's) I am not sure how many more Manuals I will want. This may be the last. I just lived through 5 years of an auto Van and pickup. I NEED a manual. I do not think the resale will matter much. Most of the time there is a $1500 increase in price when picking a automatic with a new car. The TL has no surcharge. It added in better breaks, sway bars and a limited slip diff.

go with the manual!

jime

I purchased my 95 6-speed Legend coupe new in January of 1996 and got it for 800 under invoice, because it was the last 96 the dealer had and he couldn’t sell it because it was a stick. It had been on the lot for 10 months. In 1995 few people were willing to spend $32,000 on a manual transmission coupe.

I listed my Legend on Yahoo Auto last November after I had ordered my TL. I sold it in about a week for $10,500. Kelly Blue Book listed the “Private Party” price value of $9,600 & Edmonds was $7,200, My coupe had 141,000 miles on it, but was in excellent condition.

I would have no concern purchasing a manual transmission because of resale value.

roadman

Legends have an exceptionally high resale value. My '02 TL-S with 65k miles had an exceptionally poor resale value. It all depends on the car.

Mylriahd

Definitely go for Manual. Just asking the question says you want it, and you'll regret it if you don't get it. Resale value means nothing if you don't enjoy the car before that point.

As for the market to sell to, I'm sure theres plenty of people out there who WANT to drive MT but don't know how. Offer to teach when you sell the car; unless you have NO time to do that I can't see how it would hurt. It at least opens the market some to those who dream to drive MT.

KilroyR1

Speaking from an Economics background, there is only one reason something does not sell. The price it too high. That's it. Somebody will buy the biggest turd on the planet if they think they are getting a killer deal.

Don

RhodeRunner

Some people tend to think that manuals are abused.... ride the clutch, drop the clutch at higher RPM's. Think high school kid laying down rubber at the stop sign.

I was unable to sell my 03.5 Manual G35 Sedan via private sale. Never even got a phone call, and the price was comparable to the Autos that were being sold...

Shoot2Thrill

RhodeRunner with all due respect - the market is not perfect so having the right car at the right time counts, if you watch ebay long enough you can be amazed sometimes the variability of price for comparable items. Yet, I suspect, the price was too high- Sometimes the margin between the what the dealer offers you and the tax benefit to you is not enough for a private seller. Plus, cars over 20k+ many buyer need financing so private sales create logistical problems that dealer financing takes care of. Are you saying you could find no buyer for the same price the dealer gave you.
Being a long time manual buyer, I would only consider a manual. From my perspective, its a lot easier to screw up a automatic and have the defect be latent so it does not show up for 20k.