VW GTI, Golf R And Sportwagen Have High Manual Take Rates
And we should get the obvious out of the way, the take rate for the enthusiast-oriented Golf R and GTI is the highest. In 2018, 44% of those hot hatchbacks left dealer lots with a manual transmission. Some enthusiasts might be sad to see that more are sold with an automatic, but this seems like a strong rate when you consider that the R and GTI are available with such an excellent dual-clutch transmission. Also, when only about a third of Toyota 86s are sold with a manual, this looks better and better. What's quite surprising about VW's manual numbers is they reveal Golf Sportwagen buyers really like shifting for themselves. When we get to the regular Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, and overall percentage, manual popularity looks more like what we've seen from other automakers. Of all Golfs, 10% had a stick, and 7% of Jettas had one. Overall, manual transmission sales accounted for 5% of VW's total 2018 sales. That falls just below Subaru's 7% overall take rate in 2018, but well ahead of Honda's 2.8% in the same year. So manual transmissions are still a niche, but at least it's nice to see that it's a significant portion of select models, which should keep the option around for a while.
It expects to see a total of over 34,000 flat-tyre issues resolved in May alone - and 'puncture no spare' callouts could reach 14,000 incidents. RAC spokesman Pete Williams said many drivers are unaware that their new car doesn't have a spare until it's too late. The RAC has seen a dramatic increase in the number of breakdowns our patrols attend where the vehicle was sold without a spare wheel,' he said. While Williams acknowledged that the problem was partly down to the shrinking number of cars being offered with spare wheels, he acknowledged that the government is also responsible for the higher rate of punctures. The sustained period of cold weather right up until just a few weeks ago has wreaked havoc with our road surfaces,' he added. We have witnessed an epidemic of potholes and our data shows that drivers are paying for this with increased damage to their vehicles. A quick analysis of the number of puncture and tyre related faults we attended in the first quarter of 2017 shows that jobs averaged 936 a day or 28,3923 a month.
In the same period this year, punctures and tyre faults were up 14 per cent at an average of 32,253 a month - an extra 139 additional tyre related jobs a day. All RAC patrols now carry this universal spare wheel that will fit any car. It is clear to every driver that our roads are in a dire state of repair. We know that many local authorities are stretched and have limited funds to do anything but a limited patch up job on the roads. Fortunately, the RAC and other breakdown providers, like the AA and Green Flag, now carry a universal space saver wheel that can be fitted to any vehicle if the tyre can't be fixed or replaced at the roadside. The stricken car owner can then drive to the nearest tyre centre, have their rubber replaced and leave the universal spare to be collected by one of the RAC's patrols.
If you love cars, you鈥檒l have been looking forward to this road test. The previous Ford Fiesta ST is one of the all-time great fast Fords, so the new one has a lot to live up to. The standard Fiesta is the best car in its class, and a big reason for that is how much fun it is to drive, so the prospect of a more powerful performance version is exciting. It follows a similar formula to its predecessor: a potent turbocharged engine and a revised chassis tuned for fun. Can the Fiesta attain instant-classic status for a second time in a row? There are two new contenders that will have something to say about that. The updated MINI Cooper S is up there with the Ford for delivering fun, while the Volkswagen Polo GTI is based on the latest German supermini, and promises to bring grown-up driving manners and a hi-tech cabin to the class. It matches the Ford for power, but, like the MINI, uses a larger engine to do so.
