how many 2 door pickups of any kind are sold each year?

[AZFox]

And- why would resale value be lower?

Because of the market forces of supply and demand.

Edit: There's a lot of information about the decline in manual transmission sales out there if you do a little searching. Low resale value is something that I didn't anticipate finding. Another one is that manufacturers need to spend a lot of money getting all available drivetrains tested and certified, so adding a manual transmission option could cost extra millions in certification expenses.

 

[sodamo]

And- why would resale value be lower?

My guess is the population of manual transmission drivers is shrinking.

 

[AZFox]

My guess is the population of manual transmission drivers is shrinking.

Especially young drivers.

 

[sodamo]

Especially young drivers.

when I took Drivers Ed in HS all the DE cars were MT. funny as my parent’s vehicles were AT. When I son learned to drive, we had a 72 VW bug MT. his daughter has never driven a MT.

 

[Sparkie]

Because of the market forces of supply and demand.

I have owned and sold a lot of cars.
Typically, Kelly Blue Book (KBB) will list the same car with an automatic at about $300 to $500 higher than the manual.
That seems fair since the automatic new car cost $1000 to $1500 more than the same new car with manual.
(Hopefully, someone that is good at math can figure out which has the better total cost of ownership.)

Yes, supply and demand economics is true.
Just be sure you're in the proper marketplace.

Last year, I sold my 2015 Mazda 3 GT hatchback with MT above the Kelly Blue Book value.
That offer came from a Volvo dealership.
They offered me $500 above the KBB estimate -- not to mention the Volvo salesman gave me over $3,200 above what my Bronco dealership offered.

 

[AZFox]

Last year, I sold my 2015 Mazda 3 GT hatchback with MT above the Kelly Blue Book value.
That offer came from a Volvo dealership.
They offered me $500 above the KBB estimate -- not to mention the Volvo salesman gave me over $3,200 above what my Bronco dealership offered.

This thread is about 2-door pickup trucks.

I have a car that's more valuable as a stick-shift, so I know those exist.

 

[Letas]

Because of the market forces of supply and demand.

Edit: There's a lot of information about the decline in manual transmission sales out there if you do a little searching. Low resale value is something that I didn't anticipate finding. Another one is that manufacturers need to spend a lot of money getting all available drivetrains tested and certified, so adding a manual transmission option could cost extra millions in certification expenses.

So close to finding the point, its painful.

 

[Sparkie]

This thread is about 2-door pickup trucks.

I have a car that's more valuable as a stick-shift, so I know those exist.

Yes.
Sorry.
I swallowed the bait from @Letas 's question on why MT resales were lower.

Back to the 2 door pickup trucks.
I do believe there's a market for them.
Evidence: Many of us paid $50 to get in line for one when they become available.

 

[Letas]

Yes.
Sorry.
I swallowed the bait from @Letas 's question on why MT resales were lower.

Back to the 2 door pickup trucks.
I do believe there's a market for them.
Evidence: Many of us paid $50 to get in line for one when they become available.

I think MTs and 2 doors fall into the same category- a dying category that “they make but nobody buys”

The Slate appeals on many fronts- to some it’s the 2 door aspect, to some the diy, to some the simplicity, to some the cost.

I think the market for Slate buyers is larger than the market of buyers going out and looking for a 2 door truck.

For me, for example, I want a cheap commuter, where there will be one butt in one seat for over 99% of the miles I drive. I’ll be honest- I would never consider buying a 2 door truck, but the Slate may be an exception if it fits my needs elsewhere- if that makes sense.

 

[atx_ev]

when I took Drivers Ed in HS all the DE cars were MT. funny as my parent’s vehicles were AT. When I son learned to drive, we had a 72 VW bug MT. his daughter has never driven a MT.

Im 55, and I never drove a manual until I was 30 when I bought a manual audi tt (not entirely true as there was one night in college...)

I only owned the car for a few years and driving a manual was annoying in heavy traffic or on hilly roads. It was interesting to learn, and I have done autocross for a few years, but I dont find driving a recreational activity any more fun than washing dishes or doing laundry.

Im looking forward to real self driving.

And would get a tesla model Y as a complement to the slate.

 

[danielt1263]

This has been an interesting discussion and it made me think... I've owned something like 10 cars over the years I've been driving. All have been 2-door and manual transmission (I take that back, my first car was an auto and was gifted to me, so I wasn't counting it). I've never owned a truck...

Before the Slate announcement, I had resigned myself to getting a 4-door automatic. Now things are looking up!

 

[AZFox]

They're using multi-pronged approach.

Tisha Johnson said in her recent interview:

And for some folks, it's going to be much more of a statement and for other people, it's going to be much more of a workhorse.​

The "workhorse" people probably want a 2-door truck more than the "statement" people do.

Then there are people like @Letas, who wants and Economical Commuter Workhorse. For them the 2-door truck form might be neither here nor there, as long as it accomplishes the intended purpose.

 

[Dorbiman]

For me, for example, I want a cheap commuter, where there will be one butt in one seat for over 99% of the miles I drive. I’ll be honest- I would never consider buying a 2 door truck, but the Slate may be an exception if it fits my needs elsewhere- if that makes sense.

This is really interesting to me. If I knew I would never use a feature, I wouldn't actively look for that feature in the cars I'm looking to buy

 

[gouacats]

I'm a Jeep guy and the only thing really competing with the Slate for my money would be a 2-door Wrangler. Unfortunately, you can't get the PHEV version in 2-door. Also interesting is that ordering a manual is $2500 MORE than the automatic.

Edit - I don't know what I was smoking...the manual is $2500 less than the automatic.

 

[BobSentMe]

You want to know if there's demand for small, 2 door trucks?

Remember when the internet lost their collective mind because the $10,000 Toyota IMV 0 isn't available in the US due to chicken tax?

God knows I'd buy one if I could, but I'm not waiting 25 years from now.