--- title: "Porsche Is Working Hard ‘To Save the Manuals,’ 911 and 718 Boss Says" description: "Despite tightening emissions rules, Porsche intends to keep offering manuals as long as its current sports cars exist." date: "2023-10-13" modified: "2023-10-13" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/porsche-is-working-hard-to-save-the-manuals-911-and-718-boss-says" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Porsche News" tags: - "718 Boxster" - "718 Cayman" - "911" - "porsche" - "sports car" --- # Porsche Is Working Hard ‘To Save the Manuals,’ 911 and 718 Boss Says ![]() *Porsche* Someone needs to send [Porsche]() executives free "Save the Manuals" t-shirts, because they seem to be aligned with the cause. During a recent roundtable interview attended by *The Drive*, Porsche 911 and 718 boss Frank Moser said that not only will the brand continue to sell vehicles with manuals, but that it hopes to do so until at least the end of this generation of Porsche sports cars. That's key, because ever-tightening emissions regulations have [threatened to kill off the third pedal in some models]() even more quickly than anticipated. "Manual transmission is always what the customer wants in the 911, so we have been and are working as long as possible to save the manuals," Moser said. "That’s absolutely relevant for the 911. That’s why we have the [911 T]() with a manual gearshift, and now the 911 S/T with a stick shift, and that’s really because customers want a stick shift." When asked if Porsche is confident it can keep manuals alive through this generation of cars, Moser said "We're working on it." So it would seem that as long as the current 718 Boxster/Cayman and 911 exist, it's likely their manuals will, also. ![]() **Porsche Boxster Spyder | Porsche** Of course, Porsche isn't the only automaker that still sells manuals. Most sports car manufacturers today offer one or two, like the [Honda Civic Si]() and [Type R](), the [Ford Mustang](), [BMW M2](), [Toyota GR Corolla]() and [GR86](), and the list goes on. Still, there's no denying that the market's manual numbers are dwindling, which is why it's encouraging that Porsche has continued to release new versions of the 718 and 911 that celebrate the rowing of gears, such as the [Boxster Spyder]() and the aforementioned 911 T. However, don't expect manuals to stick around once electrification becomes the norm. Toyota might be researching [synthetic stick shifts]() for electric cars [that even stall](), but Porsche wants no part of that, as it'd be inauthentic. "What we want, and that’s the key for Porsche, is to make it authentic. So therefore, I don’t know that there’s a way for us to have a stick shift in an electrified car," Moser told the roundtable. ![]() **Porsche 911 T | Porsche** Manual transmissions are living on borrowed time, of course. But some brands have fought the good fight longer than others, and it would seem that Porsche is one of them. Stuttgart clearly doesn't intend to let its stick shifts die swiftly, even in the face of a changing industry. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()