Welcome, these days it's very rare for any manual cars. Kids don't even know how to drive em.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

I always had at least 1X MT in my family for the last 20 years! My wife and I we both have Cruze with MT. With winter tires I enjoy driving in any snow conditions! Looking for the next car won't be easy to get a MT (not looking for racing cars). The options that I would consider: Honda Accord (2lT). Of course they took out the MT option but still can find some 2019 models I think. Other than that... VW Jetta (1.4T). Mazda 6 had some MT until 2018 I thing... Other than that I'm not sure what else can be on the market without spending over $25-30k? I'm not in rush but the options are narrowing every year!

 

I avoided an automatic for years, for one thing because they got worse gas mileage. That difference has been largely closed if not completely solved. I ordered a manual 2nd gen Cruze instead of taking an auto because the 1st gen Cruze autos were said to be clunky and unresponsive. Have driven a CVT & don't object to the driving experience, but avoiding those due to longevity issues. Next car may be an auto.

In regards to the Gen 1 Manuals... the Gen 1 Eco has the same manual transmission as Gen 2 cars. 'Triple Overdrive'- 4,5,6 are all overdriven ratios, leaving pretty wide gaps between 1,2,3. The Gen 1 Non-ECOs have a different 6 speed manual, not as skewed toward overdrive gears, probably easier and more fun in city driving.

 

I thought overdrive starts in 5th gear ?

 

Welcome Aboard!

Mine is not, but I wish it was.

don't forget to introduce yourself and your Cruze here.

 

Have owned a manual transmission vehicle for the last 19 years.

2 -2nd Gen Z24's 97 and a 99
88 Porsche 944
03 Ranger 2.3l
And now the Cruze...

Manual transmissions are simpler, easier to maintain, and cheaper to repair. syncros and bearings are usually all that go bad if they do.

Do change and overfill your fluid as written on the forum to reduce the chance of tossing the bearings. It does make a difference. Every 25-30k miles.

 

Do change and overfill your fluid as written on the forum to reduce the chance of tossing the bearings. It does make a difference. Every 25-30k miles.

The non-ECO Gen 1s use a different manual transmission. It may not have the same issue with the factory spec fill (2 qts) being not enough to lubricate some of the bearings, as with the transmission on the Gen 1 ECO and Gen 2 cars.

 

i've managed to own nothing but stickshift cars since i started driving.
1977 Chevrolet Chevette
1985 Toyota Corolla GTS (RWD with the twin cam)
1990 Mazda Miata
2003 Mini Cooper S
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

 

I imagine the only difference between eco and non eco transmissions are the gears inside.

 

That's correct, they all use the M32 transmission (as well as a bunch of other GM cars like the Vauxhall/Opel Astra, as well as some Fiat and Alfa Romeo models). The internal gearing will be different between the non Eco and Eco models but otherwise are the same. The only other difference was an internal change about halfway through 2012 to a couple of oil galleries in the casing as well as larger bearings on the shaft that holds 6th gear (for improved reliability).
The Gen2 Cruze uses the 3rd generation M32 transmission which i think has some additional improvements in the bearing department.

 

That's correct, they all use the M32 transmission (as well as a bunch of other GM cars like the Vauxhall/Opel Astra, as well as some Fiat and Alfa Romeo models). The internal gearing will be different between the non Eco and Eco models but otherwise are the same. The only other difference was an internal change about halfway through 2012 to a couple of oil galleries in the casing as well as larger bearings on the shaft that holds 6th gear (for improved reliability).
The Gen2 Cruze uses the 3rd generation M32 transmission which i think has some additional improvements in the bearing department.

I have a 2012 1.8 Cruze and it sounds like its on its last legs. High pitched whine at higher speeds, no difference what gear or clutch. They tell me there are two different trans available

19332701 Code AW4
19367255 Code ANA,AY2,7H

No idea how to tell the difference or if either would work. Looking at maybe a used as remanufactured is over $4,000 for trans alone.

I suspect AW4 is Aisin Warner

Also dealer says its non serviceable - so doesn't sound like it has to be a swap - obviously SOMEONE rebuilds/repairs them though lol.

Of course man trans are rare so little info.

 

Found this post on the Sonic forum:

6 speed manual gear ratios

M32 series 6 speed manual gear ratios I was doing some Googling and found the gear ratios for a few different flavors of the M32 series 6 speed manual used in the Sonic and Cruze. The MZ4 as fitted to all 2012 1.4T Sonics: Final Drive/R&P: 3.65 1st: 3.82 2nd: 2.05 3rd: 1.30 4th: 0.96 5th...

www.sonicownersforum.com

...and found an older post here with similar info.

Cruze Transmission & Axle Ratios

...here are the transmission & axle ratios currently available for the Cruze: M32(RPO: MZ0) 1.8L 6-speed manual (LS model) Axle 3.944 _6th 0.744 x 3.944 = 2.934:1 in high gear _5th 0.876 _4th 1.067 _3rd 1.475 _2nd 2.158 _1st 3.818 _Rev 3.545 M32(RPO: MF3) 1.4LT 6-speed manual (Eco model)...

www.cruzetalk.com

i was reading someplace that Alfa Romeo had a really nice close-ratio gearset for the M32 in the Alfa 159 that they used:
Final drive ratio 4.17
1 - 3.818
2 - 2.353
3 - 1.571
4 - 1.146
5 - 0.943
6 - 0.861
although the chances of getting one of those gearboxes in the US would be slim to none.

 

Table with gear ratios for the various older Cruze models.

Cruze Transmission & Axle Ratios

Type:	M32 6-speed manual	M32 6-speed manual	M32 6-speed manual	Hydra-Matic 6T40 6-speed automatic	Aisin AF40 6-speed automatic
Application:	1.8L	1.4L turbo - Eco	1.4L turbo	1.8L / 1.4L turbo	2.0L turbo-diesel
Gear ratios:
First:	3.82	4.27	4.27	4.58	4.15
Second:	2.16	2.16	2.53	2.96	2.37
Third:	1.47	1.30	1.47	1.91	1.56
Fourth	1.07	0.96	1.07	1.44	1.16
Fifth:	0.87	0.74	0.87	1.00	0.86
Sixth:	0.74	0.61	0.74	0.74	0.69
Reverse:	3.54	3.82	3.82	2.94	3.39
Final drive ratio:	3.94	3.83	3.83	3.53	3.20

 

Mine's a 2013 LT with the 6M. Bought it new, still going strong at 60,000 miles. I'm retired, so most of my driving is in town, but it's still averaged 33 mpg since new at least according to the onboard display.

We also have a 2014 LTZ automatic. Also bought new, just turned 50,000. Mileage on that one averages 27.

 

manuals were rare in general, if I had to take a unscientific guess the 2LT manuals had to be the rare ones.

 

I hear the same thing too, I've got the 2013 SRi 1.6 turbo 6speed Manual.
I'm told it Rare too!!? How

 

Bought my 14 1lt with 33k on it. Specifically sought it out because it was manual. At the time it was 1 of 3 manual Cruze within 200 miles of me.

I’ve done the 2.5 qt trans fill since 40k, changing it between 35-40k miles with Amsoil synchromesh. Currently at 230k with no problems.