A push-pull cable suitable for automotive applications includes an outer cable having a hollow interior and an inner cable having a circular cross section perpendicular to its axial direction. The inner cable is slidably disposed within the hollow interior and grease is disposed in a clearance defined between an outer circumferential surface of the inner cable and an inner circumferential surface of the outer cable. The inner cable consists of a single metal wire coated with a metal plated layer, the plated layer has a thickness between 3 and 35 microns and the clearance is between 0.05 to 0.5 millimeters.