Cars with automatic transmissions are expected to make up about one-fourth of the market by 2025, but ardent supporters of manuals are passionate about keeping the stick shift alive. Well, there’s a good reason for that.
Here are the six main reasons why manual transmission is worth keeping around.
1. You Stay More Engaged While Driving
There’s just something about manual transmission that keeps you connected to the act of driving. You’re not just steering, you’re actively shifting gears and controlling the clutch. Your brain is engaged in a constant dance of shifting, braking, accelerating, and anticipating the road ahead.
It’s a more mindful and engaging experience, one that’s hard to replicate with an automatic. With manual transmission, you’re not just getting from point A to point B, you’re more aware of your surroundings, more in tune with your car, and more engaged in the process.
2. You Have Better Control
When you drive a manual transmission, you’re the one in charge of shifting gears. This gives you better control over the car, especially in situations where automatic transmissions might struggle, like on steep hills or during quick acceleration.
When choosing to shift, you can adjust the car’s power and speed to fit the road conditions, making it easier to navigate tricky driving situations.
3. You Save on Fuel
Manual transmissions are often more fuel-efficient than automatics. Since you’re controlling the gear shifts, you can keep the engine in the optimal power range, avoiding unnecessary fuel consumption.
Automatics, on the other hand, may shift at times that aren’t as efficient for fuel use. This can lead to higher fuel consumption, especially in city driving with lots of stop-and-go traffic.
Reports indicate that manual transmissions can give you 2-5 more miles per gallon (mpg) than automatics in similar vehicles. (ref) Skilled drivers may even get up to 20% better fuel efficiency, especially in city driving. (ref)
4. You Spend Less on Maintenance
Manual transmissions usually cost less to maintain and repair than automatics. They have fewer parts, which means there’s less that can go wrong.
Automatic transmissions have complex systems like torque converters and fluid systems that can require expensive repairs or replacements.
Manuals are simpler and more durable, meaning you’re less likely to run into costly repairs. Plus, if something does go wrong, repairs are generally cheaper for a manual transmission, with re-manufactured transmissions for most mainstream vehicles costing around $2,000 to $4,000. (ref)
5. You Enjoy Better Performance
There are two big reasons why manual transmission gives you better performance. First, with a manual gearbox, you have direct control over the gears.
You can choose the precise gear for the situation, which can lead to quicker acceleration, more efficient fuel use, and more fun on winding roads.
Second, manual transmissions typically offer more gears. That means you can choose the gear that gets you the most power and torque for a given situation, and that can make a huge difference when you’re looking to get the most out of your engine.
6. You Improve Your Driving Skills
Learning to drive a manual transmission is a bit like leveling up in a video game. It takes practice, coordination, and concentration. You have to learn how to balance the clutch, accelerator, and gears to shift smoothly and avoid stalling.
It’s a skill, one that takes time and effort to master. But once you’ve got it down, you’re a better driver. You have better hand-eye coordination, better control over your car, and you’re more in tune with your vehicle. You’re also less likely to be distracted by gadgets.
While automatic transmissions are becoming more popular, the stick shift still has a lot to offer for those who enjoy a more hands-on, efficient, and affordable driving experience.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
