Five Myths About Stick Shifts: Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

phosphordot

Stuck for two hours in stop-and-go traffic with a clutch pedal? No thanks.
I service my battery regularly, and my headlights turn themselves off, so I've never had the need for a 'bump start' for the past 30 years. As well, with all the electronics in cars now, it's not good to run them with a dead battery.
My current car (Chrysler Intrepid) is 15 years old with 411,000 km (that's 255,000 miles for you Americans) and the original automatic transmission is still working perfectly in +37 to -30 degree weather (that's 100 to 22 below for you Americans). It's called maintenance.
I have a kick-[non-permissible content removed] old Mustang with a manual shift which is fun for the occasional joyride, but I wouldn't want to drive one every day.
The average driver is already using all their skill just to drive the car in a straight line, so adding more things for them to do, especially in a panic situation, is probably not a good thing.

guest28

I like to shift. Stop catering to the babies

arcee

The main advantages are that in general the manual transmissions are a lot cheaper and puts more engine power to the wheels. I've been driving both automatic and manual transmissions for over 30 years and currently have both. I've driven cars up to 270k and currently am driving one with over 160k without ever maintaining or replacing the manual transmissions and/or clutch. In the meantime, I've had numerous automatic transmission cars where I've had to replace and/or repair the transmission, some multiple times which cost me thousands of dollars---this is in addition to maintaining the transmission every 30k with a full transmission flush which is not cheap either. So, the transmissions may cost about the same in some cases for new cars, but in general the cost will be enormously less for manual transmissions in the long run. I've been an automotive tech for 15 years and so this is also based on a lot of hands on experience between the two. In addition, the manual transmission cars do not loose the same amount of horsepower at the wheels than the automatic cars, which looses hp with fluid line pressure at the pump and slippage. When comparing the same make and model cars, you can feel the difference in power at the wheels with automatic versus manual cars during acceleration.

hyperhorse12

I will take on ANYONE with a like car and a "sissy shifter" or AT and beat their [non-permissible content removed] in a race or with fuel economy. End of story...

hyperhorse12

Also folks, vote with your wallet. I wont buy a car with an AT or "spank" shifter. All the buffoons at the top understand is money...NOTHING ELSE.

blub

Apparently, nobody defending the MT has experienced a good AT. You CANNOT shift faster than a good AT. I've driven manuals for 40 years, owned 20 of them and it's not a matter of learning except learning to hate shifting in traffic. Push start a car? Who does that anymore, they have those jump starters that are the size of a portable hard drive that fit in the glove box. Saving your brakes by downshifting? I'd rather buy brakes than a clutch or motor any day. I have a six speed AT in my car and in the manual mode can select any gear I want and keep it there if I want, switch back to auto if I want and when I'm done with the twisties and I don't have to keep turning my cruise control on and off going up and down hills on the way home. Manuals have no advantage in snow and ice anymore. Who the he** cares what europe is driving, I'm an American. If I want to shift I hop on the Ducati.

dbubble

not a good article.

srturbo4

I love my turbo car. Especially since it's a stick. I fantasize about driving my car, while I'm driving it. Something you are absolutely unable to do with an automatic. They make a new Vette that's automatic? Gross. A new Porsche that auto? GROSS.

ian5250

Interesting comments but here's the most interesting :-). Both manual and A/T have their place. All sounds like the comparison between triodes, pentodes, FETS and bipolars. Our biggest obstacle is the internal combustion engine and our very limited mindset. Once you have the motor generating huge torque from low down you have the answer. I'm from South Africa and have always ever driven manual because we have been lead to believe this is the way to go - "times are 'a' changing!". So keep both in the garage to keep the peace.

Just as an aside I am sure most people know that electronics controls the vehicle nowadays - it will only get better, only for safety's sake. I am also sure most people reading this forum would have picked up that as an avid motorist you know which gear slots into what torque or horsepower range. RPM is just wonderful! My own opinion is that most drivers don't know how to facilitate RPM, speed, hill-climbing, overtaking safety and braking hard on dodgy terrain. An A/T which is computer controlled will assist. Most of the time. For the inexperienced A/T is king, for the experienced and disciplined, manual. To correct this for my north American friends, they know a lot more about auto shift. In SA we know blow all. I drive both at present, A/T is king on the open road (highway) and in heavy traffic. Manual when you are dicing over 400m. I'm 56 years old - I don't dice. Get a Ducati. For safety, computer controlled A/T is the best. Think of your kids.

Mr_Shiftright

Many modern automatics are no longer considered "rebuildable" by the factory. So the dealer (or repair shop) merely ships a core and gets back your reman unit, and that's not going to be cheap. Labor to R&R a manual or automatic is about the same, but repair cost will be about 3X as much for the auto. Something to consider when your car goes out of warranty.

lmiller7

Everyone here praising the manuals have not yet driven an automatic yet or are commited to throwing a stick up and down more than actually driving the car.(or cant afford an AT?). 'Driving' is not about putting a stick up and down. Why dp you think all those rally cross cars are autos? AT allows you to enjoy actually driving your car rather than worrying about an unnecassary stick.

Mr_Shiftright

I think with rally cars it's more about intense concentration. We stickshift lovers are not driving at that level of sheer terror!

kyfdx

LOL.. pretty sure we've all driven automatics, and probably even own a couple.

chubear

One unmentioned reason to be proficient at driving a stick is travel. Rent a car in pretty much any other part of the world but the US and Canada and there will be 5 stick shift cars on the lot for each automatic. Any reservation that requires an automatic is most likely an American. Multiple times I have rented in foreign countries and nearly every time the renter has said "I don't have an automatic on the lot, so you will have to wait, or you can have a stick now.". Sometimes the waits were hours and hours waiting for one to be returned or brought over from somewhere else. So learn to drive a stick and you are good to go anywhere.

stever

And in some countries, you get to experience shifting with your left hand. While driving on the wrong side of the road. While trying to navigate out into the countryside.

Mr_Shiftright

Driving a stick shift is like learning the language of your parents. Any child can do it!

PF_Flyer

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johnwboyd

What about the fact that the RPMs are generally higher with manual transmission driving? Doesn't that use more gas?

Mr_Shiftright

I think now with 6 speed manual transmissions you have the choice of 2 overdrive gears. But yes, on entry level cars perhaps that don't offer 6-speeds, you might be right about the rpm level. Of course, you might also find your automatic transmission downshifting a lot, which can be annoying, if the gear ratios are in overdrive all the time. Nothing worse than an automatic that "hunts" all the time.

isellhondas

Stumbled in here....

Wow, look at all of the "lurkers" this subject brought out! Most posters for the first or second time!

I only have one word on this subject...something to at least consider.....RESALE!

If you buy a new car or even an expensive used one, in most cases when you go to sell it, the manual transmission will eliminate probably 90% of your potential buyers. There are a few cars that can be an exception.

If you live in an area with a lot of traffic and HILLS like here in Seattle, it gets worse.

Having said that...if you really enjoy a stick shift and you plan to keep your cars a long time, go for it!

civilwarhero

How odd the exponential opportunity automatic transmissions open up for distracted driving / texting / reading / eating / primping & preening didn't even rate a category for comparison. Clearly, "driver skill" was not a cause for concern in this editor's auto sales-focused manifest.

amarrao14

"They just aren't as good."

Correction: They aren't as fast.

The counterpoint is that they're immensely more fun, and those of us who pay to drive (rather than get paid to drive) tend to be enthusiasts, not racers.

Vadya

Doesn't matter manual or automatic. As long as it's not the %$@#*& CVT.

8632dom

Manuals are often faster than conventional automatics and CVT's. Manuals are usually at least as or are more fuel efficient than automatics with less gears. They rarely wear out and/or need repairs and usually last the life of the car problem free. Brakes usually last longer in a manual transmission car if driven properly. Most cars sold in Europe are manuals and not automatics.

shifting

If you are going to drive, then drive. Driving an automatic is like shifting into the "living room" gear and becoming a couch potato!

Put down your phones, your makeup, your $6 lattes.

Get engaged or find an Uber or Lyft drive to cart yourself around.

masterof1

Living in the snowy rust belt I would rather have a stick. I want to chose want gear i.m in when navigating a mountain in the NE. Especially with a rear wheel drive car And also it is usually easy to replace a clutch. Automatics weigh more and do not last as long as a standard shift usually. Standard shifts will usually take more abuse.

Drew_Burt

I am 51 years old. 5 years ago I had a motorcycle accident that broke my left leg in 11 places, requiring 8 pins, 4 plates, and an 18 inch rod running the entire length of my femur. I was driving a stick within 4 months of leaving the hospital. People who talk of being old and tired should probably ride the bus. People who talk of concentrating on driving rather than shifting? Gripping a steering wheel with both sweaty hands while they wet themselves over the unimaginable strain of keeping the fenders between the lines means they should probably ride the bus as well..

kkkkkkkkk

It is so boring to drive any car in US, I cannot explain it to you, stick or auto... does not matter. I will make traffic accident because it is so boring to dive in US, not because of speed. So, I go to Europe....and enjoy in car driving, curves, shifting... I have never found that stick is problem during rush hour for me.

I can tell you that a lot of people from north of Europe do not like to drive in Thessaloniki(Greece), because of traffic condition. I like it.

Thessaloniki driving is simple compared to Athene(Greece) driving. That is really something special.
But it was challenging for me. I did it.:)
I thing that India or so are worse only.

Porsche and manual...I do not know, for me pedals are too close (clutch and break).

I drive A6 2.0 TFSI 2007 in Europe. Big car, nice car, manual....

I am 54.

Screaming_Pencil2

I have a 40 year old hot rod with a manual which is fun on the weekends. Would I want to drive it for hours in stop and go traffic every day to work? No way. I have a 15 year old Impala with 485,000 km (over 300,000 miles) and the auto trans still works great, I think I changed the fluid once.

biffster1

The difference between driving a manual or automatic is the difference between driving the car or just going for a ride.

Both my cars are manual - An older Saab sedan and a Lotus Elise. I want to replace the Saab with something new so I've tried some automatics, but it's just not the same. The best I've found so far is the paddle shifting Audi A7... but that's pushing $100k. I'm seriously considering just giving the old Saab a complete makeover instead.

CVale

Most cars these days with manual transmission also have a "hold" feature that allows you to hold the car on a hill without it rolling back. So this is no longer a reason not to buy a manual transmission. My insurance company gave me a $250 discount for my manual transmission Golf R, not because it's stolen less frequently, but because manual transmissions are so much less complicated than automatic and cheaper to fix. The difference in gas mileage between manual an automatic is negligible. There is simply nothing as satisfying as a manual in terms of fun.

Manual4ever

I never owned a car with automatic gear. But ive had job cars with automatic. Also service cars with same engine as my private car. None of the automatic geared cars are close to match my private car in mpg. Even newer cars have higher consumption.
My 1983 Golf GTI had much better fuel consumption than my 2016 Skoda Octavia. Whats that about?
I have discussed this with several friends and colleagues. They all admit that their automatic, newer cars use more fuel than earlier vehicles their owned with stick shift. Its a lie, that automatic cars are better, on the path to selfdriving transport.

seamuswarren

Hello.

Is a manual gearbox fully mechanical meaning less prone to failure when temporarily submerged grossing a water a few feet deep?

I can get a snorkel for the intake, but am wondering if a submerged manual transmission is less prone to failure?

Are automatic transmissions reliant on electronics making waterproofing necessary?

I’m also wondering if the military vehicles like Jeeps are usually manual.

Thank you.

coelacanth

Surely a pro of automatic is safety.