A while back I read a couple of editorials over at The Truth About Cars regarding the “Death of the Stick Shift.” This got me quite worked up, though it took me a while to get my thoughts in order and get motivated to write about it. For reference, here are the articles themselves that spawned this dissertation of mine - including a final editorial in favor of manual transmissions:
Tripedalists of the World Unite!
So, here goes:
The manual vs. automatic debate has been going on for years, with the commonly accepted “facts” of manual transmissions giving higher gas mileage and better “control.” Some people have said that driving a stick shift requires too much concentration from the driver - in other words, a stick shift is distracting you from driving. Other people say that the torque converter in an automatic “sucks” power away from the engine, giving lackluster performance.
IMHO, in case it wasn’t painfully obvious from my many other posts on the subject, the manual transmission is superior. You just can’t beat the level of control it offers.
In the above articles, it is argued that modern automatics make the manual transmission obsolete. Now, this IS true - to a certain extent. The truly modern automatics are very good - like, say, the ones you can find on your $50,000+ luxury sedans & sports cars. Combined with sophisticated traction control, yaw sensors, and so forth, these systems can provide a supurb driving experience.
But let’s face some facts - these systems are EXPENSIVE. And your average car doesn’t have them. At least, not anything I can afford.
So, let’s get to the meat of the argument: control. Does a stick shift really give you more control?
I’d argue yes, of course. You see, I’ve driven a lot of cars in my short 9 years of driving - automatics and stick shifts alike. I learned to drive on an automatic Dodge Omni; owned an automatic K-Car, started to learn stick on a manual Dodge Neon and then a manual Chevy S-10, and finally wrapped everything up with a sport-tronic automatic Mitsubishi Outlander. Along the way I’ve driven a full-sized GMC Seirra 1500 (automatic), a fun & sporty Alpha Romeo (manual), a powerful Pontiac LeMans (automatic), a bulky Ford Explorer (automatic), an even bulkier Lincoln Town Car (automatic), a wimpy Ford Focus (automatic) and even a slightly scary Honda 700cc motorcycle (manual).
The basic premise on which I base my assertation that the manual is better is control - specifically, control of engine power delivery. With a manual, I can keep the engine in it’s “power band,” and ensure that it’s in that power band when I want it to be. For “spirited” driving, there’s no comparison. The manual lets me keep the power of the engine right where I want it, based on the conditions of the road. No matter how sophisticated the electronics, the automatic transmission will never be smarter than the human brain that’s actually driving the car.
There’s also the issue of shift speed to be considered. Every automatic I’ve driven shifts slowly from gear to gear. Even the current Keithmobile - the Outlander, which its “sport-tronic” transmission that lets me shift up & down with the push of a lever - shifts slower from gear to gear than a comparable manual. When you’re doing that “spirited” driving, that delay is definitely No Fun.
In addition, there are other features of the manual that I miss to this day - the ability to rev the engine up for a lightning-quick start; the ability to break the rear wheels loose with a bit of clutch & throttle play around a sharp corner; and the ability to do engine breaking. For example, I used to be able to bring the Keithmobile-C (the S-10) to almost a complete stop - without using my brakes. Come to think of it, in the nearly 100,000 miles I put on that truck, I don’t think I ever replaced the brakes. Every time I had them checked, the people doing the checking would say something like “yeah, your brakes are fine, they look like they’re still being broken in!” Not so in the Keithmobile-D (the Outlander). It’s brakes are due for replacement next month, and I’ve put far fewer miles on it than the Keithmobile-C had.
Now, having been a courier for 2 years, I can appreciate the seductive allure of the automatic transmission to the average commuter. Goodness knows I’ve complained enough about driving in traffic with a manual. And during the time I was a courier with the Keithmobile-D, it was quite a bit nicer to not have to shift - though the constant braking was almost as annoying as the constant down-shifting. Go figure.
For the “average” driver, an automatic may be a good choice. And the automatic has its place in other circumstances as well - for example: plowing. As you’re probably aware, it’s snowed quite a bit around here lately, and I can tell you there are very few people out there doing professional snow plowing with manual transmissions. It’s just not practical - you’d burn out your clutch. The torque converter in an automatic takes the abuse of pushing tons of snow around at slow speeds much better than a manual would - mostly because of the wider gear range in an automatic. And for taxi drivers and limo drivers, there’s not even any realistic choice - it’s an automatic all the way. And big trucks, that is, big diesel trucks (and buses) need an automatic to handle the job of moving a huge mass of metal (although many of these big automatic systems are “sport-tronic” in the same way as my Outlander).
The argument of economy often enters into this debate - some say one system is more economical than the other. IMHO (again), a stick, driven properly, delivers better economy than an automatic. I point to my truck (the Keithmobile-C, the S-10) as a prime example. I got great gas mileage from that thing, no doubt about it. And let’s not discount the savings from brake wear - something I didn’t have to worry about much. And a friend of mine had a Neon that was an automatic - having ridden (not driven, alas!) in it, and having driven a manual Neon, I can say the manual was far more “peppy” and it was without a doubt more fuel efficient. Of course, other people driving differently than me might find an automatic to give better economy.
The argument of safety also comes into this debate fairly often. While it’s true that driving stick requires more involvement from the driver - hell, you even have to take one hand off of the wheel to shift - I don’t think that’s a truly terrible thing. Unless you SUCK at driving stick, the shifting process is as natural and automatic as turning the wheel or using your directional signals or windshield wiper controls. It’s just not a big deal. Conversely, of course, the automatic lets the driver focus on other cars & whatnot, while keeping both hands planted firmly on the wheel. Still, I think it’s valid to say that this kind of ease of driving can, let’s say “encourage” the driver to engage in other activities not conducive to safe driving. Such as talking on a cell phone, among many others. As a courier, I had to use my cell phone from time to time, and I can tell you, it’s hard to do while driving stick in traffic or around a city. In many cases I just had to wait until I stopped to use the phone - which is arguably the right thing to do. When I had the Keithmobile-D and it’s automatic, I found it easier to use the phone (naturally), and honestly - I did tend to use it a bit more. Now, of course, it IS hard to dial a phone while driving stick, and anyone who attempts to do so is putting themselves in more danger than the automatic driver doing the same thing, but the argument here is that a driver with an ounce of common sense will just leave the damn cell phone alone while driving stick, since it is so obviously just an accident waiting to happen. The automatic driver might be lulled into thinking the cell phone (or double mocha latte, or MP3 player, or makeup, or cheeseburger, etc) is quite safe, since they can still “drive” while doing whatever it is they are doing. Which they are clearly not. (Think about this the next time you see an accident.)
So, both systems have their place - an automatic is easier & often more economical (for the circumstances), but a manual is more controllable and certainly more desirable for the driving enthusiast. (As a side note: try rocking your car back & forth to get it un-stuck from snow with an automatic. Now, try it with a manual. You’ll appreciate the stick shift almost immediately. Now that’s control.) In the end, though, you just can’t beat a manual for driving control - and since that’s what rates highest in my book, I put a manual above an automatic. But of course anyone who has different expectations from their car may disagree - and be perfectly justified in doing so. The fact that many cars these days don’t even offer a manual transmissions speaks volumes as to what “most” people “want.”
But I’ll never get over the joy of shifting. Long live the stick shift!!
Comments
All hail the stick shift!
Just yesterday I was involved in a debate about the safety and efficacy of a stick shift in that oh so important role for my truck– hauling. Specifically, hauling horses, or hay. A typical load of hay can weigh upwards of 4 and a half tons (9,000 lbs for those of you playing at home), and that’s not counting the trailer! I have experienced hauling such a load with a F250 Superduty Auto, and a Dodge 2500 5 speed. For me, there is simply no comparison. I HATED the lack of control I felt with the auto, and LOVED the stick.
The feeling of all that weight pushing you towards the stopped traffic in front of you and only the damned brakes to stop you is frankly quite scary. I can vividly recall one time where I was down shifting while going off the shoulder to avoid a car who had made an ill-advised sudden stop and kept control of both the truck and the load without ever applying the brakes. (How vividly do remember? It was on 56th just east of Quebec, in Montbello. I swerved into the lot where the taco trucks congregate. I had on hay, on a gooseneck trailer. There was one person in the truck with me…)
The discussion of brake wear is a valid one, not usurped by the presence of electric trailer brakes on most 2 axle trailers. Electric brakes are a godsend, and save immeasurable wear on the poor truck’s front discs, but as the say with electronics in sailing, “what do you do when they fail?” An electric brake controler has no equal in its ability to rcover a load that has begun to fishtail. By applying only trailer bake and not stopping the truck, the trailer literally “drags” itself back into line with the direction of travel. But as I say, the sole reliance on brakes leave me feeling a little out of control. And the F250? Needed front brakes almost every 12 months. Even with the electric brake control.
And the proffesionals, at least some of them, agree. I was at a dodge dealership yesterday and had the opportunity to test drive an ‘05 2500 Cummins with not a 5, but a SIX speed manual. Super nice riding truck, and it can haul a load, I assure you. The presence of the six speed speaks volumes to the demands of the consumers in the full-sized truck market. The 2500 is a work truck. Designed to haul. You want control? Get a stick. The absense of 5 speeds on many small cars also speaks to the consumer base, only not as kindly. I leave that to you to fill in.
Hauling is an important part of the discussion, although possibly not one many people relate to. If you don’t haul, what’s the use? Well, the reason people who haul large loads prefer a stick is control. The less the load, the greater control, yes? So: no load + stick = great control. What do they tell you to do if your going down a mountain pass in an auto? Use the lower gears, save your brakes. What do you do if you drive an auto in the snow? Use the lower gears, is offers more control.
In terms of fuel economy, it’s probably a wash. Possibly it even goes to the auto. But when that automatic transmision fails, as it is bound to, it costs considerably more than a new clutch. (insert here your argument about the cost of rebuildin an standard transmission and realize that the friction plate and wearable parts in a stick will go, and no necesitat an entire rebuild. We redid the 2500 at 100K fo $1200) There goes your economy.
And the other argument, about fleets? Yes, fleet managers are always looking to cut corners, and a automatic fleet is cheaper to keep on the road. Why? No for the machinery, but th drivers. A poorly driven stick can hurt itslef. A poorly driven auto will stay together longer. You can hire less skilled drivers if you have an automatic fleet. There’s your economy.
Am I biased? Sure. That goes without saying. I have an opinion, therefore, I am biased. But not closed minded. I’ve been in both camps, and I see what I like. Is there a place in the world for an automatic transmission? Of course. Is there still room for the stick? YES.
By the way, it also increases a girl’s sex appeal if she can drive a 5 speed. Although that may not be a pertinant argument…
Nice comments… well done. I like your closing argument, too 
Again well put. I am one of the converted and will never go back. To each his/her owh though and I am not anti-auto. Although, I will reiterate pjbreeno’s closing argument…..
I will be purchacing a roadster in the near future, and was going to select the automatic option, which is 950.00 more, but after reading your article, and other’s like it, I agree with you, this roadster is a fun, driving machine, made for performance, and an automatic on this type of vehicle seems kind of wimpy.
I appreciated your article and honesty.
Long live the stick.
Sincerely,
Tom
I love driving a stick! I had one for 13 years and another for a couple of years too. Then I bought an automatic, and I mourned the loss of my stick. The only problem is being stuck in traffic as far as I am concerned but what i would do is not take it out of first gear unless I had to so I am not shifting all the time. I would only let it rev so much and go with the traffic flow and only switch to a higher gear when needed which is usually not in stop and go traffic. Currently, I am waiting for a Honda 5 speed, seems they either cant keep them on the lot or no one wants them. I am getting mixes messages but I am willing to wait!
“Stick” The One and Future Driving King!
I have a stick and it is by far the greatest experience i have ever had in a vehicle. I have driven my share of automatics ( explorers, civics, camrys etc. ) but when you get in to a car with a stick shift ( my honda civic ) its a whole new driving experience. I actually feel like i’m a part of the road and i control how much power i need, unlike the automatic which basically controls you. Great Article and thank you for telling the God given truth. All Hail the magnificent power of shift!
I learned to drive on an automatic dodge stratus ES V6. I was blissfully ignorant of the potential of the manual vrs the automatic. I now drive a saturn sl2…sadly, still an automatic. By now, however, I am really learning to dislike automatic. My boss has got the same car as I do, but it’s a single cam rather than double, and he’s got automatic. He smokes me even with my 20+ HP advantage. Auto ALWAYS shifts either too early, putting the RPM’s beow the powerband, or too late, putting them too high or my taste. Cruising on the hwy the RPM’s go to high, worsening fuel milage and wearing the engine more than needed. The list goes on.
My next car, I can assure you, will be a stick shift. Hell, I am seriously contemplating converting my current car to a stick shift.
…pardon the double post, but I meant to say that my boss’s car is a stick shift, not automatic.
Not only are most big trucks(semi’s) manuals, but down shifting all the time puts a lot of wear on your cluch. I don’t know about you guys, but I would much rather replace my brakes than my cluch. with that said standard shift car are more fun.
I am a mechanic and the main argument point when it comes to cost is that I can replace a manual trans for the cost to fix an auto. Not to mention that the only thing that goes wrong with a well driven manual is the cluch after 150-200 K miles. A well driven auto is lucky to make 200 K without a full rebuild. Manuals rule and autos druel.
I’m 18 years old, been driving an automatic car that my parents got me for 2 years now and i just learned how to drive stick yesterday and wow was it fun! I probably stalled 20 times when I first started learning in a parking lot, but by the end of the day I was driving all around town. I thought that maybe I will buy a maunal car when I make my first car purchase because of how much I like driving my girlfriend’s. But, because of reading all of these comments, I think I am going to have a lot more reasons to drive a stick. Thanks guys!
Keith,
Touche! Couldn’t have said it better myself. And of course I agree; I’m a MINI driver (and no self-respecting MINI driver would have an auto, IMHO).
And there’s nothing like being in that very narrow band where your transmission can’t quite decide whether it should shift up or down is there? Oh happy day being stuck in a bus with an automatic transmission unit with schizofrenia. REV shudder REV shudder REV shudder. Again you shan’t get that from a $60,000 top of the line machine but I’m referring to your average Joe. However it’s true that if you’re incapable of “feeling” your engine, as is the case with my mother who generally remains stuck in 3rd gear while her car is literally screaming down the road at 50mph then yes, auto would probably be better for you. However I “can” ‘drive’ and I like to ‘drive’ so I’d like to continue ‘driving’.
I’ve driven manuals all my life until about three months ago when I decided to test drive an auto. The car was a Mitsubishi Lancer and I’d have to say that I fell in love with it as soon as i started driving it. The whole ‘auto’s take ages to change gears’ and the ‘band where it can’t decide what gear’ is out the window with the sports auto. It is sequential gears, which is a bit of a bummer, but nevertheless, the power it delivered was instant (didn’t even notice any lag taking off) and the gear changes whilst in sports auto mode was smooth as. Mind you, if it wasn’t in sports auto mode the gear changes were a bit sus.
Needless to say, I’m a converted auto fan now. No more fart-assing around in the heavy traffic for me, trying to build up the muscles in only one leg 
I went from auto to manual and now i’m back with auto. To be honest, everybody goes through the ‘manual phase’, eventually you’ll get sick of it (SoCal traffic sucks) and go back to auto. Just got an IS350 and it’s simply amazing. Do i miss manual? yeah, when i think about it for a second.
I own a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback with a 4-Speed manual transmission and man! it’s a blast! I feel like Steve Mc Queen everytime I drive the thing.
Long live the stick!!!
Good thread here.
Over the last 30+ years, I’ve probably been in several hundred discussions/arguments concerning the pros and cons of automatic and manual transmissions. I learned on a stick, then experienced my brother’s 51 Ford with Ford’s first automatic. It had to be converted to a stick. Later, I inherited my other brother’s 51 Buick automatic, another poor example.
I swore then that I’ll never buy an automatic…and kept that promise for over 40 years and 9 vehicles. I’ve had to rebuild one manual transmission, but unlike the automatics, the rebuild was as good as new. I’ve never worn out a clutch disc yet, even on vehicles with 200+ miles.
Last week I began shopping for a sports sedan. On my short list are BMW 328/335, BMW 528/535, Saab 9-5, Infiniti G35, and Acura TL Type S. All these vehicles claim to be available with a manual transmission, most claim to come standard with a manual transmission. But trying to find any of these vehicles with a manual trans is like making a special request for what is supposed to be standard.
It appears that manufacturers or dealers have forgotten the minority who still like the driving control a stick shift offers. This may be ok for a family car, but for a sports sedan that is or strives to be the “ultimate driving machine,” it defeats the purpose, but it makes the sale to those who don’t want an ultimate driving control, but want a carefree commuting environment.
I’ve settled on a BMW 550i with sports package and the standard 6-speed manual. Imagine spending nearly $70k on a car that can’t even shift its own gears. Well that’s me, that’s how I was brought up.
Tee, I agree with you. I have been looking to buy an SUV. I have my heart (and mind) set on a manual transmission, but dealers just don’t carry them. In my experience with researching cars, usually only the base models are equipped with a manual tranny. That just sucks! To me, driving stick is the ‘creme de la creme’ of the whole driving experience. Why only offer it in base models?
My very first car was a 4-speed (stick shift) pontiac Lemans (1992). I learned how to drive stick driving that car off the lot! (how embarrassing!). I put over 100K on that little car and never had to replace the clutch. I have driven several other stick shifts, and never had to replace the clutch. Probably my favorite driving experience with a manual was with my husband’s 1990 ford bronco II. The starter was going bad, not to mention something was wrong with the fuel delivery system because it would stall out at stop signs, red lights etc. But you know what?….I was still able to drive the damn thing because I could pop the clutch as many times as it took to keep the thing running! You can’t do that in an automatic. Sometimes the best inventions are those that are simple in design. Respect the Stick…it WILL take care of you!
Janel makes a VERY good point. Sometimes, the simplest design is the best, no matter how old it gets.
Modern Automatics are 6-speed electronic nightmares compared to their 3-speed hydraulic predecessors. But a stick shift? More or less unchanged. And that’s a good thing.
Yeah for stick shifts…
I’m having to look into a new truck (I have a horse) so I am looking for decent torque, no due and a manual. Apparently in New Jersey there is NO market for a, stick or b a diesel. They all think I’m smoking something when I walk in (all girlified and such) and say I’m looking for a manual diesel.
I just drove my dad’s 96 F350 from Ca to NJ… manual. Loaded truck and trailer, best trip ever! There is no replacement for a manual, control is better and it just feels so much safer with a trailer pushing behind me and I have more than a set of brakes slowing me down. No replacement… ever!
(thanks for the article, rekindled me wanning hope for the manual!)
I have a 67 Shelby GT with only 38,000 miles, i love that thing, dont drive it much because its just a classic but when i do drive it i cant help but smile when i change gears so much more fun then my auto Porche Carrera
I’ve also been a big fan of manual transmissions ever since I got “bootleg” driving lessons from my parents (’68 Volvo 240GL and ‘78 Bronco 351W each w/ 4sp trannies). They both taught me the value of control via the throttle, not only for braking, but steering as well. In addition to the power control as far as keeping it in the sweet spot, my Dad (a trucker at heart) taught me to shift without the clutch, and to this day I can get into virtually any vehicle, and shift into any gear, up or down, without depressing the clutch pedal. The whole family has benefited from it. My Mom has a ‘90 Escort, and the brakes only had to be done last year, and she’s still on the original clutch! I’ve since had numerous vehicles, including a 80 auto Mustang (horrid acceleration, but great mileage and no speeding tickets), an Isuzu P’up 5sp (insane mileage, horrible parts prices), and a truly obscene auto Toyota Corolla SR5 ( NOT geared for the highway. She screamed like a banshee!). My next vehicle will be (Gods Willing) a stick shift, be it a truck or a sport car. I’ve seen some reasonable prices on BMW wagons and various trucks, but the task of finding decent vehicles with manual transmissions seems truly Herculean, especially if it’s in the used market. Either they’re rat-bagged to the junkyard (possible, but unlikely) or their owners love them so much, they never want to get rid of them.
I’m tending toward the latter possibility!.
I agree that a manual is more fun. I have owned an old 1982 B2 Audi 80 1,6 Liter diesel, which got about 50 mpg. Right now I own a 2000 Opel Corsa C 1,7 Liter diesel.
I live in germany, and almost all cars here are manual, in fact the standard car is manual, and only luguary cars generally come with automatic. Also about 75% are diesel. I’m sure you know this. Also to get a liscense in germany one has to pass a manual driving test first, otherwise one only has a liscense that lets you drive automatics, and there are not so many of those, and automatic is more expensive, so most people get a full liscense that lets him or her to drive a manual.
It is true, manuals are more efficient, and especially in europe, where a lot of cars are smaller and have smaller engines, having an automatic in a car like a Citroёn C1 would be not good, it would have no power. so it is important to have a manual transmission for that reason too.
Another thing i would like to point out is, we have a lot of powerful cars that are manual that we use for pulling things, almost no one uses trucks for personal use. there is often no point in europe for a pick up truck, wich such cars.
Also, I noticed you said taxis and limos are essentially automatic. In europe just about all taxis are manual. I have never driven in a taxi that was an automatic. And most taxis here are Mercedes benz.
So i really do not think that the manual auto is ‘dead.’ Maybe in the united states it isn’t so popular, and i can see why, gas is so much cheaper there, because of it’s lower quality, it is only something like 3 dollars for a gallon? In europe gas prices are 7 to 8 dollars a gallon. making manual transmissions and diesel engines much more popular from their efficency. So in the US more people can afford to drive an automatic, which is different in Europe.
I liked your article, and i think you have a good view on manual autos.
i got to the part about big trucks having automatics and stopped reading, you cannot have an argument if you facts are blatently wrong. sorry. the majority of “semi” or “big trucks” have manuals, schools buses have automatics so the driver can better focus on the crazy kids in the back.
I have an entire website dedicated to this debate: http://manualversusautomatic.com/
While I agree with the “superiority” of stick shifts I also believe in the comfort-benefits of automatics. It all comes down to personal preference, just like with many other things (do you take your coffee with cream or milk?)
The mistake that many sources/review make is that they *claim* that one is better than the other.
Always remember to look at the flip side of the coin!
i have been driving for about 4 years now, i learned when i was 16. being that my mother is european, i was forced to learn in a stick, and i have loved it ever since. I drive a 1991 4 speed honda civic, and id rather drive it anyday than to my mothers automatic dodge stratus. stick is just more fun to drive, and i get like 40 mpg, where the stratus gets like 18… i think i made a better choice 
i am 17 and my grandparents want to buy me a car i wanted to know if you could send me info on saftey crash rating on auto and manuals cause i love manual cuz i learned it on my girlfriends brothers mustang and it has everything you can put in a mustang from full throtle bodies to exhaust. MANUAL RULES YOU AUTO LOVERS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO REALLY DRIVE!!!!!!
@London:
What do I look like, Wikipedia? Go look up that information yourself!
Kids these days… *muttering “get off my lawn” and other old-crotchety-type-things*
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