Manual-transmission cars with a stick shift, a clutch and three pedals have their ardent defenders. But sometimes the facts don't support the reasons cited for the desirability of this transmission. Here we discuss five common myths about manual-transmission vehicles and list the pros and cons of a manual versus an automatic transmission.
Manual vs. Automatic Pros and Cons: Which Is Better?
Debunking 5 myths about stick shifts
It's best to palm the shift knob. If you grab or squeeze it and try to force the shifter from one gear to the next, it will often miss.
Myth 1. Manual transmissions always get better fuel economy than cars with automatic gearboxes.
In the past, it was pretty much a given that vehicles with manual transmissions would be more fuel-efficient than their automatic counterparts. But as modern automatics gained additional gears and relied less on a torque converter, they have overtaken manuals in terms of fuel economy.
Let's take the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek as an example. With the base 2.0-liter engine, the six-speed manual gets an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon in mixed-driving conditions. The Crosstrek's continuously variable automatic transmission (also called a CVT), on the other hand, has an infinite number of speeds and is estimated to get 30 mpg in mixed driving when paired with the same 2.0-liter engine — a 20% improvement.
Myth 2. Manual cars cost less than the same model with an automatic.
In general, the manual version of a car will indeed cost less, but not always. Increasingly, as we see today with the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3, for example, the manual transmission is only offered on higher trim levels, which means you'd need to spend thousands more over the base model. In other cases, it's simply a wash. If you want to drive a manual-equipped BMW 240i, it won't save you any money up front since the manual is the same price as the automatic.
Myth 3. The coolest sports cars only come with a manual gearbox.
That depends on your definition of a "cool sports car." The 797-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is only offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both the highly rated Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe and the Chevrolet Corvette C8 are sold without a manual gearbox option. Finally, Ferrari and Lamborghini no longer offer any vehicles with a clutch pedal or gearbox. Sports cars don't get much cooler than those.
Most modern sports cars use a dual-clutch automatic transmission, which features computer-controlled clutching and offers the best of both worlds: the control of a manual with the ease of a conventional automatic, plus faster shifts than either.
Myth 4. If your dream car comes standard with a manual transmission, you can always get an automatic as an option.
This just isn't true. A small group of cars these days, mostly sporty models, only come with a manual gearbox. The list includes the Honda Civic Type R, the Ford Shelby GT500, the Hyundai Veloster N, and the Subaru WRX STI. Notably, the Honda Civic Si — a sporty but much less exclusive version of the Civic than the Type R — also continues to be manual-only.
Myth 5. Teenagers really, really want to learn to drive a manual car.
There does not appear to be any evidence to support this statement. In fact, the opposite is more likely true. Because there are so few manual-transmission vehicles out there, many drivers who have just earned their licenses don't get exposed to them and so they have little interest in learning how to drive them.
Is the manual transmission an anti-theft deterrent?
There's one argument in favor of stick-shift cars that doesn't have a ready true-or-false answer. The theory is that because fewer people know how to drive stick shifts these days, cars equipped with them are less likely to be stolen. While there have been a few examples of would-be thieves being stymied by manual transmissions over the years, there haven't been any formal studies conducted.
Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which tracks car theft trends, says he's not aware of any data to support or refute that idea.
"Some thieves might be thwarted in their attempt to steal a car with a manual transmission since many thieves possess varying levels of intellect," Scafidi says. "That very personal element is also a factor in the degree of expertise necessary to overcome some of the more sophisticated security systems.
"Most car thieves are just not that swift and therefore resort to stealing older, easier targets," Scafidi says. "But there are those in the car-thief ranks who are quite capable of making off with anything that they intend to steal."
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Manual car pros
- The vehicle is more engaging for the driver.
- The driver has full control over gears and when to shift.
- It's usually less expensive than an automatic-equipped vehicle.
- The transmission often costs less to repair.
- Resale value on sportier models is typically better.
Manual car cons
- A manual can get tiresome in heavy traffic.
- The learning curve is steep.
- It requires precise control on hills to avoid stalling or rolling back.
- It can be hard to find a manual on higher trim levels.
- Only a limited number of vehicles offer a manual.
Automatic car pros
- It's easier to drive in stop-and-go traffic.
- The majority of vehicles offer an automatic.
- The transmission shifts more quickly and smoothly.
- It offers better gas mileage.
- An automatic transmission with manual control offers drivers the best of both worlds.
Automatic car cons
- It can be more expensive to buy than a manual-equipped car.
- The transmission has more moving parts, leading to higher repair costs.
- It's not as fun to drive — though this is subjective.
- A transmission with lots of gears might shift too often.