Typically, when we hear news about cars with manual transmissions or happen upon an article surrounding the manual, the usual talking points are performance-oriented. Things like power balance, on-demand gear selection, and a slick, positive shift action are just a couple of advantages to a superbly sorted stick shift like the one found in a Honda Civic Type R around a track or during a spirited drive. After all, we do want to reiterate that driving a manual transmission is a sensational experience, so long as the car you’re driving is a good one.
However, what we don’t hear very often about the manual transmission is how it can be advantageous in your normal, daily commute. Many of you, ourselves included, loathe the idea of getting stuck in gridlocked traffic with a manual transmission. You end up smelling the clutch through your air vents while your left leg gets a workout. But, there are quite a few reasons to rock a coal-stirrer in your daily life that don’t have anything to do with performance, and can actually help you.
Using and living with a manual transmission is subject to opinion. But, the following eight reasons may just sway you if you’re on the fence about daily driving a stick shift vehicle.
1
Easier To Drive In Snow
Our first point about the manual transmission being a good choice for daily driving is its unique ability to make driving in snow easier. Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere are currently grueling through winter, with many areas in the southern Continental United States suffering from unprecedented snowfall. While driving in snow is never easy, the manual transmission has an ace up its sleeve.
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By downshifting, or shifting from a higher gear to a lower one, you can take advantage of something called engine braking. Engine braking occurs when the throttle is closed, or the engine is at idle, and engine vacuum is created which slows the car down if the drive wheels are engaged via the transmission. The lower the gear, the better it works. Using engine braking can be safer than using your normal brakes in some instances, as there’s a much smaller chance of wheel lock-up. The engine-braking effect is also more pronounced with a manual transmission, whereas a regular torque-converter automatic can have very little at all, forcing you to use the brakes.
2
Cheaper Maintenance
These days, automatic transmissions can contain up to ten forward gears. This wasn’t always the case, as the four-speed automatic was a mainstay just a couple of decades ago. With the addition of so many more gears, the price of repairing or replacing an automatic transmission increases. However, the manual has topped-out at six gears for the most part, with a few cars using seven-speeds here and there.
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On average, a modern automatic transmission costs roughly between $2,500 and $5,000, according to Cars.com. When it comes to the manual transmission, the average price ranges from $1,800 to $3,400, according to CashForCars.com. On the high end, that’s a savings of $1,600 straight away if you’ve got to replace your manual transmission versus an automatic.
3
Helps Drivers Stay Alert
These days, being distracted while driving is one of the leading causes of vehicular accidents and incidents. Roughly eight percent of all deadly accidents, 14 percent of injurious accidents, and 13 percent of all motor vehicle crashes were attributed to distracted driving in 2023. Many of those instances of distracted driving were caused by cell phone use. In an automatic vehicle, it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security because the car is handling itself, all you need to do is steer, brake, and accelerate.
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However, with a stick shift, you’re part of the entire process of driving. It’s hard to find time to be distracted when you need to shift up and down, while being busy with the clutch all the time and getting your pullaways correct without stalling. It requires more work and attention.
4
Deterring Car Theft
The United States seems to be increasingly allergic to learning how to drive a stick shift car. According to a CBS News report from 2016, only 18 percent of Americans can confidently drive a stick shift car, and the number has likely decreased to some extent since. On top of that, most criminals aren’t interested in becoming keen drivers, as their priorities typically lie elsewhere. This means if your car is potentially spotted and considered for a bit of Grand Theft Auto, having a stick shift sitting at the center console can very well deter the potential thief.
5
The Manual Is Longer-Lasting
The reason behind manual transmission lasting longer is simple. Manuals tend to have fewer parts overall than automatics, and are more robust than most CVT transmissions on the market today. It’s estimated that, on average, a manual transmission is more likely to outlast the engine it’s attached to. Some studies point to the manual lasting an average of 100,000 more miles than a typical automatic, even as the automatic transmission has improved in recent years. Automatics still contaminate their oil faster than manuals as the clutches and bands shed friction material that accelerates wear. This is especially true of wet-clutch dual-clutch transmissions.
Keep in mind that an automatic transmission always has an expiry date, and it will come sooner if you don’t flush the transmission, replace the oil, clean the strainer and/or replace the filter strictly according to the owner’s manual. A good auto will give you several hundred thousand miles if you look after it, while a bad one can expire shortly after 100k miles. Never believe it when your manual says “filled for life”. A well-designed and cared-for manual can survive far longer with minimal attention.
6
Virtually No Power Loss
With automatic transmissions, some engine power is lost to the ether. In an automatic’s case, its torque converter saps some power due to its design. On average, 10 to 15 percent of engine power is lost in an automatic’s torque converter due to slippage, which is necessary for idling in Drive and for smooth gear changes. CVTs and dual-clutch autos are far more efficient, but few can rival the manual for reducing losses. Because a manual is, basically, bolted to the engine with just a flywheel and clutch in the way, virtually no power is lost between the engine and drive wheels. Its helical gear clusters spin away smoothly in the oil, as there are no planetary gearsets rotating, sloshing oil about and incurring losses.
7
Easier To Control The Car Day To Day
We’re not talking about ease of control around a track or down a drag strip. The manual’s unique direct connection to the car’s drive wheels means more feedback is felt by the driver via the clutch pedal. In cases where wheel spin is occurring due to a slippery driving surface, the clutch pedal can let you know it’s happening because it will not “grab” the same way it would under normal, dry conditions. A stick shift is an extra safety measure in this case.
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8
More Meaningful Connection
In an automatic, the driver takes the back seat, in a sense. Sure, you’re needed up front to steer the thing and operate the brake and throttle pedals, but the car does everything else for you. However, with a manual, you’re part of the experience, something that may soon go away for good. For some, the stick shift turns a car into a living entity, and it becomes more of a bonding experience between driver and machine. Once your car becomes more like a horse, in that it’s a living thing, it’s harder to see yourself without it.
Sources: RepairPal.com, CarsForCash.com, CBS News, Motor1.com, MillerAndZios.com, NHTSA.gov.
