Ah, the age-old question. Okay, so it’s probably not as old as time, but it’s a good one. So why do people buy cars with manual transmissions? There are a few parts to this answer.
Many die-hard car enthusiasts love stick shifts mainly because of how much fun manual transmissions are to drive. There is a level of control and involvement with manuals that makes shifting so much more engaging than automatic transmissions. For drivers who are comfortable with driving a manual, many have a hard time going back to an automatic.
Then again, there are those that prefer not having to shift gears constantly. In addition, automatic vehicles are typically more fuel efficient and don’t require as much coordination as manual vehicles. That said, if automakers could have things a certain way most would prefer to only make and sell automatic transmissions. It’s a win-win. Not only is making and selling only one type of transmission cheaper for automakers, customers are more likely to be happy because they are getting great fuel economy.
In fact, it used to be less expensive for car shoppers to purchase a vehicle with a manual transmission. When automatic transmissions were brand new the cost for one could be as much as an additional $1,000 or more. Luckily today the “option” for an automatic transmission is often built into the price of the vehicle.
Today more and more people are driving vehicles with automatic transmissions. Some driving schools no longer teach how to drive a manual and the “art” of the perfect gear shift is not as strong as it was. For many car enthusiasts the manual will always be better. There’s just something special about it.
Which do you prefer to drive: manual or automatic?
