Definite plus. Especially if the R is not in the same spot and the shift knob is not marked.
The drawback is the are a few mechanics and more and more valets that cannot drive a stick.
Manual cars have been dropping off for the past decade really.
People need to be able to check their phones instead of paying attention to shifting. Prioritiesā¦
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I had manual Mustang in the 90ās and I worked nights so it wasnāt a big deal, but today driving in rush hour traffic every day is a hard pass.
Not that hard, but to each their own. Majority prefers automatic.
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I drove a stick for 16 years. I donāt miss it. Yes, I agree that I felt like I had more control of the car, but never again. Automatic transmissions are so good now, you canāt shift as fast as an automatic now.
Not quite, especially when you are in lower gears. I will take a stick shift any day when stuck in traffic or at a red light. Small European cars vs small American cars are a good example. Automatic cars are much better now but as far as ātaking offā stick shift transmission is still way quicker.
Sorry dude. Look at the 0-60 numbers for any car. Anything from the Mustang GT, to the Corvette, to the Porsche 911. The automatic numbers are quicker than the manual.
And they last longer.
We had to put two new clutches in an MGB* back in the day and the car only lasted 80K miles (before it was totalled in a rollover acccident - minor injuries only thank the Lord).
Also, two new clutches in a VW Rabbit* that lasted over 150K.
*Probably didnāt help that both cars were ālearning vehiclesā for new drivers. Thatās so hard on a clutch.
Since the 90s Iāve driven several auto transmission cars/trucks over 200K, including a current F150 with 249K miles, and never had to repair any of their transmissions.
** The look on my dad when the clutch went out after I had been driving the MG for only a year (and 12K miles or so)
My Nissan went 150k before the clutch went
And you can replace a lot of clutches for what it costs to replace an automatic transmission.
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This is true. But if an auto transmission never goes out that cost, as Iāve been lucky to have, is zero. Both stick shift cars I had needed two replacements.
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I am with you on stick all the way, but this is no longer accurate. Tech wise, autos are faster and more fuel efficient than manuals.
Manual transmission is mostly about driver engagement now. I think it is funny to see two people at a light revving their engines as it now has nothing to do with who is a better driver, but who paid for the faster car. The American way - who can spend the most (applies to college sports too).
Also a clutch is still slightly cheaper to replace than an automatic transmission. Prices are climbing though. As for clutches failing easily or often, that is more driver error. I have never had a clutch fail on a car with under 120,000 miles (not even the turbo charged one). My current car is past that now and on the original clutch (knock on wood).
For reference - I have never bought an automatic car in my life, only manual transmissions.
PS. I have known more people with failed auto than manual. Even the car insurance ads reference transmissions going out.
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I can see the day coming (maybe already here ?) when you will
pay a high premium to get a standard transmission car. And of course
with EV revolution, the entire transmission contraption isnāt even needed.
Itās time has come and gone.
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Iāve replaced a lot of auto transmissions (150K, 100K, 85K, 200K) and only replaced one clutch in a manual (125K). Luck of the draw, I suppose.
And the cost of transmissions now is extraordinarily high because theyāre so much more complex. Iāve easily spent more than $25K replacing/repairing automatic transmissions over the years compared to about $500 on the one clutch, but most miles have been driving on autos.
It used to be the case that ābaseā models had manual transmissions, but theyāve figured out that people will now pay more to get them as part of a āsportsā package or whatever. It sucks to not really have that choice anymore.
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DAMN! What brand of cars have you driven with the autotrans failures? Hereās my list of non-failure vehicles:
Ford Ranger 1990
Mazda Escape 2000
Saturn LS200 2001 - Bought used
Toyota Camry 2006 - Bought used
Ford F150 2013 still own
Ford Escape Hybrid 2024
Owned many different auto trans cars over the last three plus decades.
Never had a transmission fail.
But maybe Iām just lucky.
Most of the trouble started post-2008.
I had a 2003 Expedition with about 150K miles that was starting to have wonky shifts and my wife wanted something a little smaller, so we got a 2010 Acadia. That thing had several issues, and the transmission was the last straw. Its replacement was a 2017 Grand Cherokee that was OK for 150K miles, but it is sitting at the shop with a bad transmission and about 200K miles right now. Debating next steps.
I had a 2008 GMC pickup that crashed out at about 175K - no warning, just a big THUNK when I pulled out of the driveway one day. Replaced that transmission (about 2 months before the stupid Acadia) and drove it for another 100K miles.
My sonās 2020 Colorado had weird things going on with the transmission from pretty early on, but heās a dipshi!t and didnāt get it dealt with before the warranty ran out, so that was an expensive lesson.
Iāve driven a ton of miles over the years, and Iāve kept most vehicles for at least 200K, so things are gonna happen. Still, Iāve probably driven manuals for 500K miles and just replaced that one clutch on an '89 Pathfinder.
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I taught my wife and both kidsā¦.my daughter graduated from college last year and promptly went out and bought an M2ā¦.she still lives at home so my wife and I both drive it a bitā¦.itāll pin your head back.
I had a 1988 Trans Am GTA back in HSā¦.thats what I learned on. 
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My first new car was the 95 Trans Am with a 6-speed.
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When I met my future wife, she drove a Pinto with a 3 speed stick. It was fun to drive. It was first of several she would total over the years. All sticks.
The last one I got for her was an automatic. 4 wheel drive. Knock on wood, she hasnāt totaled it. Damaged it? More than a couple of times. Xterras are tough
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