New developments in manual transmissions offer more options for drivers, including a hybrid that provides both automatic and manual shifting.

By Dennis McCafferty

This isn't your father's manual shift.

Remember the days when your dad sat next to you in the passenger seat and insisted that you master 'the stick'? Do you recall thinking that a manual shift would be a piece of cake if it weren't for the blasted clutch? If you were like the majority of vehicle buyers, you eventually gave up and paid a bit more in base price and mileage to drive an automatic.

But guess what? The manual transmission is alive and well, with many drivers still swearing by the classic stick-and-clutch models.

To make things even more interesting, automakers are coming up with new technologies that allow additional drivers to experience the 'Formula One'-styled fun of the stick, while doing away with that intimidating clutch. And if all you want is fuel savings, there are now five- and six-speed automatic models — and even seven- and eight-speed versions — that are more than competitive when it comes to mileage economy, experts say.

The Skinny on Standard Stick Models

While they're not as popular as they used to be, traditional manual transmissions still account for 8 percent to 10 percent of annual passenger car sales, according to Mike Omotoso, an analyst at J.D. Power and Associates. He says they are most popular in sports cars such as the Ford Mustang, Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky and Chevrolet Corvette, as well as in compact cars like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta/New Beetle.

In the truck segment, Omotoso says the leaders in manual transmissions are the Dodge Ram 3500, Jeep Wrangler, and small pickup trucks like the Ford Ranger, Mazda B-Series and Isuzu I-series. In the sports car segment, where one might expect a very high share of manual transmissions, about two-thirds of Mustang and Corvette buyers choose manual transmissions.

There's a common perception about the fuel economy of traditional manual-shift vehicles that's a bit misleading. "It used to be that a manual transmission had significantly better fuel economy than an automatic, but now the difference is negligible," Omotoso says. "In fact, many vehicles today with a five- or six-speed automatic have better fuel economy in the city than [vehicles] with a five-speed manual. The highway mileages are also similar.

"If we take the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe as an example, the 3.5l V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway. The same car with a six-speed manual gets only 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway."

Alternative Options Abound

Thanks to innovations in automotive technologies, there are now more options for drivers who may want a hybrid of automatic and manual shifting, such as a technology commonly referred to as automated manual transmissions (AMTs). "It's a trend on the rise," says Jason Kavanagh, engineering editor for Edmunds.com. "Beyond their ability to be shifted manually or left in automatic mode, they exhibit enhanced fuel economy compared to traditional torque converter automatics. As such, AMTs could conceivably supplant both traditional manuals and automatics."

AMTs and other forms of manual-shift automatics often offer the control of a manual shift via the 'paddle' shift concept, which allows drivers to shift gears using 'plus and minus' paddles located behind the steering wheel or a console lever. The VW R32, Audi TT, Mitsubishi Lancer and Nissan GT-R are examples of models that offer AMT/paddle-shift options for drivers.

Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) are another transmission technology that's available in some cars. Instead of having fixed gear ratios like a conventional manual or automatic, CVTs constantly adjust to the current driving conditions. Since there are no gear "steps" to shift between, CVTs often operate more smoothly than other technologies, according to Kavanagh. Many of the top auto manufacturers have offered CVT models over the years, including Dodge/Jeep with the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.

Taking Transmissions to a Higher Level

If that's not enough to diversify what used to be a two-headed decision — stick or automatic? — there are now even seven- and eight-speed transmissions being introduced by Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. "They're currently offering these in an attempt to simultaneously address fuel economy, performance, shift smoothness and, of course, bragging rights," Kavanagh says.

Clearly, there are many choices out there — and that's a good thing for drivers.

"The manual versus automatic debate is a generational one," points out J.D. Power's Omotoso, who predicts that traditional manual-transmission vehicles will account for 7 percent to 9 percent of the overall sales market and 'pure' automatics will decline as alternatives emerge in popularity.

"Older drivers grew up driving a stick," he says, "but many of today's teens and 20-somethings have only seen cars with automatic transmissions. In Europe, you take your driving exam and rent cars with manual transmissions unless you specifically ask for an automatic. In the United States, it's the opposite. There's no right or wrong answer, and we're getting more choices than ever."

Bio: Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer with extensive experience in the automotive field, as well as with NASCAR. He has written for Chrysler magazine, UAW-GM People magazine, Dodge Tomorrow magazine and Corvette Quarterly.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.