But shift quality and fuel economy vary, so check our ratings and try before you buy. Most manual transmissions can deliver better fuel economy and acceleration. Because relatively few buyers are choosing manual transmissions, the car could be harder to sell later.Congested traffic conditions can require a lot of shifting and working the clutch pedal.We found that in some cars, having to depress the clutch pedal fully made an already bad driving position worse.For example, a car with a manual transmission is harder to get under way when stopped on an uphill (although many these days come with a helpful hill-holder feature). Manuals require more skill and experience to operate well.They are found mainly on small cars and sports cars. Manual transmissions are available on only a relatively few models, which narrows your choices.Of course, there are other disadvantages to buying a stick: It is much cheaper to produce 100 percent stick than a mix. A likely explanation is that the World War 2 hit Europe harder than the United States, and that post-war poverty in Europe led to cheaper standardized cars with stick shifts. (The basic Sonic we tested was a sedan the turbocharged, manual-transmission LTZ was a hatchback.) Cheaper cars, such as the Hyundai Accent and Mazda2, all got better mileage with a stick shift. Automatic gearing was considered an unnecessary luxury (for people who cannot drive). On the other hand, the Chevrolet Sonic got better mileage with its six-speed manual transmission, even with its turbocharged engine, than it did with the base engine and six-speed automatic transmission. We saw the same effect with the Ford Fiesta with its basic 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. In a few cases, however, the latest automatic-transmission designs, including six-speed automatics, actually surpass their manual counterparts.įor example, the Mazda3 i gets one more mpg with its six-speed automatic than its six-speed manual, largely because the automatic has taller gearing, so the engine revs slower on the highway, using less gas. In most, we found the manual delivered better mpg overall. According to CarMax, a low of 2.5 of shoppers actually want a manual transmission car to drive.That doesn’t mean that knowing how to drive a stick shift won’t come in handy or isn’t a useful skill. We have bought several sets of test cars of different types with both manual transmission and automatic transmissions and run them through our fuel-economy and acceleration tests. When it comes to driving, a car with an automatic transmission is much more popular these days than driving stick. And many drivers find driving with a stick more engaging and fun. That can be a welcome benefit with a smaller engine. In a car fitted with an automatic transmission, the car shifts gears for you. Manual transmissions often can also improve acceleration, sometimes significantly. Close up of manual stick shift showing difference between manual and automatic. In our tests, we've found that in some cars a manual transmission can improve gas mileage by a significant 2 to 5 mpg, compared with an automatic, and can cut a car's price by $800 to $1,200. In your quest for better fuel economy and more value, don't overlook the potential benefits of shifting yourself.
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