Traditionally, the first vehicles were equipped with manual transmissions as this was the only option available at the time.

Once the automatic transmission was introduced in 1940, it was not long before they took over the American auto industry. Just about every car after that was equipped with one.

There is no comparison between the two when it comes to power. For example, in automatic vehicles with small engines, one must floor the gas and wait for the transmission to shift sequentially between 1-3 gears just to get up to speed on highways.

Manuals, on the other hand, give the driver complete control of the gears and allow them to choose which gear they wish to be in, instead of a computer deciding which gear it is programmed for. This results in greater driving pleasure and better fuel efficiency.

Reliability in manuals is a huge advantage over automatics. When service is needed on an automatic vehicle, the parts and labor involved are substantially more expensive and difficult to repair than a manual as there are few, if any, electronics or extra nonsense to work with.

Manuals are cheaper to purchase, as well. Often times, if the option is available and the consumer requests that their vehicle be equipped with a traditional gearbox, the manufacturer will deduct a significant amount from the price of the vehicle. They’re cheaper to manufacture and cheaper to install.

While manuals may have many benefits, there are also some drawbacks.

When stuck in traffic, drivers may get tired of constantly having to clutch, shift, and gas–all at the same time. While fun to operate, manuals most definitely get old when you are not constantly moving.

They are also difficult for most to learn how to drive as well. Many people don’t understand the concept of clutching, shifting, and rev matching. Driving lessons often times end in burnt clutches, multiple stalls, and chirping tires.

In my opinion, the benefits of manuals outweigh those of automatics–mainly because of the ability to have complete control of the vehicle and being able to drive the vehicle the way it was meant to be driven. I personally drive an automatic because it is what I was given, but I have driven manuals before and I plan on doing a conversion in the future.