Explore the revival of manual transmission cars, why enthusiasts still love them, and how they deliver control, performance, and driving joy.
Introduction
Yes, they are bringing manual transmissions back. Automatic transmissions may have largely replaced manual ones globally in the last two decades, but surprisingly there is a revival of sorts for cars with stick shifts, which are suddenly in demand among fans, young drivers, and even some manufacturers that are reintroducing the option of manual transmission in some new ranges of cars.
A Short History of the Fall
Manual transmissions, once standard, started to disappear in the 1990s and 2000s as automatics became more refined, fuel efficient, and easier to drive. By the 2010s, manual options were disappearing from many manufacturers in the face of automatics, continuously variable transmissions, and dual-clutch setups, typically in luxury cars and family cars. Add in not having to shift, particularly in traffic, and automatics became the go-to for many who owned cars.
Why Are Manual Cars Popular Again?
There’s more to the resurgence of cars with manual transmissions than a mix of nostalgia and hipster street cred.
Engaged driving: Manual transmissions provide a level of engagement that you just can’t find in an automatic. Fans also like the more tactile hands-on experience of shifting gears and managing the power of the engine with their own right foot.
Affordability: In some markets vehicles of the same make and model are cheaper to buy and repair when fitted with manual transmissions. Although the price gap has closed gradually over the last few years, there are still many cheaper models that have a manual option for price-conscious buyers.
Performance heritage: The perfect examples are sports car brands such as Porsche, BMW, and Mazda, which have brought back or kept manuals in some of their performance models because of an overwhelming amount of consumer interest. For instance, the new Toyota GR86 and the Mazda MX-5 Miata still come with manual gearboxes for purists.
Youthful Upward Mobility: Contrary to what many believe, younger drivers, particularly in the U.S., are actually stepping up to the challenge of learning how to drive a stick shift. Some blame social media car culture, YouTube influencers, and the impulse to stand out for embracing the stick shift.
Automakers Listening to the Fans
In response to consumer demand, a number of car companies have sought to preserve or revive manual options in their models. Toyota’s new Supra will be available with a manual gearbox after the company was forced to revise an automatic-only launch strategy due to disappointed customers. The Civic also gets a six-shooter, as Honda still makes a few performance variants available with a conventional three-pedal gearbox. Even niche brands like Subaru and Mini still offer manual options because they know their core customer base cares about driving.
The Influence of Car Enthusiast Communities
A big part of the manual car revival has come from the online car communities, forums, and social media groups. On platforms like YouTube and TikTok, there are tutorials on learning to drive a manual, road trip vlogs in which characters navigate stick shift cars, and content that celebrates the thrill of rowing your own gears. This reinvigoration has seen a pop culture return to waving little generations in the direction of manual driving.
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Challenges and Limitations
For all the enthusiasm, there are obstacles in the way of the resurrection of the manual transmission. Electric cars, the future of driving, don’t need a manual transmission. And automatics are still the overwhelming choice of the city-bound and traffic-weary masses of drivers who value ease of driving in traffic. Also, many carmakers have trimmed back the number of manuals available in their mainstream cars to the point where manual choices are available only on models designed for performance or as entry-level versions.
The Road Ahead
Manual transmissions aren’t likely ever to regain the majority share, but their revival means something more fundamental: a longing for the connection between the driver and the machine. And as cars continue to become more automated and autonomous, some drivers also say they want to be able to hang onto that sense of control. For nostalgia, for performance, for the raw connection to driving, the manual transmission is having a last hurrah among enthusiasts who won’t give it up without a fight.