The Mycenaean

Driving a manual, or stick shift, car is an uncommon, but rewarding experience that many drivers today miss out on.

Stick shift cars are becoming increasingly obsolete in the United States. According to an article from the New York Times, only about 1% of cars produced today are manual transmissions, and only 18% of US drivers can drive stick. 

I drive a stick, and I was hesitant about it at first, but now I love my car more than I could have ever imagined. Of course, a first car is always something special, but I feel an even greater bond to it because it is a stick shift. 

Manual vs. Automatic

There are several types of transmissions for cars. The most common are manual and automatic.

Manual transmissions are generally five or six-speed, and the driver controls the changes between gears. The driver has three pedals: the gas, the brake, and the clutch, which disconnects the engine from the transmission during gear shifts. 

Automatic transmissions have five or six gears like a manual, but the car changes gears on its own. The car has mechanisms that allow it to control the revolutions per minute (RPM) independently.

How to Drive Stick

Learning how to drive a stick shift is complicated at first, but once you get the muscle memory, it becomes natural. 

Seth Marshall, junior, used to have a manual car. “[Learning how to drive stick] was honestly pretty easy because I already knew the concept. I just drove it and picked it up pretty quick.”

The idea is simple. Use your right hand to change gears with the stick. When you change gears, use your left foot to disconnect the engine from the transmission with the clutch pedal. 

You cannot just press the clutch in and out all at once. You have to do it slowly, and in time with the accelerator, so your car does not jerk. First, find the friction point, where the clutch begins to engage the engine. Then, add gas steadily. 

This maneuver is hardest when getting the car moving from a stopped position because if you release the clutch too fast, the engine stalls out and you have to restart the car. Hills are a challenge to start on because if you let the clutch out but do not give the engine enough gas, the car will roll backward.

What gets tricky is watching the road, remembering traffic laws, having a conversation, and hearing the radio play in the background, all while trying to shift smoothly.

I learned how to drive on an automatic, and learned stick later, which was helpful because I was already comfortable driving. I only had to adjust the actual operation of the vehicle. It was frustrating at first, but with frequent practice, I adapted.

Marshall said, “I just wanted to learn how to do it. I thought it was a useful skill to have… the only way to learn is to have a car that is a stick.”

Pros and Cons of Driving Stick

The biggest benefit of driving a stick shift is that it is enjoyable. You are completely in control of the car and have a deeper understanding of how driving works. 

“I think it’s more fun. You get to really feel like you’re in touch with the car,” said Marshall.

Hayden Crump, senior, has an automatic but has driven a manual before. “It’s a lot harder, and it takes time to get used to, but when you’re driving it, it makes driving more fun,” said Crump.

Manuals also have simpler parts than automatics, meaning they tend to be less expensive to purchase and repair. I chose a manual car because it had significantly less mileage than automatics in the same price range. 

In the car market, stick shifts are usually cheaper than an automatic of the same model, whether you’re buying new or used.

In terms of fuel efficiency, manuals are not that different from an automatic unless you are looking at older cars. Manuals use less gas to shift gears which used to give them a leg up in their gas mileage. However, as automatics improved over time, their fuel economy caught up with manuals.

Driving stick shift also requires the driver to pay more attention, meaning they cannot be texting or eating food while driving.

“You can’t be on your phone, you have to pay attention to the road, pay attention to what gear you’re in. If you’re going too slow then you’ll stall,” said Marshall.

Parents may appreciate this added safety, however some drivers view the focus needed to drive stick as a con. Crump chose an automatic for this reason.

“When I was looking at Mustangs, a lot of the Mustangs are stick shift, but… I drive it a lot so if I ever needed to be in a situation where I was doing something else while I was driving, I didn’t want to have to worry about shifting as well,” said Crump

“You have to pay attention more and it’s not as easy,” said Marshall.

Driving stick can definitely test your patience, especially when you are creeping along bumper to bumper in the student parking lot. However, it’s worth it to have the connection to your vehicle.

The Future of  Driving Stick

In countries outside of the US, like the United Kingdom, manuals are common. However, in America, companies are making manuals less and less, and the number of people interested in learning stick is decreasing. Nevertheless, people continue to buy manuals. Most purchasers are car enthusiasts, but even people who have never once looked at a car engine get a manual once in a while. 

“I think there’s a lot of people out there that really enjoy them and will keep buying them as long as they keep making them,” said Crump.

At the end of the day, driving stick shift is cool. It’s a great skill to add to your repertoire, adding flavor and excitement to your drive.