The Manual Transmission is Dead (And That's Okay)

I can hear the pitchforks sharpening already. The comments section is likely already filling up with vitriol. “Save the Manuals!” has been the rallying cry of automotive enthusiasts for over a decade. It is a badge of honor, a secret handshake, a way of distinguishing “real” drivers from the point-A-to-point-B masses.

And I get it. I really do. I learned to drive on a stick shift—a beat-up 1998 Honda Civic with a clutch that engaged about an inch from the floor. My current weekend car has three pedals. There is a unique, tactile joy in nailing a perfect heel-toe downshift, feeling the gears mesh through the palm of your hand, and having complete mechanical control over the machine.

But let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment: the manual transmission is dead. It’s over. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.

The Objective Argument is Gone

For decades, the manual transmission had objective advantages. It was faster, more fuel-efficient, lighter, and cheaper than the slushbox automatics of the time. If you bought a sports car in the 90s with an automatic, you were actively choosing a worse car. You were sacrificing performance for convenience.

That is no longer true. In fact, the opposite is now the case.

Modern automatic transmissions—especially dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) like Porsche’s PDK or Volkswagen’s DSG—shift faster than any human ever could. They are seamless, relentless, and brutally efficient. A Porsche 911 with a PDK is significantly faster around a racetrack than one with a manual. It gets better gas mileage. It is easier to drive in traffic.

Even traditional torque-converter automatics, like the ZF 8-speed found in everything from BMWs to Jeeps, are marvels of engineering. They lock up early, shift imperceptibly, and offer more gears to keep the engine in its powerband.

The argument that a manual is “better” in any measurable way died years ago.

It’s About Experience, Not Superiority

So why do we cling to it? Because driving isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how it makes you feel.

The manual transmission has become an anachronism, like listening to vinyl records or shooting film photography. We don’t listen to vinyl because it’s the most efficient way to consume music (that would be Spotify). We do it because we enjoy the ritual. We like the tactile nature of dropping the needle. We like the imperfections.

Driving a manual car forces you to be present. You cannot text and drive. You cannot zone out. You have to listen to the engine, plan your braking points, and be an active participant in the process of movement. In a world that is increasingly automated and insulated, that engagement is precious.

But we need to stop pretending that this preference makes us superior. Driving a manual doesn’t make you a better driver; it just means you enjoy a different type of challenge.

The EV Extinction Event

The final nail in the coffin isn’t the automatic transmission; it’s electrification. Electric vehicles do not need multi-speed transmissions. An electric motor produces maximum torque from zero RPM. One gear is all you need to go from 0 to 150 mph.

Toyota and Hyundai are experimenting with “simulated” manual transmissions for EVs, complete with fake engine noises and a clutch pedal that doesn’t actually do anything. To me, this is worse than letting it die. It’s a pantomime, a Disney World version of driving that insults our intelligence.

Acceptance and Celebration

As we move toward an electric future, the manual transmission faces its final extinction. It is already disappearing from regular cars. You can’t buy a manual Honda Accord or Mazda 3 sedan anymore. It is being relegated to a niche within a niche—expensive sports cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 or the Gordon Murray T.50.

And you know what? That’s fine.

We can cherish the manual cars of the past without demanding that every modern commuter appliance comes with a stick shift that nobody buys. The take rate for manuals in the US is hovering around 1-2%. Manufacturers cannot justify the engineering cost for such a tiny sliver of the market.

Let the manual transmission die with dignity. Let it live on in the classic cars we restore and the weekend toys we cherish. But let’s stop shaming people for buying automatics. Let’s stop pretending that a manual makes a crossover better.

The war is over. The automatic won. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the few manual holdouts while they last. Just don’t expect them to be around forever.

The Takeaway:

• Automatics are objectively superior in performance and efficiency.
• Manuals are about emotional engagement, not speed.
• EVs make gears obsolete.
• Enjoy the manuals we have left, but accept the future.