Get on the stick: Manual transmissions can save gas and money
Get on the stick: Manual transmissions can save gas and money Conventional wisdom says that manual transmissions deliver better gas mileage than an automatic, especially if the majority of your driving is done on highways. A stick shift may also give you improved acceleration (particularly helpful if the car’s got a small engine) and the unquantifiable fun factor (many drivers feel that driving a manual is really driving). But do these old adages still hold true? Consumer Reports purchased and tested numerous vehicles in the past few months in both
manual and automatic form to see. In the subsequent tests, we’ve found
that a stick shift can improve gas mileage by a notable 2 to 5 mpg,
compared with an automatic transmission, and can cut a car’s price by
$800 to $1,200. But there are downsides to driving “old school.” For example, not as many vehicles are still available with a manual; you need some experience to operate a stick shift and clutch smoothly; getting going with a manual transmission on hills can be a challenge (think San Francisco); and driving a manual in city traffic can be a tiring hassle (push the clutch in, let it out…). Depending on the model, a manual may also make it harder to sell your car since many people are intimidated by the aforementioned list of living with a stick-shift car. See the highlights in the accompanying video, and read the larger report, “Save gas and money with a manual transmission.” –Desiree Calamari