Quick Facts About Manual Cars
- Even as manual transmissions fall from favor, there is still a wide array of models with manual gearboxes.
- Cars with manual transmissions use third pedals called clutches.
- Acura reintroduced its 2023 Integra with a manual transmission after being discontinued for more than a decade.
When shopping for a car, its transmission — whether automatic or manual — isn’t typically top of mind. After all, most mainstream cars, trucks, and SUVs come with an automatic transmission of some kind. However, if you prefer stirring the gears yourself, finding a new car with a stick shift is a challenge.
According to the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 1% of new cars, trucks, and SUVs are equipped with manual transmissions, down from a peak of 35% in 1980.
Despite a community of driving purists and racers who love manual transmissions, their popularity began sliding because of a lack of demand based on convenience and the increasing fuel efficiency of today’s automatics. Moreover, the transition of some models to fully electric is further eroding the presence of manual transmissions. For example, Porsche’s 718 models, the Cayman and Boxster, are going electric.
But there is still a small market for stick shift cars. Manufacturers offered at least 34 car models and a pickup truck in 2024, with manual transmissions either as standard equipment or optional. The models range from the brawny Ford Bronco SUV to the American classic Chevrolet Camaro.
Here, we’ll give you the lowdown on manual cars, why people like them, how to drive a stick shift, and more.
- What Is a Manual Car?
- Manual vs. Automatic Car
- How To Start a Manual Car
- How To Drive a Manual Car
- Advantages of a Manual
- Is a Manual Transmission Right for You?
- Current Manual Transmission Models Probably on the Chopping Block
- Which 2024 Cars Have a Manual Transmission?
What Is a Manual Car?
A manual transmission car is a vehicle that uses a stick shift and a clutch pedal to change gears. You will shift gears when you want to speed up or slow down. Manual cars sometimes get referred to as “standard.”
Learning how to drive a stick shift car properly is fun, but it takes patience and time. It can be a thing of joy once mastered. You have to learn how to press the clutch pedal with your left foot while shifting the gear lever with your right hand. And don’t forget — you must do all this while trying to drive. If you mess up while doing this, you could stall your car.
Manual vs. Automatic Car
When it comes to the types of transmissions in cars, there are manual or automatic versions. With a manual transmission, the driver shifts the gears. With an automatic transmission, the car shifts the gears automatically, doing the work for you. You may not even be entirely aware when the car changes gears, but when you accelerate and feel your car jump a bit, that’s the car changing gears.
However, if you drive an automatic and still want control over the gears, many new cars come with paddle shifters that allow you to shift gears if you desire manually.
How To Start a Manual Car
To start manual transmission cars, you first need to check out the floor, where the pedals are located. Unlike a car with an automatic transmission, you will notice that a manual car uses a third pedal, known as the clutch. The clutch will be the pedal on the far left.
Depress the clutch with your left foot, put the gear shifter in a neutral position, and either turn the ignition key or press the start button to get the car started. While your left foot presses the clutch, you may also need to keep your right foot on the brake to keep the car from rolling if you’re on a hill. Some people use the emergency brake to keep the car in place during this process, while other cars feature a hill-hold feature that momentarily keeps the vehicle from rolling.
How To Drive a Manual Car
- Shift into first gear. Press the clutch and move the gear lever into first gear.
- Ease the left foot off the clutch as the right foot presses the gas pedal. You can now completely remove your right foot from the brake or emergency brake while simultaneously removing your foot from the clutch. At the same time, use your now free right foot to press the gas pedal gently. This needs to be a smooth, seamless motion. You should feel the car start to move.
- Remove your foot from the clutch. At this point, you should remove your foot from the clutch and only press the accelerator.
- Shift into second gear. As you gain momentum, press your left foot onto the clutch again, and shift the vehicle from first to second gear. The first gear position is usually in the upper left, and shifting to second gear means moving the lever straight down. Again, release the clutch as your right foot presses the gas pedal. This will take some practice to learn how to transition seamlessly, especially when you transition.
- Repeat. You will repeat this process through all the gears to accelerate to your desired speed.
- Slowing down. To slow down a manual car, you will reverse the process, using the same method of pressing in the clutch with your left foot while downshifting. You can also simply put the car in neutral and use the brakes.
- Stopping the vehicle. When you want to stop the car completely, such as at a traffic signal, press down on the brake as you normally would. As your vehicle reaches a slow rolling stop, step onto the clutch.
- Go back to neutral. Place the car in the neutral position again. You can now lift off the clutch pedal while keeping your foot on the brake. To get moving again, repeat the steps above.
Learning when to change gears is the most important part of driving a stick, and timing it properly will help to prevent your car from stalling. This will come with practice.
But you will get the feel of it. When the car speeds up, you will feel the car engine and hear it telling you to switch to the higher gear as you drive. Same for changing to a lower gear to slow down. Some vehicles will also display an indicator when it’s time to shift.
Advantages of a Manual
Once you learn how to drive a stick shift properly, you will understand why driving purists enjoy driving them. There are multiple advantages to driving a manual. They include:
- You have ultimate control over your car. When you drive a manual, you have more control over the vehicle’s speed and handling.
- Acceleration feel. As you switch gears, you decide when the car accelerates. The acceleration can feel livelier because you can hold the gear longer than would be typical in an automatic transmission.
- Cheaper. Since these cars aren’t in high demand anymore, they tend to be cheaper to purchase than their automatic transmission counterparts.
- Makes going up or downhill a breeze. Manually changing the gear can help you get up a steep hill easier. Also, a manual puts less strain on your brakes when going downhill.
Is a Manual Transmission Right for You?
A manual transmission car can be an enjoyable vehicle to drive. Driving a stick shift is a more hands-on driving experience than if you were driving an automatic.
Quickly shifting gears can be exciting and give you a rush when you downshift on the highway to increase your speed. While this does sound fun, a manual isn’t for every driver.
If you are a younger driver and just learning how to operate a vehicle, it is probably best to learn how to drive a traditional automatic before trying your hand at a stick shift. Also, if you do not want to spend days, weeks, or even months learning how to drive a stick shift, then this type of vehicle is not right for you.
Learning how to drive a manual properly can be a tedious task that some people don’t have the time to learn.
Lastly, an automatic car is right for you if you prioritize getting from point A to B and don’t really care about how in tune you are with the driving experience.
Current Manual Transmission Models Probably on the Chopping Block
One way or another, there are several current models featuring a manual transmission that we believe won’t be on this list as early as 2025.
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Honda Civic Hatchback
- Kia Forte GT
- Mini Cooper
- Porsche 718 Boxster
- Porsche 718 Cayman
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Volkswagen Golf R
Which 2024 Cars Have a Manual Transmission?
- 2024 Acura Integra
- 2025 BMW M2
- 2025 BMW M3
- 2025 BMW M4
- 2025 BMW Z4
- 2024 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
- 2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
- 2024 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2024 Ford Bronco
- 2024 Ford Mustang
- 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback
- 2025 Honda Civic Si
- 2024 Honda Civic Type R
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra N
- 2024 Jeep Gladiator
- 2024 Jeep Wrangler
- 2024 Kia Forte GT
- 2024 Lotus Emira
- 2025 Mazda3
- 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2024 Mini Cooper
- 2024 Nissan Versa
- 2024 Nissan Z
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster
- 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman
- 2024 Porsche 911
- 2024 Subaru BRZ
- 2024 Subaru WRX
- 2024 Toyota GR86
- 2024 Toyota GR Corolla
- 2024 Toyota GR Supra
- 2024 Toyota Tacoma
- 2024 Volkswagen Golf R
- 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI
- 2024 Volkswagen Jetta
Note: Some vehicles on this list may still be available on dealer lots as 2024 models, even though we identified them as 2025 models.
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