When I first began driving in the 1960s, knowing how to drive a standard transmission wasn’t an option. Most trucks and muscle cars of that era used standard transmissions. Now, as an ASE and General Motors master technician, transmission specialist and vocational educator, I can count on one hand the number of standard transmissions I’ve had to repair or rebuild. Meanwhile, I’ve lost count of the thousands of automatic transmissions I’ve rebuilt, reconditioned or replaced.

That bares out in the data: Until the 1940s, standard transmissions were the only ones available in cars and trucks. By the end of the 1950s, however, over 80 percent of new cars purchased in the U.S. came equipped with automatic transmissions. By 2020, standard transmissions accounted for only 2 percent of car sales in the U.S.

Automatic transmissions are more complex, require scheduled maintenance, are affected by heat and engine glitches, and are less forgiving to aggressive or high-stress driving. While the valuable advantages of manual transmissions have weakened, that doesn’t mean driving standard doesn’t have its benefits. Some drivers still favor them for their control and overall driving experience.

Ahead, master technicians and automotive industry experts offer their insight into whether standard transmissions are going extinct.

What Is a Standard Transmission?

Closeup gears of standard car transmissionWitthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

A standard or “manual” transmission is a drivetrain component that goes between the engine and axles, capturing engine power and helping deliver it to the drive wheels. A clutch assembly connects the engine with the transmission. Pressing on the clutch pedal disengages the engine from the transmission. This allows the driver to move the gear shifter, which physically moves gearsets inside the transmission. The moving gearsets mesh with and lock and unlock with other gearsets, changing gear ratios depending on vehicle speed and power requirements.

“Manual transmissions require more effort and skill from a driver than an automatic transmission but offer greater precision and control when it comes to the output of the engine in different driving conditions,” says Bill Kirkpatrick, ASE and Volkswagen master technician.

What’s the Difference Between Standard and Automatic Transmission?

Although manual transmissions and automatic transmissions do the same thing (meshing and releasing interlocking gearsets that ultimately turn the drive wheels), they do it in completely different ways.

On a standard transmission, the driver engages in precise choreographed movements of the shifter and clutch, gas and brake pedals depending on the task, which could be:

“Each step requires combinations of either pressing or releasing the clutch pedal, moving the gear shifter, pressing or releasing the accelerator or brake pedal,” says Kirkpatrick.

Automatic transmissions, on the other hand, shift gears using pressurized automatic transmission fluid (ATF). The ATF is routed by a valve body through a sophisticated network of channels and passageways to various internal clutch packs that lock and unlock compound planetary gearsets.

Automatic transmission shifts—both up and down—are controlled by engine load, throttle position, and other factors, while, on standard transmissions, shifting and gear selection are all controlled by the driver’s actions.

Why Don’t Many Cars Come With Standard Transmissions Anymore?

High angle view of woman Inside '50s Car holding the gear shiftFound Image Holdings Inc/Getty Images

According to Kye Grisham, Vice President of Procurement and Automotive Technology at Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation, “Consumer preference for convenience, advancements in automatic transmission efficiency, and regulatory shifts toward fuel economy and emissions standards have made automatics the norm. Plus, gear engagement on automatics allows drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel, making driving safer, simpler and more pleasurable.”

Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org, added, “Not everyone has learned how to drive a stick, so the market for standard transmissions is smaller. In a world where manufacturers try to appeal to as many people as possible, a standard transmission decreases their pool of potential customers.”

Factors that led to standard transmissions being phased out

  • Improvements in modern automatic transmissions have made them highly efficient and offer better fuel economy, lower tailpipe emissions and higher performance than manual transmissions.
  • Driver convenience, particularly when driving in heavy, stop-and-go traffic.
  • Manufacturers find it more costly to design and produce two different transmissions and adapt engines, interiors and other car systems for manual and automatic transmissions.
  • Technology innovations focusing on making cars safer and more comfortable present unique challenges for manufacturers to install in cars with standard transmissions, reducing their need.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs) use a one-speed automatic transmission (hybrids use continuously variable automatic transmissions—CVT) to transfer all the motor’s power directly to the wheels, which affects the number of automatic transmissions needed while also deterring new standard transmission technology.
  • It is difficult, dangerous (and probably banned in most states) to shift gears if you’re holding a cell phone — which you shouldn’t be doing while driving!

What Cars Come With Standard Transmissions?

Modern models available with a standard transmission option include the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, Subaru BRZ, and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Several Jeep models, including the Wrangler, also offer manual options for those who love the outdoors. Budget-friendly cars such as Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa have manual transmission options to help lower costs.

“You are likely to see standard transmissions in vehicles that are marketed for a particular use—sports car enthusiasts, off-road explorers, and commercial trucks requiring heavy-duty use,” says JulieAnna Petrosky, owner and operator of Southwest Auto in Dallas, Texas. According to Edmunds.com, “Both the highly rated Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe and the Chevrolet Corvette C8 are sold without a manual gearbox option. Even Ferrari and Lamborghini no longer offer any vehicles with a clutch pedal or gearbox.”

FAQ

Do standard transmissions last longer than automatic transmissions?

According to Kirkpatrick, standard transmissions do last longer than automatic transmissions. “Standard transmissions lack the complex parts automatics [transmissions] have, such as torque converters, pumps and valve bodies. Nevertheless, how long they last also greatly depends on the driver’s habits,” he says.

Harmful driving habits, like riding the clutch or resting your hand on the shifter while driving, can cause premature wear and tear. Standard transmissions are very dependable and “generally considered less complex as they have fewer moving parts and less moving parts can equate to a longer lifespan,” says Petrosky. However, she adds that “a properly maintained automatic transmission can have a lifespan of 200,000 miles.”

Proper use and regular maintenance, such as timely clutch replacements and checking transmission fluid (gear oil, gear lube) during every oil change, will help prolong a standard transmission’s lifespan.

Are standard transmissions cheaper to repair?

Repair costs can depend, according to Tom Ham, owner of Auto Centric in Grand Rapids, MI. “A standard transmission’s most common repair is likely going to be a clutch replacement, which can get up into four figures depending on make and model.” However, “replacing or rebuilding an automatic transmission or valve body replacement would be significantly more expensive than a clutch replacement though if the fluid and filter were not properly maintained,” says Ham.

Standard transmissions are typically more cost-effective to be repaired. They are made up of fewer components than automatic transmissions, meaning less labor and less cost if parts need replacing.

Do standard transmissions need maintenance?

Yes, standard transmissions do need maintenance, says Kirkpatrick. “While many cars have self-adjusting clutch linkage, you still need to inspect and check ‘free-play’ (the distance the clutch pedal moves before the clutch begins to disconnect from the engine). Also, check the hydraulic fluid [usually brake fluid] if your car has a ‘slave cylinder’—similar to a brake master—instead of linkage to disengage the clutch,” says Kirkpatrick. Inspect the gear shifter to be sure it operates smoothly, check for fluid leaks and change transmission fluid as required.

  • PRO TIP: Not all manual transmission fluids are the same. The same as motor oil, manual transmission fluid comes in different types of weights, contains different additives and comes as conventional or synthetic. It’s always a best practice to check your owner’s manual for the correct fluids your vehicle needs.

Experts

  • Bill Kirkpatrick has over 50 years in the auto repair industry and vocational education. He is an ASE and Volkswagen aficionado and Master Technician, was a shop owner, and a dealership service manager. Bill retired as a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) certified automotive technology and small engine instructor and is also a PA-certified emissions and safety inspection instructor and inspector.
  • Kye Grisham has been in the auto service and maintenance industry for over 25 years and currently serves as Vice President of Procurement and Automotive Technology at Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation.
  • Melanie Musson is an auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org, a published insurance and finance expert, and is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She specializes in the auto industry trends, consumer analyses, and finance.
  • Tom Ham is an automotive service specialist with over four decades in the automotive industry and has owned and operated the highly rated Auto Centric repair shop since 1978.
  • JulieAnna Petrosky has over fifteen years of experience in the automotive repair industry. She owns and operates Southwest Auto, a 15,000 square foot advanced automotive facility specializing in European vehicles, located in Dallas, Texas.

Resources

Author
Bob Lacivita
Since rebuilding his first engine at age 14, cars have been Bob Lacivita's passion, as well as his way of life. He went on to become an award-winning ASE and General Motors auto technician, vocational educator, career and technical center administrator, technical consultant and freelance writer; teaching legions of students and readers about DIY ca...
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Bob Lacivita