Jenna PrestininziDetroit Free Press
Shifting gears, the feel of the clutch underneath your foot. These mark the experience behind the wheel of a manual transmission car — now a rare breed in the U.S.
Though the American auto industry focuses on automatic vehicles, some car enthusiasts continue to hit the road with a stick shift. Manual transmission vehicles offer more control, with drivers maneuvering the shifter between gears.
Buying local
You'll find less manual transmission vehicles on the market, but there are still local offerings.
Suburban Cadillac of Plymouth sells two manual transmission cars, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. The dealership sees high demand for the CT5-V Blackwing and keeps manual transmission cars in stock, said Executive Manager Mark Naszradi.
Studying the gears
Giuseppe Frustaci founded Stick Shift Driving Academy after struggling to find instructors for manual transmission driving. The metro Detroit business has been providing manual transmission driving lessons since 2018, pairing students with instructors.
"When I saw how difficult it was to learn stick shift or find someone to teach me, I thought to myself, 'hey, they're might be a business here,'" Frustaci said.
Customers typically seek the academy's services for work, travel, when buying a new manual transmission vehicle or learning to drive one already in the household, Frustaci said.
'More control': behind the wheel of a stick shift
Stephanie Brinley, associate director at S&P Global Mobility, owns three manual transmission cars, a 2002 Audi TT Coupe, a 2012 Mazda Miata and a 2016 Cadillac ATS-V.
"I think a manual transmission can keep you a little bit more engaged in the driving process," Brinley said.
Though manual drivers must shift the gears themselves, automatic drivers can achieve high speeds and fuel-efficiency while the car does the work for them.
"Having more control doesn't necessarily mean you're more efficient and depending on your skill as a driver doesn't even mean you're faster, but it can be more fun all the same," Brinley said.
Staff and customers at Stick Shift Driving Academy adapted to run the business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was challenging to navigate all of those preferences and try to honor everyone's needs and desires for themselves while not trying to force one person's views and preferences on the other," Frustaci said.
Brinley got her start learning to drive stick shift around her college years, purchasing a 1993 Acura Integra GSR as her first manual transmission car.
"The shift action was really smooth and light and really engaging," Brinley said.
A shifting industry
Brinley represents part of an increasingly small subsection of American drivers, with most opting for the convenience of an automatic transmission car. Though most customers drive automatic transmission, there's been an uptick in manual transmission car sales, per CarMax.
"Because of the way cars are built, manual transmissions used to be the cheap car, the value car because they got better gas mileage and they cost less," said Brian Moody, executive editor of Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.
Unlike the U.S., parts of Asia, Europe and Latin America maintain high rates of manual transmission cars, according to experts.
In the 20th century, manual transmissions defined the typical American car, with classics like Cadillac and Ferrari. However, in recent decades, the industry shifted toward automatic as the new standard.
Brinley enjoys the control manual transmission cars offer, she said.
"They don't feel as much like work to me, it feels much more like having fun," Brinley said.
Naszradi also drives a manual transmission car and recalls how they were once widespread among drivers.
"It's just more fun, it's more engaging, it has some pretty unique technology built in," Naszradi said.
Manual transmission cars allow drivers to be in the moment when they get behind the wheel, Frustaci said.
"I think there's a certain, not only romantic appeal of driving a stick shift, but also a certain engagement where when we talk with customers, or our instructors for that matter, they're focused on being present and connected and it's a little bit of the thumbing of the nose at modernity," Frustaci said.
For those interested in purchasing a manual transmission car, get ready to pick from a niche selection. Currently, a few companies offer over 30 new manual cars for purchase from the 2023 and 2024 markets.
"Be prepared to have a limited choice of vehicles because the market has really shifted quite away from them," Brinley said.
Buyers can take advantage of buying a manual transmission car now, as the vehicles will likely become a rarity in the future, Naszradi said.
"I think it's a great time, if it's on your mind jump in now because shortly it's not going to be an option," Naszradi said.
If you're getting ready to learn to drive manual transmission cars, prepare for about 10-20 hours of practice to get comfortable, Frustaci said. Stick Shift Driving Academy often pairs customers with a car, practicing in parking lots and on the road.
"You're going to learn. It's going to take some time if they relax, if they allow it to take as long as it's going to be," Frustaci said.
The role of manual transmission cars will likely continue to decline in the U.S. auto industry, according to experts.
"As we continue to evolve, I'm sure that the automatic transmissions will get even better in the future and in a way making the manual transmissions obsolete," Naszradi said.
