Should You Buy a Car with a Manual Transmission?

If you're an enthusiast, go ahead. But if you're concerned about fuel economy or resale value, maybe not.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Aug 10, 2023 | 3 min read

Ford

Manual transmissions have a reputation for delivering superior performance and better gas mileage than automatic transmissions, but you wouldn't know that by looking at today's new-car market, where stick shifts are increasingly rare.

In this age of advanced automatics, are there still any benefits to seeking out a clutch pedal in a brand-new car or truck? 

Manual Transmission Impact on Fuel Economy

For most of the 20th century, manual transmissions offered a clear gas mileage advantage over automatic transmissions. There were several reasons for this, ranging from technical (torque converter designs in automatics sapped power from the drivetrain) to practical (the driver of a manual could precisely match gear selection to traffic conditions and topography and could disengage the gearbox while idling).

The 21st century brought many advances in automatic transmission design that started to close the fuel efficiency gap. The number of gears available for automatics blossomed from four to six to eight to 10, enabling better gear selections by smarter computer controllers that had more sensor data to help inform their decisions. Automated dual-clutch transmissions eliminated torque converters entirely, while traditional automatics saw their converters dramatically improved. Finally, there was the advent of continuously variable automatics, which can alter their gear ratios to precisely balance efficiency and performance at all times.

All of this has swung the fuel-efficiency pendulum in favor of automatics when comparing the same model car. 

Are Manual Transmission Models Still Cheaper to Buy?

The days when almost every vehicle's base trim came with a manual gearbox are over. There are very few manual transmission vehicles left on the market. In fact, just 1.7% of new vehicles sold in 2022 feature the technology, according to data analytics company J.D. Power.

Although a few economy-oriented choices remain, such as the Mazda 3, most manual-transmission vehicles on the market are specialty models catering to enthusiasts, such as the Ford Mustang and the Subaru BRZ, or the utility-focused Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler.

The Subaru BRZ is $1,500 cheaper with its manual gearbox, but models like the Mustang and the Mazda 3 require buyers to choose higher trim levels to select a manual option, further underscoring how clutch pedals now target niche car buyers. 

Does a Manual Transmission Affect Resale Value?

In general, there are fewer drivers who know how to operate a manual transmission and even fewer who are likely to seek one out. It's here that the scarcity of this feature cuts both ways, making a manual car unappealing to the majority of buyers, even though it might be prized among a small subset of shoppers. This tends to lower the residual value of most manual-equipped models.

For instance, Kelley Blue Book reports that as of July 2023, a 2020 Honda Accord Sport with 36,000 miles is worth $22,420 if it has a manual transmission and $23,437 with an automatic transmission. The two models were priced exactly the same when new.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.