Manual Or Automatic? Which is the better option?

By jsmith on March 18, 2019

There was a time not long ago when one of the first questions a car salesman would ask you, a potential car buyer, “Manual or automatic?”

Before long, the manual transmission with its stick shift and clutch were mostly associated with trucks and high-performance cars. The conscientious car buyer once enjoyed the benefits offered by the stick shift. Greater control, better fuel mileage, and the knowledge that you possessed a skill that many lacked.

Progress in the manufacture of the automatic transmission erases some but not all of the advantages of the manual.  Now, this doesn’t mean that manual transmission vehicles have vanished, many of us actually prefer the manual. And will go to great lengths to shun those who choose the automatics.  Somehow it makes men less manly, and makes women more ditsy if they don’t have a manual.  But that’s a conversation for another time.

So let’s break it down.

The BMW offers the M240i in a

manual for both the coupe and convertible. Be aware that choosing the manual in the 2-series does take away the all-wheel drive. BMW offers it in the 4-series, a two-door manual transmission. The 6-series is, according to Car and Driver, the last big sedan with a manual transmission.

The Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, a six-speed manual, will save you $2000 over its automatic sibling.

Chevrolet keeps a manual transmission its Camaro, though the ability to have more control over the engine speed will add about $1,600 to the ticket price. Chevy has put a seven-speed manual into its Corvette ZR1. The Chevy Sonic comes with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder with a stick. The Chevy Spark is one of the cheaper manuals, with a sticker price of $13,925.

The Dodge Challenger has produced a dynamo with its 707-hp SRT Hellcat with its six-speed manual. The automatic version comes as an eight-speed.

The Honda Accord, Civic, and Fit are each offered with a manual transmission in the popular middle-priced cars.

Hyundai Accent is a basic car with a few desirable upgrades, such as automated emergency braking, in a package that starts at less than $16,000. The Elantra offers more power than the Accent, also in a manual. The Elantra GT presents to the consumer a smooth driving experience even if it won’t beat a comparable sporty sedan off the line when the light turns green. The Hyundai Veloster features a turbocharged 201-hp engine on top of its six-speed manual. The Veloster is also noticeable for its quirky three-door design.

Jaguar’s F-Type manual is one of the most affordable ways to get into the iconic Jaguar line. Unfortunately, it has already announced that the 2019 Jaguar F-Type won’t feature a manual transmission.

The Kia Forte has a fuel-efficient four cylinder engine for under 20-grand.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an affordable manual with the option of a soft-top convertible that starts at $26,650.

Mini Cooper makes a Hardtop, Convertible, and Clubman manual. The two-door or four-door option vary between models. The hp can vary from 134 to 189 between models.

Nissan offers a manual in its 370Z, Sentra, and Versa. This trio is a selection of inexpensive vehicles with features to match.

The Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman offer top-level features and performance for which Porsche has come to be known. The 300-hp or 350-hp Boxster are luxurious speedsters. The Porsche 911 is, according to Car and Driver, the benchmark for sports cars. A GTS will put the buyer back $121,750.

The Subaru BRZ, Impreza, and WRX are each not cut from the same cloth. The BRZ is a standard sports car without any notable faults. The Impreza is a five-speed that lacks in acceleration and fuel mileage. The WRX is quick, powerful and comparatively noisy.

The Toyota 86 and Toyota Corolla is pair with zippy acceleration. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback is smaller than what people have come to expect from the term Hatchback. It does, however, offer a fine driving experience. The Toyota Yaris offers a manual with both the L and the LE and will save the buyer about a grand over the automatic version.

Volkswagen has put a manual transmission into its Golf, Golf R, SportsWagen, GTI, Jetta, and Jetta GLI cars.

So there you go!  Let’s go car shopping!