Stick shift cars in the US

Stick with automatic:)
I learned how to drive on a manual, drove on nothing but manuals for over ten years then bought an automatic and have never looked backed. Automatic is pure pleasure. I drive in lots of snowy weather and having an automatic is not a hindrance, you just go into a lower gear, or get a car with all-wheel drive. When my car is in the shop I often borrow a car that is manual and I find shifting/clutching to be an unnecessary chore.

What Michael said. Especially if you live in a city and drive any amount at all in stop-and-go traffic. I learned on a stick and drove one until I "grew up." You'll hate it in six months.
It is a great skill to have (if for no other reason than to be able to drive one in Europe) but other than contacting rental car agencies, I don't know how to get access to a car to practice on, either. Good luck!

Manuals being more economical than automatics is old school. Check the ratings for the car you are interested in. You may be surprised because today most automatics are more economical than manuals.

Stick shift is obsolete. It is hard to rent it and hard to buy it in the States. There is no difference in price (unlike Europe) and if it is then manual cost more because it's so rare here. If you are very good at it then you indeed have little bit more control over the car especially when accelerating and also on snowy roads. Nowadays an automatic is very economical, too and I don't think you would save much with a manual. I learned to drive in Europe (no automatic then and even now it's still rare and much more expensive). Since I came to the US almost thirty years ago I have driven only automatic (with the exception of trips to Europe) and don't miss manual at all. The only usefulness of manual as I see it is that you can rent a car in Europe without paying extra money for automatic.
If (despite my discouragement) you still want a car with a stick, try dealerships which sell older cars. I think you should be able to find one you want even in St.Louis.

Even if you had a few days of practice, you would not "get the hang of it" that quickly. It takes constant practice and a few months to learn how not to stall out. When I bought a manual car, I had only practiced maybe 5 times and it was really frustrating for a few months (I would stall out everywhere and parking on a hill was really difficult)...but of course now it feels totally natural. There are no good reasons in terms of cost savings or better mileage to buy a manual over an automatic - it is purely a driving preference. People who grew up learning to drive manuals (I didn't - I learned it at age 30) tend to prefer them because in a lot of ways, they're more fun to drive. I personally enjoy my manual and don't know if/how I'll switch to automatic with my next car.

If you're set on buying one, then just buy one (I think Mini Coopers mostly come in manual and they really are fun to drive - not very practical, but super fun to drive). There's no doubt you'll get the hang of it because you'll have no option but to get the hang of it (and everyone does after a few months and with enough practice).

"Stick shift is obsolete."

Apparently not in Europe.

I learned on a stick shift. My first car was an MG (stick), my race car was, obviously, stick shift, and my current car is a Toyota MR2 (also stick). I taught both of my daughters to drive on stick shifts. I love sticks; they are more fun to drive.

As for your problem, find someone who has a stick shift. Don't you know anyone with a sports car? Join a sports car club.

Sometimes I feel nostalgic for the manuals I had for several years. They are kind of obsolete in the US these days, and if you live anywhere that has a lot of hills and/or stop-and-go city driving they are not practical.

I'm not sure you would have any more control in bad weather driving a manual, in particular when compared to modern automatic transmissions, and the fact that with an auto you can always have two hands on the wheel ;-)

You could perhaps rationalize a trip to Europe, where you could easily rent one...

I guess I'm bucking the trend but I agree with Lee that manuals are more fun to drive. I love to drive and find automatics boring because you have such little control over them, there's nothing to do but sit back and let the car drive itself. That being said, now after many many years of driving sticks, I had to switch to an automatic for the sole reason that I have problems with both my left knee and left foot that makes the clutch just short of painful to use. At 70 I have enough pains without encouraging more. I did however rent a manual trans car in France 3 years ago, that was the last one I drove. If you're young and love to drive I'd say go for it. I actually learned to drive on an automatic but then bought a stick and it took me about an hour to get the hang of it and about a day to get pretty good at it. It's not that hard or most people in Europe wouldn't still be doing it. The cost difference is not an issue any longer, in fact it may be harder to resell the car in the future, so that should not be the deciding factor.

For lessons/practice, you might contact a local sports car club, like Miata or Mini Cooper enthusiasts, and ask if anyone will give a few lessons. And really, that's all you need. Not because you'll be great at first, but because you'll learn the basics, and then it's just having to practice. I don't think it takes months. Well, it did for my daughter, but that was because she'd argue with the car. (Hint-if you keep stalling the car, the car is telling you that you are letting the clutch out too fast. It wins the argument.)

The other question is whether you'll be able to buy what you want with a manual. A few years ago I bought a Kia Soul. They had manuals in the lower levels, but when I went up to larger wheels, my only option was to get an automatic. You might check that out first.

They are more fun to drive, and I do think they're better in snow. The best car I ever drove in snow was a 1978 VW Scirocco. It was better than a Jeep.

Hi Sarah,

I like this idea of yours. It is kind of a European question since it's still quite common to find manual transmission cars over there.

The best way to learn how that I can think of is to find a relative with a stick shift or ask all your friends if they know anyone with a stick shift and will teach you. You will need to bribe them for sure.

My uncle taught me in my aunt's car the initial hard part of getting the timing right to not stall the engine. Now with the internet and youtube I bet there's tons more free stuff to help you learn.

The tough part about stick shift in North America is that our roads have few speed cameras (we drive fast) and are straight. Our intersections have traffic lights or 4-way stops. In most of Europe, the roads are more twisty and the intersections are often roundabouts, so not so much stopping, even in heavy traffic. On my old commute I had 18 stop lights on one straight stretch of road. I got tired of shifting from 1st to 2nd, to 3rd, to 4th, only to stop 10 seconds later, 18 times every morning and evening. My next car and current car are now automatics.

Good luck,
Nordheim

I lived in the US for almost 30 years and I have never owned an automatic car.

When I go to the dealer to buy one, the first thing I tell the salesperson is that no matter how hard he tries I will never buy an automatic car, so I ask him to show me only his manual transmission models. I now have a manual Subaru Outback, a manual Toyota Matrix and a manual Honda Civic. I have never used the Cruise control in any of them either (another useless option for me).

Due to my having to travel a lot on business I'm forced to drive automatic rental cars a lot, but they bore me to death, so I'm not going to buy an automatic ever, unless maybe when they start selling self driving google cars where I can drink wine inside.

As such I encourage you to learn to drive one, even though the automatics may be more practical in stop and go traffic and, if you don't learn how to prevent a car from rolling back when you start, in places like San Francisco. Since St. Louis is largely flat, I wouldn't worry too much.

The statement above that manual cars cost more than the equivalent automatic model is ridiculous to say the least. Check any car website/magazine and you'll see that is not true. The manual version of any model is always cheaper than the equivalent automatic model. The manual transmission is also cheaper to maintain and service (and let's not mention the price of replacing the transmission), replacing the clutch is very cheap too. Unless you drive an electric/hybrid vehicle (those are always automatic), the manual model always has better fuel mileage as well.

To me the only reason to buy an automatic car is if you have a crippling disability in your left leg or your right arm.

You will have trouble finding a car with a standard transmission in the US. According to this morning's Wall Street Journal, only 7% of new car purchases these days are for cars with a clutch and a stick shift. I drove one for the first 40+ years of my driving life, but when I looked for a used car a few years ago couldn't find any with a stick shift snd now drive an automatic. Unless you're extremely well coordinated and pick up on semi-complex physical activities very quickly, it will take you quite a while to adjust. As other have said, parallel parking, driving on snow, driving in heavy stop-and-go traffic, and doing almost anything on hills is challenging until you get the hang of it.

After fifty years of driving, we finally bought our first automatic only because we wanted a hybrid motor. I think it's a good skill to have, like riding a bike. I still apply skills used driving a stick, even with an automatic. Compared to the people in front of me, I brake less and allow the car to slow itself, accelerate in curves, etc. Our kids picked it up and you should be able to also. The last time we bought a stick, we got a Passat but saw that some other imports came in a stick shift version, too. If you buy it, you'll learn.

The best way to learn to drive a manual transmission is to own one! It's a useful skill to have. I think you should go for it!

When I had a manual, I thought it was easier to parallel park because you could control the car at low speed with the clutch. Speaking of the clutch, they seem to last forever now. We sold a manual last year with 100,000 miles and it still had its original clutch. (Ok, I'll admit, it was time for a new clutch but we got a new car instead, another manual)

I had only sticks until a few years ago, then gave in to reality and now they're automatics. Modern traffic, at least in LA, makes it impossible to drive and enjoy a stick.

However, it's fun when we're in Europe to drive one again. But only for a while.

Look at sites like Autotrader where you can sort by various criteria and see how many sticks you can find for sale. If you're buying new, they will likely have to special order the car and make you pay upfront (since they will say they can never sell it to someone else if you cancel). Enthusiast sites for BMWs and the like will have this sort of car. Also be aware that when it's time to sell, it will take longer and depending on where you live, might be near impossible. Meaning you would have to cast a national net.

Hey, perhaps Carmax would have some for you to play with. Don't they have a 30 day moneyback guarantee? As noted, there was an article in today's WSJ about stick shifts.

"As for your problem, find someone who has a stick shift. Don't you know anyone with a sports car? Join a sports car club."

Do you really think joining a car club for a car you don't have is practical advice? And would someone in such a club actually lend their baby out for a newbie to practice on?

We've had a stick shift car off and on for years. The thing that finally caused me to say " no more", at least for me, was getting caught in stop and go traffic for great lengths of time and going up hills from a stopped position. Well maybe moving to California killed it for me... We still have 1 stick shift car, a Mini Cooper and a hybrid automatic.

Sarah I know in STL you don't have as much stop and go traffic but if you are ever caught in a road closure, construction, accident highway situation you'll know the pain of using that clutch. Also I know you have some hills near the river and around and you should practice starting from a stopped position to see that more difficult technique. I grew up across the river from your area.

BTW, we had to replace the clutch in each of our older cars about 6 months after each of our 2 sons learned to drive. Thank goodness our boys are eight years apart!

Like other posters have said though, if you want to learn to drive one, keep asking. It's a good skill to have and there are some really fun cars to drive, unless you get stuck in city traffic or uphill on a slippery slope.

Obviously in America there are fewer and fewer models offered in manual transmission but I haven't had trouble finding one in the dealers' lots. If you go for a European model you are even more likely to find one (VW has plenty of unsold diesel models with manual transmissions now).

If you want to buy a used manual car, I just tested Craiglist for the St. Louis area. I clicked the box for manual transmission and the site gave me 2500 manual cars for sale.

Go to Carmax and buy a cheap car with standard transmission. Drive it for awhile and then sell it back. Of course you won't get as much back as you paid but you will havre a standard to practice on.

I don't have any suggestions on how you can practice but will just say I have never owned a car that did not have a manual transmission. I much prefer it---even here in hilly Seattle. I love my 15-year old Saab with 5-speed manual transmission and will never give it up. Unless my husband says I can have a Tesla.

My thoughts - buy the stick shift, and learn. I bought my first used vehicle a month before I turned 16 and didn't know how to drive it. Stick shift Ford truck, and I learned within a day or two. It's a great skill to have, and in my European travels I would guess that more than half of the vehicles are manual. A manual transmission is only "obsolete" in America because so much of our population is too lazy to learn.

And I think a manual is way more fun to drive. That of course means DRIVING, not sitting in traffic. It's really up to you to decide what type of driving you'll be doing more often. But to answer your question, learning it is something that you should be able to do relatively easily. Just be patient, practice on quiet roads, and don't get into a habit of cheating with the e-brake!

If you really want to learn how to drive a manual transmission, you will find a way. As has already been mentioned, there are plenty available at a wide variety of price points.

I agree with everyone who has said it, driving a stick shift is more fun. Part of the reason is that you have to pay attention to what you are doing. No phone, no texting, just driving.

The driving school I went to in 1960 taught with automatic cars. My parents had only manual ones. I practiced with a 56 Ford and took my driving test in it, getting my license at 14. Scary thought, eh?

I feel very thankful that I learned to drive at a time when manual transmissions dominated, but if I could do it then, at such a young age, you can do it now.

And you don't forget. We currently own only one stick shift car that I can drive, a 1986 MR2. I don't drive it often, but I have no problems driving it when I do. At my age, getting into and out of it is the hard part.

Having driven both automatics and manuals in challenging conditions, including snow and ice, I've found patience, tire quality and whether the vehicle is front, rear or all wheel drive to be more important than the type of transmission. In fact, the car I drove for years in ice and snow on hills and curves was a 1976 front wheel drive VW Rabbit.

I loved that car, but not as much as the first car I ever owned, a 1971 Fiat 850 Spider. It was a Texas car and not so great in ice and snow, but soooo much fun to drive.

I have always driven manual cars. Even when I bought a new Hyundai i20 a couple of years ago, we went for a manual (they are about $1,500 cheaper than auto). My husband's car is an auto. He was so impressed with my steep hill hand brake start last week!!! If I was driving in heavy, stop/start traffic on a daily basis, an auto would make sense. I think to have the skill to drive a manual is very worthwhile.

I've had manuals and later (and currently) automatics and driven manuals (rentals) in Europe since I've owned automatics. I like to drive, no, I love to drive. I enjoyed the manuals but I don't miss them. I drove a manual in snow and ice in Chicago winters. Later I drove an automatic up and down the steep hills of San Francisco and I drove in mountains in snow and ice and rain with an automatic with all-wheel drive.

You wrote I like the idea of having more control over the car in bad weather, and that a manual is more economical than an automatic.

It takes a lot of experience before you have more control with a manual, especially in bad weather. I found that all-wheel drive was a huge advantage on ice, snow, and slippery wet roads. I don't really see what advantage you'd have with a manual. Until you can shift gears as easily as you make a turn (that is, without thinking about what you're doing with your hands and feet), you will have a disadvantage in bad weather. Manuals are more of an advantage if you do a lot of up and down driving (steep hills, mountains), not so much for downhill, when it's easy to drop gears with an automatic, but for those steep uphill climbs, especially from a standstill position. Are you planning to move away from St. Louis?

A manual may have been economical for repairs, but today's cars are so computerized I don't know if it makes a difference. More of a problem would be finding someone to repair a manual when there are few on the road. As for gas consumption, I believe automatics have improved over the years and even if you are very proficient and efficient, I don't know that you are going to save much on gas. If you want to save on gas, use the accelerator and brakes gently and sparingly.

Lastly, if you have a lot of stop-and-go city traffic, constant shifting is a pain in the butt.

You might consider buying a very old manual transmission car inexpensively on craigslist to practice with. My husband and I -almost- bought one. Ford Rangers and Honda Civic's seem to be the least expensive ones we could find here in Indiana. We had planned to buy a car for about $1,200 used, drive it for six months and then donate it to charity when we were done. Be prepared for cars in this price point to look VERY beat up...but many of them drive just fine. We had trouble wanting to keep a beastly looking thing in our driveway though...I'm not sure what our neighbors would have thought about us! lol. In the end, we decided to apply the $1,200 towards trip expenses, tours and gelato. :)

I still have "learn to drive a manual transmission" on my bucket list so we may still do this at some point in the future. Who knows, I may fall in love with it and sell my automatic to buy a Fiat or a Mini afterward.

I agree with Roberto, I will never buy an automatic (maybe it's a genetic Italian thing).

I have driven a stick shift in the US for the last 30 years. They are not obsolete and it is not difficult to drive one. It does take some practice.

I am wondering if there is a stick-shift simulator app somewhere? There ought to be; if there is not, would someone please invent one?

When I rent an automatic now, I am always looking for that third pedal.

We haven't had an automatic in over 40 years. The last time I bought a new car, I insisted on being shown only cars with a stick shift. (One salesman tried to convince me I really wanted an automatic; after the test drive, I assured him he was mistaken.) My stick shift Saturn Vue now has 150,000 miles on the original clutch. My brother (a GM mechanic) says I'll need another clutch in another 30,000 miles or so. My DH has a small Nissan pickup, also with a stick.

They truly are more fun to drive, and I do think you have more control. Or at least, the illusion of more control! You downshift to slow the engine speed on twisty turns or down steep hill, for example. And if you downshift to slow down on an icy road, you don't skid. That's a plus in our part of the country; we don't get a lot of ice and snow, but we have one or two (or three) times a year when the roads are ice-packed.

And it's a great skill to have; I have known people who ended up in situations (rare, of course) where the only vehicle available was a stick. You may have to search harder to find a manual shift when purchasing a new vehicle, but they are out there. Even some of the top end cars are available with manual transmissions. I keep an eye on their availability, in case I ever decide to replace my Vue.

Many new cars now come with an automatic that have an option of shifting manually. Granted, you don't have a clutch, but I think that is a plus. My Accura has this option and I always use this when traveling in the mountains. It is not the same as just shifting into low. I can go thru all 4 gears. Some of the more expensive cars have paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Yosemite beat me to it, I have an Audi A4 with what is called a Tiptronic transmission. When the gear shift is to the left it drives in automatic, move it over to the right and I have a 6 speed without the hassle of a clutch. I've had the car for 10 years and have never had any problems with this transmission. I drive the automatic probably 90% of the time but switch to manual for the fun of it on occasion. I can't say how it would drive in foul weather since I live in Southern California, though all my relatives that live in colder climates all have automatics that I know of.

Some of the more expensive cars have paddle shifters on the steering
wheel.

My brand new Subaru Crosstrek has these shifters, and it ain't expensive;)

In 2010, I drove 500 miles to find a dealer with Camry with a stick shift on their lot. A local dealer told me they only ship stick shift cars to new England and the South. I found one that ended up on the lot by mistake, and the dealer was happy to give favorable terms to get rid of it.
Now, ready for a replacement, I despair ever finding another.

A long time ago we bought a Volvo with a stick shift and picked it up in Sweden. We were headed to Europe for a 7 month sabbatical so we needed a car. Our local dealership told us that it would be nearly impossible to find one any other way in SoCal. We never had to worry about the resale value because we kept it for 23 years.

Thank you all for your comments. You've given me a lot to think about!

I am sorry but a manual, electronic shift is NOT the same as a stick shift. There is no clutch. All it amounts to is that you get to tell the computer when to shift. The shifting is the same whether you send the signal to shift or the computer does.

But back to the original question - more or less.

having more control over the car in bad weather, Actually you will have less control in bad weather with a stick. With the automatics and associated skid controls, other electronics, etc., the car can react faster in bad weather than you can think. On that account, an automatic transmission wins hands downs. Secondly automatic is more economical these bands with the new transmissions. Most people with sticks will over rev the engine prior to shifting. They like pushing high RPMs and high RPMs burn gas.

There really is no reason for a standard transmission other than personal preference. Engineering does not support it.

Sarah...I love driving a stick!! As others have mentioned, it is a good skill to have as well as fun. Living in north eastern Ohio, I see my fair share of snowy, icy streets and always felt that I had a bit more control when driving a stick. I learned how to drive one by buying one. You have very little choice when you have no option. I actually had very little trouble driving it home from the car dealership but I did have my sister with me who knew how to drive one. Hills gave me a little concern for a bit longer, but all-in-all, it was easy and quick for me to learn; probably because I wanted to learn so badly.
A friend of mine always buys VW, diesel, stick cars. I think they are a bit more expensive to purchase but he always claims that he gets incredible mileage out of it. You might want to consider doing that. Have fun if you decide to go the stick route!

One great thing about stick shift -- when it gets old and cranky, if you park the car pointing downhill you can often let it roll until you can "pop" the clutch and start the engine. (Had a VW bug for 20+ years.)

Here's another reply from a love of standard transmissions. I learned to drive on a manual transmission; one of our cars was always a stick. I owned a stick shift car until about 7 years ago. Several months ago, I told my husband that I'm over having an automatic, and that my next car would be a stick. When he bought his new car (his old one was 12 years ago), he decided he felt the same way, and bought a stick shift - they are still made! And when I buy my next new car, it will be a manual as well.

I find them more fun and interesting to drive. I think I have more control; don't know if I actually do, but as long as I think I do, then I'm happy.

Laura, my brother (the mechanic) says it's even easier to start a manual by popping the clutch if you have it in reverse! I also remember, from years of owning a VW bug, and later a Dodge Omni with 250,000 miles on it, that you can actually push the thing on level ground and get it going fast enough to jump in and pop the clutch. It helps to have two people... We once traveled for two weeks in a VW with a bad starter. We pushed that thing all over the Midwest. Ah, good times.;-)

I have a 6-speed Miata. I'll teach my wife and kids (if they are willing). But there is no way I will lend it out or teach anybody else. My answer would be the same even if i owned a 15 year old Chevy Chevette. Quite frankly l am not interested in somebody thrashing my clutch or stalling in traffic and getting rear-ended. I have been in a car club and I am pretty sure other members would feel the same as me. So if Sarah wants to learn to drive a manual, she is going to have to find a friend or family member do her, imo, a really big favour.

Yes there are pros and cons to both a manual and an automatic. I could not imagine driving a sports car without a stick even though a lot of high performance cars with the new paddleshifters (which i consider to be automatic) will outperform a manual. I love driving my Miata especially on curvy mountain roads or country roads, but if i am stuck in stop-and-go rush hour, shifting gets old really fast.

I learned to drive on a Fiat 2100 with a manual choke (I needed three hands...). Popping the clutch anecdotes bring back such memories. But at least you can get it going - if the automatic transmission goes out, that's it, isn't it?

I love driving a manual and have for years. Maybe it just makes me feel a little more like I am driving around Europe! It is also a great skill to have. I have a Kia Soul and it is a 6 speed and love it. just buy a manual and you will figure it out. It definitely did not take me months to learn. Just go for it. It does make driving more interesting for me.

I may have to accept that a stick shift won't happen for me. It sounds like a closed club: either you already know how to drive one, so you're in the club; or you don't and have no access to a manual car, in which case you cannot join. Perhaps the demise of manual driving in this country is due partly to situations of people like me who want to learn but don't have the means to.

Sarah,
The main reason why "everybody" can drive a manual car in Europe is that they passed their tests in manual cars.
In most European countries, if you pass your Driving Test in a car with automatic transmission, you get a licence that is only valid for cars with automatic transmission. If you pass in a manual transmission car you get a licence valid for all cars (both manual and automatic).
The result, everybody but a few people with physical disabilities pass their tests in manual cars, and driving schools only have manual cars.

Foreign tourists from places with less strict driving test requirements and whose licences don't say which type of car they passed their test on are given the benefit of the doubt, but only for a short period. If that person then moves to a European country, they must pass a new Driving Test.
So think yourselves lucky you are even allowed to drive a manual car in Europe.

If you come to Southern California, you will hate a stick shift with all the traffic on the freeways.

Sarah, you can do it!

Thirty-eight years ago after my new husband told me he would never buy an automatic--never had and never would--he taught me in one day. I must admit even though I love driving a manual when I had to move to Seattle for 9 months for family health reasons, driving the Peugeot was a real pain in Seattle traffic. Also, one of our sons, unbeknownst to us, taught himself to drive stick in our driveway when he was 12 and that was just from watching us drive!
PS: Never say never, my husband bought himself an automatic last August!

i live in Atlanta, one of the worst traffic cities out there (and used to work in LA so I know they are comparable) And I drive a manual transmission every day.

That said this will probably be my last. Most of the cars I am looking at for my next "model" don't even offer a manual transmission.

I have never regretted learning how to drive it and it's much easier to rent in Europe because I feel comfortable with the car.

I suggest go ahead with your desire to get a stick if the price is agreeable. Definitely having a stick has advantages. The price for renting a stick is less in France (don't know about Austria, Germany, England) than that for an automatic, which is a lot less available outside of Paris. I wish I could drive a stick, many of my friends and some family members here have been doing just that all these years.

I just ran the prices for a two day rental in Avignon next May

Price for a manual transmission (Compact car) $55.39 (no insurance which is not what I will select so mine will be more!) Price for an automatic in the same car class $135.

Makes me glad my parents insisted I learn to drive a manual before I could have a driver's license (at the time I thought they were just mean :) )