Manually shifting definitely gives you more of a connection to your car...and I think is mandatory for the true sports car experience...but just for cruising in the family boat, the less involvement the better...as for a small compact milage miser, who wants to work that hard for so little, go auto...as far as trucks go, well manual or auto defines the type of truck it is I think, a real truck needs manual shift....

I wish the author lived in Europe! Manual gearboxes rule the road over here! As far as I'm concerned, driving manual is no great chore, you have total control of the car and there's nothing better than slipping it down a gear or two to push it round a bend! Not a fan of automatics, might as well be on a train for all I care!

With a teenage kid (in the US) I wished we had more manual transmissions!!

This would surely cut down on the amount of TEXTING while driving! You would be forced to use both hands and pay more attention to your driving. Many states have outlawed texting and driving, but you know about laws and regulations........

Of course a 17 year old already knows everything, and won't listen to much. But if he had to steer and shift, the phone might have to stay in his pocket!!!

Good point!

Oh come now. Don't you remember cradling a beer, your honey, (no bucket seats then) and a cigarette while managing 3 speed on the column?

I love my 5 speed 1999 Saab. It is getting on in years with 191,000+ miles and a bit of rust starting to show. Thinking of replacement soon. Not sure what it will be but stick is real high on the priority list.

I am european and have learnt to drive on stick shifts. I have driven both stick and automatic a lot throughout the years. I like driving a stick when I drive for fun, however, the newer automatics like the VW DSG are excellent and will convert more than one stick addict. I think ultimately the days of the manual are counted even in europe.

Except in the article they report an uptick in manuals.

And my recent review of small sports models reflects an uptick in 6 to 8 speed manuals, which is a substantial investment if industry thinks manuals are going away.