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On our roads you can still find cars with manual transmission. However, their number is decreasing every year. Manufacturers are increasingly betting on automatic transmissions, and buyers are betting on comfort. Nevertheless, the "mechanics" are still not going to give up their positions. Why - and for how long?
There are fewer and fewer drivers today who were once taught to "catch the moment of clutch" and "shift by ear". Young people prefer automatic transmissions en masse. This is understandable: it is easier to learn, there is less stress, and in city traffic, your hands are less busy. At the same time, there is one simple truth: cars with mechanics are simply cheaper. This is the reason why the "stick" is afloat.
Proponents of manual transmissions often claim that such a transmission provides "real control" and better reveals the engine's potential. This is especially true in sports models and off-road. And in terms of repair, "mechanics" are indeed easier, especially when it comes to older cars, where you do not need to overpay for electronic control units.
But this coin has a downside. For example, in city traffic with frequent stops and traffic lights, a manual transmission is tiring. You need to constantly squeeze the clutch, shift, and be on the alert. Make a mistake and you stall. And if you are also a beginner, then stress is guaranteed.
Experts are increasingly raising the issue of safety. When shifting gears, the driver's attention is distracted for a split second, and it is at this second that anything can happen. With an automatic, there are fewer such situations - especially for inexperienced drivers. That is why driving schools are increasingly teaching on an automatic, and only some courses still offer "mechanics" as an option.
By the way, if a person passes the exam for a car with an automatic transmission, then he receives a license with a restriction - he can only drive cars with an automatic. On the one hand, this seems logical. On the other hand, if mechanics disappear as a class, this restriction will simply become irrelevant.
But mechanics will not disappear immediately. In countries with a high standard of living - yes, there it is already becoming a rarity. In Germany, for example, more and more new cars are released only with automatic or CVT. In the USA, this has long been the norm. But in countries like Ukraine, Romania or India, manual transmission still occupies a significant market share, especially in the inexpensive segment.
It is interesting that even automakers are slowly "giving up" mechanics. Some brands, for example, have already stopped offering manual transmissions even in basic configurations. Everything is moving towards the fact that the choice will soon be simple: either an automatic or an electric car - there is no gearbox in the usual sense at all.
What will happen next? Most likely, mechanics will gradually remain the lot of enthusiasts. Like vinyl records or film cameras - in a certain niche, for those who value "that very" experience. The rest will switch to more convenient, modern and safe options.
But right now, in 2025, mechanics are still holding on. The secondary market is full of such cars, and many car enthusiasts still believe that a manual transmission is reliable, inexpensive and familiar. Perhaps in ten years we will remember it with slight nostalgia. But for now, it is still alive.