The compact, organized pattern for drivers wasn’t always so easily recognized, but it has helped cars become safer and more efficient. Question: Why is the gearshift lever in a manual transmission car ...

Rowing the gears in a manual-transmission car used to be so simple. Back in the old four-speed days, your forward gears formed an “H” pattern. Then came the five-speed gearbox, which put fifth gear to ...

Knowing how to drive a car equipped with a manual transmission is more important than it might seem. Even if your daily driver is automatic, you may get stuck in a foreign country renting a car from a ...

Modern cars are often accused of serving up too many in-cabin distractions, including touchscreens the driver has to look at to operate even the most basic of functions, like turning up the ...

A manual transmission uses a stick to shift gears and a third pedal to operate the clutch. Current trends show that manual gear shifting is rapidly becoming obsolete. For select sports cars and ...

In today’s edition of What the Heck, we have the strange case of Ford wanting to put what is essentially a fake manual shifter in its electric vehicles. The company has applied for a patent that aims ...

Driving “stick” is a popular term for those who know how to drive a car with a manual transmission. Manual transmissions, needing a unique skill set to wield, give drivers more control over shifting, ...

Despite car enthusiasts’ best efforts, the manual transmission’s days are numbered. Blame it on electrification, future autonomous technologies, or the fact that kids these days just don’t care about ...

The manual transmission is on the endangered species list. Every year fewer and fewer cars are offered with a clutch and a shifter. Why? Americans just don't want to be bothered with the chore of ...

When you talk about the thrill of driving, it's hard to ignore its active elements: feathering the throttle, trail braking, turning the steering wheel into a gentle bend, or grabbing a clean heel-toe ...

This article was featured in One Story to Read Today, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a single must-read from The Atlantic, Monday through Friday. Sign up for it here. I drive a stick ...

The manual transmission is going the way of the rumble seat. Once standard equipment on all motor vehicles, preferred for its dependability, fuel efficiency and sporty characteristics, the four-on-the ...