In defence of the manual gearbox
They may be slowly being phased out, but purists still like to be in full control of their vehicles
The automotive world has transformed through advances in technology and electrification. Some things won’t form part of its future, such as manual transmission gearboxes.
Two Frenchmen, Louis-rene Panhard and Emile Levassor, invested in, designed and built the first three-speed transmission in 1894. It was a complicated arrangementthat earned its “crash box” epithet due to how complex it was to mesh the cogs, resulting in grinding and crunching sounds. Think of what happens when you try to engage a gear without depressing the clutch. It was that, but worse.
Despite the effort of operating the non-synchromesh transmission, most cars continued to use the system until 1929, when Cadillac wielded the synchromesh manual transmission to its cars. This technology has since been adopted by almost every carmaker.
Now modern developments are seeing manual transmissions facing their demise as more and more vehicle manufacturers shift towards automatic gearboxes. To illustrate how serious this is: In 2020, Mercedesbenz released a report indicating its plans to ditch manual transmissions by 2030. A year later, Volkswagen said it would do the same.
For a start, the market doesn’t want them. Most premium manufacturers are phasing them out because of the huge sales upswing in automatics. Manual gearboxes are essentially obsolete when you speak of electric or hybrid cars, and these have seen a massive uptick.
Manual transmissions also don’t allow for smart tech-based driving assistance and semi-autonomous features, increasingly sought after by customers for safety, convenience and driving pleasure. Consider the difference between a manual car versus an automatic car stuck in traffic.
Furthermore, the axing of manual boxes is happening fast in the premium segments where niceties such as semi-autonomous tech and smart auto transmissions can be customised and intelligent.
But what about performance? The truth is, automatic transmissions are far smarter and faster than even the most pro-manual gear shifter, so even for speed and efficiency, the auto tends to win.
In South Africa, manual transmissions are still found, especially in cheaper segments of the market. Everything from a new Volkswagen Caddy to a Renault Kwid or a utilitarian Toyota Hilux workhorse will still sport a manual transmission. For the sports car lovers who want BMW Ms and Porsche 911s with a manual, it’s trickier to find. You have to make a specific request, but they’ll still do them for you.
So why am I a defender of the manual? It’s because I love driving. I feel a stronger sense of command and engagement. In particular with highperformance manual cars, a driver is
more attuned to the rev counter while also thinking ahead. Before making a turn, you’re already preparing both feet for the dance act to brake, clutch, and accelerate out of a turn. Purists will affirm that there is no truer feeling than being 100% at work in a manual sports car and allowing the exhaust to belch out in fierce clamour.
Despite the reasons why the manual is facing extinction, it’ll still be around for years, simply because the reasons to drive them still exist. Just like there are still those who prefer vinyl over streaming services. My advice: practise your fancy footwork and enjoy them while you still can.