10 interesting facts about the Manual Transmission

I'm going to steer away from my fantasy of making my Auto/H-Gate 6 Transmission a reality for now and I would like to give some interesting facts about the manual gearbox.

Fact 1.  The manual transmission is known by many names.  Manual, Standard, Stick Shift, or just a "Stick".

Fact 2.  Manual cars are operated by three pedals on the floor (the gas on the right, the brake in the middle, and the clutch on the left) and a gear shifter.  The clutch is pressed down all the way in order to change gears.

Fact 3.  Although sports cars were very popular (and usually only available) as a manual, this has changed very quickly over 20 years as paddle shifters are becoming an easy and quicker way of shifting and keeping control of the gears (not as fun in my opinion though).

Fact 4.  Manuals are usually cheaper to maintain as you don't have as many complex components as an automatic does (such as a torque converter).

Fact 5.  Manuals were also known for getting better fuel economy.  But in some cars, that's no longer the case as automatics can be computer programmed to shift at the right time for the best fuel economy.

Fact 6.  In some jurisdictions around Europe, if you pass your driving test in an automatic you are limited to drive only an automatic.  If you pass the test in a manual however, you can drive both an auto and a manual.

Fact 7.  Before 1939, you could only get a new car as a manual.  1939 was when General Motors introduced the 1940 Oldsmobiles with Hydra-Matic, the first automatic transmission introduced to the public market.

Fact 8.  General Motors made the C7 Corvette (2014-Present) equipped with a 7-speed manual that had paddles behind the steering wheel.  You would still shift with a gear stick, the paddles were used to get the car to rev at the right RPMs for the smoothest shift.  The 2016-Present Camaros equipped with a manual transmission that also have the same thing.

Fact 9.  The Ford Model T believe it or not, does not have a manual gearbox.  It uses an older type of transmission, a 2-speed planetary transmission.  You operated the gear shifting and brake by foot and the throttle by hand.  The Model T's successor, the Model A was equipped with a 3-speed manual.

Fact 10.  Although it may seem like they're no more decent manual vehicles, look again.  There's the Shelby GT 350, the Camaro Z/28, the ZO6 Corvette, and then for those on a budget, there's the Ford Focus ST and the RS and so many more I can't even think of.