Do Manual Transmission cars have more/less problems than Automatics over their lifetime?
As a rule, manual transmissions are simpler and less expensive to repair than automatic transmissions. They tend to wear out rather than break down. A true manual transmission car (as opposed to an “automated manual”) has a foot-operated clutch that will eventually wear out and require replacement. It can cost up to $1500 to replace a clutch, depending on the make, model, and year of the car, and where you have it serviced. However, the life of the clutch is going to vary widely from driver to driver. A hot-rodder can burn through a clutch in 10,000 miles. A more gentle driver can make it last more than 100,000 miles. If most of your driving is on the highway, a clutch will last almost forever. What you need to be asking here is what your total cost of ownership will be. Let’s consider, for example, a Honda Civic EX sedan, purchased with either an automatic or manual transmission. The following data is from Consumer Reports:
