Save the Manuals – Why we refuse to let go of the manual transmission

Why has a gear shift become a cult?

In an age when automatic transmissions are faster, more efficient and easier to drive, it may seem strange that we still celebrate the clutch and manual gear lever. But behind this expression there is something bigger: a concern that the joy of driving is being rationalized away. Many of us learned to drive in a manual car. We struggled with rolling hills, shaky starts and proud hits when the gear was set perfectly. It is that feeling – of mastery and of being part of the machinery – that enthusiasts want to preserve.

A legacy of iconic gearboxes

Some manual transmissions have become more than just technical solutions. They have become legends:

•  Honda's 6-speed gearbox – known for its silky-smooth precision, almost surgical in every gear.
        Anyone who has driven an S2000 knows what we mean. 
• BMW's classic Getrag gearboxes – from the E30 M3 to the E46 M3, loved for their robustness and mechanical, solid feel. 
•  Ferrari "gated shifter" (e.g. in the F355 and 360 Modena) – perhaps the most iconic gearbox of all time.
        The metallic "clack-clack" feeling as the lever slides through the groove of the gate is pure mechanical poetry. 
• Tremec T-56 / TR-6060 – the backbone of the American muscle car. Used in everything from the Dodge Viper to the
        Camaro and Mustang. It's brutal, direct, can handle huge torque and for many Americans it stands as a symbol of raw, unbridled
        driving pleasure. 
• The Mazda MX-5 Miata's short, razor-sharp gearbox – a textbook example of how a manual transmission should feel.
        Driving pleasure in its purest form. 
• Porsche G50 (911 Carrera 3.2) – often cited as one of the best air-cooled manual transmissions, thanks to its durability and
        distinctive shift response. 
•  Toyota W58 and R154 – iconic in the JDM world, known from the Supra, Celica and other legends that have become mainstays of
        tuning culture.

These aren't just gearboxes – they're cultural heritage. Reference points. Things that enthusiasts talk about the same way wine tasters describe vintages.

The emotional connection: Why it matters

A manual transmission forces you to be involved. You listen to the engine. You feel the vibrations through the lever. You read the traffic, think one step ahead, synchronize your body movements with the machine. You are not just a passenger in a car that happens to have a steering wheel. You are the conductor.

When you set a perfect rev match or the downshift is set with precision – then it is no longer just transportation. A small moment of driving pleasure that cannot be automated. When automatic and electric meet the future – manual cars stand out even more today, when overwhelmingly many new cars lack a clutch pedal, enthusiasts have become a kind of guardian. “Save the Manuals” is not a backward cry. It is a defense of something genuine in a rapidly digitalized world.

Driving manually is not about being the fastest - It is about feeling the most.

The future should be fast, but it must never be emotionless.

“Save the Manuals” is more than a slogan. It’s a reminder of why we love cars in the first place. Not for automated perfection, but for the passion, the sound, the feel, and the interaction between man and machine. And as long as there are car lovers, there will be someone standing up for the clutch pedal.

So the next time you downshift into a tunnel or a sharp curve – do it with pride. You’re part of the resistance movement.

//Tomas Jönsson
Marketing Manager