We have always wondered if manual transmissions would one day be completely phased out of production.   They do serve their purpose, especially in vehicles being driven for more than a daily commuter.

What comes to mind for us is how beneficial we’ve found manual transmissions when pulling around our imported Toyota Land Cruisers from their port of arrival to their destination.  Towing with both automatic and manually optioned diesel pickups, the flexibility of a manual far outweighs the automatics in this particular application.  You can take advantage of an engine’s full torque potential, control loads easier on steeper grades and actually prolong the life of other components such as brake pads, rotors and even the transmission itself.

Another notable benefit to a manual transmission?  They are more fun to drive.

Check out this article from DRIVETRIBE written by Max Mallwitz, a mechanic located in Germany.