Deciding between an automatic or manual transmission can significantly impact your driving experience and budget.

A manual transmission is one with a stick for shifting gears and a third pedal for operating a clutch. Many automatic transmissions now enable manual shifting, and one style is even known as an ...

In our tests, we've found that in some cars a manual transmission can improve gas mileage by a significant 2 to 5 mpg, compared with an automatic, and can cut a car's price by $800 to $1,200.