While it's true that real drivers know how to drive a stick shift, with the advances made in automatic transmissions these days, the advantages of a stick shift are not as important as they once were. Also, with the increase in the amount of traffic these days, it sure helps avoid frustration in a traffic jam when you have an automatic transmission.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a stick shift nowadays is the avoidance of wear and tear on the brakes, if you know how to downshift as you slow down or stop.