In the early days before automatic transmissions were invented by
Thomas J. Sturtevant in 1904, you had to learn to drive a manual transmission or you didn't drive. Manual transmissions have their advantages. The biggest one, besides being "more fun" to drive, is increased gas mileage. With proper maintenance and use, manual transmissions are made to withstand thousands of miles of use. If they are abused, usually by lack of maintenance or improper shifting, manual transmissions do break down.
Shift the manual transmission into gear while the car is at a dead stop without first depressing the clutch completely. Or depress the clutch only halfway and shift into first to grind the gears.
Damage a car's manual transmission by never checking the transmission fluid. Ignore any spots of transmission fluid you may see on the ground underneath your car. Don't check for leaks. The fluid transfers the engine power to the transmission. It also keeps the transmission properly lubricated. Without the proper level of fluid, damage will occur to a car's transmission.
Leave the same transmission fluid in the car mile after mile, year after year. According to cartalk.com, auto manufacturers recommend the fluid in manual transmissions should be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you never change it, metal shavings produced by the moving parts will accumulate. These shavings will lessen the lubricating capabilities of the slippery fluid. As a result, the transmission will suffer damage.
Downshift the car while you're moving at a high speed in fourth or fifth gears to first gear so you can stop. Manual transmissions are designed to help slow a car down---if the gears are shifted in succession from fifth to fourth, to third, then second. Shifting into first gear from any gear than second will put a strain on the transmission and damage it. (First gear is mainly used to start the car moving from a dead stop.)
