A gearbox, or manual transmission, offers a number of benefits over other types of transmissions. When shopping for your next vehicle, a manual transmission is an option that you may want to consider. Here are 3 benefits to a manual transmission:

First, manual transmission equipped vehicles tend to get better gas mileage than their automatic-transmissioned counterparts. While the difference is not as big as it once was, around 5%, that savings can add up over time. This disparity in mileage stems from several factors like efficiency, weight and parasitic loses.

Automatic transmissions, by the nature of their design, slip a little to give smother shifting and response. This built-in slip hurts efficiency by wasting some of the engine's power in the name of comfort. Automatic transmissions tend to weigh more than manual transmissions, which also hurts efficiency and gas mileage. Parasitic loses, the energy it takes for the engine to make the transmission work, are also higher in an automatic transmission further explaining the better mileage you can expect from a manual transmission.

Second, manual transmissions are cheaper than automatics at the time of purchase and at maintenance time. Manual transmissions are still standard on many cars and trucks making them cheaper up front. Manual transmissions continue to save money on maintenance as the miles add up with less required maintenance. Due to the complexity of today's automatic transmissions, a small problem can wind up as an expensive repair and even a total transmission failure which can really increase the costs of upkeep.

A manual transmission that is not abused can last the lifetime of the vehicle and the clutch, the biggest wear item on a manual transmission, can last for 50,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the vehicle and how it is driven. Manual transmissions use only a fraction of the amount of lubricant than automatics do and require less frequent changing, which also cuts down on maintenance costs.

Third, manual transmissions allow the driver to get the most performance out of their vehicle, particularly when it is one with modest power. The efficient, direct connection between the engine and the rest of the drivetrain through the manual transmission means that nearly every horsepower and pound-foot of torque produced by the engine will get to the drive wheels. The parasitic loses in a manual transmission are quite small compared to those of an automatic making more power available to move the vehicle.

The manual transmission also allows the driver to select the desired gear for the level of performance or economy they desire. Holding the transmission in a lower gear for quicker acceleration or quickly shifting into higher gears or even skipping lower gears for better fuel economy are at the discretion of the driver.

While other benefits exist and some drivers simply like the more "involved" driving experience that a manual transmission offers, these 3 tangible benefits make a manual transmission a great option.