The debate over whether automatic or manual transmissions are better has been going on since the automatic shifting option became widely popularized after the Second World War, according to Edmunds.com.

Manual transmission tends to warrant better fuel economy and give drivers just a bit more control over their vehicles. CNET reports that Cadillac has recently made it a point to advertise their new CTS-V with an emphasis on its manual transmission.

"We recognize in talking to our consumers that they really appreciate a manual," Moly Peck,Cadillac's advertising director, told the news source. "It's not about cost-saving technology, it's about that engagement with the vehicle that some drivers want. It adds to the thrill of a model."

Mini reports that one of every three of its vehicles is sold with a stick shift, but research firm Polk reports that only about 12 percent of vehicles on the road today are equipped with manual transmissions.

Manual drivers who want to keep their transmission in working condition will likely need to replace the clutch at some point in their vehicle's driving career, and an extended warranty can cover the cost of this and any other maintenance that the vehicle will need.