The traditional gear shifter has been disappearing as manual transmissions fade, but a few brands have kept them around — albeit in increasingly weirder designs.

Having a manual transmission comes with extra maintenance, and if yours has a stiff gear shift, it's a cause for concern. Here are the most likely culprits.

Manual Transmission. With a manual, the clutch must be engaged so that the collar plate disconnects fully from the transmission gears. This is why a car might seem to lag or jump when changing from ...

For most drivers, a vehicle's automatic transmission — the most common kind of transmission nowadays, more's the pity — has three settings: Drive, Park, and Reverse.

Having a manual transmission comes with extra maintenance, and if yours has a stiff gear shift, it's a cause for concern. Here are the most likely culprits.