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Replying to:

The gap between manuals and automatics has closed dramatically over the last 10 years with a few automatics getting BETTER fuel economy than manuals.
Because of computer controllers, lock up overdrives, etc, the manual will shift at the precisely correct shift point every time. Then there are the CVT transmissions in new Chrysler products that do not shift at all and deliver 30+ mpg.
So it depends upon what model trans and what year vehicle, there is no blanket statement that will cover all manuals or all automatics.