That grinding noise you hear may be the sound of Americans switching back to stick shifts, according to the Wall Street Journal. At a time when computerized cars sometimes seem to be making all the decisions, more drivers are seeking out an unlikely sphere of influence: the gearshift. After more than a decade of decline, the percentage of domestic cars sold with manual transmissions rose 10 percent in 2001, prompting a slew of makers from Lexus to Infiniti to offer the forgotten third pedals in more models for wannabe hot-rodders and nostalgic boomers. Even high-end Cadillacs, which haven't had sticks since the 1950s, just got them. And don't worry if a clutch intimidates you. Now showing at a dealership near you: a new breed of cars with steering-wheel buttons that "shift" gears for the uninitiated.