A start switch system for autostarting by remote control a manual transmission vehicle having a gear shift lever is provided. The start switch system includes a start switch operatively connected to the gear shift lever and an autostart unit for autostarting the vehicle. In preferred embodiments, the start switch is a mercury switch. The switch and the autostart unit are electrically coupled to one another, with the autostart unit being responsive to the emission of a first set of signals from a remote control device for activating the autostart unit to autostart said vehicle. Moreover, the positioning of the gear shift lever operatively connected to the switch determines whether the autostart unit may be activated by the remote control for autostarting the vehicle.