Via Insty:
The overarching trend in the car world has been that the manual transmission is on the way out. People like automatics for the convenience, but they can be faster than manually shifting, and they’re frequently better at saving fuel. But the manual still has advantages. It’s small and light, it’s still sometimes more affordable than an equivalent automatic model, and, of course, it’s much more engaging than an automatic. For these reasons, automakers are still selling a variety of models with manuals. The list is certainly short compared to a couple decades ago, but the variety is impressive. Whether you’re looking for an extremely affordable commuter, a sports car or even an off-road oriented truck or SUV, there’s a manual-equipped car for you. And we’ve assembled the whole list of every single make and model of car with an available manual transmission for you three-pedal diehards.
…and then follows the list, for those who’d prefer driving a car instead of just steering it.
Manual transmissions are the bolt-action rifles of the automotive world.
And if you can’t see the similarities… well, I can’t help you.
Manual shift is for that rare breed who can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Based on 33 years of continuous use and 55 years of “mostly” use I can say without a hint of a doubt that driving a manual transmission automatically (pun intended) causes the driver to be more in tune with the vehicle.
This is because the driver actually has to “cause” the vehicle to perform, as it will not do so otherwise, like an automatic transmission will.
By listening to (and “feeling”) the engine in order to know when to shift (up or down) the driver is inherently paying intense attention to the performance of the drive train and suspension.
There is also an intense sense of enjoyment from physically and mentally engaging with the vehicle that is missing from vehicles with automatic transmission.
Now, almost a year later, I am physically and mentally deeply pained that I stupidly sold my 1991 S10 truck last year – the first and last brand new vehicle I will ever own. I drove it exclusively from Oct 1990 to May of 2023, yeah, 33 years. It was the single best purchase I have ever made and I will bear this regret for the rest of my life.
I learned to drive in a 1958 VW Bug. Lots of gear grinding until I learned the dance steps and timing involved with knowing just when to shift, in spite of my dad’s frustrated attempts to teach me.
I drove a 1964 Ford pick-up daily for years. It had a clutch that took two men and a boy to operate. I only gave it up after knee surgery nearly crippled me and made clutching impossible. I miss those days.
The first car I bought, back in ~ 1977, was a used Jeep CJ-5. At the time I knew manual transmissions existed but had never encountered one, let alone driving with one; as you can imagine, there was a bit of a learning curve. In general it went pretty well, with only a few faux pas. A notable one happened the first time I needed to start from a dead stop uphill on a gravel road. The road I was trying to get on to was busy with traffic so I was going to have to move smartly. After a few false starts and stalls it became obvious that whatever I did was going to generate a big rooster tail of gravel. Then a guy in a very nice car pulled up behind me. RIGHT behind me. I got out and explained that I was new to stick and would probably kick up gravel so he might want to back up a bit. He declined, so I only felt a small amount of guilt when about 5 lbs of rocks and dirt sprayed across his hood as I pulled out.
I have owned two cars with automatic transmissions in my lifetime. I definitely prefer a car or truck with a manual transmission. I wish more cars and trucks were available with a manual transmission. a full sized pick up with a manual transmission would be great
I have three rides. Two are collector trucks I’m in the process of rebuilding and one is my daily driver Cadillac. The first truck is a ’37 Chevy Utility Express (pickup) with a 322 Buick nailhead, Latham supercharged, connected to a Borg Warner T5 world class five speed transmission with Hayes clutch. The other truck is a ’55 Chevy 3100 pickup with a 4-71 blower on the side of the stock 235 inline six, connected to a Muncie M22 rock-crusher four-speed. I have not driven these two configurations yet as I am still in the process of rebuilding these two trucks. My daily driver is a ’17 Cadillac ATS-V with a 3.6 liter twin-turbo v6 connected to a Tremec six-speed, one of 475 manual coupes manufactured during the four year production run. I ordered this car the way I wanted it the day after Trump won the ’16 election and I couldn’t be happier with it. Despite the fact that I travel city streets most of the time, I never tire of rowing through the gears.
Elsewhere in the world, the manual transmission remains far more common. For instance, I spent a week in Britishland last September. The rental car I drove while there was a Nissan Juke with a 6-speed manual transmission. Nissan sells the same car here (and under the same name, which is unusual for them), but only with a CVT.
(In hindsight, driving a stick for the first time in the better part of 25 years while also driving on the wrong side of ridiculously narrow roads wasn’t one of my best decisions, but my then-fiancée (now wife) and I got through it. I needed assistance just getting out the gate at the rental lot, and even toward the end of the trip I was still grabbing the wrong gear or stalling out occasionally. I blame having six gears, instead of the four that I had in my Chevette back in the day.)
Yeah, all those gear choices… I can see why the confusion.
Muscle memory…on the X-axis, a 4-speed only needs to be moved left or right. A 6-speed has two more gears in the center. I noticed that the shifter in the Juke felt spring-loaded to center itself, which should’ve helped somewhat, but I was still getting used to it by the time we returned to LHR for the trip home. If I had more recent experience driving stick (the Chevette was T-boned by a Town Car back in ’96), things would’ve gone more smoothly.
Having to shift with my left hand didn’t help either. Given that most of us are right-handed, I don’t know why so many countries still drive on the wrong side of the road.
The last time I drove in the UK, I kept grabbing for the gearshift with my right hand. I inadvertently rolled the window down on a couple of occasions. The other drivers were really supportive of my struggles, especially at roundabouts. They kept giving me the peace sign.
Parking lots are the trickiest place when you’re not yet used to switching sides. I also find myself reaching up to the left for a shoulder harness that isn’t on that side.
Besides the many other advantages to having a manual transmission already cited here, operating a manual transmission does make it harder for the driver to attempt to maintain their texting addiction while driving because when you are responsible for the multitude of actual driving functions undertaken to move safely from point A to point B, you’re doing more than just steering a car.
Love manuals, started with a 175cc MV-Agusta in ’57, then an 850 Mini in ’59, a ’56 Healey 100-4, a series of varied mc’s, and then a Toyota HiLux. Wanted something with more enclosed space and got a used Safari van – my first automatic, but it had A/C. Still have the Safari, and the HiLux, but they’re set aside as projects. When a major, permanent, move out of CA was called for, it was time to go big: F250SD/7.3 (definitely auto).
Through 40 of those years, the at-one-with experience was satisfied by one of those Italian things: a 330GTC.
Now, when I need to be “at-one-with”, and the weather is good, I pull a “bike” out of the garage, and blast away on another MV, an F4-1000R!
Life Is Good!
Give me a manual any day. I’ve only driven an automatic a few times but I find that manuals are much better at traffic lights.
The reason sticks are going away, is the same reason the blue cities win all the elections.
Population.
The most significant part of the political and purchasing power has moved to cities, for just about every vehicle type.
There are only a hardened few who enjoy “rowing” their straight shift car across town.