A Salute To Stickshifts: Probe vs Civic vs C1500 vs Mini

Good morning! It’s Friday, and since we have four good-running cars as winners from this week, it’s time for a runoff. All these vehicles are manuals because that’s all I searched for this week. We’ve got two red hot hatches, one sleek black coupe, and a really ugly truck. No tricks or weird scenarios this time; all you have to do is choose your favorite.

Yesterday was another foregone conclusion, and I guessed that going in. The Jetta just isn’t interesting enough to warrant the extra attention it’s going to need because of that engine. Maybe if it were a GTI, this would have been a fairer fight, but I can only feature what I can find for sale, and I don’t always have a lot of time to shop.

And for what it’s worth, the Mini would be my choice as well. I’ve wanted one ever since they came out, and I’ve been patiently waiting for prices to drop so I can get my chance. Though now, I don’t really have a place in my life for another car, even a small one like this. But if the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that you can’t predict the future at all, so maybe I will still have a shot at a scruffy Mini Cooper one day.

So now that we have our foursome, let’s review. You can use whatever criteria you like to determine the winner: best value, coolest-looking, fastest, best date car, whatever. Let’s review our choices.

1989 Ford Probe LX – $4,500

Ever since I found this near-twin to my old Ford Probe for sale, I keep remembering things about it: the weird little pinball-flipper turn signal lever, the trip computer that I used to set to “Instant MPG” to watch it peg at 99 MPG going down hills, the time I brought home a lawnmower in the rear hatch – a lawnmower I still have, actually. It was a good car. But I wouldn’t really want it back; there are too many cars I haven’t yet owned to want to go back.

But I can vouch for the fact that this would make an awesome everyday classic for someone. The 2.2 liter Mazda engine has enough pull to keep up with traffic, the five-speed transmission has an excellent shift feel, and the seats and suspension are comfy enough to make long drives with ease.

1990 Honda Civic Si – $4,800

The seller of this car describes it as a “unicorn,” and that’s not far off. A stock fourth-generation Honda Civic Si, in this day and age, with under 100,000 miles? It’s absolutely unheard of. I mean, it’s not perfect; the paint is pretty well shot, and the driver’s seat needs a little attention, but as it sits, it’s a good “driver quality” example of a car that will be a sought-after classic before much longer.

And a car like this should be driven, and driven hard. Too often cars of this era appear on Bring A Trailer and similar auction sites, with practically no miles on them, and not much chance of ever accumulating more. You don’t pay to have someone cook you a gourmet meal and then lock it away somewhere to spoil, do you? Hell no. You savor every bite, and when it’s gone, you’re richer for having enjoyed it. Cars should be no different.

1990 Chevrolet C1500 Cheyenne – $2,600

Now this one? This one has been driven. This poor old Chevy truck has seen some things. It’s dull, beat-up, tired, and just plain ugly. And yet, it still keeps on going, a testament to General Motors’s engineering prowess. Whatever other sins the mighty juggernaut has committed, it knows how to build a truck. Like a rock, indeed.

If these early GMT400 series trucks have a weak spot, it’s the interior. The half-moon instruments are cool, and the chunky four-spoke steering wheel feels good in your hands, but there isn’t much to recommend it apart from that. The radio is an odd size, the climate controls are a nightmare of tiny little buttons, and all the plastic tends to crumble like a vampire when exposed to sunlight. But you can always screw it back together with wood screws, like I’ve done to mine. It ain’t pretty, but it works.

2006 Mini Cooper S – $4,000

This little roller skate is by far the newest, most powerful, and fastest car here. It’s also by far the most complex, and probably the least reliable. Is it a fair tradeoff? That’s something you’ll have to answer for yourself. It probably is the most fun to drive as well, with the possible exception of the Civic. I have yet to drive one of these new Minis, I’m embarrassed to admit; the opportunity has just never presented itself.

From everything I’ve heard, this is the one to get, too: the latter couple of years of the first-generation Cooper S. It needs lots of care and feeding, but it’s generally a reliable car, or as reliable as a half-British, half-German, high-performance hatchback can be.

So there they are, the week’s winners, and as I said, I have no scenario to help you choose. You just have to vote for your favorite. You can even rank them in the comments if you want; I just don’t have the ability to set up a poll that way, so you’ll only be able to vote for one. (It’s not nearly as automated as you think, actually; you click on your choice, and a light flashes in Autopian Central Command, and poor Matt makes a tick mark on a chalkboard.)

Next week, we’ll be back with more crappy cars, and possibly a surprise for the site’s second anniversary on Monday. In the meantime, pick your favorite stickshift, and have a good weekend!

(Image credits: Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist sellers)