Manual transmissions used to be cheaper and more efficient than automatics, and they were available on just about every vehicle on the market. Times changed, though, and technology moved on. Automatics became the default as consumers at large decided they no longer wanted to row their own. Today, the manual transmission lives on as a rarity, selected only by an enthusiastic few.
While the calendar just ticked over to the new year, automakers technically started building 2025 models some time ago. In any case, as we enter a new year, it’s worth reflecting on which models persist with this ancient, beloved technology.
Sadly, the list dwindles to ever fewer, with a number of models leaving three pedals behind this year. No surprise, given that manuals now make up less than 1% of new car sales in America. As it stands, there are just 27 manual models remaining on sale in 2025.
What We’re Losing This Year
Before we get into the models that are still available, it’s worth looking at those that dropped manual transmissions for 2025. Many automakers have been trimming the fat on their lineups, and weak-selling manual options have been an easy target for cost savings.
The Jeep Gladiator will no longer offer a manual option in 2025, as we’ve covered previously. “The 2025 Jeep Gladiator will exclusively feature a high-tech eight-speed automatic transmission to maximize the best-in-class V6 towing and payload capability demanded by our mid-size truck customers,” Jeep stated late last year. “This configuration is chosen by most Gladiator owners today, and best matches the specific capability and expectations customers tell us they want in an open-air Jeep pickup truck.”
The Chevrolet Camaro is another victim, albeit in part because the model was killed as a whole after the 2024 model year. It’s the same story for the Kia Forte GT, which has been replaced with the CVT-only Kia K4. Honda has also cut the six-speed manual from the Civic hatch, too, though it will remain on higher-end sports models like the Si and Type R. The Mini Cooper will no longer come with a stick either, with the company citing emissions regulations and low demand. However, the US arm of Mini hopes to potentially revisit the option in future.
Sadly, despite practically inventing the hot hatch, Volkswagen will no longer offer manual transmissions on the Golf GTI or Golf R for 2025. Interestingly, this wasn’t down to take rates in America—Volkswagen told us that manuals made up 40% of Golf R sales, and an even more impressive 50% for the Golf GTI. Sadly, though, other markets weren’t as keen, and it didn’t make sense for VW to keep the stick shift around when demand was so little around the world. The model bowed out with the GTI380 special edition in 2024.
Manuals We Still Get
Manual transmissions used to be the budget option, but now they’re almost entirely absent from affordable vehicles. The one exception is the venerable Nissan Versa, which continues to offer a five-speed manual gearbox alongside the more popular CVT option. It’s the last of its kind, though, ever since the Mitsubishi Mirage dropped its manual options in 2023.
The vast majority of manuals out there feature six speeds instead. All the best domestic examples come from the muscle car world—think the Ford Mustang and the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing.
Despite the cheapest cars largely dropping manuals, there are still a wide variety of compacts with three pedals, too. Acura will do you an Integra A-Spec or Type S with a stick if so desired. As previously stated, the basic Honda Civic no longer comes with a six-speed option, but the Civic Si and Type R maintain the option as is the natural order of things. The Hyundai Elantra N similarly gets a six-speed box as a hot compact should, and weirdly, so does the Mazda 3—albeit for five-door Premium models only. If your tastes are more Germanic, though, you can always consider the VW Jetta GLI.
As for sports cars, naturally, the Mazda MX-5 Miata also gets a six-speed box, along with the Nissan Z, the Subaru BRZ, and the WRX. Porsche has also kept the manual offering alive for the 718 Cayman and Boxster, as well as the 911. Interestingly, the current model 911 now features a six-speed box on the Carrera T and GT3, with the oddball 7-speed now apparently a thing of the past. The Lotus Emira will also continue to offer six speeds for your shifting delight.
BMW and Toyota should be celebrated for having the most manual models on offer. BMW has six speeds for the M2, M3, M4 and Z4. Toyota also rocks six-speed options for all its performance models—the GR Corolla, the GR86, and the Supra as well. Meanwhile, dealers boast that the Toyota Tacoma is the only manual pickup truck still on sale in America, now that the Gladiator manual is no more.
Beyond the Tacoma, the Jeep Wrangler is the other main rugged off-road vehicle with a six-speed manual gearbox. We should also tip our hat to the Ford Bronco, which has a “6+1” manual transmission, with six main speeds and an ultra-low crawler gear. In reality, it’s a gearbox with seven forward speeds, something that makes it highly unique in the market today.
Add all those up, and what do you get? A total of 27 models with stick shifts on offer in 2025. Contrast that with 32 models in 2024, and you get a 15.6% decline. For clarity, my count considers different specs of the same model just once. For example, I’m counting the Civic Si and Type R as one car. However, I’m also considering the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 as separate models, and the same for the Porsche Cayman and Boxster. You might disagree with my methodology; you can feel free to make your own correct count in the comments.
Overall, the stick shift landscape is mostly what you’d expect, but trending weirder. A handful of hot hatches and sports cars offer manuals, as the gods intended. At the same time, you’re still able to score one on relatively boring cars like the Mazda 3 and Nissan Versa. Meanwhile, 2025 has seen a number of classic three-pedal cars drop the manual entirely; the Mini Cooper and the Golf GTI are perhaps the most shocking on that list.
As always, my advice in this regard stays the same. If there’s a stick shift you desire, go after it. Chances are it won’t be around forever. Happy hunting.
Image credits: Porsche, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, VW, Cars.com via screenshot, Jeep, Kia
I just switched to an EV last month after 14 years of having a manual DD and I though for sure I would miss it but it really hasn’t been that bad. Thee DDs haven’t been performance models (old Subaru, Passat TDi, then Tacos) so maybe that is why. I think as some others have mentioned I actually stil feel engaged by focusing on the efficiency, maximizing regen, etc (definately a left over from the TDi days). For the first time in years my fleet went from 1 automatic to just 1 manual now.
I don’t daily an EV yet but the regen braking is immensely refreshing since most modern gas cars go into neutral as soon as you let off
Random thought that I have had while driving behind EV’s with regen braking. If the driver lets off the “gas” and the car starts braking with regen, shouldn’t the brake lights go on? I have come closer than I care to admit to hitting some people because they are slowing down and there is no indication.
I know this has nothing to do with the article or really you’re comment, but its been floating around in my head for a while and figured it was time to let it out
Not just cars — nearly all tractors are automatic only now.
I much prefer an automatic tractor. Hate having to worry about the clutch when jamming the bucket into a big pile of stuff. Thankfully I’m not usually ramming my cars into stuff, so I don’t worry about it as much.
The fact that Cadillac will sell you a 670hp RWD manual sedan just warms my heart. Just bad ass.
On one hand there are increasingly few manuals to be had. On the other hand 2 of them are these really awesome Cadillacs.
My kids have been told that they’re learning to drive in my car, a manual.
If for no better reason, in an emergency, they can drive my car.
I guess I’m at a point where I have to worry about ever getting in a collision with it – as pickings are so slim for a new manual car.
Completely forgot about the Nissan Z. I have yet to see the new style in the wild.
I had to go to the dealer in town just to see 3 of them, as basically everyone had a markup on them when they came out, but all 3 are stick, and the cheapest one with basically no options started at 45k.
Nissan really fucked up on this one, which is a pity cause it nearly looks perfect albeit with a really comically large fuel door
Over here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 80% of them are marked down at least 2-3 grand (many of them are marked down 5-6, with a few being at 10.)
I’m going to check some out at Crest Nissan this weekend, since they are overflowing with them. Hopefully this stealership won’t be a complete mess like the previous one I visited.
And yes, the gas door is really comically large.
I wished they did the front grille split like the og 240, but least we got what we got.
Nearly all the dealers here in hoosier land went on a gouge spree for a while, and yet, people kept on buyin like there was no other choice.
And idk why i said they were stick, they were all autos. Such a bummer.
The heritage edition has the split grille, but thats it.
Which is lame they only did it for that one trim.
Least they have some nice colors to pick from on some of them.
I don’t mind their not making tons of them. I do mind their not allowing me to ask for one and if I have to wait then I’ll wait.
And, it is mainly about one’s factor for fun in a car, no matter their circumstances. You don’t want fun? Fine. Just don’t think your argument for lack of fun will convince me to lower my factor for fun (yes, my fun factor is way high).
Also, I apologize for not buying a manual transmission car every year in order to keep demand up. I bought an M/T car 23 years ago and still drive it when I drive (just realized that I do not drive daily; maybe every other day or so). Not giving it up any time soon.
That GTI is omitting its joystick is a sad surprise, especially given the impressive 50% take-rate for it over here. I just purchased a 2010 model with some issues, but that six-speed makes the car.
I’m surprised to hear that the rest of the world now prefers automatic GTIs. Huh. Learn something new every day.
I have a 2017 GTI Sport 6 spd of course. But it only sees 6th gear about once every 2 months. I would much prefer a close ratio transmission with a usable 6th gear.
(waiting for JatcoCVT to weigh in)
Thanks to this comment section, I know only a fool would spec their Versa with a manual when the superior Jatco CVT is available.
It always drives me nuts when manufacturers lock manual trans behind Poverty Spec trims and/or massively reduced capacity. They also lock out the good engines and AWD configurations that can be had in the auto cars.
Then they claim no one is buying manuals cause they don’t want em. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Indeed. So far from what I’ve seen to date the only manufacturer that emphasized on the manual transmission in some of its vehicles was Toyota. At that time on one of my subscriptions to Road & Track, they advertised the 6-speed iMT(intelligent Manual Transmission) which was available on the Toyota Corolla at the time (it was discontinued for 2022,only the GR Corolla hatchback has a “wrist flicker” now). How do manufacturers expect sales to increase if they don’t advertise some of the more functional features in their vehicles? They have no problem advertising all the tech they put into their vehicles, but they can’t take a little time out to advertise what transmissions are available.
As I understand it: the iMT is about the gear-ratios (low gears being closer for acceleration, and high ones being further spaced for efficiency) and the rev-matching.
The Corolla, from memory, I found its ratios to be far better spaced than prior Toyota MTs I’ve driven (previously I found the gap between 1-2 to be far too large; where turning a corner leaves you awkwardly wanting to be between gears). But I didn’t notice the rev-matching having any effect on my driving.
I would say the 6MT version of the Corolla was good. But it wasn’t any better to drive in my opinion than the Civic, or Golf had been already – but it was far better than previous Toyota transmissions.
I wish they didn’t do this either, but it sure does seem like there’s a large amount of correlation between manual buyers and cheapskates, even in 2025.
See any comment section on this website for examples.
I mean, I WAS willing to pay extra for stuff, until the MSRP on vehicles got hiked 40% or more over the pandemic.
I’d love a stick shift Tacoma, but I can buy a fully loaded Frontier for nearly 10k less, with half the interest rate.
That’s what I did. Got my hands on a 2024 Frontier King Cab 4×4 S trim. A similarly equipped Toyota Tacoma XtraCab would’ve set me back $41-45K before the dealer markups.
With taxes,title and fees the Frontier set me back $38,800.
Mind you, I bought mine at a dealer in Kentucky.
It still bothers me that Mazda only offers the stick on the Mazda3 FWD Premium model and not the AWD turbo. Maybe there’s a packaging reason for it, but…dafuq?
And Mazda charges a pretty penny for the Premium models as well. Where I live the dealers are charging north of $30-$32K and that’s before the markup and if they have any manual transmission models at all.
When I bought my ’22 Mazda 3 with the 6 speed it was pretty easy to find one with no markup. No idea now, but that was during a time of even worse dealer behavior. And yes, 32k is MSRP on one of those because it’s the top non-turbo trim of the car. It’s well worth the money though – far more standard equipment than a Civic for example along with leather seats.
I live in the Northeast (Massachusetts) and up there almost every thing fetches a higher price and certain items are limited (dealers are obsessed with silver,black and grey).
I preferred the Soul Red or blue,but most of those are found in the Midwest,South or Southwest regions.
The speculation I’ve seen is that it can’t handle the increased power of the turbo but I’m not sure if Mazda has ever actually said. It’s ok though…the secret is that the 6 speed with the NA engine is the better driver’s car anyway!
That strikes me as nonsense, though. They made a Mazdaspeed3 before, for Pete’s sake. Surely they could figure out how to get a manual to accept more power again.
Bring back Mazdaspeed, ya cowards!
I would tend to agree. 250hp/320tq, while more than enough for the 3, aren’t exactly Earth-shattering numbers.
I have a 24 turbo and would love for it have a stick. But I feel like the bigger issue is that the new turbos are AWD versus just front wheel drive for the older Speed3’s. Now they did have the Speed6 which was AWD so maybe not an excuse.
All that said, the auto in it is pretty solid and in sport and manual mode, its still quite the fun little hatch with plenty of speed
SO MUCH this. Also, dealers never order manual ones
I’m at the point where I can’t see myself not having a manual transmission car in the garage. I daily’d a manual Astra from 2008 to 2017 and then switched up to a Volt and missed the manual so much that I bought an MGB in 2019. I added a manual NC Miata this summer and basically daily’d that all summer. I miss it in the winter. I took it out a few times this week after the rain cleared the salt off the streets, just because I missed it. I probably won’t buy a new stick anymore because I’m the only person in the household that can drive one, but I’m not going to go without at least a fun spare car in the garage that has a stick. We have an automatic ND Miata too, but it’s not anywhere near as fun as the stick NC.
Frankly, I’m shocked that Mini and VW have discontinued models that had such a high take rate of manual transmissions. If you have 40% of the people picking the manual, why do you want to give up that business?
Yurp, as much as I love the effortless feel of my Volt, I sure do love it when I hope in the Tracker and row through the gears.
When my wife bought her MINI in 2019, I estimated 40% of the cars on the lot were MT. She stumbled on a perfectly optioned 6MT Cooper S ‘vert sitting in the showroom and bought it. MT was shown as available in 2020 but I never saw one for sale. Best guess: despite the high take rate, they didn’t see a downturn in sales when only automatics were available so they dumped them.
The MT in my ’03 MCS was sooo good, like the bolt action on a rifle.
Oh well, MINIs aren’t the simple, honest hatches they used to be…
Whilst I no longer believe a stick is necessary for driving enjoyment (I steal my daughter’s automatic Mini Cooper S every now and again to take the back roads to and from work), I’ll be damned if I ever own a Mustang with an automatic. I don’t think I can put into words why that is. It…just is.
If that makes me a Luddite, I guess I’m luddin’.
Not necessarily just to the Mustang, but most tuned/loud cars in general, if I hear them getting on it and its auto, I always laugh to myself. I guess I still am in the mindset of a loud obnoxious sports car needing/should be a manual.
Traded my stick for an 8 speed auto 2 years ago, and have been so happy with it. 90% of my driving is in city, on large city streets and highways through the city.
Yeah its a bummer for that 2 times a year i hit the track.. but whatever.. my Jag wasnt built to win races.
Relevant. The 8HP works so well it makes nearly every other transmission irrelevant
The pre programmed modes for city and track are well thought out. I only ever feel it shift from 1 to 2, and otherwise it always seems to be in sync with what i am wanting.
The car came with paddle shift… but i never use them it is really great on its own.
I traded one of my stickshift cars in for an automatic, but I did *want* a stick!
I live on a couple of acres out in the country. And have a 1962 Volvo PV544 and a 1986 Ford F150 – both have 5 speed manual transmissions swapped in. After Christmas, a long time friend brought by two 15 year old kids that wanted to learn how to drive a manual transmission.
I got both of them soloing (no adult supervision in the vehicle!!!!). And they did not hit each other or any solid obstacles. NOTE: Over the years, my kids and grand kids have managed to run into bushes, fences and a tether ball pole. We managed to get the accidents out of their systems before we turned then loose on the general public <wink>.
Both want to come back when they get their Arizona learner’s permits. I have a series of roads available for them to develop their driving skills.
As an 80 year old, it feels good to pass the knowledge on to new generations.
And a p.s. – The 6 foot male liked the little Volvo and the 5 foot female liked the bigger F150.
Russ
Cars used to be an example where the old “carrot and stick” metaphor for reward and punishment did not hold true for me. In cars, the carrot was the stick. Even the most agricultural manual transmission was an incentive to choose one car over another.
Mini abandoning manuals is an awful decision, but speaks volumes about the buyers that tend to choose a Mini today: all about the appearance and not the drive. Admittedly, in the lifetime of the BMW version of Mini, automatics have probably always outsold manuals and that’s fine, but also sad on another level. Take rate wins out, so the economic decision to drop manuals is understandable, if lamentable.
Toyota only offers a manual on the 4-door Tacoma. How does that make sense? The 4-door truck buyer, as compared to the 2-door buyer, is more likely to be using their truck as a people hauler and less likely to opt for a manual, whereas the 2-door buyer (also a vanishing breed) is more likely to want the manual.
I couldn’t possibly care less about heated seats and steering wheels, infotainment systems and phone interfaces, driver assists and self driving capability, or goofy lighting gimmicks, so I’m not sure what manufacturers can offer to entice me into a showroom. A real choice of colors? Greenhouses with great outward visibility? Cheap prices? None of those seem to be on the table anymore, either. The man machine interface, most notably expressed by the manual transmission was, for me, the best part of driving. I’m not talking about racing around or anything like that either, just the melding of driver and machine on twisty roads or in bad weather, etc. I never minded a manual in heavy traffic, either.
My next car will probably be an older model with a manual, though I fully expect to move to an EV at some point and that will be the end of my manual days, which is fine. But I’ll probably hang on to that old manual, too.
Luddite manual transmission lovers are living in the past. Like the horse and carriage there was a time and place for them and it’s gone, gone, gone.
There’s always one.
With the present being such a goddamned shit show, what’s wrong with living in the past?
Sincerely,
Jethro Tull
There’s some Amish folks that would dispute that sentiment.
Much like some of folks here who still enjoy rowing through the gears and having an effective theft deterrent device.
Loving a manual transmission doesn’t make on a luddite any more than loving automatic watches over quartz, or vinyl over streaming.
For many driving a stick shift is about the connection the machine. I’m driving the car, it isn’t driving me. There are plenty of really good auto transmissions, and plenty of bad ones that fight your intentions. The manual trans only does what I tell it to do.
They’re fun, you dork, it’s nothing to do with raging against technology or whatever dumb nonsense you’re trying to push. Autos just bore some people to tears, simple as. I don’t even really like driving all that much anymore with all the idiots out there ruining everything, and if I had to switch to an auto, it’d become a meaningless chore altogether.
This is sad, but expected.
I have always owned a manual transmission. IOW, I have never owned an automatic, until I bought my Bolt in September. After 30 years of driving stick, I am on the fence if I want to go back.
After 3 months of daily driving the Bolt, I mostly drive with One Pedal Driving (OPD). I have come to the conclusion that the reason I drove manual was because I am a control freak. I always thought it was because I wanted to “row my own”. But, that wasn’t it. It took me about 2 months to pick up on the evidence, and I am now fully convinced.
It’s the control. Nothing else.
I LOVE rowing through the gears of a manual transmission, always keeping in that power band. But, with OPD, I get the same satisfaction. Actually, I get more satisfaction. I have more… control. I also feel safer.
Why do I feel safer?
Specifically due to the time it takes to get your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. I’m talking about 0.25-0.5 seconds of time. In a gas car; in that time, the car is basically doing nothing. Engine braking begins to kick in a little, but not much. In an EV with OPD; you immediately start slowing down. I want to retype that for you; you immediately start slowing down.
It’s not much, but the regen (aka engine braking) is strong. In some cars, you can adjust that strength, I do not have that option on my Bolt.
But, that extra 0.25-0.5 seconds of braking the car immediately starts doing while you move your foot over to the brake pedal actually makes a HUGE difference. I didn’t think so, at first. But, I have come to depend on that, and fully expect to be rear ended at some point as a result of someone behind me not paying attention. As a matter of fact, my Bolt was in a minor rear end collision with the prior owner, and I can nearly guarantee it’s because they were driving on OPD and the driver behind them was not paying attention.
Been waiting to post this, hope this helps others in their EV journey decisions.
Most of my EV seat time is on motorcycles, but with regen dialed up, an EV doesn’t feel like an automatic, it feels like a manual that’s always in the right gear. Also, experiencing a ride without the drama, noise and fuss of a combustion engine is kind of a trip.
I just can’t warm up to OPD. I also went from manual to EV, but the inability to ‘coast’ really messes with my flow, especially in spirited driving. I manually select the lowest regen every time I start driving, and that seems to be my happy place. I’m also not a huge fan of riding with someone in OPD – it feels a lot more choppy with the constant acc/deceleration. That said, I can totally see the appeal of OPD, it just one of those YMMV things…
The first gen Bolts had a great feature where if you tapped the physical shifter “back”, it would swap between “coast” and OPD. Another feature I use multiple times a day. I use it as a brake to go between coasting and OPD.
Basically, once I hit “highway speeds” on the highway, I’m in coast mode. Once I hit traffic, I pop it into OPD.
I agree, highway driving in OPD isn’t the best for passengers, or the driver, if we are being honest. BUT, I will argue it’s safer in every circumstance based on my original post.
Moving the transfer between coast mode and OPD to a screen from the physical shifter completely ruins this. The newer bolts removed the shifter for a button and moved this feature to the touch screen, hence ruining it.
First gen Bolts are the best EV, right now, IMHO. They just nailed the balance between EV and ICE very well.
e-golfs let you switch between 3 or 4 levels of regen by rocking the shifter back and forth. I used it all the time.
Your comment of expecting to be rear ended brought back a random thought I have had while driving behind EV’s in my area and almost rear ending them. And no, it’s not because I was on my phone or not paying attention ha. Maybe this is a question for Torch, but shouldn’t the brake lights come on if you (the driver of an EV and using regen braking to slow down) let off the gas and are actively “braking?” I know engine braking is one thing but never seen a vehicle where it’s as aggressive as some of the regen braking.
I’ve owned a bunch of manual transmission cars over the years, and often think about picking another one up. The problem is I also live in a place with awful traffic, so the enjoyment of a stick is severely curtailed by the clutch-in, clutch-out gridlock drudgery. I was willing to suffer that a lot more when I was in my 20s and 30s, but as more and more people move to my city each year, owning a stick isn’t as enticing as it used to be. With that said, there are still cars, like a Miata or a Boxster, that I wouldn’t own without a manual.
My solution to this on Chicago’s gridlocked highways is to find a semi and keep pace with it. I almost always find a trucker going a constant 10-15 mph or so rather than playing the stop-and-go game everyone else is doing. I slide in behind and keep pace, usually just idling along in second gear.
I usually find that the truck’s constant pace is roughly equal to the speed of everyone else coming to a complete stop before accelerating to their next stop 10 seconds later.
I’ve done the semi trick before when I drove a stick in Houston traffic. The problem I have now is that there has been explosive growth here in the Colorado front range that has led to many surface streets being far too small for the population, so what works on the highway doesn’t always work on city streets. Most of the gridlock I deal with today is poorly timed traffic lights in series, where the traffic backs up multiple lights, so we all just creep through 4-5 cars at a time between rotations. I could certainly do it with a stick, but I also appreciate doing dealing with it in an automatic.
The ironic part about that is nowadays a lot of heavy semi trucks are equipped with automatic or automated manual transmissions as well,especially if they’re part of a large trucking company fleet. Depending on the truck manufacturer,they’ll use Eaton,Detroit,Volvo,Allison or even Mercedes Benz transmissions. With some manufacturers you can still buy a true manual transmission but you’ll have to order it when you spec out the truck.
The automated manuals still don’t like stop & go, so it’s advantageous for them to apply manual trans techniques.
Also, the Eaton Autoshift is hot garbage. The only thing that sucks worse than driving them is working on them.
Don’t remind me,please!lol
The Eaton Endurant 12 speed in the Kenworth T-680 I used to drive was problematic from the start. It would always kick down to the wrong gear especially under heavy load and would refuse to up shift to the correct gear I needed.
Never had that issue with the Freightliner Cascadia that I currently drive. I could manually override the Detroit transmission as needed to keep it in the torque band.
The only thing that T-680 had going for it was the Cummins X15 sitting between the frame rails.
Where you live plays an important factor in enjoyment. I have no idea how Hundal does it in the Greater Toronto Area.
I took my genesis coupe with a stage 3 clutch to several events in the GTA (back in the ImportFest glory days) and audibly stated to my passengers, noting my left knee that was starting to swell, that if I had to navigate this traffic daily, I’d just buy an auto.
However, 5 hours north east in the capital, there’s no shortage of easy cruising roads and even the worst highway lockup from accidents and whatnot won’t trap you for more than an hour.
This is very true. I live the city life as a compromise with my family that doesn’t want to live like a hermit in a mountain cave like I do. But I also live close enough to the mountains that I can be on a trail in 30 minutes (or longer, traffic dependent). I grew very tired of the big-city traffic in DFW, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland, and others, but at least the traffic in my area is only really bad during certain times and not at all times of day and night like the aforementioned cities.
We chose a rural community as it’s the same commuting distance as the east end suburbs. Still only takes me 15-20mins to cover the commute into the east end of the city, but it’s rural roads and my rear neighbours are a hay field.
Ah, that’s the nice way to do it. I had that when I lived on the west coast – a nice commute along an empty road that followed a beautiful river. Where I live now used to be rural, but the crazy growth means that not only am I now in the city, I’m somehow in the middle of the city. It’s nuts.
Thankfully, my area was SUPPOSED to be a commuter city, but the clay in the ground means anything over 2 stories can’t be built. So it’s mostly 40-60 year old bungalows on big lots surrounded by fields.
The only part that sucks anything I can’t get from the corner store/gas station/liquor store, or the 3 restaurants near me, is 20 minutes away in any direction.
20 minutes isn’t too bad – on the west coast it was 70 minutes to anything other than the grocery store or gas station.
The odd part of where I’m at is that a decade ago my house was just barely considered in the city, and now when people reference the part of town that was historically “the northeast side” that included my house, they mean a part of town 15 miles away. Unfortunately, my part of town was designed around homes, not store fronts, so now I have to either drive into downtown or to the new sections of town for anything other than the grocery store or gas station – which can still take an hour easily.
I feel that manual transmission cars and trucks are going to gain in value as time goes on due to the scarcity.
Theres always going to be some of us that enjoy shifting.
The bonus is that most thieves can’t drive a stick shift so it’s a built in theft device.
If you can’t get it in gear you can’t drive it away.
Just like FedEx requires all its delivery vehicles to have a hidden button to push to put the van/ truck into gear after stepping on the brake to help prevent theft .
I am convinced that my Tacoma was saved from theft due to it being a manual.
My daughter’s Versa was stolen by a guy who couldn’t drive stick. They found it about 5 miles away with a destroyed clutch. I guess he couldn’t get the hang of it quick enough.
Bless the Civic Si and Type R for remaining manual only into 2025.
If only the new prelude had a manual…
And a decently powerful motor.
In this case, I do. That seems like a really odd choice considering how different the Si and Type R are, when the only notable difference between the BRZ/GR86 is the badge on the front.
But I guess they kind of balance each other out, don’t they?
I’m on board with counting all Civics together (otherwise are different engines/trims in every car counted as multiple models?) but I agree that the BRZ and 86 should be a single entry.
Type R and Si have: different engine, brakes, gear ratios, suspension (especially front), track width, steering. One is a hatch, the other is a sedan. They look similar but are really quite different under the skin.
I vote to draw the distinction from the transmission itself.
Is there a difference between the Si and Type R gearbox (I honestly am curious, I don’t know)? If so count them separately.
Different gear ratios, yes. The 10th gen had different shifter and linkage assemblies, but I think they made them the same for the 11th.
One more stick story.
My father in law owned a service station in Metro Detroit. A few years before he retired, the station bought a beautiful tow truck, deep maroon, had the shop information hand painted on the doors, etc.
When they sold the station, my father in law wanted to keep the truck, and maybe do some calls as a part time gig. The new owners insisted on keeping the truck.
So whenever I’d drive past the station, there’d be the truck parked out front, with a piece of cardboard taped over the doors. It never moved.
One day, my father in law stopped by the station and asked “Is there something wrong with the truck? It hasn’t moved since you bought the station.”
The owner said “No, its just that no one here knows how to drive a stick…”
I just traded in what will likely be my last vehicle with a manual transmission. The dealer rep said “Oh. It’s a stick.” in the most dejected tone of voice ever. Probably went straight to the auction.
For me, traffic in my city has gotten so bad that shifting had become an absolute chore. The opportunities to row my own in any sort of sporting fashion have become almost nil.
One of the reasons I’m giving up my stick, that and the fact that my wife (who can drive stick) doesn’t like driving it. It used to be traffic issues such as the I-95 hellscape but now it’s mountain driving. Are there roads that would be amazing with the right stick vehicle? Absolutely. But I’m not getting any younger, my knees aren’t what they used to be and honestly I’m just tired of it. Yeah, it’s me, I’m the problem. Sorry.
I am at the beginning stages of aging out probably. I don’t see this as the problem.
Right now I am lucky enough that both me and the wife work from home and have for five years or so. And we live far enough away from the city that occasional trips out are not a chore and fun drives north to the mountains are easy afternoon getaways.
I love taking the Boxster out for fun but I recognize there will come a time that age will bring too much discomfort to make it fun.
Hopefully I’ve got another good ten years with the car before I sadly let it go to someone that can enjoy it and I look to something with an auto that is “good enough”.
Don’t feel bad for that. That is not the reason manuals are slowly going extinct.
I bought an old VW TDI with a 5 speed so my kids could learn how to drive a manual in case of emergency, but I guess the days actually *needing* to know how to do it are long past unless you live OCONUS.
I did the same thing. I taught my son to drive a stick. Then I got him an auto. He said no one drives a stick anymore. I’ll probably sell my DD with a stick and get an auto next. I’ll use my MGB when I want to drive a stick when not in heavy traffic.
Mid pandemic we bought a used 2015 Mustang with a six, and a stick. My son was 16 at the time. We would go for drives, and I’ll never forget him saying, under his breath, as he was shifting gears (and nailing it), “God, this is fun…”
But, would he say the same thing in a Versa???
Considering that the only other transmission option in a Versa is a CVT he would probably find it a blessing in disguise.
A few Versa drivers with the manual transmission version are quite satisfied with it.
Remember that the Versa is an entry level car,not a high performance machine, that’s okay.
I used to have a 2016 Nissan Sentra S with a 6 speed manual transmission and that car was fun.
I’ve driven a manual Versa, and a CVT Versa. Both were terrible, but my god at least the manual didn’t make me want to steer into oncoming traffic like that CVT
There’s still some hope for the human race.
Not many of the younger generations are interested in driving a manual transmission nowadays.
It’s becoming a lost art.
2 of my vehicles are manual transmissions. A 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth and a 2022 Hyundai Elantra N Line. Both still put a grin on my face when I hit the highway (the Abarth even more so when I turn the key on in the ignition and when I put it in Sport mode).
As the number of affordable manual transmission vehicles dwindle it’s getting harder to find ideal replacements for when it may become necessary.