Best Vehicles with Manual Transmission
Although dual-clutch and smooth automatic transmissions are a preferable option by the majority, there are still some people who love the good old manual gearbox. Of course, you wouldn’t expect to see the gear lever sticking out between the two seats of a luxury vehicle, but the excitement reaches a whole new level when you are going through the gears in the sportier models. We present you best cars with the manual transmission.
20. Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST is a small sporty vehicle with the front-wheel drive and the 6-speed manual transmission which fits perfectly. The latest version of this model produces 197 bhp, and although there are some strong competitors to the ST, a lot of people would opt for this version just because of the manual stick.
19. Mazda MX-5
The first time Mazda MX-5 hit the market was in 1989, but it is still going strong. With this car, Japanese carmaker introduced a new type of small sports convertible whereas the latest model combines light body weight with naturally-aspirated engines. Of course, the unit is mated to a manual gearbox that makes the MX-5 a lot more engaging.
18. BMW M3
If you are looking for a vehicle that offers flawless driving experience, you ought to consider the BMW M3. The speed is not the M3’s biggest strength, but the chassis and the gearbox make up for it, and they set this car apart from the rest of the similar models, manual and automatic.
17. Toyota GT86
Driving purity is what you get with the Toyota GT86. This is a fun vehicle to control and just like the BMW mentioned above the GT86 is not as fast as expected, for the money you get. However, if you avoid the automatic version, you will quickly realize that the GT86 is one of the most engaging cars to drive.
16. Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is equipped with a 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, and it is one of the best cars with the manual transmission on the market. The Honda S2000 is beautiful as well, and your neighbors will be envious when they see you driving around the block.
15. Renault Sport RS 275 Trophy-R
Renault Sport hot hatchback philosophy reached its peak in 2009 when the Renault Sport RS 275 Trophy-R was introduced. This vehicle is track-oriented, and it delivered 270 bhp, which helped Renault achieve one of the best lap times at Nurburgring. All this is accomplished with a manual transmission.
14. Volkswagen Golf R
Although many performance lovers are going to choose the Golf GTI, which is an excellent vehicle, we would love to point out that the Golf R may be a better choice. Top of the line version produces 292 bhp, and with the four-wheel drive, this model is going to rival the best cars such as the Renault Sport Trophy-R we have mentioned earlier. While there are multiple transmission choices, we will suggest the six-speed manual.
13. Subaru WRX STI
The Subaru WRX STI is suitable for every kind of weather and every type of road surface. It is the performance car you want to have in your garage and what makes this model even better is the fact that Subaru always offered a manual transmission. With it, you can truly experience the power of the engine and enjoy the ride.
12. BMW M2
The M2 and M3 are not that different. With the M2 you can select the seven-speed dual clutch automatic that will help the car accelerate to 60 mph more quickly, but if you want to test this vehicle and experience it to the fullest, take it onto a winding road, and the manual gearbox is the better choice.
11. Porsche Cayman GT4
The Cayman GT4 is not as popular as the Porsche 911, but it is hard not to recognize its fantastic abilities. Under the hood, this model is equipped with a 3.8-liter I6 engine that delivers 370 bhp and which is connected to a six-speed manual transmission.
10. Jaguar F-Type V6
We have been waiting for the E-Type successor for a long time, and Jaguar didn’t disappoint us. They introduced the wonderfully-designed F-Type that was only available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, in 2015, the British carmaker offered a manual option for all of the V6 models and made this car much more appealing.
9. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
It took some time for the Alfa Romeo to produce a car that will be loved and bought by lots of people all over the world. After some flawed creations, the Italian carmaker released the Giulia Quadrifoglio. This model features a rear-wheel drive and the engine that is derived from Ferrari and which is connected to the manual transmission. All of this tells us that the Giulia Quadrifoglio is an excellent model!
8. Ferrari F355
The Ferrari F355 may not be the most famous model that came out of Ferrari’s factory, but its combination of the manual gearbox and the exhaust system makes all petrol heads go crazy. It is a dream-come-true for the fans of the stick as the F355 provides an intense driving experience and excitement every time you change the gear.
7. BMW M5
It is no wonder that there are so many BMW cars on this list and another model we have to mention is the M5. Under its hood is a naturally-aspirated V10 engine that delivers 500 bhp and most E60 M5 cars come with semi-automated SMG transmission. Most, but not all. The German company also offers a six-speed manual gearbox, but only a few cars sold in the USA come with this option, which makes the manual M5 a rare machine to have.
6. Audi R8
When the first-generation Audi R8 appeared on the market, many people fell in love with it, and it quickly became a dominant and popular model. It offered tremendous power for a reasonable price — under its hood was the V10 engine good for 550 bhp and mated to a manual transmission. These R8 versions are scarce, and they are very desirable, so, if you stumble upon one, make sure you don’t miss a chance to buy it.
5. Lamborghini Gallardo
Even though the Gallardo and the R8 have some similarities, the driving experience is what sets these two cars apart. The limited edition Balboni replaced the Gallardo’s original 4WD configuration and the e-gear transmission with the rear-wheel drive system and the stick shift, and that made it one of the most thrilling supercars produced at the time.
4. Porsche GT3
When Porsche omitted the manual transmission from the 911 version of the GT3, many aficionados were close to a stroke. Luckily, Porsche introduced the limited edition that came with the old school gearbox only and that calmed down the brand’s fans.
3. Aston Martin Vantage V12
Under the hood of the Aston Martin Vantage is the 5.9-liter V12 powerplant that generates 510 bhp and decision to connect this unit to the manual transmission was spot-on! The Vantage is smooth and quick, but it is also pleasant to the eye.
2. Dodge Viper
The 8.4-liter V10-Viper is all about speed and power, but to learn that this model comes with the clutch pedal makes us smile. Although the Tremec six-speed transmission is not quite as responsive, you simply love to sit behind the wheel of this iconic model.
1. McLaren F1
Last but not least, the McLaren F1 is closest to perfection when it comes to the vehicles with manual transmissions. The McLaren F1 boasts the V12 engine good for 627 bhp and a super-light body shell that allow this vehicle to race down the track in an instant.
Originally published at carsoid.com on March 1, 2018.
