Anyone who’s ever driven a manual transmission car will tell you: it’s the way to go. Even in traffic and on city streets it’s fun to drive and makes you feel like you’re one with the machine and the road.
But manual transmission cars are on the wane. As automatic transmissions come down in price around the world and traffic becomes increasingly heavy, manuals have gone out of favor with buyers. And with the coming transition to electrification—say what you want in the US; it’s a reality around the world—the manual transmission is one element left behind.
So if you just want a stick shift for those fun drives or want your last gas-powered car to be the stuff of dreams, here are our favorites.
The Classic Manual Transmission Sports Car: Mazda Miata
Every stick shift driver loves the Mazda Miata. It’s small, agile and fun. Its limitations—it seats only two, it’s a convertible and space is at a premium—are what make it charming. The ultimate freedom car, this is for getaways and date nights, for unplugging after a long day and will make a jaunt to the market a fun outing. Even on a cold, rainy day it’s charming: hearing the rain pitter-pater on the canvas roof makes the cabin feel cozy.
New, the Miata is priced from $30,000; used models can be had for a fraction of that and they are a good bet. These Japanese designed and built cars will go the distance, and the miles.
Related: Think New Cars Aren’t Affordable? The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta Begs to Differ
Off-Road or On, A Stick Shift Jeep Wrangler Is the Rare Manual SUV
One of only two SUVs on this list, the manual 4-wheeler was once a staple, but now, a rarity. Jeep has yet to abandon the manual and we hope they never do. This is a fun and capable SUV and comes in a 2-door version or four. You can remove the top, customize its features and options and truly make it yours.
Priced from $31,000, it can be had used for much less and tends to hold its value better than most. Because it’s a manual, no doubt.
See Why the Subaru WRX Has So Many Fans
We tend to think of Subaru for its all wheel drive capabilities in winter weather, mud season and for climbing tough roads. But that AWD comes in handy on tight turns and curvy roads, and Subaru’s Boxer engine proves fun to drive, especially in a manual transmission. We like the WRX’s classic sedan shape and smaller proportions that make it both elegant to look at and easy to drive (when you’re not focused on having fun).
Priced from $32,000, this is another one that holds it value pretty well, but you’ll still find it affordable on the used market.
Built to Be Manual: VW Golf
You can get VW’s celebrated Golf GTI or Golf R hatchbacks in an automatic if you want, but the engineering and driving dynamics of the VW Golf are distinctly designed with a manual in mind. It rides low, the power and feeling are balanced and inside, the design is sporty. Also, there’s room for 4 or 5 passengers, there’s a nice cargo area and lots of creature comforts.
Priced from $32,000 for the GTI and $45,000 for the Golf R, going for a used model isn’t a bad idea; these hot hatchbacks will deliver fun every day.
A Demure Sedan With a Split Personality: Hyundai Elantra N
You might think of the Hyundai Elantra as an affordable sedan filled with tech and nice features. Instead, it’s the foundation for the Elantra N, which is another animal altogether. When Hyundai began its journey to building the N performance line of models, Elantra was a starting point. It’s size, shape and mechanics offered the perfect blank slate to build it into a sports car.
Now you’ll find the Elantra N on tracks and entering into races around the globe. Priced from $34,000 you’ll also find a few used, but we can see why most owners are not parting ways with this gem just yet.
The Sexiest Stick Shift on the Road: Toyota GR 86
We are ever grateful for the Toyota GR 86. That’s because this car was developed in a partnership with Subaru under the Scion flag, and when the companies decided to disband the brand, they opted to keep the 86. It became a Toyota. Evolving the 86 to what it should be, Toyota sent it over to Gazoo Racing to see what they could do with it. The result is a powerful, balanced fun to drive sports car with enough storage for a handbag and a few other things and room for a co-pilot.
Priced from $29,000, you’ll find older non-GR models on the used market and they are fun, too.
Old School Fun Is New Again in the Honda Civic SI
This is the car I longed for as a teen: Sporty, powerful, fun, reliable and manual. The Honda Civic SI wasn’t a thing then; all Hondas came with a manual transmission and offered an automatic as an upgrade. Most people went with the manual not just because it was cheaper, but because it was fun.
Fast forward and things are reversed: The manual transmission Honda Civic SI is a premium model, with a starting price of $29,000, about a $6,000 upgrade from the base model. But it’s still affordable and on the used market, even more so.
The Other Manual Transmission SUV: Ford Bronco
This fun retro-inspired off-roader is super capable in all conditions: school runs, Costco hauls, commutes into the city, and of course, off-road, where it really belongs. In a manual all those things are even more fun.
We love that Ford thought to include a manual option in the Bronco, but we’re not surprised; Ford is only interested in passion projects and a stick shift version of the Bronco qualifies. Priced from $40,000, go for a new version. Used manual Broncos are selling for as much as new but without the warranty.
The Huge Surprise About Mini: The Most Fun Is Also the Most Affordable
Two-door or four, hard top or soft, Minis are a natural in manual, but get ’em while you can; the company has started to phase out manual transmissions. The good news is they’ve been largely available in manual transmissions until now and there are a lot of great used options in 4-door, 2-door, AWD, FWD, Convertible, Sport and more.
Even better, used Minis are among some of the best deals on the used market and because design changes always adhere to the basic philosophy of Mini size, shape and scale, they always look good, never dated. Priced from $28,000 new, you might even find a brand new 2024 manual model on a dealer’s lot. Until they are all gone, that is.
Elegant, Comfortable, Affordable: VW Jetta
We love the VW Jetta for purely this reason: This elegant sedan still comes in a manual. VW is not giving up on this, and even in the newly announced model with significant updates there’s a manual transmission option.
The VW Jetta is one of our favorite used cars for its reliability, good looks and fair pricing; it starts at about $21,000 and used models are especially nicely priced.
Truck Yeah! The Toyota Tacoma Comes in a Manual
This is a shocker: The Toyota Tacoma pickup truck can be had in a manual. It’s only available in the SR double cap AWD, but if you want a manual pickup truck, you can have one. It’s that simple. And that delightful.
Priced from $37,000 new, that might be your best deal; these things hold their value and even used can be priced similarly to new.
Glory Days Inspired: Nissan Z
The good news is that the retro-inspired modern classic Nissan Z is available in automatic or manual, catering to those who really want to drive it as its intended — and as it was originally produced. We love its heritage details, modern zen design approach and its elegant lines.
Priced from $42,000 it’s also one of the more affordable manual sports cars on the road.
The Outlier Dream Car: Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
When I drove the CT4-V Blackwing’s predecessor, the Cadillac ATS-V, I knew this could be my forever car. It was comfortable, sporty and posh, but its powerful engine and hand-in-glove manual transmission made me swoon (I love cars, but swoon? Almost never).
In the few years since, Blackwing has become the ultimate performance car in the Cadillac family and for good reason: More power, more technical expertise, more thrills. But it’s still delightful for the daily routine, looks unassuming in the driveway and will take your breath away when you let it. Priced from $62,000, the Cadillac CX4-V Blackwing may be available used for less someday, but it’ll be a while.
Build Your Bucket List Here: BMW M and Z Series
While some carmakers are navigating away from manual transmissions, BMW is leaning in when it comes to its M series performance sedans and Z models. Are all available in a manual transmission. They are not cheap, with a somewhat reasonable starting price of around $64,000 and in the model lineup you’ll have the options of 2 doors or 4, small, mid-sized and convertible. It’s pretty nice variety.
And, all are track-worthy, so be sure to plan your time at the BMW Performance Center so you can really take advantage of this car’s muscle.
The Stick Shift Dream Car: Porsche, Any Manual Porsche
Get these while you can, and where you can; they’ll be gone soon (or at least that is what Porsche says). A manual Porsche is the ultimate dream car. Fast, agile and perfectly engineered, these cars are both a super luxury car and superior performance car.
There are lots of options, too: The 718s start at $72,000 in Boxster and Cayman models, and the 911 starts at $120,000 and ratchets up to double that. New or used, a Porsche is the ultimate bucket list car and in a stick shift, even more so.
For those of us looking down the road at driving an electric car, or others who are digging in and refusing to go petrol-free, a manual should be on your shopping list for your next car.
