The best manual transmission cars for sale

There is no replacement for a manual transmission and we doubt there ever will be.

There’s a reason it’s the hill that car purists around the world are willing to die on. There’s simply nothing better than the feeling of driving a stick-shift car. Even as transmission technology advances and many automatic counterparts shift faster and even offer options and driving modes that allow us to do much of what was only possible with a manual transmission, the best manual transmission cars continue to shine with enthusiasts, even if their performance may not be as good, for the simple reason that they are so authentic as driver’s cars.

As time goes on and the industry moves away from manual transmissions, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find new manual transmission cars for sale. If you are looking for the best manuals, used manual transmission cars are definitely your best bet. If this sounds like something you’re interested in and you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up (pun intended) our favorites so you can start your search with what we think are the best manual transmission cars.

What are the benefits of driving manual transmission cars?

For many drivers, stick shift driving is worth it because it makes them feel more in control, more engaged, and just getting things done the old-fashioned way. However, other advantages include the ability to freely choose the timing of upshifts and downshifts, for example when entering and exiting corners, and in some cases, such as the current generation Porsche 911 GT3, the fact that the manual transmission version has a slightly higher top speed.

What are the disadvantages of driving manual transmission cars?

Many manual transmission drivers will tell you that the biggest disadvantage of manual transmissions is that you are stuck in traffic and have to constantly shift gears in and out of gear as you make slow progress through a traffic jam. But who likes traffic? Other disadvantages include the obvious learning curve for new stick shift drivers, limited access to some of the latest automotive safety systems, and in many cases slower acceleration. Drivers simply can’t shift gears as quickly as many performance automakers’ latest automatic transmissions, but many drivers still prefer the old-school feel.

Can you still buy a car with a manual transmission?

Naturally! Manual transmission cars are certainly an endangered species, and have been for some time, but there are still plenty of manual transmission cars on the market, both new and used. If you’re looking for a brand new sports car, look at models like the Porsche 911 or 718, many variants of which still have a manual transmission. A look at the used market, particularly at Daily Sparkz, the source for supercars since 1985, will show you a whole world of manual transmission supercars of the past, for example the Audi R8, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo and more are still available, if not exactly the easiest to find.