BMW
It’s a sad fact that the manual transmission, while unlikely to go fully extinct anytime soon, is becoming increasingly rare. Driving culture is changing and so are driving habits; cars are also going electric, so finding a new three-pedal car can be tough, if still not impossible.
In the American market, the list of automakers that have abandoned manual transmissions for good is a lot longer than those that haven’t and includes Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lexus, Jaguar, Maserati, and Aston Martin, to name several. Those that are still hanging on are some of the diehards: Porsche and BMW, of course, though also Cadillac.
All-encompassing luxury among the remaining manual luxury cars tends not to be the highest priority, and instead driving dynamics and power, for the hardcore buyers who still want to row their own in a modern car. It’s hard to imagine Porsche or BMW, to take two examples, ever fully abandoning manual transmissions, though it’s also inevitable, in the same way that old technologies in car manufacturing have always given way to new ones. That’s progress but also a function of sales, with fewer and fewer manual transmission buyers long term. Those still left will have to enjoy what offerings they have while they can.
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Acura Integra
Image Credit: Chris Tedesco Acura’s reborn Integra may lack the iconic styling and two-door coupe variant of its much-loved ’90s predecessor, but it’s still an incredible driver’s car, including the super quick and super sharp Type S variant. The standard car and its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine remains uber-engaging thanks to its typically Honda-precise six-speed manual transmission.
The Integra Type S, meanwhile, takes everything that’s great about the Civic Type R — its 315-horsepower engine, brilliant suspension, and surgically precise gearbox — and puts it into a slightly more refined, comfortable, and grown-up package. It’s the only way to get heated seats with that drivetrain.
The Type S also adds fender flares and more aggressive front and rear fascias. Inside, you get much more supportive seats, a great dash, nice materials, and that epic ELS sound system. And the optional manual transmission of course, all at a price that won’t break the bank.
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BMW M2
Image Credit: BMW BMW is one of the biggest remaining manual transmission holdouts, and of the three current models available with three pedals, we love the M2 best. The most recent styling update is only slightly less hostile-looking than its bigger M3/M4 siblings, but it’s hard to argue with how well the M2 drives.
Like most BMW manuals since the dawn of time, the gearshift in the M2 is accurate, and well weighted but lacks some of the precision of manuals from Honda or Porsche. Still, the fact that you can still row your own in a BMW M product is pretty sweet and we genuinely hope that this is a trend that the folks in Munich plan to continue.
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BMW M3 and M4
Image Credit: daniel kraus Everything about BMW’s G8x-generation M3/M4 is angry. From the furious front-end styling to the barely restrained turbocharged inline-six drivetrain and even those hateful M Carbon bucket seats, everything is aggressive. But we love how this M3/M4 drives and we love the fact that you can still get them with a manual transmission.
Unfortunately, the only way to get an M3 or M4 with three pedals is to go for the base version, rather than a Competition or xDrive model, but even in their tamest form with a mere 473 horsepower, the M3 and M4 are mighty machines that will let you dissect any road with the utmost precision, and being BMWs, you’ll do it in comfort. Neither feels like a penalty box and as long as you stay away from the M carbon buckets with their very aggressive crotch-busting bump, you’ll be happy to drive them daily, too.
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BMW Z4
Image Credit: Tom Kirkpatrick Want a sporty roadster that offers row-it-yourself driving with a premium cockpit? Look no further than the BMW Z4. Not only is this generation of Z roadster one of the best ever, but from a technology and driving dynamics perspective, it makes the previous version look like it came from another age.
While we lament the lack of a true M variant of the Z4 these days, both the four-cylinder sDrive 3.0i and six-cylinder M40i versions, with 255 or 382 horsepower, respectively, are plenty quick. Sure, the Z4 isn’t as competent a sports car as, say, Porsche’s 718 models, but it’s not miles off either, and having the option of a manual transmission helps cement that.
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Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Image Credit: Cadillac The CT4-V Blackwing often gets overshadowed by its bigger, V8-powered sibling, but it’s a wicked competent, super quick sports sedan in its own right and shouldn’t be ignored. The turbocharged V6 with its 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque never feels like a slouch and pairs well with the six-speed. As a bonus, Cadillac gave the CT4-V Blackwing both automatic rev-matching and shift-without-lift technology. Both of these are super fun and the former is mega convenient on the street, especially in non-performance driving situations.
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Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Image Credit: Cadillac The CT5-V Blackwing will likely go down as one of history’s greatest sports sedans. This is largely due to GM’s decision to put the nearly perfect supercharged LT4 V8 from the C7 Corvette Z06 in it, though here it’s tuned to 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet. GM also made the undeniably excellent decision to offer it with a ten-speed automatic transmission, and, more excitingly, a six-speed manual.
The sensation of ripping through six forward gears with the LT4’s stentorian roar echoing off of a canyon wall is one of the best in motoring. Cadillac does not sell nearly as many of these as it might like, but the world is arguably better because Cadillac went through with it at all. And the fact that it continues to be underappreciated is better for buyers, too.
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Lotus Emira
Image Credit: DREW PHILLIPS Lotus is normally associated with lightness, not luxury, but the Emira is a little special in this respect. The last internal combustion Lotus is not only exquisite to look at and almost unbelievably sharp and direct to drive, but it also has one of our favorite drivetrains: the 3.5-liter Toyota-sourced supercharged V6 paired with a deeply involving and mechanically pleasing six-speed manual transmission. Sure, it’s carried over from the old Evora GT, but why make changes when nothing is broken?
That’s because the transmission really is special. It’s very notchy and accurate. The shifter is well-weighted, and it feels like it’s moving on a flat plane as you shift, rather than as an extension of a pivot point. It’s a little unusual at first, but with very little adjustment on the driver’s part, you’ll find yourself banging gears with speed and confidence. If this is the last manual transmission we’ll ever see from Lotus, at least it’s a great one.
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Porsche 718
Image Credit: Porsche Porsche’s sports cars have long been the gold standard for manual transmissions in their classes. The witchcraft that the folks in Stuttgart have been able to perform that’s made cable-actuated shifters feel this good is almost scary. The current and more or less final iterations of the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman platforms are no exception to this rule.
The manual gearbox is a six-speed unit, rather than the seven-speed found in the 911, but distinct from the six-speed box found in the GT3. The ratios are typical of Porsche (read: longer than is ideal) but the shifter is sublime and the clutch is manageable. The whole setup pairs best with the 4.0-liter flat-six, but things aren’t bad in the four-cylinder versions either.
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Porsche 911
Image Credit: Porsche Even in its more tame forms, the 992-generation Porsche 911 is an unbelievable sports car that feels exquisitely built and carefully engineered. It’s available with a few different engine options ranging from the base turbocharged flat-six as found in the enthusiast-favorite Carrera T trim, which makes less than 400 horsepower, to the 500 horsepower naturally aspirated 9,000 rpm screamer found in the GT3, GT3 RS, and ST models. Most of the models are also available with a good old-fashioned manual transmission.
Of course, it’s not that old-fashioned because in non-GT car trims, it’s a seven-speed box with a mega overdrive for better highway fuel economy and excellent automatic rev-matching. The shifts are weighty, notchy, and incredibly direct — everything you’d want in this type of car. The GT cars get a bespoke six-speed manual transmission which is somehow even better, though trying to manage it with the manic nature of the GT3 engine can be a challenge.
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