12 Affordable Manual Transmission Cars, and 3 Splurges, To Fuel Your Stick Shift Dreams

I'd given up on ever learning how to drive a manual transmission car. I should have started on a Mini! Photo by Allison Bell
Credit: Allison Bell

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

Mazda Miata Owners Love their cars
Credit: A Girls Guide to Cars

Off-Road or On, A Stick Shift Jeep Wrangler Is the Rare Manual SUV

The absolutely gorgeous Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 in Earl Grey. Photo by Allison Bell
Credit: Allison Bell

See Why the Subaru WRX Has So Many Fans

The Subaru WRX is fun in every way
Credit: Sara Lacey

Built to Be Manual: VW Golf

Upshifting on the track in the Volkswagen Golf R.
Credit: Volkswagen

A Demure Sedan With a Split Personality: Hyundai Elantra N

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Credit: Annika Carter

The Sexiest Stick Shift on the Road: Toyota GR 86

Toyota GR86 is bound to put a smile on your face
Credit: Chastity Velasquez

Old School Fun Is New Again in the Honda Civic SI

The view from the driver's seat in the Honda Civic Si
Credit: Scotty Reiss

The Other Manual Transmission SUV: Ford Bronco

manual driving ford bronco
Credit: Kim S.

The Huge Surprise About Mini: The Most Fun Is Also the Most Affordable

If you're going to learn to drive stick, stick with one of these cars. The manual Minis are very forgiving! Photo by Allison Bell
Credit: Allison Bell

Elegant, Comfortable, Affordable: VW Jetta

2020 VW Jetta Premium
Credit: Scotty Reiss

Truck Yeah! The Toyota Tacoma Comes in a Manual

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro iFORCE MAX.
Credit: Scotty Reiss

Glory Days Inspired: Nissan Z

The front end of the Nissan Z exudes elegance
Credit: Scotty Reiss

The Outlier Dream Car: Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing sports sedan
Credit: Scotty Reiss

Build Your Bucket List Here: BMW M and Z Series

2023 BMW M2 Coupe Blue. Photo: Sara Lacey
Credit: Sara Lacey

The Stick Shift Dream Car: Porsche, Any Manual Porsche

Porsche Boxster
Credit: Scotty Reiss
Journalist, entrepreneur and mom. Expertise includes new cars, family cars, 3-row SUVs, child passenger car seats and automotive careers ... More about Scotty Reiss
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