Stick Shift in 2026?

[fidowanttobe]

I don't have or will own "new", so I search, buy, and ENJOY driving manuals. So repairs are on me.
I never became comfortable with the fact that a slipping auto,(and they will), can total a vehicle. Everything can be repaired by me except an auto and used ones are sketch. I replaced the clutch, pressure plate, slave and master cylinder, and got the flywheel machined for under $500. I know cuz I did it when I changed the rear main seal. 160K on the truck and the clutch didn't NEED to be changed, but I had it in my hands so, . .

 

[Duds13]

3 out of the 4 vehicles I've owned in my time on earth have been manual. First one Saab 900S, second one VW Corrado (fun car!) and 4th my current 2008 Jeep Wrangler JK. I still enjoy the manual but it's also nice when I drive my wife's Acura RDX and dont have to shift.

 

[sd455dan]

Can't remember all of the manuals I have had over the years - ones I can:

70 Mazda R 100 4 sp
87 Honda Civic DX 5 sp
72 RX 2 4sp
70 MG 4 sp
68 Firebird 400 4sp Muncie
67 GTO 4 sp Muncie
69 Lemans 4 sp BW
70 Corona Mk 2 4 sp
73 TA 4 sp Muncie
03 RAM 3500 6 sp NV 5600
76 Cherokee 4 sp BW T18
70 Jeepster 4 sp BW T 18
70 F J 40 3 sp on the tree
78 Accord LX 5 sp
72 Duster 3 sp on the tree
64 GTO 4 sp Muncie
65 GTO 4 sp Muncie
99 Geo Metro 5 sp
76 CIVIC wagon 4 sp
84 RX 7 5 sp
74 Mercedes 240 D 4 sp
65 Mercedes 230 SL 4 sp
67 Ford F 250 T- 18
68 Wagoneer 3 sp on tree
77 Rabbit 4 sp
78 Rabbit 4 sp
68 J 30 Gladiator 4 sp T18
63 Corvair Spyder 4 sp Muncie


Only 2 manuals today, one RAM truck and one Pontiac car.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I don't know anyone who get in a Auto and said ''ho sweet a auto'' but most people say '' ho sweet a manual'' when they see a manual car and I think that said a lot...

 

[sd455dan]

I don't know anyone who get in a Auto and said ''ho sweet a auto'' but most people say '' ho sweet a manual'' when they see a manual car and I think that said a lot...

Yep look at the muscle car prices, manuals are almost always more desired than auto's.

 

[JeepHead]

My fiance ordered a new Jeep Wrangler a couple years ago and she ordered it with a 6 speed manual. She was so excited she was able to get that option.

 

[rontaki]

3 out of the 4 vehicles I've owned in my time on earth have been manual. First one Saab 900S, second one VW Corrado (fun car!) and 4th my current 2008 Jeep Wrangler JK. I still enjoy the manual but it's also nice when I drive my wife's Acura RDX and dont have to shift.

I had a Corrado VR6. Yeah, fun car! I liked that when I wanted to get through through an intersection in 2nd gear, I'd give it a bit more gas and when it "hit the cam" the wheels would spin a bit.

 

[sd455dan]

I don't know anyone who get in a Auto and said ''ho sweet a auto'' but most people say '' ho sweet a manual'' when they see a manual car and I think that said a lot...

I still have a thing for His and Her Hurst "dual gate" console shifted T 400's

Pretty darn cool in an all original 4 wheel drive Jeepster Commando or 67 GTO

 

[Duds13]

I had a Corrado VR6. Yeah, fun car! I liked that when I wanted to get through through an intersection in 2nd gear, I'd give it a bit more gas and when it "hit the cam" the wheels would spin a bit.

Nice! Mine was the G60 model. Always wanted the VR6 but never got one.

 

[Duds13]

Can't remember all of the manuals I have had over the years - ones I can:

70 Mazda R 100 4 sp
87 Honda Civic DX 5 sp
72 RX 2 4sp
70 MG 4 sp
68 Firebird 400 4sp Muncie
67 GTO 4 sp Muncie
69 Lemans 4 sp BW
70 Corona Mk 2 4 sp
73 TA 4 sp Muncie
03 RAM 3500 6 sp NV 5600
76 Cherokee 4 sp BW T18
70 Jeepster 4 sp BW T 18
70 F J 40 3 sp on the tree
78 Accord LX 5 sp
72 Duster 3 sp on the tree
64 GTO 4 sp Muncie
65 GTO 4 sp Muncie
99 Geo Metro 5 sp
76 CIVIC wagon 4 sp
84 RX 7 5 sp
74 Mercedes 240 D 4 sp
65 Mercedes 230 SL 4 sp
67 Ford F 250 T- 18
68 Wagoneer 3 sp on tree
77 Rabbit 4 sp
78 Rabbit 4 sp
68 J 30 Gladiator 4 sp T18
63 Corvair Spyder 4 sp Muncie


Only 2 manuals today, one RAM truck and one Pontiac car.

That's a lot of cars!

 

[jyoutz]

My fiance ordered a new Jeep Wrangler a couple years ago and she ordered it with a 6 speed manual. She was so excited she was able to get that option.

But the Jeep Wrangler 8 speed automatic is such a great transmission. The best I’ve ever owned.

 

[JeepHead]

But the Jeep Wrangler 8 speed automatic is such a great transmission. The best I’ve ever owned.

She had to have a manual!

 

[deserteagle71]

She had to have a manual!

Every Jeep I've ever owned has been a manual. But now that I'm about to enter my 8th decade on this old earth I find myself wishing more and more my current Jeep had an auto. If ever I do buy a newer Jeep it will have the 8 speed auto. From my reading on the Jeep forums that 8 speed is just about the most trouble free part of the newer Jeeps whereas Jeep owners report plenty of problems with the manual and especially the clutch assemblies.

 

[dfkrug]

Off-topic, but I had a Moto Guzzi sideways V-twin, and it only needed two gears. You could shift into third pretty early, but if you stayed in second up to 70 mph, the sound was magnificent.

As I recall, first was stupidly tall.

My neighbor back in the early 80s had an old Guzzi, which I rode a couple of times. It would idle at about 60 RPM! Oh yeah, and it had a dry clutch as I recall.

 

[sd455dan]

That's a lot of cars!

I lost count, somewhere years back I listed the autos also, Wish I still owned many of them.

Ultrarunner has been more successful at holding on to some of the classics and antique vehicles than me.

 

[ultrarunner]

I lost count, somewhere years back I listed the autos also, Wish I still owned many of them.

Ultrarunner has been more successful at holding on to some of the classics and antique vehicles than me.

It’s how I got into investment property searching for garage space.

 

[JeepHead]

Every Jeep I've ever owned has been a manual. But now that I'm about to enter my 8th decade on this old earth I find myself wishing more and more my current Jeep had an auto. If ever I do buy a newer Jeep it will have the 8 speed auto. From my reading on the Jeep forums that 8 speed is just about the most trouble free part of the newer Jeeps whereas Jeep owners report plenty of problems with the manual and especially the clutch assemblies.

I agree, I drove manual shift vehicles for much of my younger years and definitely prefer an auto these days.

I am not a big fan of the current Jeeps. Ever since Stellantis took over, the quality of them has seriously dwindled.

 

[Duds13]

I agree, I drove manual shift vehicles for much of my younger years and definitely prefer an auto these days.

I am not a big fan of the current Jeeps. Ever since Stellantis took over, the quality of them has seriously dwindled.

And lets be honest, the quality wasn't great before Stellantis. lol

 

[JeepHead]

And lets be honest, the quality wasn't great before Stellantis. lol

I have owned several extremely reliable Jeeps over the years. Wasn't uncommon to get the 4.0's to last 300K miles. I know several people in my Jeep club that have 3.8 V6's with well over 250K miles.

 

[Duds13]

I have owned several extremely reliable Jeeps over the years. Wasn't uncommon to get the 4.0's to last 300K miles. I know several people in my Jeep club that have 3.8 V6's with well over 250K miles.

I have 165k on my 2008.