Stick Shift in 2026?

[deezler]

I recently flew to Texas just to snag and drive back to Michigan in this 2018 Audi - last year they sold anything with a manual transmission. I guess I'm a weirdo, but it's important to me, for anything sporty I am going to daily drive. I mean, what's the point of driving if it isn't fun? Just to get places? Forget it.

 

[WinterDeere]

I recently flew to Texas just to snag and drive back to Michigan in this 2018 Audi - last year they sold anything with a manual transmission. I guess I'm a weirdo, but it's important to me, for anything sporty I am going to daily drive. I mean, what's the point of driving if it isn't fun? Just to get places? Forget it.

Beautiful, @deezler! We are of like mind.

I remember our local Audi dealer telling me, "most Americans don't want stick shift", when I was walking out of their dealership. I responded, "You're right, most Americans don't, and they buy Chevy and Cadillac. But most American Audi customers probably do!"

 

[rontaki]

Fast becoming a moot point with EVs. I know, I know, some here will never have one. My ride? ICE VW with DSG (automated "manual gearbox). So while able to manually shift this, it is much easier for worn-out knees to not have to use a clutch pedal. Still has a direct-connection feel as compared to the average slushbox auto.

 

[deezler]

Fast becoming a moot point with EVs. I know, I know, some here will never have one. My ride? ICE VW with DSG (automated "manual gearbox). So while able to manually shift this, it is much easier for worn-out knees to not have to use a clutch pedal. Still has a direct-connection feel as compared to the average slushbox auto.

Yeah, I can tolerate the VW/Audi DSG trans - it's still fun enough to have some paddles behind the wheel and be in control. I considered getting an Mk8 gti instead of this Audi a4 sport-plus, but decided to gamble on the used audi and enjoy the premium interior and stronger engine.

The DSG does have a couple drawbacks though - the lurching from a dead stop make it hard to creep in very slow traffic or away from a light, and the parallel rows of gears 1-3-5- and 2-4-6 within the trans means it can shift by 1 or 3 gears lightning fast, but if you ask for a two gear upshift or downshift, it's very slow and sometimes rough.

 

[JeepHead]

We just traded off our 2023 Audi. It was a super fast car but had several issues with it including a turbo that grenaded. It was covered under warranty but still we were without it for two weeks. The last draw was as she was driving home from work one day down a 4-lane highway doing 70mph, the tire decided to completely separate from the side wall and it rolled away from the car. The car had really low miles and the tires appeared to be in excellent shape but we replaced all 4 tires in fear something was wrong with them. SHe decided on a new Honda CRV after that.

 

[WinterDeere]

The DSG does have a couple drawbacks though - the lurching from a dead stop make it hard to creep in very slow traffic or away from a light...

In my 20's, I decided to street one of my drag cars, with something like a 2600-3200 rpm lockup converter. It also had a fairly radical cam (custom from Isky), valves the size of drink coasters and header tubes a squirrel could crawl thru... point being, it didn't love to idle.

Trying to creep that thing forward a few feet, or into a parking spot, was always a combination of fun and a little terrifying. It had very little range between "sitting still" and "full wheelie".

This guy is in a similar position, trying to stop the thing on a lift gate:

 

[34Willys]

Ed Isky!
RIP

Patrick

 

[WinterDeere]

Ed Isky!
RIP

Patrick

Yep, just last week! I only ever dealt with him once, personally, when he took down some data from me to have his shop grind up a custom cam for that motor.

I just re-watched the video above, for the first time in a few years. It's always fun to watch someone maneuver a car that literally wants to kill them, in a tight parking lot. He's one surprise sneeze away from ruining his whole week. Brings back memories...

 

[domin]

My son got a 2025 Volkswagen — it’s a manual too. A lot of people still prefer driving stick.