Cars are faster than ever before and part of that improvement in overall quickness comes down to lightning-fast automatic transmissions. At the same time, it’s clear that many enthusiasts believe that cars are becoming less engaging.
Last month, BMW did something that we don’t often see these days: introducing a manual gearbox option to its range-topping Z4 model, the M40i. This got the team here at Carscoops thinking: If you could add some of that engagement back to an automatic-only car, which one would it be? There are several viable candidates so let’s dive in.
Our lead image is the C8 Corvette, a car that seems perfect for three pedals but alas, doesn’t come in that specification. It seems unlikely that we’ll ever get a manual version of the car due to packaging and budget constraints. It likely wouldn’t be as quick as the car we have now but it might be just a touch more fun anyway.
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Other far more affordable cars could use a manual gearbox too. What if Mazda went to war with Subaru and the Toyota GR Corolla by dropping a stick shift into the Mazda3 Turbo Hatchback? If there’s a single thing missing from that car it’s got to be a way to properly row one’s own gears.
On the flip side of the coin, there are many more expensive automotive toys that are also sadly with a stick shift only. Perhaps Lexus would do well to drop a manual gearbox into the already very engaging IS500. It never offered one for the now-dead IS F so we’re not holding our breath but it would be a blast nevertheless.
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One glaring category of cars that would seemingly benefit from a stick shift is that of the supercar segment. Again, like the Corvette, they’d likely be slower but who wouldn’t love a manual V12 Lamborghini or Ferrari again?
Honestly, there are so many different answers out there. Hey, maybe there should still be a stick-shift minivan floating around – trust us, we’re not going to judge you. While a bit impractical it would at least add a bit of engagement for those saddled with the chore of piloting such a behemoth. SUVs and trucks could benefit for similar reasons.
So you tell us, what automatic-only vehicle would come with a manual transmission if it was up to you?