Some motorists may argue the function of a standard transmission in new cars is pointless since they don't understand why the extra effort of cruising through traffic would be worth it. But we as petrolheads crave to have that extra clutch pedal in our footwell, even if it might be a bit of a hassle.
We don't know how to quite explain it, but there is just something thrilling, something satisfying, something almost orgasmic about gliding through your own gears. The pressure of the clutch pedal on your leg, the feeling of the stick slipping into gear, or even pulling off the perfect heel-toe maneuver all contribute to why having a manual transmission is such a great desire amongst enthusiasts.
Luckily some manufactures have heard us out and still offer their sports cars with stick shifts like Ford, Subaru, and Mazda. Semi-auto gearboxes have also been implemented by brands like Porsche and BMW in hopes of replacing the stick shift and catering to the masses, but they fall short of their role models.
10 BMW 128ti
Hot hatch hooligans have to watch out because the German powerhouse BMW just added their fighter into a ring that had an undefeated victor, the Volkswagen Golf GTI. BMW's front-wheel-drive 128ti is a hot version of their 1 series and it boasts a 265 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-banger while costing just a smidge less than the GTI coming in at £32,995.
-.jpeg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Two downsides to the happy red hatchback though, firstly, it's not offered in the US, and secondly, it desperately needs a manual option to maximize its fun factor and to ensure the burial of its GTI rival.
9 Jaguar F-Type R
Those who say the Brits can't build muscle cars have clearly never heard the grumble of a Jaguar F-Type R's supercharged V8. The previous generation F-Type could be specced out with a manual gearbox, but they scrapped it and replaced it with an 8-speed automatic instead.
The new F-Type might not be available in SVR clothing yet, but the robust 575-hp V8 has more than enough kick to pack a powerful punch when flooring the gas pedal. Now imagine swapping out the auto with a manual, and cutting off the power from the front wheels to revert it back to a rear-wheel-drive Jag.
8 Nissan GT-R
Godzilla, as some may call it, is one of the most important cars in automotive history. The GT-R R35 is the successor to its brother the R34 Skyline and did not disappoint in any which way. Straight-line acceleration is where the GT-R shines best.
The AWD Nissan puts all 600 hp to the ground propelling the JDM sprinter to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds - that meant a Nissan beat uber-expensive exotic cars in short sprint races. The tunability of the twin-turbo V6 motor is endless, which makes for an incredible power build, the only thing that would make the Godzilla even more monstrous would be a stick shift.
7 Acura NSX
The new NSX revives the legendary '90s JDM supercar, but to pay its full respect to its ancestor we truly do hope the revival will also evolve to grow a stick shift.
Despite the new limited-production 600 hp Type S, the standard mid-engined hypercar is already more than enough to handle powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 assisted by 3 electric motors. All 673 horses will push the NSX to give even some of the most famous supercars a run for their money.
6 Ferrari 488 Pista
Ferrari never seems to disappoint, especially when it comes to their stripped-down performance models like the F430 Scuderia, or 458 Speciale, but the 488 Pista just redefined some boundaries we never thought could be broken.
The marvelous twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 will pump out 711 Italian horses that gallop the prancing horse to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and to top it off reach speeds above 210 mph (338 kph). So, while it definitely does not need a clutch pedal, but it sure would add another fear factor to contribute to its already envigorating drive.
5 Alfa Romeo 4C
Considered a mini supercar or baby Ferrari, the Alfa Romeo 4C is one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous sports cars on the planet; and undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable ones too; it's a barebones, lightweight turbocharged Italian maniac made for twists and turns.
The 1,75-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder motor might only produce 237 hp, but couple that with a carbon fiber body that only weighs 900 kg, and you're left with an Italian rear-wheel-drive racer that reaches 60 mph in 4 and a half seconds. We rate this Alfa a 99/100, the manual gear shifter is all that's needed.
4 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Porsche is no stranger to putting manual shifters into their sports cars, but the GT2 RS has not been treated like the Cayman GT4 or 911 GT3, perhaps due to its freakish performance. The GT2 RS is a track-focused German athlete with a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 pushing out nearly 700 hp to the rear wheels and a curb weight of fewer than 1.5 tons, but it gets crazier...
The GT2 RS also has a top speed of 211 mph (340 kph) and reaches highway speeds in merely 2.8 seconds. Surely Porsche's incredible 7-speed PDK transmission is the reason why its oversaturation of power is controlled so well, but we can't help but dream of a manual version.
3 BMW M240i
Bimmer fanboys are obsessed with manual gearboxes, and that is why the new M3 and M4 models have an optional manual variant available, but some of the more powerful models are only offered with substitutes like BMW's ZF - or DCT transmission.
The newly unveiled 2-series seems like it would obliterate every contender in the sports car market with its 368 hp power number and inherent BMW gene to tend to slip around a lot. We can only hope later down the line the M240i or even the new M2 will be blessed with a standard transmission.
2 Toyota Supra
Yes, it's basically a reskinned BMW Z4 M40i, let's get that out of the way, but it's still a Toyota. Choosing between either a BMW-derived straight-six or Toyota's newly added 2.0-liter 4-banger, this modern JDM-icon is an absolute blast to shoot in a straight line or throw around corners.
Sure, the performance numbers are more than potent enough with the straight-six's 0-60 time being recorded in under 4 seconds and 382 hp being sent to the rear wheels. But the Supra still just needs just a little bit more pizzaz, and we firmly believe a stick shift option would fit it perfectly - only then will the soon-to-be-released 2022 Nissan Z have a worthy contender.
1 Audi R8
In the 2000s the first-generation Audi R8 was offered with a gated manual shifter, and that shifter was one of the most satisfying features to ever be put in a production car. The click noises when shifting gears, and the naked metal look made you feel like the pilot of a true performance monster.
The newest 2021 R8 models are much more powerful than before thanks to their mid-mounted 5.2-liter Lamborghini V10 which spits out 620 hp and rockets the supercar to 60 mph in just 3 seconds. If Audi ever were to pay tribute to their original creation and release the new R8 with a gated shifter, the world would go mad and a new best drivers' car would be crowned instantaneously.