The manual transmission is dying. In 2019, manual car sales sunk below the sales of electric vehicles. It's a shame, but it's the direction the automotive industry is heading. The death of the manual transmission is inevitable; however, that doesn't mean that we have to give up on it completely and move on just yet.
While the number of new cars available with manuals is decreasing with each passing model year, you can still find plenty of manual cars if you're prepared to shop the used market. There are plenty of ordinary used sedans and hatchbacks (even some SUVs) available with the all-important three pedals and a stick.
But what about fun? Can you get a good deal on a used enthusiasts' car with a stick? The short answer is yes, and you'll find the long answer in the list below. Here are 15 exciting cars you can buy on the used market (with a little digging) for under $15,000.
15 Nissan 350Z
The 350Z (2002-2009) has aged very well. Its overstyled 370Z replacement is partially to blame, but regardless, the older Z's design holds up even in 2020. These are fun, quick and relatively practical sports cars that you could theoretically use every day. They are plentiful on the used market, parts are cheap, and with the right exhaust the VQ35 V6 engine sounds fantastic.
14 Ford Mustang GT S197
The first generation (2005-2009) of the S197 Mustang is one of the best-looking cars of the 2000s. It's simple, clean and purposeful. Under the skin, the car was a little crude and unrefined, but over 10 years later it is an excellent performance per dollar proposition. Pre-2010 GTs with the 4.6l V8 are available under $15,000, and with a little fiddling, they can be excellent performance cars that can also be daily-driven.
13 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
It wasn't that long ago that the Genesis name was just a single model in Hyundai's lineup. Launching in the late-2000's, the Genesis Coupe was a game-changing car for the Korean marque. It was good-looking (and remained so into its second generation), lovely to drive with its RWD layout and critically it was cheap. Used ones are also quite cheap, particularly the 2.0l turbo models, which are also most commonly available with manuals.
12 Mazda RX-8
If you've heard horror stories of oil burning, apex seal failure and engine rebuilds every 100k miles, you might be a little bit skeptical of the RX-8 as a performance bargain. However, if you can find one that was well looked-after and you're prepared to keep up the maintenance, you might find that the combination of a smooth-revving rotary engine, a slick shifter and a beautifully balanced chassis makes all the headaches worth your while.
11 Porsche Boxster 986
Yes, you read that right, you can buy a modern Porsche for under $15,000. The first-gen Boxster (1996-2004) may be the 911's baby brother, but that doesn't make it a bad sports car. In fact, its mid-engine layout and lightweight makes it an excellent handling car, if lacking a little bit of outright speed. Boxster S models can be harder to find at this price point, but base ones are readily available, and most of them are manuals.
10 BMW E90 335i
The E90 generation of BMW 335i (2006-2011) is one of the best options for a fun, manual transmission daily driver. The 335i was the middle-point between the base 328 and the M3. The 335i has the venerable N54 twin-turbo 3.0l inline-6, which made over 300 horsepower and, naturally, could be paired with a 6-speed manual. Look out for common issues, but a well-maintained E90 could be a real hidden performance gem.
9 Ford Fiesta ST
If you don't need the extra space of a sedan like the BMW above, then the Fiesta ST is by far the best daily driver on this list. Small, still practical with four doors, economical, reliable and affordable, the little Ford serves its daily-driver duties with ease. Find a good road with it though, and the Fiesta's charm and driving character will surely convince you why this little hatch is such a well-loved car.
8 Volkswagen Golf GTI MK6
The MK6 Golf GTI (2010-2014) was the most refined and complete version of VW's iconic hot hatch. At the time, it was the standout in its category, and while the competition has since caught up, and a new generation of GTI replaced it, the MK6 is still a thoroughly capable car, and can now be had for half the price of a new one. As with most used German cars, beware of common issues, but a used MK6 is as safe a bet as a GTI has ever been.
7 Third-generation Subaru WRX
A used WRX is a very popular option for cheap performance. The EJ25 flat-four turbo engine is a favorite for tuners, and go-fast parts are plentiful and affordable. Compared to the Golf and Fiesta above though, the WRX is a little more unrefined and certainly, its looks are an acquired taste. Reliability can be a concern, but a well-maintained used WRX should serve you well, for much less cash than a new one.
6 Mazda Miata NC
Leaving the Miata out of a conversation about affordable fun cars should be a crime. It's the definitive cheap sports car, and has been for decades. Of course, you can easily find older ones well under $15k, but the newest Miatas you can get in budget are the NCs (2005-2015). Its design, while visually bulkier than past Miatas, has aged with grace, and these cars are well-known for reliability. If you don't need the practicality, why not have a Miata?
5 Honda Accord Coupe V6
This one is a slightly left-field choice, but an interesting one nonetheless. V6 Accords were available until 2017, and the 2-door Coupe models were available with Honda's legendarily slick 6-speed manual gearbox. Think of it as a Civic Si on steroids, or what Road & Track called the "Last Real American Muscle Car." They aren't the easiest to find, but even high-mileage ones shouldn't concern you given their rock-solid reliability.
4 First-generation Hyundai Veloster Turbo
The first-gen Veloster Turbo (2012-2018) is something of an underdog in its category. It was not as well-received as rivals, given its odd proportions and somewhat poor interior quality, but it made up for this in terms of raw affordable performance. Really good ones are easy to find for under $15,000, and with a bit of tweaking, a Veloster Turbo could be serious competition for the more popular Subarus and VWs in its class.
3 Toyota MR2
Surprisingly, the Porsche Boxster is not the only mid-engined car on this list. Toyota MR2s can also be had for under $15,000, and it is quite a proposition for that price. While really clean second-generation (1989-1999) SW20 models can fetch a higher number, there are plenty of them out there within budget. Just watch out for under-body rust, and invest in good tires and suspension to avoid the car's snap-oversteer tendencies.
2 Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ
Even though you can still buy these cars brand-new, early ones have dropped quite a bit in price, making them ripe for the picking for budget fun. Cars from 2013 to 2015 can easily be found around the $15,000 mark, and most are clean with low mileage. These cars have very few reliability concerns, and offer great driving dynamics for the price. They have tons of performance potential and the huge aftermarket allows you to build your FR-S/BRZ into exactly the right car for you, from a daily-driver to a track weapon.
1 B8 Audi S4
Early B8-generation Audi S4s (2009-2013) are now getting below the $15,000 mark. This means an all-wheel-drive, supercharged V6 sports sedan with a manual transmission can be yours for a fraction of the cost that it was when new. The B8's design has aged gracefully, and the car is still equipped with some fairly modern tech.
These cars are not plagued with as many issues as older Audis, but it's still worth approaching one of these with some caution. Still, if you can swing it, a used S4 might be one of the best deals ever.