What Cars Still Offer Manual Transmissions?

[Tom K.]

Currently driving an '87 BMW 325is MT,

I owned the last year of that car in the grocery getter edition (wagon). A bit embarrassed that I don't recall the year -- maybe 04?

It's only negative was that the 2.5L was a bit soft on power and high on highway revs.

Never understood why BMW wouldn't take my money for a 3.0L version.

Especially considering the huge volumes they moved of the wagon.

 

[Chip]

The e46?
Those are nice wagons- my buddy has one that he's going to drop the 3.0L in it at some point.

 

[James]

This is the ad showing up now-

 

[Philpug]

@AmyPJ - there is still a Mazda6 MT with your name on it out there- go find it....

There is...she just needs to pull the trigger.

 

[Tom K.]

The e46?
Those are nice wagons- my buddy has one that he's going to drop the 3.0L in it at some point.

That was the one!

 

[scott43]

I think if I were rich, I should like me a Merc E63 AMG wagon...

 

[cantunamunch]

I think if I were rich, I should like me a Merc E63 AMG wagon...

One of the local-to-me climbs is on Massachusetts avenue. One day I'm oldandfat gasping at the top and a guy with a new NSX pulls into the driveway in front of me. We talk about the car (yes he also had an original) - super nice guy.

Anyway, one guess what he's trading the new NSX for.

 

[scott43]

oldandfat

*checking dictionary*

 

[Tom K.]

I think if I were rich, I should like me a Merc E63 AMG wagon...

SQ7 for me. Fast enough. V8 (which I've never owned). Tall luggage compartment. Dead flat folding rear seat. Would tow my wife's small, old horse trailer adequately (at least locally).

Only 250 miles for dealer service.

The more realistic dream is that I'd "make due" with an Explorer ST -- dealership 7 miles distant.

 

[James]

This Unimog had a torque converter with a manual. For pulling large airplanes.

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Says the seller: “It features a 6-speed forward manual transmission with a unique 2-speed low range, 4-speed high range, and 2-speed low range in reverse arrangement with rare torque converter option. It is entirely possible to drive off from a stoplight in 6th gear without shifting, albeit at a very slow rate. It is typically driven off from a dead stop in third gear and shifted through gears into sixth for cruising speeds up to its top highway speed of about 52 MPH.”
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Flugzeugschlepper: Rare Jumbo Jet Tug 1975 Mercedes Benz Unimog 406

Learn more about Flugzeugschlepper: Rare Jumbo Jet Tug 1975 Mercedes Benz Unimog 406 on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

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[cantunamunch]

Flugzeugschlepper is what all the hipster drone/RC pilots are calling themselves now

 

[James]

From about 3:30, driving experience-

 

[cantunamunch]

That actually looks pretty good, in a 510/Scirocco love child way

 

[Brad J]

I have a 6 sped manual in my Mustang GT , it will be the last one if manual was no longer offered. I think Ford with the Mustang Gt500 have made a huge mistake in Automatic only as did Chevy with the mid engine Corvette.

 

[ScotsSkier]

From about 3:30, driving experience-

Awesome! Thanks for posting James, takes me back! My first new car was a 1980 Mk2 Escort RS2000 (2.0 Pinto, 4speed std). I also had a Mk1 rally car with a 1.6 X-flow, 4.7 LSD and 5speed (toyota) GB. Then my Mk2 RS rally car, built from scratch, 1.6 Lotus all steel twin cam, BRM head, dry sump, 45 dellortos, 5linked, 5.1 diff, arched, minilites, 4speed straight cut Quaife race box (had a 2.04:1 1st gear so was a PITA for uphill stage started but could pull nearly 50 in first so was great for getting out of trouble !). But really any RS or rally prepped Escort always felt and sounded great. Good job it would be too difficult to import one of these to the US or I would be sorely tempted!!

 

[slowrider]

I hate sticks. DC crash boxes all day.

 

[AmyPJ]

There is...she just needs to pull the trigger.

Too 'spensive. We want inexpensive commuter car that is also fun to drive. Seriously, we all know a teenager's right of passage is wrecking a car in some way. I did minor damage to the passenger's front corner. My siblings both rolled theirs...
I did burn up a clutch. Learning to drive stick in a 1980 Honda on Seattle hills was a great learning experience at the expense of a clutch. I am quite adept at e-brake starts, which are no longer a necessity thanks to hill start assist. (I still don't trust it and want to grab the e-brake, except there is no e-brake to grab!)

 

[James]

1989 Ford Escort GT

Cheap, fun, pretty classic at this point. Sold in the US. Sadly the Euro Escorts would be a project to obtain unless your really into it. (Afaik, feds don’t care about cars greater than 25yrs old.)

Wouldn’t surprise me if you got a good one for say $4k and had it for 3-4 years that you could sell it for more. Not including maintenance, but maybe. (But I haven’t looked into current prices)

 

[cantunamunch]

We want inexpensive commuter car that is also fun to drive. Seriously, we all know a teenager's right of passage is wrecking a car in some way. I did minor damage to the passenger's front corner. My siblings both rolled theirs...

Is no problem. Trust Sergei.

 

[James]

Awesome! Thanks for posting James, takes me back! My first new car was a 1980 Mk2 Escort RS2000 (2.0 Pinto, 4speed std). I also had a Mk1 rally car with a 1.6 X-flow, 4.7 LSD and 5speed (toyota) GB. Then my Mk2 RS rally car, built from scratch, 1.6 Lotus all steel twin cam, BRM head, dry sump, 45 dellortos, 5linked, 5.1 diff, arched, minilites, 4speed straight cut Quaife race box (had a 2.04:1 1st gear so was a PITA for uphill stage started but could pull nearly 50 in first so was great for getting out of trouble !). But really any RS or rally prepped Escort always felt and sounded great. Good job it would be too difficult to import one of these to the US or I would be sorely tempted!!

That’s awesome. They sound fun.
Maybe a left hand rs cosworth?

Interesting comment to a 1992-
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....Contrary to the listing, the total number of Escort RS Cosworth 4X4 cars built by Karmann in Germany was 7145 examples, assembled from 19 February 1992 through 12 January 1996. Of these, an unknown number were the basic, “no frills” version ready for rally prep. Approximately 15 to 18 of the “regular” Escort Cossies were imported through Sun International Racing in California, and sold in the US as the federalized “Rally Sport” brand...
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LHD 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth in Canada

Learn more about LHD 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth in Canada on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

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