Smart car.
Smart car.
CobraSpdRH wrote: Somebody else said it above, but all the new SRT stuff that only has an auto (Charger, 300, Grand Cherokee). Did the SC300/400 come with a manual? It was a tarted up Supra, so no reason they couldn't have. That would be fun, along with the older GS300/400's from Lexus. Also, how about these crops of V8 pickups, can you order a single cab, short bed with LQ9/Hemi in a manual? Or even the supercharged V8 Tundra?
IIRC SC300/GS300 was available with a manual, I think somebody posted a chump/lemons build with one on the build thread board. No dice with the 400 (V8) though, that really would have been nice. I also agree with the Grand Prix GTP/Bonneville SSEi or Syclone/Typhoon with a manual. Although I wouldn't have minded a Pontiac Montana AWD supercharged minivan (If I could get the parts together i'd put it together myself)
Alfa 4c
Got to second a lot of these already mentioned:
Some others that definitely needed a stick shift:
I'll probably have to put my flame suit on, but I'm going to have to say 98-04 N-Body Grand Am. The GT wasn't a bad looking car and a bad car in general, I knew a few people with them. If they had strapped the V6 to a 5 or 6-Speed manual, they actually could have been a fun front driver. They actually made a 2-door and 4-door, so there could have been some descent potential from the after market.
Supposedly there was a 5-speed for the base 2.2L and 2.4L, but I've never seen one.
Man, there's a lot of stuff i agree with in this thread!
Dodge Charger/Magnum (ALL engines, preferably), SVX, Intrepids (LH cats et al), Jag XK8, Sy/Ty
I'll probably have to put my flame suit on, but I'm going to have to say 98-04 N-Body Grand Am. The GT wasn't a bad looking car and a bad car in general
You know, that thing seemed cheap and garish at the time, but looking back, if it had been RWD and stick it would have been an enthusiast icon.
One that came to mind right away was the current gen Maxima. Good engine, good looks, bad transmission. 
Left fielders: Jeep Commander? Hummer H3? Isuzu Vehicross?
In reply to Vigo:
Honestly, it would have been a good rear drive chassis, but even as a front driver it could have had potential with a proper engine/manual trans set up.
Lincoln LS-V8. The V6 sport model did offer a stick, but they are quite rare. The V8 did have a manual sport mode, and it responded to inputs reasonably quick, but the placement of the lever was to far from the driver, and backwards. ( to simulate a sequential gearbox you would pull the lever back to up-shift, and forward to down-shift, the lever in the Lincoln was opposite )
Minivans 
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I'll probably have to put my flame suit on, but I'm going to have to say 98-04 N-Body Grand Am. The GT wasn't a bad looking car and a bad car in general, I knew a few people with them. If they had strapped the V6 to a 5 or 6-Speed manual, they actually could have been a fun front driver. They actually made a 2-door and 4-door, so there could have been some descent potential from the after market. Supposedly there was a 5-speed for the base 2.2L and 2.4L, but I've never seen one.
I remember WAY back in the late 90's/early 2000's reading a Motor Trend article about a performance variant of the Grand Am called the SC/T. Oh wait... here it is!
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0002_pontiac_grand_am_sct/
Back then, this was exciting. An affordable Pontiac daily driver performance car! It had a supercharged 3.4L V6 that was supposed to be available with the slushbox or the requisite GM Getrag 5-speed manual. It made some really good power numbers for the time: 262hp and 289 Lb Ft of delicious torque. It even had cool hood scoops! There was extremely positive feedback on the concept cars, and most people thought it was a lock for production. I was ready to sign up for one myself.
In typical GM fashion, the only part of the concept car to make it into production was the hood as part of a stupid appearance package, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't even functional. 
chevy ss, new one.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:
GM fixed that problem. You can get one with a 6-speed manual now.
SilverFleet wrote: In reply to Fueled by Caffeine: GM fixed that problem. You can get one with a 6-speed manual now.
Time to kiss a baby.
SVX. That's why I built one!!
But, you knew I'd say that, did t you??
Can we include car trims? Why is the manual option on newer cars usually only available on base models.
MadScientistMatt wrote: - MN12 Fords (Thunderbird, Lincoln Mk VIII)
MN12 Thunderbird SC was available with a 5-speed for certain years of production. The V8 and Base V6 were not though.
Also, on the 5 speed Grand Am note - you could even get a base Alero with a 5 speed. In fact I think someone I went to High School with had one. His dad worked for GM and they special ordered it. I also knew a guy in college with a previous generation Grand Am GT with a 5 speed. From '92 to '94 the Grand Am GT used a balance-shaftless Quad 4 that made 180 hp, mated to an optional Getrag 5 speed. The 5 speed was an option on all 4 cylinder grand ams from '92-'98.
MadScientistMatt wrote: Some others that definitely needed a stick shift: - Lincoln LS V8 (manual only available with the V6) - MN12 Fords (Thunderbird, Lincoln Mk VIII) - Mercury Maurauder
There was a 5-speed option in the Supercoupe. It just wasn't very popular.
I agree that the V8 cars should have had the option, though.
Edit: guess I'm too slow. But the 5-speed option was available for every year of SC (89-95).
1kris06 wrote: Can we include car trims? Why is the manual option on newer cars usually only available on base models.
^This!
Has anyone mentioned any current Ferrari?
David S. Wallens wrote: Has anyone mentioned any current Ferrari?
There are no current Ferrari owners or potential buyers that know how to drive a stick.
I really don't get this dual clutch hate, especially with full blown sports cars like the 4C. You control what gear its in, it shifts faster than you can, it's still a direct connection to the wheels(no torque converter), and they're cheap enough Ford puts them in econoboxes now. There's just no big clunky lever to throw around or third pedal, big freakin deal, now you've got both hands on the wheel full time and can better brace yourself on the dead pedal. There are far better things to bitch and moan about regarding new tech in automobiles.
SilverFleet wrote: -2005-up Hemi Chargers and Magnums would be way cooler with a stick. I mean, they put them in the Challenger now, so I don't see a reason they shouldn't.
Jalopnik did a piece on this...
How come the Charger doesn't come with an MTX ? The answer is simple...
I just learned that, at least this model year, you can't get any Porsche with more than two doors equipped with a manual.
I always thought the Cayenne manual was an attractive do it all vehicle.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: I really don't get this dual clutch hate, especially with full blown sports cars like the 4C. You control what gear its in, it shifts faster than you can, it's still a direct connection to the wheels(no torque converter), and they're cheap enough Ford puts them in econoboxes now. There's just no big clunky lever to throw around or third pedal, big freakin deal, now you've got both hands on the wheel full time and can better brace yourself on the dead pedal. There are far better things to bitch and moan about regarding new tech in automobiles.
I don't see any hatred expressed about dual-clutch gearboxes on this thread. If I had a traffic-heavy commute, or if my left leg was amputated, a dual-clutch would be great. Otherwise, I prefer to shift myself. Shifting a true manual trans (especially a good one) gives a level of communication between car and driver that a dual-clutch just can't deliver. Shifting correctly is also a skill that needs to be mastered to do it correctly. Sure a computer can rev-match and shift faster than I can.....great....good for the engineers.......it still doesn't give me any thrill. I get enjoyment of practicing a skill, learning, and mastering it. It gives me pleasure to execute smooth heel-toe downshifts. Shifting makes me enjoy my car more.
If you prefer a dual-clutch to a manual trans.....great....good for you. I'd rather row my own, and I wouldn't consider owning a "sports" car without a clutch pedal. It's just my preference..... and it appears I'm not alone.
1994-96 Impala SS.
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