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.
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.
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. 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? This one is a slightly left-field choice, but an interesting one nonetheless. V6 Accords were available until , and the 2-door Coupe models were available with Honda's legendarily slick 6-speed manual gearbox. The first-gen Veloster Turbo 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.
Surprisingly, the Porsche Boxster is not the only mid-engined car on this list. While really clean second-generation 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. 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.
These cars have very few reliability concerns, and offer great driving dynamics for the price. 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. Manual transmissions are rare. Ford freshened the Mustang for '18 and one major improvement comes from the upgraded manual in the Vpowered GT.
Engineers installed a new twin-disc clutch, dual mass flywheel, and more closely spaced gears. There are new synchronizers, too. The best news? If you want one, it only comes one way—with a manual transmission.
The Corvette, redesigned in , underwent its most dramatic redesign in decades. But as radical as the new look was compared to previous Vettes, they made sure to keep essentials unchanged—a powerful V-8 and a manual. The new seven-speed manual transmission an eight-speed automatic is optional is one of the best hooked to any V8. The Z06 makes a rather astonishing hp from its supercharged V-8 and when shifted by an expert tester can hit 60 mph in just 3.
Pull one of the shift paddles that flank the steering wheel yes, shift paddles on a manual to activate the slick rev-matching feature, which makes you sound like a heel-and-toe hero on downshifts. This is one of the best-driving sports cars in the world—at any price. Porsche is one of the few high-performance automakers that still offers manual transmissions. But for the first time in years, Porsche has expanded the manual variants to include the high-performance GT3. The GT3 packs a 4.
Instead it uses a stronger six-speed unit borrowed from the hyper-limited R model with a shorter gear lever. It also might be one of the last manual s, if the new models are any indication.
The new Carrera and Carrera S launched with an eight-speed dual-clutch as the only transmission. The cutesy Fiat that landed in the U. A year later that was fixed with the Abarth—the high-performance model. Compared to the plain-vanilla , the Abarth delivers 60 more hp and 72 more lb-ft of torque.
The high-powered Fiat is relatively tame when you want it to be, but flatfoot the throttle and it sounds like a squadron of light aircraft are chasing you down—Fiat doesn't bother to fit, you know, a muffler.
Need another incentive to go with the manual? For inexplicable Italian reasons, the manual cars make hp but the automatics only get The sport compact-car scene might have peaked more than a decade ago but this is the year that Honda has finally decided to bring over one of its legendary Type R Civics. It looks…a little too much like a decade-old tuner car.
But try to get past the appearance because the Type R is a very smart and sophisticated performance machine. The GT is a more athletic, more racetrack-capable machine than the beastly old GT ever was. The supercharger and large displacement V-8 are gone, replaced by a tech-heavy flat-plane hp 5.
Unlike Mustangs of the past—every design detail on the car is there to increase performance, not just appearances. Best of all, the only transmission Ford puts behind the new motor in the GT is a Tremec six-speed manual with carbon-bronze triple-cone synchronizers.
And that's just fine with us. The Golf R shares many of its components with the Audi S3. The difference here is that only the Golf R is offered with a manual transmission.
This transmission will save you some dough over the DSG automatic. For , there were also new touch screens and digital gauge clusters, too. Now if we can just get the Golf R in the new SportWagen body style like they have in Europe—with a manual. So why would we include a Jeep amongst all this high-performance metal?
Well first because the Wrangler is all new for And second because a manual transmission adds an extra dimension of fun to 4X4s. Creeping up and over boulders with a manual transmission is challenging and requires just the right shift timing, throttle, and clutch work.
Any further back than the fifth generation, like the Fox Body Mustang of the s prices, will begin creeping up for Mustangs in good condition.
Browse used Ford Mustang listings here. The Infiniti G35 Coupe was produced between and The coupe variant was sporty and quick, with a six-cylinder engine and an available manual transmission. The Infiniti G35 shares a platform with the famous Nissan Z sports coupe but included more interior space and luxury features than the Z. Browse used Infiniti G35 Coupe listings here.
Hyundai's funky three-door hatchback is both practical and fun to drive. The Veloster features Hyundai's six-speed manual transmission standard. The backward opening half-door behind the driver's door makes the Veloster friendlier to backseat passengers than many two-door hatchbacks, and the Veloster's styling stands out from the crowd. Buyers will likely find a great offering within budget at the to model year with around , miles. Browse used Hyundai Veloster listings here.
If you're looking for a reliable all-around vehicle with decent gas mileage, a roomy interior, all-wheel-drive, and manual transmission, then a used Subaru Outback might be a perfect fit for your needs. With space for five passengers and great cargo capacity, the Subaru Outback has the space of a crossover and a reputation for durability.
As a buyer, you will generally be looking at Outbacks older than especially if you are looking for a manual option as Subaru discontinued offering the manual for the Outback in Browse used Subaru Outback listings here.
It is becoming much harder to find SUVs and trucks with manual transmissions, but the Xterra offered manual transmissions during its model year production from to Browse used Nissan Xterra listings here. The Soul is a subcompact SUV produced since , spanning two generations.
Versions with manual gearboxes are uncommon, though, and most lack the upscale amenities of models with automatic transmissions. But in general, the Soul is a quirky, versatile vehicle that is relatively economical and inexpensive to run. Browse used Kia Soul listings here. The smallest car on the list still delivers on driving excitement. The FIAT Abarth offers excellent handling, a peppy engine, and an exhaust sound well above its class. FIAT does not have the best reputation for reliability, so be sure to ask for maintenance records.
The main downside of a manual transmission is the learning curve. With an automatic, you simply put the transmission into drive and go. A manual usually has five or six forward gears to select as driving conditions dictate, and the driver has to use a clutch each time they shift.
Newer automatics also have more than six gears or a continuously variable transmission CVT that maximizes fuel economy, which was traditionally a benefit only offered by the manual transmission. Buying manual transmission now means sacrificing a few MPGs due to the technological advancement in automatic transmissions. The main benefit of a manual transmission include that they have fewer moving parts than an automatic transmission, thus typically lasting longer with fewer replacements needed.
The clutch is the main piece of a manual transmission that typically needs replacement, but models that have been well maintained and not driven too aggressively can go about , miles before clutch repair. An additional advantage to driving a manual transmission is that it forces you to pay closer attention to your driving due to having to constantly shift and engage the clutch pedal.
In an era of smartphones, Bluetooth, and other distractions, this can be invaluable to some drivers, including teens or first-time drivers. Manuals also provide the driver more direct control of the vehicle for those who desire control over their vehicle while operating it. Buying Guides Share. By Evan Walton September 23,
0コメント