The automotive market is changing and with this many enthusiast-favorite features are going away. As cars become safer and more tech-heavy, drivers are gradually being deprived of a properly-engaging driving experience. One key aspect of that is being able to shift the gears yourself, by using a clutch pedal and a traditional, H-pattern gear shifter.
Of course, with the advent of battery electric vehicles, manual transmissions seem to be making less and less sense. An EV doesn’t even require a transmission, most of the time, and the few that do; have a two-speed automatic unit. On the other hand, hybrid vehicles, which are becoming more commonplace are automatic-only as most people who buy them do so out of consideration for sustainability and not the thrill of the drive.
With that said a recent pleasantly surprising trend emerged, where young drivers want to drive manual cars. It seems some among Gen Z want to learn the skill of shifting gears yourself and luckily, for us enthusiasts, there are more than a few cars you can still get with a third pedal and a stick. These 10 are currently the hottest manual performance cars, you can still buy today.
10 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Miata has become something of a cliché in these lists. The truth is, Mazda’s interpretation of the British lightweight Roadster is still the answer for an affordable, fun sports car. Currently, in its fourth generation, the little Miata is still the simple driver-centric sports car it was when it arrived in 1989. Moreover, Mazda promises the next generation will adhere to the same principles.
The 2.0-liter engine packs 184 horsepower and 151 pound-feet (205 Nm), which is enough to propel the 2,260-pound (1,025 kg) Japanese roadster to 60 mph (97 km/h) in around 5.9 seconds. It is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Moreover, 2015 also introduced the RF version, which replaced the soft convertible top with a retractable Targa top. Albeit heavier, the RF offers a slightly better weight distribution.
9 2023 Honda Civic Type-R
Front-wheel drive may often be referred to as the “wrong-wheel drive”, but the Civic Type-R has always made a strong case for it. The latest FL5 model debuted in 2022 and featured the same, turbocharged K20 engine as the previous two models. Further refinements to the powerplant have resulted in 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm), which require a tricky differential to reliably reach the ground.
As with previous generations, the engine is mated exclusively to a six-speed manual. Although the Civic Type-R has grown in size and gained some weight, the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint happens in 5.3 seconds, which makes it the quickest front-wheel-drive car, currently on sale.
8 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
The idea of a rally-bred all-wheel-drive hot hatch is an alluring one and while American buyers never got the GR Yaris, something better may have arrived. In 2022, Toyota introduced the most powerful production Corolla ever – the GR Corolla. The once-humble, commuter car was given aggressive styling and the full Gazoo Racing treatment.
The 1.6-liter, turbocharged, inline-three from the GR Yaris now makes 300 horsepower and 273 pound-feet (370 Nm). Power hits the ground through Gazoo Racing's all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) dash happens in 5.4 seconds, although some sources indicate a 4.99-second time is possible for the base, Core, version of the car.
7 2023 Nissan Z
After 15 years, the 370Z successor arrived in the form of the retro-futuristic Nissan Z. It doesn’t take long to see that it is not an all-new model as it shares the 370Z’s platform and even retains the internal chassis code now with an “R” in the front (RZ34). Still, we have to give props to Nissan for making their own sports car even if there is space for improvement.
The 3.0-liter VR30 DDTT is already a tuner’s delight that can reliably hold GT-R-rivalling power levels. More importantly, the Nissan Z debuted with a six-speed manual. Combined with the 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (475 Nm), the manual Z managed a sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in around 4.5 seconds. We are yet to see what it does with proper tires.
6 2023 Toyota GR Supra
It’s always nice when fans ask for something and car companies listen. That’s what Toyota did with the GR Supra. The fifth-generation Supra came out in 2019 and many frowned upon the BMW underpinnings. This turned out to be a smart move on more than one level, but the problem was, it was automatic only. Granted, the ZF, eight-speed is a great piece of hardware, but fans wanted a third pedal.
In 2022, Toyota introduced a six-speed manual for the GR Supra, likely due to the Nissan Z. The GR Supra already had an insanely-potent BMW B58 under the hood, and throwing a six-speed manual into the mix makes it that much more engaging. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) happens in 4.1 seconds.
5 2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
The 2023 Ford Mustang introduced a third version in addition to the EcoBoost and GT. It’s called the Dark Horse and is the most powerful Mustang to employ Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote V-8. In the Dark Horse, the V-8 puts out 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet (567 Nm) thanks to a new valvetrain, which allows the engine to rev more freely, compared to the GT.
While the 10-speed automatic is available with paddle shifters, you’d be mad not to go for the six-speed manual, which is also available. With it, the sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) takes around 4.0 seconds. The S650 Mustang is also the last ICE-powered Muscle car still in production.
4 2023 BMW M2 G87
In 2022, BMW revealed the G87 M2. The smallest Bavarian M-car with rear-wheel drive is sometimes the best and this one certainly has strong arguments to make that claim. The S58 engine is based on the B48 and produces 460 horsepower and 405 pound-feet (550 Nm). As we know, BMW’s mapping is rather conservative, so you can easily get a lot more power and torque out of it.
The relatively short 108.15-inch (2,747 mm) wheelbase and rear-wheel-drive setup sound like an exciting mix, only enhanced by the six-speed manual. And yes, the eight-speed Steptronic unit is also on offer. With the third pedal, the BMW M2 G87 sprints to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds.
3 2023 Porsche 718 GT4/4.0
Depending on who you ask, Porsche’s entry-level sports car may be a better-performance car than the 911. The 718’s mid-engine layout would certainly suggest that as it makes for better weight distribution. The two-seater Porsche has many exciting versions, but without a doubt, the best one is the 718 GT4. That’s because of the 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated, flat-six unit, which in this case, pumps out 420 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm).
You can also get that engine in the open-top Boxster where the version designation is simply “4.0”. More importantly, the high-revving flat-six, which is actually based on the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo flat-six (not the GT3’s 4.0-liter unit), can be mated to a six-speed manual, in which case the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) takes 4.2 seconds.
2 2023 BMW M3/M4
With the Competition version of the BMW M3 and M4 being as capable as they are, it’s easy to overlook the base model. However, if you want a four-seater BMW that also has a clutch pedal, the non-Competition BMW M3 and M4 are the ones to go for, since the Competition is automatic only.
The same B58, inline-six engine packs 480 horsepower (just 30 less than the Competition) and 405 pound-feet (550 Nm). Moreover, BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo unit is a capable piece of Bavarian engineering, and you can easily get a lot more power out of it. A rear-wheel-drive, manual M3 and M4 can do 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.0 seconds, which is still quick.
1 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring
It’s hard to go wrong with a Porsche 911. The great thing about the current 992 generation is that despite the PDK is one of the best dual-clutch automatics on sale, most 911 versions can also be had with a manual. The Porsche 992 GT3 Touring in particular, combines a six-speed manual with a magnificent, 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated flat-six that revs to 9,000 RPM.
It is near the realine where the engine makes 510 metric horsepower. The torque is 347 pound-feet (470 Nm). The Touring model lacks the GT3’s tall rear wing, which is more suitable for a racetrack, instead opting for a more understated look. With the stick, 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) is dispatched in 3.7 seconds.