The perfect match of engine and manual gearbox
Discussion
Best one I've owned: 981 GT4. Absolutely lovely.
Other good ones I've driven:
Puma 1.7
Integra Type R from the late 1990s
Civic VTI from the mid to late 1990s
S2000 (again, I didn't gel with the car on test drive, but loved the gearbox)
Basically I'm agreeing with everyone else
Porsche, Honda and Ford seem to be among the best at it. To my shame, I've never driven an MX-5...
Other good ones I've driven:
Puma 1.7
Integra Type R from the late 1990s
Civic VTI from the mid to late 1990s
S2000 (again, I didn't gel with the car on test drive, but loved the gearbox)
Basically I'm agreeing with everyone else
Porsche, Honda and Ford seem to be among the best at it. To my shame, I've never driven an MX-5...
Mk 1 Scirocco GTi (from circa 1981) - lovely revvy & responsive engine (same as the Golf GTi of the time) and a surprisingly nice gearshift, especially when fitted with the "golf-ball" style knob.
And E92 M3 - fabulous razor sharp throttle response, mated to an F10 M5 gear-lever - equipped manual box.
And E92 M3 - fabulous razor sharp throttle response, mated to an F10 M5 gear-lever - equipped manual box.
Tony B2 said:
Mk 1 Scirocco GTi (from circa 1981) - lovely revvy & responsive engine (same as the Golf GTi of the time) and a surprisingly nice gearshift, especially when fitted with the "golf-ball" style knob.
And E92 M3 - fabulous razor sharp throttle response, mated to an F10 M5 gear-lever - equipped manual box.
Love the engine in my E90 M3, the gearbox is OK but a bit notchy 1st to 2nd - I've fitted the M5 gear know which improved things, going to try new/different oil and see if that improves it. If it does then it'll be a fantastic combo. Probably not as special as some of the others mentioned here though.And E92 M3 - fabulous razor sharp throttle response, mated to an F10 M5 gear-lever - equipped manual box.
My 1990 Sierra Sapphire 2.0 GLSi with an MT75 gearbox was fantastic - shame about the engine though!
My 2nd BMW Z4 3.0Si Coupe had a great engine and a much better gearbox than its predecessor.
But my Z4 M Coupe has a fantastic engine with a decent gearbox that I can live with, especially because of the S54 in the engine bay!
I don't think I've ever had a great engine and a great manual gearbox at the same time, but then I've never been able to venture into Ferrari/Porsche territory - but if I could it would have to be manual only!
My 2nd BMW Z4 3.0Si Coupe had a great engine and a much better gearbox than its predecessor.
But my Z4 M Coupe has a fantastic engine with a decent gearbox that I can live with, especially because of the S54 in the engine bay!
I don't think I've ever had a great engine and a great manual gearbox at the same time, but then I've never been able to venture into Ferrari/Porsche territory - but if I could it would have to be manual only!
Mr Tidy said:
My 1990 Sierra Sapphire 2.0 GLSi with an MT75 gearbox was fantastic - shame about the engine though!
Agree and I've had a couple of 2.9 V6 Xr4x4's with that gearbox. Also had a mk5 RS2000 with the MTX 75 gearbox that I enjoyed too.I'm with you though and I've not had anything that has been a truly sublime combination like what you read about a S2000 etc.
otolith said:
My Z4M Roadster has a fantastic engine. And a gearbox. 
Brilliant! 
I've only had 9 manual BMWs, but they seem to be really variable in terms of shift quality, etc.
Thankfully my latest one (Z4MC) has one of the better ones - unlike my current daily 330i that likes to be obstructive just when you don't need that!
Mr Tidy said:
otolith said:
My Z4M Roadster has a fantastic engine. And a gearbox.
Brilliant! I've only had 9 manual BMWs, but they seem to be really variable in terms of shift quality, etc.
Thankfully my latest one (Z4MC) has one of the better ones - unlike my current daily 330i that likes to be obstructive just when you don't need that!
I've never really been a fan of 2 pedal cars but I reckon if the Z4M was offered with an auto I would rather have that than put up with its current 3 pedal effort again!!
fido said:
I thought the 6 speed EP3 was better albeit in a worse chassis - it was rifle-bolt precise but felt creamy smooth.
The selling point for me for both the EP3 and the FN2 are just how close the shifter falls to hand. Not the best change feel IMO but the ergonomics put the EP3 up there with the greats. I had a 1973 Citroen DS with the hydraulic semi-auto box.
The engine was, by all modern standards, awful: noisy, not very powerful, tuneful or economical. but it did its job adequately. It was an incredibly comfortable car that was at its best when not rushing. It could maintain high average speeds and would cruise at 75-80 mph happily on the motorway but around town there was nothing to be gained from a traffic light GP except awkwardness and rising blood pressure.
In encouraging a laid back approach to driving the engine and gearbox complemented each other perfectly: smooth and graceful (no clutch pedal and a wand on top of the steering column to flick for each gear change) rather than noisy and jerky and only marginally faster when pressing on. It was the slowest car I've owned and I loved it.
The photo is of a LHD car but RHD is the same.
The engine was, by all modern standards, awful: noisy, not very powerful, tuneful or economical. but it did its job adequately. It was an incredibly comfortable car that was at its best when not rushing. It could maintain high average speeds and would cruise at 75-80 mph happily on the motorway but around town there was nothing to be gained from a traffic light GP except awkwardness and rising blood pressure.
In encouraging a laid back approach to driving the engine and gearbox complemented each other perfectly: smooth and graceful (no clutch pedal and a wand on top of the steering column to flick for each gear change) rather than noisy and jerky and only marginally faster when pressing on. It was the slowest car I've owned and I loved it.
The photo is of a LHD car but RHD is the same.
I like my Elise gearbox, very 'notchy', which I like, but a couple of the ones I've driven on track seemed to be a nightmare to get into third quickly, so they obviously fall out of adjustment if they're used hard, at which point they become very frustrating on what is essentially a track car.
That said, in terms of the problem ones I'm talking about cars that have been driven exclusively on track, every mile a hard one for their entire life by loads of different people. Maybe everything would end up rough if used like that.
That said, in terms of the problem ones I'm talking about cars that have been driven exclusively on track, every mile a hard one for their entire life by loads of different people. Maybe everything would end up rough if used like that.
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