What cars SHOULD have a manual gearbox?
Discussion
Following on from the other thread, what cars should/should have come with a manual gearbox option?
To kick things off, two of the most exciting new cars of last year:
Alfa Romeo 4C
Jaguar F-Type
Had they come with the option, both would have gone to the top of my must have list. As it stands, I would have to consider other options available with manual gearboxes eg - BMW M3/M4 or Porsche 911 and while we're with Jaguar, I appreciate that the XK is a GT-style car and suits an auto gearbox better but the rip-snorting XKR-S would be fun with a manual gearbox.
Porsche 911 GT3 - I always thought the GT3 ethos was more about involvement than speed (leave that to the turbo), so seemed like a strange omission to me.
I don't understand why not many of the supermini-sized hot hatches are auto only now. I would love a new Golf GTI or RenaultSport Megane but finances would push me towards a Polo GTI or RenaultSport Clio instead, except hang on a minute, no manual option! Perhaps Skoda could have stolen a few more sales from VW if they had offered a manual option on the Fabia vRS. Well done to Ford and Vauxhall for offering manual gearboxes in their smaller hot hatches.
BMW M5
Audi RS4
It's funny how the manual B7 RS4 and manual E39 M5 are perhaps the most fondly remembered RS4 and M5.
Ferrari 458/Lamborghini Hurracan - I appreciate that a manual gearbox is a bit counter ultimate performance but the open-gate alloy shift was part of the charm for me on classic Ferraris/Lamborghinis. Is the only vehicle with this option now the Audi R8?! Perhaps a junior Ferrari in the same vein as the Alfa 4C but with a V6 and manual shift might be on the cards?
Aston Martin Vanquish (old one) - by all accounts, an otherwise fantastic car ruined by its gearbox!
Seems funny that the American performance cars (Mustang/Camaro/Corvette/Challenger) are all available with either manual or auto when Americans have an almost pathalogical hatred of manual gearboxes!
To kick things off, two of the most exciting new cars of last year:
Alfa Romeo 4C
Jaguar F-Type
Had they come with the option, both would have gone to the top of my must have list. As it stands, I would have to consider other options available with manual gearboxes eg - BMW M3/M4 or Porsche 911 and while we're with Jaguar, I appreciate that the XK is a GT-style car and suits an auto gearbox better but the rip-snorting XKR-S would be fun with a manual gearbox.
Porsche 911 GT3 - I always thought the GT3 ethos was more about involvement than speed (leave that to the turbo), so seemed like a strange omission to me.
I don't understand why not many of the supermini-sized hot hatches are auto only now. I would love a new Golf GTI or RenaultSport Megane but finances would push me towards a Polo GTI or RenaultSport Clio instead, except hang on a minute, no manual option! Perhaps Skoda could have stolen a few more sales from VW if they had offered a manual option on the Fabia vRS. Well done to Ford and Vauxhall for offering manual gearboxes in their smaller hot hatches.
BMW M5
Audi RS4
It's funny how the manual B7 RS4 and manual E39 M5 are perhaps the most fondly remembered RS4 and M5.
Ferrari 458/Lamborghini Hurracan - I appreciate that a manual gearbox is a bit counter ultimate performance but the open-gate alloy shift was part of the charm for me on classic Ferraris/Lamborghinis. Is the only vehicle with this option now the Audi R8?! Perhaps a junior Ferrari in the same vein as the Alfa 4C but with a V6 and manual shift might be on the cards?
Aston Martin Vanquish (old one) - by all accounts, an otherwise fantastic car ruined by its gearbox!
Seems funny that the American performance cars (Mustang/Camaro/Corvette/Challenger) are all available with either manual or auto when Americans have an almost pathalogical hatred of manual gearboxes!
Agree with comment regards Ferrari manual with the open gate, I do not find the current interiors with just buttons very appealing, manual, standard handbrake, normal steering (non electric)
I just like the simplistic hands on feel of what are fast becoming ageing classics, ie my Ferrari 360 manual spider,
I cannot see myself ever desiring anything else for these very reasons, I think the idea of a junior Ferrari would be a world hit along the lines of what the Boxster is, Mike
I just like the simplistic hands on feel of what are fast becoming ageing classics, ie my Ferrari 360 manual spider,
I cannot see myself ever desiring anything else for these very reasons, I think the idea of a junior Ferrari would be a world hit along the lines of what the Boxster is, Mike
Agree with comment regards Ferrari manual with the open gate, I do not find the current interiors with just buttons very appealing, manual, standard handbrake, normal steering (non electric)
I just like the simplistic hands on feel of what are fast becoming ageing classics, ie my Ferrari 360 manual spider,
I cannot see myself ever desiring anything else for these very reasons, I think the idea of a junior Ferrari would be a world hit along the lines of what the Boxster is, Mike
I just like the simplistic hands on feel of what are fast becoming ageing classics, ie my Ferrari 360 manual spider,
I cannot see myself ever desiring anything else for these very reasons, I think the idea of a junior Ferrari would be a world hit along the lines of what the Boxster is, Mike
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff