Top 3 cars that shoulda come with a manual transmission

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 08/18/2013 at 14:55 • Filed to: None

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Being inspired by Saracen's post, I've decided to drudge up my repressed memories of cars that were never offered with a manual, that definitely should have. I'm picking my top 3 and, in the comments, I encourage you to do the same:

1st gen Acura RDX: This one simply because it was one of the best, if not THE best, engines to come out of Honda's new obsession with their valve-deactivation version of VTEC. "We'll use it to help spool a turbo. Slap it on a de-bored K24. And stick it in one of the most capable CUVs on the market. Oh and we'll add our torque-vectoring AWD system while we're at it. Freaking brilliant! Except for the 5-speed autobox.

MkV R32: I would really like to be able to get a 4Motion, fire-breathing VR6, manual equipped hot hatch without having to go back to the crap that was VW's MkIV generation. Who was the genius that decided we only get the DSG over here in the states? Leave that shit for the TTS and A3 and people that bought this car in the "upscale" skinned versions.

The Caddilac XLR: So you're telling me that the company that came up with the awesome idea of dropping the C5 Z06's LS1 into their mid-size luxury sedan couldn't figure out that their Corvette-based, sports-car flagship needed a standard option? Chronic GM resource mismanagement at its best..

So those are my 3. What are yours? Let me know below. I'll be curled up, crying in the corner, thinking about the current condition of the automotive market.

Nerd-Vol > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 14:58

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Chevy SS.

Dodge Charger R/T.

Every Buick.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Nerd-Vol 08/18/2013 at 15:01

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I'm not sure this needs a manual...

RMudkips > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:02

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No one posted this yet? Does it actually have a manual version I don't know of?

feather-throttle-not-hair > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:03

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Cadillac sts-v

Giant luxobarge. Supercharged northstar 469 hp.

SteyrTMP > Nerd-Vol 08/18/2013 at 15:03

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Edit: The Dodge Magnum SRT8 should have come with a 6-speed.

bobkustofawitshz > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:19

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1. Mercedes C63 AMG

2. Audi S6

3. BMW 328d

Those would be my top 3. It's still infuriating to me that BMW won't make the manual available with the diesels in the US, when VW sells 2(!) diesel manual sedans here. Also that they took away the manual + x-drive option on all but the 335i. Now, I must add to the list: Chevy SS, Dodge Charger, Ford Fusion 2.0/AWD/Titanium, 2014 Cadillac CTS.

SonorousSpeedJoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:25

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The first-gen Lexus IS300 SportCross, because it'd be a manual RWD wagon with overall clean looks if it wasn't stuck with a 4-speed automatic.

The first-gen Lexus SC400, as it eventually made 290 HP and would be a more powerful alternative to the SC300 that did get a manual, but it got 4- and 5-speed automatics instead. You could probably pitch it as a luxo-Supra to some people, too.

The Nissan 240SX S13 convertible, as it'd save people the trouble of having to swap in a manual if its transmission choices weren't limited to a 4-speed automatic. It'd make this one I spotted much more appealing.

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It doesn't count in this question since it's not out yet, but the Chevrolet SS should come with a manual out of the gate. If Porsche was able to justify putting a manual in USDM Cayennes at one point, I don't see how Chevy can't sell more manual units of a car that's more affordable than the Cayenne.

AddMustard > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:26

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98 and newer Lexus SC400, and SC300 (they stopped offering manual on the SC300 in the later years, before the introduction of VVT-i) - I think a Manual SC400 could have achieved sub-6 second 0-60 times and vastly improved performance all around...

Leadbull > bobkustofawitshz 08/18/2013 at 15:36

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It irks me so hard that the 328d doesn't come with a manual.

BMW: actively killing our dreams of a RWD, stick shift, diesel wagon.

Leadbull > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:37

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AMG Mercedes. Pick any three.

rhodesianman > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 15:38

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No one has said Subaru svx?

CB > SteyrTMP 08/18/2013 at 15:39

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I think every SRT model should come with a manual.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > SonorousSpeedJoe 08/18/2013 at 15:52

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I sincerely approve of all of these. I especially like the SC400 idea. A lux Supra with a V8 sounds like it woulda been big problems for things like the CLK and the BMW 6 series.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Leadbull 08/18/2013 at 15:53

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Maybe not the base AMGs, but at the very least, the Black Series's.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > rhodesianman 08/18/2013 at 15:54

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You'll be the first.

Nerd-Vol > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 08/18/2013 at 15:55

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Only one way to find out...

rhodesianman > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 16:37

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Well then. This:

Atomic Buffalo > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 17:58

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My list: every car that offered a manual transmission, but not with the most powerful engine.

SpeedSix > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/18/2013 at 20:37

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Manual-ize all the cars!

JasonStern911 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/19/2013 at 00:13

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Off the top of my head...

Porsche 991 GT3

Well, it happens to the best of us. We all get old, and old people favor automatic transmissions over manuals...

Mercedes SL65 AMG

5.98L bi-turbo V-12. Automatic only. Enough said.

Ford Taurus SHO

So Ford has this Yamaha designed engine for a mid-engine supercar, but then they cancel the project. 90s Ford knows! Let's pair this awesome motor with an automatic transmission and stick it in a Ford Taurus! WTF?!

Honorable mentions:

Subaru Alcyone SVX

7k RPM redline and an automatic? For shame! For shame!

Buick Grand National

As a drag car, it would be slower. But who knows? With a proper manual transmission, it probably would have been a decent track car for that era...

Wonk Unit > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/20/2013 at 14:07

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I'm going to nominate the Alfa 4C. it should at least come with the OPTION of a manual but as far as i know its flappy paddle only. i would LOVE to be proven wrong on this though...

ZimFreak > JasonStern911 08/20/2013 at 19:12

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You're making it way too difficult to browse jalopnik at work but somehow I'm not even mad.