QOTD: Do You Still Want a Manual Transmission?

by Tim Healey

Published: July 8th, 2025

qotd do you still want a manual transmission

We ask a QOTD like this every so often it seems, but based on today's Hyundai news, I need to ask another variation -- do you want a manual transmission?

I believe I've written about this before, but as much as I love driving a stick, I've decided, as I've gotten older, than three-pedal transmissions need to be reserved for special situations. If it's a sporty car, including a sport sedan? Yes, please. Make my Ford Mustang, my Volkswagen GTI, my Honda Civic Si, et cetera, a manual.

Off-roaders, too -- I like that Ford sells a Bronco manual, as an example.

But do I want a manual in a Camry? Not unless that Camry has been giving a deep TRD treatment.

Do I want it in a work truck? Probably not.

Besides, not all manuals are good. I've driven some that were terrible. So have you.

Just as an aside -- I couldn't even find a pic of a manual Hyundai Elantra N on the company's own media Web site. Which is why the image above is from the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N.

I still believe the manual should be saved, but only for certain niches.

What about you? Do you want a manual in the year 2025? Or have you decided an automatic, perhaps one with paddles, is good enough?

Sound off below.

[Image: Hyundai]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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2 of 143 comments

3SpeedAutomatic on Jul 13, 2025

If I had a wider driveway, I would buy a second car with a stick shift. Something like a FIAT 500 or similar.
Would teach my nieces and nephew the art of the shift or lend it to my brother (taught me on his 3 speed manual floor console Cougar) and my sister (Karman Ghia) to teach their kids and grandchildren. 🚗🚗🚗

A lost art.....

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Doug Dye on Jul 24, 2025

I own a 2008 Porsche Cayman that is a 5 speed manual and that is the only way I would own a Porsche. I used to love my manual three series but have to say that the my 2022 330 with the 8 speed automatic is a terrific transmission.

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