Ah, the early 2000s. It was a time when the electric car was a thing of the future and a car with a stick shift could still be purchased in every make and model that you could ever want. Futurists of the time predicted many things about cars with many saying that the automatic would be the future, but what they never predicted was just how far away our society would get from wanting to drive stick. Even Europe where manual cars have been preferred for far longer than anywhere else is undergoing a change in which fewer cars are being offered with a clutch installed.
With each passing year, we see car companies straying away from the manuals of yesteryear. Technology has progressed to a point that our cars are able to shift faster and more efficiently than our human minds can ever comprehend. While it is a beautiful thing to see, it also has many car enthusiasts shivering with fear. Luckily, there are still a few luxury car companies that are waving the manual flag proudly for everyone to see. Here are some luxury sports cars that are still manufacturing manual cars in 2021.
10
BMW M3
The M3 has been going strong for well over 30 years at this point. It has a certain pedigree that has been unmatched by many other luxury car manufacturers. Since its inception in 1986, the M3 has stuck to its guns when it comes to providing purists with a great manual-transmission sports sedan.
Not only can you choose to still get this car in manual, but the M3 has also been one of the highest-ranked vehicles in its class for its performance to cost ratio.
9
Porsche 718 Cayman
What comes to your mind when you think about Porsche? Speed? Prestige? Maybe even Luxury? The reason for this is because of cars like the 718 Cayman. Porsche knows how to pack a punch when it comes to creating vehicles that are instantly recognizable and fun to drive. Not only do they know how to make great cars, but they also know how to do it while still fitting a clutch right next to the brake pedal.
The Porsche 718 is one of the highest-rated luxury vehicles that you can still obtain under $75,000 and is easily one of our favorite cars with the stick still installed.
8
BMW M4
The M4 is in a realm all its own. Not only is it one of the best coupes that BMW has ever produced, but it still comes in manual as well. Anyone who has ever owned one can tell you that every time they drive it, it leaves a smile on their face. BMW engineering is all about progressing what a car can do and the M4 never strays away from that ideal laid out by the team.
The beautiful thing about the M4 is that BMW wants to make sure that the driver gets to show off their personality. That means that whatever M4 you order can be customized to your liking.
7
Mini Cooper Clubman
Mini Cooper has created a fanbase of loyalists that will love their cars no matter what. It’s easy to see why, too. They create cars with a unique personality that are ridiculously fun to drive. Mini still produces all of their cars in manual or automatic, allowing for the buyer to really get what they want out of the car.
While they are creating something fun and exciting, they aren’t doing it to break your wallet. This car is easily one of the most affordable luxury cars on this list.
6
Porsche 718 Boxster
The 718 Boxster is a great car that has been pushed into cult status for what it has done for the brand. This vehicle has been around for 25 years and is credited with saving the Porsche from certain financial demise.
The car has seen many ups and downs over the years, but it has always been one of the cornerstones of the brand itself. While it’s not the fastest car in the Porsche lineup, it’s still one of the most fun convertibles you can buy, more so thanks to its six-speed manual transmission.
5
Genesis G70
Genesis has always been about giving its drivers a car that is a pure pleasure to drive. Everything about the G70 is built with luxury in mind. This car may not blow the doors off of other vehicles, but it will certainly provide a more stylish ride than most.
For how affordable Genesis has made the G70, they have loaded it up with safety features and luxuries that would be typically reserved for cars that are double the price. It’s currently one of the most intriguing sports sedans on the market, especially because it comes with a manual transmission.
4
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin has always been good at one thing, and that is creating a vehicle that makes you not want to drive another car ever again. Even though Aston Martin makes other cars that are amazing works of machinery, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think that the Vantage is at the top of that list. Many cars that are in direct competition with the Vantage have begun to switch exclusively to automatic, but Aston Martin won’t be doing that with the Vantage.
Recently, the Aston Martin become to official safety car for F1 and with its return, they created the F1 edition of the Vantage making an already fun car even better.
3
Lotus Evora GT
Lotus is somewhat of an anomaly in the car world. While other manufacturers were attempting to make their cars just a tad bit bigger to fit a bigger engine, Lotus was trying to shrink their cars down to make them more lightweight and nimble. Through this mindset, they have created some of the most thrilling vehicles in the car world by keeping their cars nimble enough to take on corners at astounding speeds.
While the Evora probably isn’t meant to be a daily driver because of its lack of safety features, it surely is one of the best vehicles to own if you want a manual with a pure racing mindset packed into it.
2
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is the ultimate Porsche for the everyday car enthusiast. While it may not be as fast as its track counterparts or as cheap as the Cayman, it is certainly the best Porsche all-around. There is a reason why you saw Porsche on this list three separate times. Not only do they make amazing cars, but they do so while providing drivers with a pure driving experience. The 911 has been around for many years and each and each one has had a manual option.
The Porsche 911 has been a mainstay in car culture since 1964 and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
1
BMW M2
If you ever wonder if manuals will ever truly die out, you can rest easy knowing that Germany will never let it. Almost every car in BMW’s lineup comes in a manual option and the M2 is no different. The M2 has consistently been rated one of the best cars that BMW has ever made. It is not only a car that gets great safety feature ratings but it is also a fast track car thanks to its lightweight stature and a 405-hp engine.
The BMW M2 is one of the newer cars in the BMW stable, but we have a feeling that it will be around for a long time.
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