Top 10 Cars We're Sad No Longer Come With Manual Transmissions

The manual transmission is a dying breed.

Over the past decade, numerous automakers have begun phasing out the manual transmission for dual-clutch units and more fuel-efficient automatics. Tragically, that means many of our favorite sports cars are ushering in a new generation without a stick shift, making many of us quite sad as driving enthusiasts.

Then there are other sports cars where a manual transmission was never even offered as an option, like the Nissan GT-R. Unfortunately, sales figures don’t lie, and for many automakers, the take rate for manual transmissions is so low that it’s no longer worth the cost to develop a compatible unit – especially for cars pumping out ridiculous amounts of torque and require more robust transmissions. Automatics are also often faster and more efficient than manuals.

Here are our picks for the top 10 cars we’re sad no longer come with manual transmissions.

It might seem like it took forever to arrive, but the Acura NSX is on its way out, all the while missing a manual transmission. Sadly, Acura’s entire lineup currently lacks a manual transmission, but there is hope as the new Integra is promised to receive one. The NSX is so high-tech now and a manual transmission just doesn’t suit the car’s philosophy any longer. The original NSX had a five or six-speed manual and a four-speed automatic (that absolutely no one bought).

Despite rumors that the new Audi TT RS would come with a manual transmission, that is sadly not the case. The German automaker recently introduced the latest version of its hot sports coupe packing 400 horsepower from a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine but no stick shift in tow. The only transmission available now is Audi’s slick seven-speed S Tronic.

The Audi R8 is one of those brilliant sports cars that not only looks great, but is also a blast to drive. Unfortunately, a lot of the fun has gone out now that the company stopped offering it with a manual transmission for its latest generation. If you’re hankering for an R8 where you can row your own gears, you will have to settle for the previous-generation Audi R8, which was offered with a gorgeous-looking gated manual shifter.

With the introduction of the Lamborghini Huracan, which replaced the Gallardo, Lamborghini decided to dump the manual transmission. Then-CEO Stephan Winkelmann said that nearly zero percent of Gallardos were ordered with a manual transmission and it was so bad that when an order did come through with a manual, the automaker had to go and double check the order form to confirm that it wasn’t a mistake.