Which is better, an automatic transmission or a manual transmission? The answer is, both. Kind of. Typically, the consensus is that a standard passenger car’s automatic transmission is suited for daily driving, whereas a sports car’s manual transmission aids in improving driver engagement, but the versatility of the two is not so black and white. Both have been implemented in different ways and designed for different applications, so both have their pros and cons.
In recent years, many manufacturers have moved away from the idea of manual transmission over automatic transmission. While reasons may vary, typically the switch is the result of the pursuit of improved performance and efficiency. An example of this is the evolution of the transmissions employed in Porsche’s 911 GT3 lineage. The 996 GT3, debuting in 1999, was only offered with a six-speed manual as the driver’s conducting instrument for the 3.6-liter water-cooled flat-six. The superseding 997 GT3 retained the six-gear do-it-yourself transmission. It was in the 991 GT3 that we saw the implementation of Porsche’s acclaimed PDK seven-speed transmission, introduced to accommodate the increase in performance. The 992 generation furthered the use of the seven-speed PDK transmission, with some models offered with a manual option.
The GT3, and its higher-ranking RS counterpart, are undoubtedly capable and performance-centered vehicles, which have in no way diluted their performance by relying on automatic transmission. If anything, the opposite is true. However, not all performance cars can benefit from the use of an automatic transmission. In some cases, having a manual transmission is essential to the driving experience, and implementing an automatic transmission would dilute the visceral nature of some cars. With that said, here are 10 iconic cars that just would not have worked with an automatic transmission.
10 Porsche Carrera GT
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
5.7-liter, naturally aspirated, V10 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
605 hp @ 8,000 rpm |
|
Torque |
435 lb-ft @ 5,750 rpm |
|
0-60 |
3.4 seconds |
The centerpiece of the Carrera GT’s design is the mid-mounted 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine based on a slightly smaller racing engine originally built to compete in Formula 1. Unlike the Carrera GT’s competitors who employed an automated manual transmission alongside their potent power plants, Porsche utilized a six-speed manual with Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Clutch. Reviewers praised the shifting feel of the Carrera GT’s six-speed box and the engagement of the ceramic clutch. The reason why an automatic would not have been feasible for use in the Carrera GT is because it was Porsche’s zenith of road-going performance cars at the time and the manual transmission was an integral aspect of the car’s driving experience.
9 Honda S2000
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
2.0-liter, naturally aspirated, in-line 4 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
240 hp @ 8,300 rpm |
|
Torque |
153 lb-ft @ 7,500 rpm |
|
0-60 |
6.8 seconds |
Honda’s S2000 was a roadster characterized by its sultry styling and athletic power plant and followed the traditional sports car ethos. Most importantly, it was only offered with a six-speed close-ratio manual. Honda had no configuration of the soft-top Honda that employed an automatic transmission and this is likely because, like most of the cars on this list, it would have had its driving experience hampered by the removal of the direct driver-engaging manual transmission. Part of this car’s charm was revving it out to 8,000 rpm before changing gears, and the experience would not have been the same with an automatic.
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8 BMW E30 M3
Five-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
2.3-liter, naturally aspirated, in-line 4 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
200 hp @ 6,750 rpm |
|
Torque |
170 lb-ft @ 4,750 rpm |
|
0-60 |
6.9 seconds |
The E30 M3 was the by-product of BMW’s desire to compete in Group A racing. Per international automobile regulations at the time, the Bavarian automaker was required to produce at least 5,000 road-legal examples of the E30 M3 to be built and sold within a year. The E30 M3 was a racing car first and a road-legal flagship second. As such, the implementation of a manual transmission was paramount for the touring car’s makeup. An automatic transmission in one of the pure-blooded M cars of yore would have diluted its race-ready nature.
7 Ferrari F40
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
2.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, V8 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
478 hp @ 7,000 rpm |
|
Torque |
426 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
|
0-60 |
3.8 seconds |
Few cars are as beloved and lusted after as the Ferrari F40. As the successor to the 288 GTO, the F40 was the final car to be greenlit by Enzo Ferrari, and at the time, or rather even in the modern era, is a force to be reckoned with. It was the most powerful and fastest production Ferrari of its age, conforming to a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration. As far as transmissions go, the use of an automatic transmission in what was an evolution of Ferrari’s thoroughbred prancing horse would have been inconceivable. Around the time that the F40 was produced, automatic transmissions had been employed, but in relatively docile models like the 400 GT.
6 Dodge Viper
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
8.4-liter, naturally aspirated, V10 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
645 hp @ 6,200 rpm |
|
Torque |
600 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
|
0-60 |
3.3 seconds |
The Dodge Viper, whether it be the first installment introduced in the ’90s or the domineering ACR that capped off the Viper nameplate in 2017, Dodge’s V10-powered super sports car was almost unrivaled. The Viper was demanding and intimidating. From tip to tail, its innards were purposed to offer drivers a thrilling driving experience. Apart from the ACR, the Viper was never a track-ready beast. Instead, Dodge went for fun and engagement, which meant ultimate control. The only way to achieve that was via a manual gearbox.
5 Lotus Exige
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
1.8-liter, naturally aspirated, inline 4 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
220 hp @7,800 rpm |
|
Torque |
165 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm |
|
0-60 |
4.6 seconds |
Lightweight, nimble, and extremely engaging. These are fundamental pillars of the Lotus Exige praised as an exciting sports car. The tiny but mighty in-line four-cylinder was paired with a non-synchromesh racing transmission. In the Exige’s package, the manual transmission is a core aspect of its formula, which would be difficult to emulate with an automatic transmission.
As we found out recently with the Lotus Emira, modern models with self-shifters are also less fun than their manual counterparts.
4 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Seven-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
6.0-liter, naturally aspirated, V12 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
510 hp @ 6,500 rpm |
|
Torque |
420 lb-ft @ 5,750 rpm |
|
0-60 |
4.2 seconds |
There are few experiences akin to rowing through an Aston Martin’s seven gears while throttling a hulking British V12. The V12 Vantage was positioned as the pinnacle of the Vantage range when it debuted. A transaxle six-speed manual was the exclusive pairing to the V12 engine. As the epitome of Aston Martin’s Vantage lineage, the offering of a manual transmission is an enhancement of the driving experience, heightening the thrill of the V12 engine’s power and performance.
3 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
4.0-liter, naturally aspirated, flat-six |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
502 hp |
|
Torque |
346 lb-ft |
|
0-60 |
3.8 seconds |
In contrast to the fixed-wing GT3, the GT3 Touring package forgoes the aggressive styling elements for an understated appearance. The Touring Package variant of the GT3 was made for owners who want to blend in a little, which you can understand if you look at the standard yellow model with the giant wing. Because it’s less likely to be used on track, where the PDK transmission is king, we’d opt for a Touring with a manual gearbox. The Touring is more likely to be used on a Sunday drive on great roads that lead to nowhere in particular, and in that setting, a manual is always better.
2 McLaren F1
Six-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
6.0-liter, naturally aspirated, V12 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
618 hp @ 7,400 rpm |
|
Torque |
479 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
|
0-60 |
3.2 seconds |
The McLaren F1 is one of the greatest cars ever and arguably the first hypercar. Its records have stood for decades and its performance is uncontested. Connected to the sonorous V12 is a transverse 6-speed manual transmission accompanied by a carbon triple-plate clutch. The medley of the transverse transmission, powerful engine, and lightweight flywheel provide a thrilling driving experience. The McLaren F1 was the pinnacle of McLaren’s performance offerings with the core value being no compromise in the pursuit of the ultimate road car. Therefore, an automatic transmission would simply have been unthinkable.
Gordon Murray’s insane attention to detail has carried through to modern models, too. None of the GMA products are available with an automatic transmission because its number one goal is driver engagement.
1 Shelby Mustang GT350
Four-Speed Manual
|
Engine |
4.8-liter, naturally aspirated, V8 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
306 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
|
Torque |
329 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm |
|
0-60 |
N/A |
Raw and unbridled American muscle. The 1965 Shelby GT350 is a driver’s car through and through, so much so that the model was advertised as a car not built for comfort or easy driving but was a race-spec car purposed for competition use. Automatic transmissions were employed in other Mustang models, but the GT350 is a hardcore Mustang built for racing, so the use of an automatic transmission in this variation was inconceivable. However, an automatic transmission was offered, but the manual gearbox was standard.