What is the Best Manual Transmission Car you have ever driven or owned???

Might not be the fastest thing around, but I loved my 1998 Prelude Type SH. Shifter was crisp, VTEC cracked pretty hard, and now the H series has a soft spot in my heart. I LOVED the sound it made even with the stock exhaust. The only problem I had with it was that it burned oil like a mofo! I actually learned to love the oil burning smell tho, it meant I was having a good time, haha! I bought it stock (minus the rims) for $3200 and sold it for $4900. I wish I kept it but that $4900 bought me my Taco so... Now a clean stock one can fetch around $10K!!

 

My 2002

 

2005 Honda S2000

 

I'm hoping this translates to my Supra but I'm doubting it. People want newer cars now, not 30 year old builds that don't even have AC.

 

Oh it will! Supras are going for crazy money on bring-a-trailer.

 

Never heard of that so I looked it up. A lot cleaner ones than mine are going for what I was hoping to start asking for. Here's hoping the engine swap and tune are going to add enough value to make up for the condition.

 

2007 Subi

 

That's easy, it was my 1988 BMW M3. Most intuitive car I've ever driven.

This isn't my car, but it's the same color:

 

Hands down our '96 Miata. Short throw, direct linkage, buttery smooth in every way

 

Has to be the never ending project. 95 240sx.

 

This one, still got it.

 

The E30s are amazing! I had an 87 325e. Best steering feel of any car I've ever driven. Shifting wise, I still love my 99 Miata.

 

97 Porsche Carrera

 

I'll list them in order of fun driving experience.

'03 E46 M3 (brother's car but I got to drive it a fair bit, the Germans know how to make a car that's for sure)
'80 Chevy LUV (slow AF but handled turns surprisingly well and the 4 speed was actually decent)
'93 Accord LX with H23 swap (shit box but a ton of fun to drive)
'08 Tacoma (current DD, I know there are many haters for the gear spacing on the 6 Speed and the clunkiness of the shifter but it's still fun to drive)

 

In chronological order of what I've owned:

100_0772 by Mike M, on Flickr

1990 Honda Accord LX 5MT - I had a Neuspeed short throw adapter and did a shifter basket flip to make the knob sit a bit lower and work better with the Neuspeed adapter. I was spoiled with that gearbox / clutch for a first car. It was smooth, direct and SO easy to drive. It wasn't a sports car gearbox, but it was very direct. I really liked it.

Copy of DSC01116 by Mike M, on Flickr

2006 Subaru WRX STi 6MT - I wasn't 100% sure if it had the SPT short throw or not in it. I didn't have the original window sticker but it came with the OEM boost gauge so I think it might have. Regardless in stock form it was a bit of pulling a baseball bat through a barrel of bowling balls in stock form. I put in a set of Kartboy shifter bushings, did the rear shifter stay and switched out to Subaru Extra-S fluid and it was night and day. It was really direct and outside of a slight notch in 3rd every 10th shift it was probably my favorite day to day manual.

DSC01034-edit by Mike M, on Flickr

1993 Toyota Xtracab 4WD DLX 5MT - It was a manual, it had a gearbox. 1st was where the driver side mirror was, 2nd was somewhere in the bed, 3rd was the passenger door mirror, 4th also in the bed and 5th the signpost on the side of the road. It was smooth, though.

IMG_1813 - Copy by Mike M, on Flickr

1999 Chevy Corvette 6MT - This might be the most challenging manual I've ever owned. I don't know if my clutch is wonky or if the gearbox is wonky but it's the only car I've missed shifts on more than once. The T56 in the C5 is known for being a bit balky / notchy and 1st gear has a known disengagement problem. If I'm at a light and I don't watch myself I can be half engaged in 1st and it will grind / pop out. However, if I snap out the clutch it will go right into 1st. I have the C6 Z06 shifter in mine which has helped the action a lot and gotten the floppy out of the system. That being said, if I'm booting it around and get the revs up it will be a rewarding drive, but around town it's a very strong ehhhh. I think I'll swap out the clutch fluid next year with the turkey baster method and if / when I get a QuickJack I'll try and figure out if there's a better MT fluid. I also need to play with the shifter a bit more. When I first installed it the bolts backed out and I lost 2nd, 4th, and 6th, which made my 60 mile trip I took right after somewhat challenging.

IMG_3200-edit by Mike M, on Flickr

2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 6MT - Not the best manual I've driven, but much better than an automatic.

I'll have to give some thought to what other manuals I've driven and liked over the years but the ones that jump to mind that were really good were the B5 Audi A4, the NC Mazda Miata and the AP1 S2000.

 

89 Mitsubishi SPX.
Most reliable vehicle I ever owned.

 

66’ Black GTO I owned back in the day​

 

1957 Chevy 2 door no post with a 327 with Holly 4 barrel and 4 speed Hurst shifter or a 1972 Z1 Kawasaki 900.

Edit: whoops, missed car in thread title.

 

Not a very fast car, but my 03 Mustang GT is pretty fun. Stick shift V8 is where it’s at.

 

This is my current favorite.