045 | Are Manual Transmissions Dying? The Best Stick-Shift Cars to Buy

Are manual transmissions disappearing—or are they becoming more desirable than ever?

Chris is joined by Courage from The Driven Dad for a full conversation about learning to drive stick, teaching beginners how to use a clutch and why manual cars create a driving experience that even the fastest modern automatic cannot completely replace.

Chris shares stories from learning in a bare-bones Mitsubishi Mighty Max, owning manual Ford, Mercury and Nissan vehicles, and returning to a six-speed Nissan Z after years of driving an automatic truck. Courage explains how he teaches first-time manual drivers, including a simple clutch-control exercise that can help beginners get moving without immediately burning up the clutch.

They also discuss why manuals went from being the inexpensive “standard” transmission to a rare enthusiast option, whether driving stick still makes sense in heavy traffic and how modern paddle-shift, dual-clutch and 10-speed automatic transmissions have changed the argument.

Later, Chris and Courage explore some of the new and used manual cars enthusiasts should consider, including the Nissan Z, Mazda Miata, Toyota GR86, Ford Mustang, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Camaro, Firebird, Jaguar F-Type, BMW M3, Dodge Viper, Hyundai Elantra N, Nissan 350Z and Nissan 370Z.

The conversation wraps up with a bigger question: Do drivers really need more screens, apps and electronic features—or do they need a car that is simply fun to drive?

In this episode:

• How Chris and Courage learned to drive manual
• The secret to understanding clutch engagement
• Teaching a beginner without destroying your clutch
• Why fewer people know how to drive stick
• Could manual-driving lessons become a side hustle?
• Manual versus automatic transmissions in daily traffic
• New cars that still offer a manual transmission
• Affordable used performance cars with stick shifts
• Why modern automatics are faster but sometimes less engaging
• The appeal of analog sports cars
• Why the 350Z and 370Z remain popular enthusiast choices
• Driving experience versus technology and luxury features

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Love cars, horsepower, road trips and real automotive conversations? Follow Cool Cars with Chris and Courage for new podcast episodes, YouTube videos, car reviews, event coverage and behind-the-scenes content.

🌐 Cool Cars with Chris Website:
https://coolcarswithchris.com

▶️ Cool Cars with Chris on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CoolCarswithChris619

📸 Cool Cars with Chris on Instagram:
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▶️ Courage — The DriveN Dad on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheDriveNDad22

📸 Courage — The DriveN Dad on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thedrivendad22/

00:00 Welcome and social media talk
03:51 Are manual transmissions dying?
04:12 Learning to drive stick
10:01 Chris’s history with manual cars
16:00 Valet drivers and stick shifts
19:31 Teaching beginners to drive manual
22:12 Manual-driving lessons as a side hustle
26:05 Manual versus automatic transmissions
33:08 New cars still available with manuals
39:06 Modern automatics and paddle shifters
44:51 Finding and selling a manual Nissan Z
48:12 Affordable used manual sports cars
57:34 Technology versus driving experience
1:05:32 Elantra N and modern enthusiast cars
1:12:54 Are the 350Z and 370Z still good buys?
1:17:46 The Driven Dad and closing thoughts

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