Ten Best Cars with Manual Transmissions under $30,000

Ten Best Cars with Manual Transmissions under $30,000

by James Hamel

Now, it takes a very brave soul to not only teach someone how to drive a stick shift in their very own car but to also teach them how to drive stick in an area where a number of people in the surrounding neighborhood know you quite well. And just so happen to know you have the thankless and sometimes near impossible job of teaching someone to drive a manual transmission.

But there is a connectedness and joy added to the act of driving when a car is equipped with a clutch pedal and a self-shifter. The driver decides how hard or how easy he or she will rev the engine. Trips to redline are made with a human mind, not a computerized one that is probably most eager to improve your fuel economy. As a stick shift driver, you can choose to drive economically of with outright performance most in mind.

So if you are thinking of teaching someone to drive stick or want to buy your first manual transmission model with a budget of $20,000 new here are your five best choices. Now, most of these cars don’t need a clutch pedal but they are far more fun to drive with them rather than without them. So live a little and have a go. Your appreciation of for your new car will be automatic.

Here are Why This Ride’s list of the ten best cars with manual transmissions under $30,000:

2014 Honda Civic Si—Starting at around $22,000, the 2014 Honda Civic Si is a real performance bargain in its genre of sporty economy cars. Not only that, the 2014 model now qualifies as a “Top Safety Pick Plus” unlike any other like sized model currently on sale. But oh that manual gearbox that comes with every Si is a six-speed unit that is slick, precise and one of the best on sale today.

2014 Mazda6—It will no doubt become very clear that around here we are big fans not only of Mazdas but also of their manual transmissions. The 2014 Mazda6 is one of the best family sedans around and a self-shifter can be had in either the Sport or Touring trim designations which easily stay under our $30,000 mark yet offer tremendous features for the money.

2014 VW Golf TDI—During a long term test we are conducting with a 2014 VW Golf TDI we have been averaging 43.8 miles per gallon on diesel which is no mean feat considering how often we love to redline our manual transmission equipped model each time we drive it. Not only is the shift action meaty and the gears easy to find, the clutch is light so it will never wear you out in traffic. This car is perfect for those who like to road trip.

2014 Honda Accord—Madness surely! Why, when so few people buy manual transmissions when equipping their family sedans would Honda design an all new self-shifter for both the V6 and 4-cylinder engines during its latest reinvention? It may not make for the best business case given the volume of automatics that Honda will sell in relation to manuals but if you enjoy shifting for yourself do give the new Accord a try. It is as close as a family sedan gets to being truly sporty.

2014 Ford Focus ST—The ST variant of the Ford Focus hatch comes with a truly delicious six-speed manual mated to a 2.0 liter turbocharged 252 horsepower 4-cylinder which frankly feels faster than that figure suggests. Also worth a look is the Fiesta ST which has 197 turbocharged horses and a similarly fun to use manual gearbox.

2014 Mazda2—Sure, with only a 1.5 liter 100 horsepower engine on hand how can the Mazda2 ever be considered a fun car to drive? Well take light weight, a price maxing out around $17,000, sufficient interior room and a manual transmission that is the best of any minicar out there.

2015 Honda Fit—No list of great manual gearboxes would be complete without a Honda represented. Here we chose the Fit as it can feel a bit slow in automatic guise yet turns zesty with the knobby self-shifter. Clutch action is deliberate and smooth and we can think of no better first car for a teenager or due to its amazing interior space it could also please any ordinary hoarder.

2014 Fiat 500 Abarth—With a rorty turbocharged 1.4 liter 4-cylinder engine that makes one of the most magnificent noises in all of the auto kingdom, the Abarth thankfully also is blessed with a chunky and fun to use manual gearbox. What’s more, like the Civic Si the Abarth is only available currently with a manual transmission so its sporting pretensions are clear. However, 2015 sees the introduction of an automatic to help increase sales. This makes us sad. Still, prices start at only $22,000.

2014 Mazda3—Here we move back into larger cars with the 2014 Mazda3 with the SkyActiv 2.0 liter 150 horsepower engine boasting the most impressive gearbox on this list. Not only are its movement and distances perfectly judged, it tricks you into believing it should belong in a Miata.

2014 Nissan 370Z—With a base price just squeezing in under our price threshold ($29,900), the current Z is our irrational choice given its price, lack of utility and cramped two seat cabin. But you will forget all about that when you slot the beefy six-speed manual into first gear, slowly let out the semi-heavy clutch and revel in the glorioius rumble from the 3.7 liter 332 horsepower V6 as it heads toward redline. You will also notice how quickly the 370Z can launch you from boredom to outright grin inducing hooliganism.