Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[Runner]

My 2019 Toyota HB is a manual. These kind of just basic cars with manual transmission are almost gone now (Toyota no longer offers this car with a MT). Of the few remaining most of them are sports cars or sports sedans with close gearing and low profile tires. Mazda 3, 2.5 S Premium being the exception.

Well, actually they do still offer the Corolla HB with a manual, but now it costs $42,000.

 

[Hay Dude]

A Toyota Corolla costs $42,000?
Man we are not going to survive this inflation….

 

[Runner]

2026 Toyota GR Corolla | Toyota.com

Explore the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla, built for exhilaration with track-inspired power, sharp handling, and an aggressive stance that commands every corner.

www.toyota.com

 

[QRTRHRS]

My favorite stick was Eaton 10spd behind a Detroit 8V92T in a GMC Topkick Water Tender for the fire dept. Otherwise have done 3spd on the floor, 3 on the tree, 4spd, granny 4spd, 5 and 6 speeds.

Got a lot of miles on 13spd/8v92's. One was a tri-axle dump with double overdrive to get the road speed up. Shift, shift shift and shift some more.

 

[wsurff]

I drive my stick shift samurai at least weekly if not more.

I was at the hardware store and a young guy asked me if it’s hard to drive?

I said no… I learned to drive with a stick.

Another skill set fading with time.

How many TBN members own/drive manual transmission vehicle(s) in 2025?

Bought my youngest daughter a wrangler six speed and taught her how to drive it with the idea that it is difficult to drive a manual and text at the same time. Seems to have done the job. I steal it and drive for fun when I can. She, my wife and I can drive it. My other 3 kids have yet to learn.

 

[Quaffer]

2004 Jeep Wrangler 5-speed manual, and a 2020 Honda Fit 6-speed manual.

Both manual so they can be towed behind a motorhome.

 

[jyoutz]

2004 Jeep Wrangler 5-speed manual, and a 2020 Honda Fit 6-speed manual.

Both manual so they can be towed behind a motorhome.

Jeep automatics can also be towed behind a motor home. Transmission and transfer case both in neutral.

 

[Quaffer]

Jeep automatics can also be towed behind a motor home. Transmission and transfer case both in neutral.

Personal choice, I would not own an auto trans Wrangler.

 

[Hughman]

Thought my kids to drive a stick in a wrangler as soon as they could reach the peddles with a pillow behind their back (about age 10). Can't easily stall in low range and at Pismo dunes there's nothing for them to hit.

 

[4570Man]

2004 Jeep Wrangler 5-speed manual, and a 2020 Honda Fit 6-speed manual.

Both manual so they can be towed behind a motorhome.

Generally you’re not supposed to flat tow a manual either. Putting the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in park or pulling the driveshaft are the only safe ways to do it without looking at the owners manual for every single vehicle.

 

[Quaffer]

Generally you’re not supposed to flat tow a manual either. Putting the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in park or pulling the driveshaft are the only safe ways to do it without looking at the owners manual for every single vehicle.

10-4.

I've towed a quad cab 4wd automatic transmission pickup behind my motorhome before. As you said, you *must* read the owner manual and follow all required steps.

My Chevy Silverado 1500HD was permissible to flat tow. Back then Ford or Dodge trucks were not.

I was originally going to dinghy tow the Honda Fit, but decided to trailer it instead. Aluminum tilt trailer and lightweight Honda on it and you barely know it is there.

 

[Hay Dude]

Personal choice, I would not own an auto trans Wrangler.

They’re awesome
8 speed loves to run.

 

[jyoutz]

They’re awesome
8 speed loves to run.

I can honestly say the the 8 speed automatic in my Wrangler is the nicest transmission I’ve ever had in a vehicle.

 

[deserteagle71]

They’re awesome
8 speed loves to run.

This.
As a long-time Wrangler owner I follow several Wrangler forums. There are many more problems with the 6 speed manual transmissions in the newer Wranglers than with the automatic. That 8 speed automatic is one of the best transmissions out there, regardless of brand of vehicle.

(My Wranglers have all been manual transmissions. But then my newest Wrangler is 19 years old and does not have the same transmission as the newer ones.)

 

[lman]

I got in the habit of using my left foot for braking for that very reason back in the days when I (mostly) drove stick shift vehicles. Too much instinctively bringing down my left foot as I neared a stop!

Not to mention the linkages were always kind of clunky and would occasionally jam up as a vehicle got older. Lots of floor shift kits were sold for that reason.

How do you brake with the left foot while driving a manual? I always use my right foot to brake when driving my 3 pedal F350 so I do the same when driving my 2 pedal car.

 

[Oaktree]

2026 Toyota GR Corolla | Toyota.com

Explore the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla, built for exhilaration with track-inspired power, sharp handling, and an aggressive stance that commands every corner.

www.toyota.com

Having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I think in most people's eyes corolla=old lady car. Economical but stodgy, anemic and cramped.

 

[Oaktree]

How do you brake with the left foot while driving a manual? I always use my right foot to brake when driving my 3 pedal F350 so I do the same when driving my 2 pedal car.

My post didn't come out the way I intended it. Started using my left foot for braking when driving an automatic back in the days when I typically drove a manual. Rationale behind it remains the same.

 

[Hughman]

This.
As a long-time Wrangler owner I follow several Wrangler forums. There are many more problems with the 6 speed manual transmissions in the newer Wranglers than with the automatic. That 8 speed automatic is one of the best transmissions out there, regardless of brand of vehicle.

(My Wranglers have all been manual transmissions. But then my newest Wrangler is 19 years old and does not have the same transmission as the newer ones.)

How does the slush box do with compression braking on steep down hills off road?

 

[deserteagle71]

How does the slush box do with compression braking on steep down hills off road?

Not too bad. Keep in mind this is not your automatic transmission of a few years ago where 1st gear was only about a 2.5-1 ratio. 1st gear in this new 8 speed automatic is 4.71-1. 1st gear in the 6 speed manual is 5.13-1.

I have a 2022 Toyota 4Runner which comes with a 5 speed automatic. 1st gear on it is 3.52-1; transfer case ratio is 2.57-1 and when I lock it in 1st gear low range I rarely have to touch the brakes. So the Jeep with a 4.71-1 1st gear and 2.72 low range (4.1 ratio if a Rubicon model) would no doubt do even better. Again, I don't own a new Jeep but the owners on the forums don't have any complaints about this.

 

[ultrarunner]

Having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I think in most people's eyes corolla=old lady car. Economical but stodgy, anemic and cramped.

Hey I resemble that remark...

Mom bought a Corolla S for her only new car and now I drive it daily and like it...

It gets way better mileage than the Land Rover and BMW.

Back before I clocked in at 4 am I would often drive one of the Model As or Ts to work and on really nice days the 68 Mustang Convertible or 62 Corvette...

Just not going to happen at 4 in the morning...

Someone at work asked why I drive a Corolla... saying there are nicer cars and all I could say is I have those too but why park them in the employee parking lot?