I Can't See The Roof Either!
I was told the car will be arriving to Brunei around 29th December 2009 just before New Year. That really got my adrenaline pumped and I called my wife and told her that the car is finally here. So we met up lunch together with another buddy of mine, Albert. After lunch, I brought Albert along to QAF showroom (no one was suppose to know it arrived today but anyway I just bring him along). When I reached the showroom, I was greeted by Alex and she show me to my car. And there it is waiting inside the workshop. I can't see the roof either! Yes, I want my first Porsche to be a manual transmission! That is me trying to start the engine! LOL and the damn car just won't start! If you see in between the wipers there is one small tiny red knob. It is a pre-safe system to prevent unauthorise start of engine before PDI (Porsche Delivery Inspection). Alex pulled the red knob and I restart the ignition and the whole engine just scream into action!
You know how it is rumoured there is a secret menu at McDonald鈥檚 from which only a select few can order? If this Chevy were a burger, it鈥檇 be at the top of that secret list. It is indeed possible to order a 2019 Trax in Canada with a six-speed manual transmission, provided you pop for a front-wheel drive LS in white or silver. Don鈥檛 forget to ask for an extra burger patty. All variants of the Golf, including the SportWagen and high(er) riding all-wheel drive Alltrack, are mercifully available with a six-speed manual transmission. The latter is an intriguing proposition, as well-equipped wagons with three pedals and power going to all four wheels are a rarity these days. Long a favourite of shoppers looking for Germanic style in a small car, the new Jetta has been restyled to resemble a junior Audi, both inside and out. A six-speed manual transmission is available on all three trims, from Comfortline to Execline, the latter of which includes a vast screen for its instrument cluster called Digital Cockpit.
Whether you choose the EcoBoost, burly GT, or one of the Shelby models, Ford keeps the Mustang true to its roots by installing a manual transmission as standard equipment in every single model. The GT鈥檚 stick even includes rev-matching technology, allowing your passengers to believe that you can heel-and-toe like Fangio. There is one way in which the Camaro bests the Mustang, and that鈥檚 with engine count. The Chevy offers a 4-cylinder, six-pot, and two 6.2L V8s - all of which are available with a manual transmission. If you鈥檙e looking for something that鈥檒l bring big bucks at Barrett-Jackson in thirty years, seek out a convertible with the stick as slushbox droptops are much more common. A V8 is the price of admission to Club Manual in this car. 1000 to fit one with a six-speed Tremec. One can even get a stick in the almighty Hellcat. Those rear tires don鈥檛 stand a chance.
It has been argued that the 2er from BMW is the true successor to the old 3-Series so many gearheads hold dear to their Recaro-shaped hearts. 1600 off the sticker price. For 2019, two doors apparently means more fun at BMW, as the 4-Series coupe may also be specced with a manual transmission. Even all-wheel drive models with an 鈥榵鈥?appended to their trunklid can be built with three pedals, provided you pop for the 320hp 440i version. The M鈥檚 available with a stick as well, of course. It wouldn鈥檛 make sense for these fraternal twins to be engineered without the option of a stickshift, given the goal of imbuing their respective lineups with a dose of sportiness. In fact, these are likely one of the few models on our list whose manual take rate is higher than the automatic option. It goes without saying that this blue-collar sportscar has a 7-speed manual as standard equipment, appearing on every trim across its model range. Active rev matching provides dandy aural treats in the form of burbles and pops during downshifts.
Ze Germans, bless them, continue to stuff a 6-speed manual into the Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible. Arguably the best handling Porsche, especially when compared to the 911鈥檚 loaded diaper, the 718 is a superb sports car that needn鈥檛 live in the shadow of its older brother. As if ceding ground to its smaller sibling, the new 911 isn鈥檛 available (yet) with a standard transmission. The model is mentioned here thanks to the GT3 trim which, technically, is the old car but still available as a current model year today. C鈥檓on Porsche - the new 911 deserves a stick. Freshly refurbished for 2019, a smooth shifting six-speed manual can be had in both bodystyles - sedan or hatchback. Fans of the stick are out of luck if they wish to sample an all-wheel drive model, but the fact that the new 3鈥檚 interior can easily be mistaken as something from Audi forgives that sin.