Opinion: Oh, how I miss manual cars
The manual transmission is slowly becoming somewhat of an endangered species. I really miss driving manual cars so I thought I’d borrow my brother’s 2005 Holden Monaro for an adventure of my own – my very first drive in his prized possession.
I really miss manual cars. I used to own one but commuting in Melbourne, a city constantly clogged with traffic, I made the executive decision to switch to an automatic. It was the right choice at the time for the incessant amount of driving I was doing daily, but I would love to have one in my garage again.
I learned how to drive a manual on our family farm in an Isuzu truck at the age of 15. It was quite a petrifying experience, and one I’ll certainly never forget.
My older brothers sat alongside me and I wasn’t leaving that truck until I had my masters in double clutching. Mission accomplished, or so I thought. They weren’t so convinced. Fast forward to the age of 18 when I got my manual license as soon as humanly possible – the day after my birthday.
I had a brand spanking new three door Toyota RAV4 Cruiser with a five-speed manual gearbox and I’ll never forget the moment I took her for her first spin. Unfortunately, I stalled the entire way out of our driveway with my dad watching on, shaking his head, wondering why on earth I decided to get a manual car.
Why not? In those days everyone was buying manuals, my friends included – and of course, my brothers. Growing up, we had a couple of Toyota LandCruisers in the garage – ideal for trips to the family farm, while the boys, well they always had Holdens. In fact, their first car was a hand-me-down 1989 Holden VN Calais, two-tone, burgundy over silver.
But, the one I really want to tell you about is a 2005 Monaro Holden Monaro CV8-Z – a 5.7-litre V8 mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s capable of 260kW of power and 500Nm of torque. In case you aren’t aware, this vehicle is the final generation Holden Monaro manufactured in Australia.
It’s one of my brothers prized possessions. Even more so since Holden ceased production in Australia.
Recently we’ve seen the value of Australian hero cars skyrocket and while you wouldn’t expect that growth to continue forever, for the right car, there’s investment potential. It’s for that very reason that it’s been sitting in his garage for many years.
Our other sibling follows the same rule with his 2009 VE SS V ute (also manual). I thought it was such a waste many years ago when I witnessed these cars just sit in their garages, but now I get it.
I can’t actually remember the last time I was a passenger in the Monaro and would you believe that I’ve never actually sat in the driver’s seat. Until now.
After 16 years as a motoring journalist, he finally passed me the keys to this beautiful piece of machinery. That’s right, he’s never once let me to jump behind the wheel before. Boys and their toys!
This all eventuated because I’ve been whining in the office about how much I miss manual cars. We don’t see them come through the Drive garage often as they are quickly becoming an endangered species.
It’s odd and I’ve often had this thought after reviewing a few cars lately: the fact that true enthusiast cars like a Toyota Supra and Volkswagen Golf GTI aren’t offered in a manual, but I can still ride around in a BMW M3, Kia Sportage or Mazda CX-3 shifting gears with a stick perplexes me.
My Monaro drive day finally arrived on a warm Sunday afternoon. This moment didn’t come without hesitation – not from me, from the older brother. Just hours before the phone conversation went something like this: “Yeah but Emma, can you drive a manual?”
I think the memory of me stalling my very first car at our family home may be instilled into his brain, but I had just finished a week’s stint in a manual Kia Picanto GT. My answer: “Do you know what I do for a living?!”
Just so you are all aware, yes I can most definitely drive a manual. He did his hero lap first with me in the passenger seat before he was ready to hand it over. I was well and truly ready to head off on my way.
Let me tell you that this car is just delightful. More than that, it’s special. It’s completely stock except for the sports exhaust. Good decision. Can I also just say that this car was cool back in the day and it’s still cool now.
When I sat in it a good ten years ago it was just another Holden and there was no question about their future. It’s unfathomable what happened and I view it in a whole new light, as I’m sure many of you will.
What’s more, now that I work in the automotive industry, it means so much more to me to drive a car like this. I get to drive some pretty amazing cars on a day to day basis so I have much more of an appreciation for what this car represents.
One of the first things I noticed was the true muscle car feel you get from the car when shifting gears – it’s stiff and unlike any of the modern day manual transmissions, you have to work that little bit harder for a gear change. I like it.
I couldn’t believe the grunt firing from the V8 engine, treating me to those real AMG-esque crackles and pops, even on downshifts. Whether it was me or the car making the loudest noise remains to be seen, but it’s fair to say that I was having an absolute ball from the get-go. So yes, this car has sheer performance, it’s fast, but above all, it’s just timeless fun.
The steering is weighty but it feels smooth, compliant and it’s actually comfortable too. Aside from the clutch and gearbox feeling a little aged, you get a surprisingly modern experience in its ride.
The cabin is cosy too. Sure it doesn’t have the things we are used to from our cars these days like Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging. I mean, I played a good old R&B CD that’s probably been sitting in there since 2012. But there’s a sunroof, Alcantara on the doors, fully electric leather seats, and flip down cup holders with decent rear seat room for a coupe.
The other nifty feature that you’ll see in something like a Porsche is the body colour-matched dials, which just makes the interior that much cooler. Finally, cruising down the freeway, it wasn’t just me appreciating this good looking beast – I got plenty of thumbs up. It’s quite the head turner and why wouldn’t it be in that striking Devil Yellow.
On the way back from our little adventure together I realised, wow, this thing is thirsty! I swear it was full when I took off and I was already heading to the bowser with it down to a quarter of a tank. I couldn’t be that person delivering a car back on almost empty – that’s just bad etiquette.
When I handed the keys back he asked me if I opened her up. Did he really need to ask? And of course I did – within the speed limits and safely for all of you reading this. But just had so much fun in doing so.
Being back in a manual but in a car that’s so cool was an amazing experience, especially seeing as though it means so much to a family member. I didn’t want the drive to end, but remembering we should really keep the kilometres down, I don’t see this being a regular occurrence.
I’m now quickly convincing myself that my next car should be a manual. Paddle shifters are fine yes, but this is a different kind of fun.
If you are thinking like me, then here at Drive we’ve compiled a list of all the manual cars you can currently buy in Australia.
Also, I reached out to the team to find out the best manual transmission they’ve ever driven and why.
Justin Narayan
The best manual transmission I’ve had the pleasure of rowing was the one found behind the 3.0-litre VTEC V6 engine in the original Honda NSX. The tactility of the shifter linkage, the engine, and the overall feel of the car came together for me. Second place, maybe the Honda S2000. Turbo cars are fun, but there’s nothing better than a crisp second-to-third shift in something naturally-aspirated that loves to rev! My two cents.
Glenn Butler
The Aisin six-speed manual from the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ. So perfectly in tune with what that car needed.
Rob Margeit
It’s hard to go past a Lotus Exige, with its stunning open gate, tightly-spaced pedals and satisfying ‘snick’ with every gear change that work together in a mechanical symphony to create the perfect bond between car, driver and road.
Kez Casey
The beautifully weighted, and super precise gearshift of the outgoing Honda Civic Type R is a textbook reminder of what makes manuals so damn good. Maybe not as fantastic as historic Type Rs, but here’s hoping the next-generation car builds on this brilliant starting point.
Tom Fraser
The manual gearbox in any Porsche is special, though the Alcantara-wrapped six-speed shifter inside the 997 GT2 is one that I always go back to when discussing a favourite. Such a solid and reassuring clutch feel and a snickety throw that slots in beautifully.
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