Walk into any cars and coffee meet today and you’ll hear the same conversations. While everyone else chases zero to sixty times and autonomous parking, a growing group of drivers wants something different. They want to feel the road, shift their own gears, and actually drive their cars. These enthusiasts are preserving something that’s disappearing fast, and they’re doing it because the experience matters more than the specs.
- Manual transmissions are becoming rare, with only 1.7% of new cars sold in 2024 offering a stick shift, making them more desirable to purists.
- Modern cars with electric power steering and computer mediation filter out the raw feedback that enthusiasts crave from their vehicles.
- How a car makes you feel matters more than raw performance numbers for a growing segment of buyers who want to feel connected to their machines.
The numbers don’t tell the whole story. Sure, electric cars can hit sixty miles per hour in under two seconds now. The Rimac Nevera R does it in 1.66 seconds, and the Tesla Model S Plaid clocks in at 1.99 seconds. But here’s what’s interesting. Those figures used to get people excited. Now they’re so extreme that they’ve lost their meaning.
“We’re seeing a slight backlash to the ultimate performance,” McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, told ABC News. “People want more of an analog experience.” He’s right. When every electric SUV can launch like a rocket, straight line speed stops being special.
What makes a car driver focused? It starts with the basics. A manual transmission tops the list. There’s something about rowing through gears yourself that you can’t replicate with paddles or an automatic. It keeps you involved. Every shift requires thought and timing. You’re not just steering and pressing pedals. You’re part of the machine.
The problem is finding one. Only about thirty models still offer a manual in 2024, down from hundreds just two decades ago. The Honda Civic Type R comes only with a six speed manual. Same with the Toyota GR Corolla. The BMW M2, M3, and M4 still offer the option, though you’ll pay extra for the privilege. Even the Nissan Z Series delivers those analog thrills with its available six speed manual paired to a twin turbo V6 engine.
But transmissions are just one piece of the puzzle. Steering feel matters just as much. Modern electric power steering systems are efficient and precise, but they filter out feedback. You turn the wheel and the car responds, but you don’t feel what the front tires are doing. You don’t sense the road texture or know exactly where the grip limit sits.
Older hydraulic systems weren’t perfect either, but they connected you to the road in ways that current setups can’t match. Some manufacturers get this. Mazda still tunes its MX5 Miata to deliver steering feedback. Porsche obsesses over how its 911 communicates through the wheel. These details separate cars you drive from cars that drive you around.
Weight plays a huge role too. The original Mazda MX5 weighed about 2,100 pounds. Today’s version pushes close to 2,500 pounds, which is still light by modern standards. Most sports cars now tip the scales at 3,500 pounds or more. The new Nissan Z NISMO weighs 3,673 pounds. That’s nearly 800 pounds more than a Toyota GR86.
Extra weight dulls responses. It takes more effort to change direction. Brakes work harder. Tires wear faster. Light cars feel alive and eager. Heavy cars feel stable and planted. Both have their place, but enthusiasts who want that connected feeling prefer lighter builds when they can get them.
Then there’s the sound. Electric motors whir quietly. That’s great for daily commuting, but it removes an entire dimension of the driving experience. Hearing an engine rev, feeling it vibrate through the seat, catching the exhaust note on overrun, these things matter. They provide feedback about what the car is doing. They add emotion to the experience.
Some automakers are trying to bridge this gap. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N includes simulated gear shifts and artificial engine sounds. It’s clever technology, but it’s still simulation. Real enthusiasts can tell the difference.
The market reflects these preferences. Cars like the Mazda MX5 Miata, Toyota GR86, and Subaru BRZ remain popular despite modest power figures. The Volkswagen Golf GTI continues selling well even as many competitors have grown larger and more complex. These cars succeed because they focus on how they make you feel over what they can do on a spec sheet.
Enthusiasts appreciate improvements in safety, reliability, and efficiency. They just don’t want those advances to come at the expense of driving involvement. They want cars that respond to inputs without a computer deciding if those inputs are appropriate first.
What This Means Going Forward
The automotive world is changing fast. More electrification is coming. More automation is inevitable. But there will always be a market for cars that put the driver first. The question is whether manufacturers will keep building them. Right now, the answer looks promising. Manual transmissions are still available, though you have to search for them. Driver focused sports cars still exist, though they’re becoming niche products.
For anyone who loves driving, now’s the time to pay attention. Buy that manual car while you still can. Support the brands that build engaging vehicles. The future might be electric and autonomous, but the present still offers plenty of options for people who actually enjoy being behind the wheel.
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