The manual transmission hasn't gone extinct yet, but it becomes more endangered every year. Automakers are constantly cutting costs, electrifying their vehicles and incorporating new active safety features — all of which, tragically, run counter to the continued use of the old-fashioned stick shift.
Now, you still can buy some great new cars with a stick shift, but what was once the standard transmission has become a niche item, aimed mostly at enthusiasts interested in certain vehicles. And for certain vehicles in that group, like the Jeep Wrangler, the departure of the stick may only be a matter of time.
Fortunately for those who want to row their own gears, manuals still abound in the used market. You won’t find that immaculate, low-mileage manual Toyota 4Runner for cheap — but you can find quite a few fun cars, trucks and SUVs for not a lot of money. Below, we present five manual transmission cars we found on sale for less than $10,000.
1987 Porsche 924 S – $7,900
The 924 wasn't an enthusiast's favorite, being an entry-level water-cooled Porsche in an era when the 911 was neither. But it still looks great — and all those purists sneering at it means they're affordable. Here's a rad 1987 version from late in the model run with just over 100,000 miles.
2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen S – $9,995
VW axed the Golf Sportwagen in the U.S. — but it was perhaps the best all-around cheap car on the market up until it died, and remains a stellar deal used. Here's a 2016 S model with a five-speed manual and about 67,000 miles.
2000 Honda Civic SI – $9,500
Blue 2000 Honda Civic Sis are a hot commodity. $10,000 won't get you a mint one, but this one was only driven during summers and has fewer than 100,000 miles.
1998 BMW Z3 Roadster – $9,500
A 1.9-liter BMW was an absurd Bond car. But, hey, it's a naturally aspirated BMW convertible with a manual. Here's a one-owner model from 1998 with a new soft top.
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Hatchback – $9,975
When you spot a WRX listed for fewer than $10,000, you want to look into its history very thoroughly. But this 2008 hatchback appears to be clean, and with only 100,000 miles, it has some life left.
