Outside a few select models like the BMW Z4, Acura Integra and Volkswagen Jetta, it's slim pickings for shoppers who want three pedals these days. The number of manual transmission-equipped cars is dwindling, especially on this side of Supercar territory.As powertrains advance, performance increases, and electrification pushes the manual transmission towards extinction, we thought we'd reflect on 10 great cars that deserved a manual gearbox but never had the chance. Jaguar XF 8-Speed Automatic 2010 Jaguar XF Was it the thick howl of its supercharged V6 engine? The tail-happy AWD system that made winter driving a blast? The idea of a classy-looking British sports sedan with a manual gearbox and seating for four? Whatever it is, the Jaguar XF is one of those engaging driver's cars that delivers an experience so memorable you just can't help but wish it had a clutch pedal and a six-speed stick. Ditto the higher-performing XFR, complete with supercharged V8. Manual shifting here would have been a one-of-a-kind experience. It's in Jaguar's technical toolkit too – the XF's V6 engine got a six-speed stick in the F-Type, for instance. The weight of what could have been is heavy. Chrysler 300 SRT / Dodge Charger SRT 8-Speed Automatic 2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Fender 392 BadgeIf you've ever smashed through the gears in a Dodge Challenger SRT8, complete with pistol-grip shifter and those closely-placed first few gears, you know how much fun it can be to rip through a few redline upshifts before diving too deeply into demerit-point territory. The two-door Challenger gave shoppers plenty of stick-shift options for its V8, rear-drive versions – though it was never made available on four-door siblings like the Charger and 300,which ran the same engines and platforms. A six-speed stick in the Charger would have further cemented Dodge's reputation among enthusiast drivers, and what could be classier than vacating a traffic light in a manually-shifted 300 SRT8 at full song? Sometimes, life just isn't fair. Lexus IS 500 8-Speed Automatic 2025 Lexus IS 500The IS 500 is the highest-performing sedan from Lexus, and comes powered by a rare gem: a 5-liter V8 engine untouched by electrification or boost. The all-motor experience is handled by an automatic transmission with paddle-shifting and rapid response times with rev-matching – an excellent performance experience as automatics go. Still, there's no three-pedal option available, so if you want to take in a fast-revving all-motor V8 and browse your own gears, you'll have to check out the Ford Mustang instead. Sometimes, things just aren't meant to be. Alfa Romeo Giulia 8-Speed Automatic GiuliaIn the premium midsize sedan segment, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is designed to appeal strongly to enthusiast drivers with numerous technological and engineering advancements that deliver a highly engaging drive. With fast steering, a stunning chassis and handling that comes alive the harder you push it, the Giulia is a driver's car through and through. That is, unless you're set on shifting your own gears. The 8-speed transmission in the Giulia is rewardingly responsive and fun to use, making us long for a third pedal. Maserati Quattroporte 8-Speed Automatic 2020 Maserati Quattroporte White Front Angle DrivingIt's got moves, looks and flair – not to mention a storied history of performance and some hot Italian blood under the hood by way of a turbocharged V6 good for 424 horsepower in the most recent models. A drive mode selector lets drivers control the attitude of the Quattroporte on the fly, and AWD helps them control the car with less effort in more situations. When it comes to shifting gears, the ZF 8-speed automatic is faster and more consistent than a human driver every day of the week – but we'd still love to conduct that turbo V6's soundtrack with a six-speed manual, and how cool would a stick-shift Quattroporte be? Audi RS3 7-Speed DCT 2025 Audi RS3 Gray Side ViewTo help sell a lot of cars, Audi engineered the latest RS3 to kick ass all across the Nürburgring. Like many big-dollar supercars it's faster than, it only comes with a DSG transmission, not a manual, in the interest of ultimate performance and lap times. It's nice to have choices, but when you're building a car as a rolling showcase of your latest go-fast technology, leaving the shifting to a human being just slows things down. Still, we'd love to experience the rush of that big turbo 5 while browsing the gears manually. Acura TLX 10-Speed Automatic 2021 Acura TLX Red Front AngleThe Acura TLX really gets the driving experience right – with double-wishbone suspension, a fast-revving VTEC engine, and excellent agility all helping to recall lightweight, analog-feeling Honda and Acura sports car models from years gone by. The 2-liter turbo engine is strong and has a good soundtrack, the steering is sharp and light, and the AWD system helps make the TLX feel like a smaller and lighter machine than it is, especially when you drive it with some intent in Sport mode. The only thing missing, we figure, is that manual six-speed. Don't fret: you can still shift your own gears in the TLX, but you'll have to step up to the pricier and thirstier TLX Type S to do it. Mazda 3 Turbo 6-Speed Automatic 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback Gray Low Close-Up Tail ViewToday, you can have your Mazda 3 with a standard engine or turbo engine, and with a manual or automatic transmission, though some exceptions apply. Mazda tends to attract enthusiast drivers at a high rate, which is why you'll find plenty of manual-equipped sports car models in their former and current lineups – even in the 2025 Mazda 3, in some versions, anyway. Where you won't find a manual transmission in the Mazda 3 lineup is with the turbo engine, which comes standard with AWD, and a six-speed automatic. For its handling and affordability, this is one machine we definitely hope to see with a manual option some day, but we aren't holding our breath. Kia Stinger 8-Speed Automatic 2019 Kia Stinger The Kia Stinger lived fast, died young, and took a piece of our hearts with it when it left. Let's take a moment to appreciate what it brought to the marketplace, and to remember how much fun that 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 and tail-happy AWD setup were in a good snowstorm with proper winter tires. This was one of the most powerful engines in the Hyundai family. Unfortunately, the Stinger didn't live long enough to see the manual-equipped, AWD V6 version many fans wished for – so an 8-speed automatic will have to do you. 2026 Honda Prelude e-CVT 2026 Honda Prelude The Honda Prelude is not available with a manual gearbox, which means there's no shortage of salty fans – yours truly, included. Back in the day, the Honda Prelude was always about giving drivers a technological advantage to handling and performance built around a manual-transmission experience, with automatics offered only if you really needed one.Today, the Prelude comes with a specialized type of transmission built on the two-motor hybrid system, which acts like a CVT, but technically isn't one. In other applications, Honda's hybrid pseudo-CVT could easily fool most into thinking it was just a fast-shifting, crisp and satisfying automatic. For some, and especially the Prelude's biggest fans, it seems like only a manual will do.Sources: Honda, Kia, Mazda, Acura, Audi, Maserati, Stellantis, Jaguar, Lexus, Alfa Romeo