Five Automatic Cars That Are Leaving Their Automatic Counterparts In The Dust

By 2025, there were about 30 cars you could buy with a manual gearbox, showing how the market has shifted to automatic transmissions that are faster, more efficient and easier to drive. For context, back in the 1980s, about 35% of US cars were produced manually. However, between then and now, there was a time when automatic gearboxes were not well developed. This allows cars equipped with manual transmissions to deliver 60 times better zero; early automatics often had fewer gears, slower shift speeds, and higher losses through torque converters.

Automatic transmissions were not designed for speed but rather for comfort. This reduced power efficiency compared to a well-driven manual gearbox, and the benefit of choosing an automatic was not as great as it is today, when automatics are faster. And, with the widespread market adoption of the more advanced dual-clutch transmission, manuals couldn’t keep up. Here are five automatic cars that leave their counterparts in the dust, why people love them, and how they hold up in today’s market.

The 2018/2019 model year of the Mazda Miata introduced the ND2 specification, which means the car has been updated with larger bodies, improved intakes, larger exhaust pipes, and other additional changes. This generation of Miata includes some of the best years of the car because it was the fastest Miata at the time; The reliability of the model had also been improved by then. As with the current Mazda MX-5 Miata, this generation of the car was available with manual and automatic transmissions.

Back when Car and Driver reviewed the hardtop version of the 2019 Miata, they noted that “the RF manual transmission delivers both faster acceleration and more fun in terms of driver involvement.” Specifically, the automatic version of the Miata was able to reach 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. On the other hand, the manual managed a remarkably quick 5.8 seconds. In MotorTrend’s testing, the soft-top manual Miata managed a nearly identical 5.7 seconds. Overall, the Miata is a driver’s car when it comes to passing, which means that aside from speed, there’s more incentive to choose a manual than an automatic.

It must be said that it is generally easy to reach fast times of 60 mph automatically as it requires little driver input; A manual transmission, in comparison, requires faster shift times and better traction control. Although we’ve mentioned before that manuals are considered a dying breed among modern cars, with an estimated 60% of new Miatas sold equipped with a manual transmission, the MX-5 is a beacon of hope for stick shift fans.

The E36 generation of the BMW 3 Series was introduced in 1990, continuing in production until the year 2000 when it was replaced by the E46. The E36 ushered the 3 Series into a completely new era, improving on the previous generation E30 in many respects. The E36 M3 is the flagship of its range, offering the first 3-litre six-cylinder engine in an M3. This was enough for 240 horsepower in both generations, while Euro-spec E36 M3s with a 3.2-liter six-cylinder managed 320 horsepower.

In terms of transmissions, pre-facelift E36s use a five-speed manual with an SMG automated manual, while the facelift variant uses a six-speed manual and the aforementioned SMG. Although the E36 M3 was initially controversial, in recent years it has become a star in the automotive community. According to Car and Driver, the BMW E36 M3 with the 240hp manual was tested at around 6.0 seconds to 60 mph, while the performance specification for the 240 hp automatic range is 6.9 seconds to 60 mph.

All in all, a large part of the E36 M3 community leans heavily on the manual variant because it feels better to drive, not because it’s faster. In addition, the feeling about manuals is so strong that many people even choose to spend a small amount of money to return the manuals to the E36 M3 chassis that was originally paired with the automatic from the factory.

The first generation Honda NSX – a unique car. People loved it (and still do) because it was well made, reliable, and felt good to drive. It came out again in 1990, very similar to the E36 M3, and was produced until 2005. It ran with the C30A 3-liter six-cylinder until 1997 when it was upgraded to the C32B 3.2-liter six-cylinder. Power wise, the front models are rated at 270 hp, while the 3.2-liter models push 290 horsepower.

The NSX was available with a five- or six-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic. When CarThrottle drove the automatic, they noted that “this NSX doesn’t feel nearly as good as the manual version.” he adds that “the four-speed NSX ends up feeling lead and strange.” By the numbers, the manual Honda NSX can reach 60 mph from a standstill in about 5.6 seconds, nearly a full second faster than the automatic’s 6.5-second time.

As with most cars on this list, the numbers only tell half the story. Overall, most driving enthusiasts prefer the manual NSX over the automatic because it is more in tune with the car, and gives you better control. In terms of value, the NSX manual is also more expensive.

The C1 generation of the Chevrolet Corvette was produced between 1953 and 1962, and over the decades this American icon has since evolved into the mid-engined 2026 Corvette ZR1X 1,250 hp hypercar. The C1 is powered by a variety of V8 engines, with entry-level models starting at 150 horsepower. Probably the most desirable variant of the iconic C1 was the 327-cubic-inch 1962 C1 offering 360 horsepower. It is also one of the clearest historical examples of manual transmissions being more efficient than early automatics.

When Car and Driver went through the entire Corvette lineage and covered the 1962 327 C1, they said the manual C1 was capable of a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.9 seconds. They also noted that this speed was only available with the four-speed manual, saying “the Vette needs about two seconds with the automatic.” In the 1960s, a gap of 2 seconds was important. Because the C1 Corvette was one of the fastest American sports cars on the market at the time, it was a manual that allowed drivers to extract maximum performance from the platform.

The 996 generation of the 911 lineage appeared in 1997 and was available all the way until 2006. It is generally considered the worst generation of 911 because it suffered from the annoying IMS bearing failure, it was the first water cooled 911, and the fried headlights were not really accepted by the public. But despite these criticisms, the 996 moved the needle quite a bit on overall performance.

The Porsche 911 (generation 996) received more power than its predecessor, the 993. Output increased from around 270–285 horsepower in the 993 to around 300–320 horsepower in the 996. The new generation Porsche also introduces modern engine management, a quick tipt shifter and an improved automatic transmission option, improved performance and a quick tipt shifter option. smoother shifting compared to previous automatics.

However, this was not enough to pass the manual. A 1999 Porsche 911 with a manual gearbox can reach 60 mph in about 4.6 to 4.9 seconds. On the other hand, the Tiptronic automatic version was closer to 5.6 or 5.7 seconds. Even at the top of the line, the 996 Turbo was also slow, with Car and Driver testing noting a 0.3 second gap between the manual and Tiptronic.