I'll say it and prepare to be dogpiled - the love for manuals is nothing more than nostalgia. In fact, it's a perfect definition of the word. The manual transmission is now inferior in just about every way, and the only reason people choose them is due to a "feeling that a sports car should HAVE A MANUAL."

The problem with "feeling" a car is that a human simply cannot process and react to all the data coming in. If someone wants to feel a car, drive a go kart. There's just no place for it in a modern car unless one can acknowledge one is giving up performance for it.

AGREE 100%

I could not imagine driving with a slushbox in any Vette, 911, Cayman, Boxster, 370Z, 350Z, Miata, FR-S, BRZ, etc etc. Gives you a waay more direct connection to the car IMO.

...another reason I love the Z06 and ZR1 -- MN6 only!!!!!

I agree that a manual is inferior in everyway (except cost if these DCT's break) but for a weekend sports car that is meant for fun, I would only want a manual transmission and yes, for nostalgia purposes and the fact that you feel like you are driving the car and not the car driving you. If I had a DCT tranny for a weekend car I would likely not even take it out of auto mode unless I was racing someone, what is the point? It's not like flipping a paddle or hitting a button is a lot of fun or takes any skill.

Like I said, I agree that manuals are obsolete now, however the drivetrain control is there. think about braking, how much extra are you spending per life of car for brake pads? I know I took a new car all the way to 150k miles with the stock brake pads on a manual car, but the most I ever got from brake pads with an auto is 60k.

since I covered feel already I will jump into control. deals gap is a perfect example actually. I rode it many many times and found that second gear was always best as you can rev out the full rpm range. this type of driving would be impossible without a clutch due to when you enter a turn just a little too hot and you can "phase" down to the next gear vs the flappy padals which would drop it immediately into the lower gear. Plus, I dont trust a computer just yet on "proper launch control" how the hell is the computer going to know the exact conditions I am trying to launch on? is there a sensor dragging along the road surface to tell the ECU that we switched from asphalt to concrete? or how about when going from wet road to ice road. I sure as hell would want a clutch for going over a bridge in 32* weather.

now this is my opinion. call me old if you like, call me a control freak too, I just prefer to have four limbs working in conjunction to achieve a goal.

I understand that an automatic will outperform a manual nowadays, but frankly I don't give a damn. I don't race or go to the track. I just want something that is fun to drive, and automatics are not, IMO. I absolutely abhor the way the 4 speed in my LS shifts. I have it for sale right now, and I'm trying to find a good car with a manual transmission for my next one.

problem for me is most people can't drive a stick smoothly, so i pretty much get ill as a passenger from all the jerking around.

Do you say "Do you even shift bro?"