The recent unveiling of the 2023 Nissan Z was a salve that soothed my irritated, beleaguered new-car enthusiast soul. Here is a fresh sports car whose handsome, clean lines largely avoid current excessive-styling fads while gently recalling my favorite prior generations of Z-car. And the best part: its twin-turbocharged, 400-horsepower V-6 can be backed by a six-speed transmission, the correct kind with three (count ’em, 3!) pedals.

This introduction reassured me, following a few debuts of other cars that should--by all rights--offer keen drivers the option of full manual control and engagement. Now, I’m not blind. I know that new three-pedal cars are disappearing for numerous reasons, among them the difficulty of incorporating the modern safety/convenience features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and so on, that many consumers demand. Manuals also can't beat the increased fuel efficiency provided by computer-controlled 8, 9 and 10-speed transmissions. And, of course, there's the overwhelming apathy of mainstream buyers towards the “work” of actually driving.
While I’m a weirdo and would prefer a manual gearbox in every vehicle that weighs less than, say, 5,000 pounds (another increasingly rare choice), I’ll concede such a setup would add little enjoyment to the driving experience of the average milquetoast crossover, minivan or full-size truck. But when it comes to cars that are intended to appeal to enthusiasts–sporty coupes and sedans, GTs, exotics and especially sports cars–I just can’t accept an automatic as a sole choice.
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