It’s no secret that the manual transmission is going the way of the dodo. In 2021, less than 1% of cars sold in the U.S. were manual transmissions, and it’s stayed around that percentage ever since. Automatics usurped the manual transmission a long time ago, and CVTs are now the new hotness, even if they have their fair share of issues. Manual transmissions still have a cult following among enthusiast drivers who want something more engaging that helps them feel more connected to their cars. 

There are still some automakers with manual transmission cars, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they are aimed at the enthusiast market. The best place to find a manual transmission, especially on a budget, is the used market. That is where most manual transmission cars are anyway, and these days, you can get some older models for much cheaper than you can a brand-new car. In many cases, you can even find them for under $10,000, which makes for a great first manual if you want to learn or just want to have some old-school fun. 

So, if you’re in the market for a less expensive manual transmission that should last you for a little while and add some driving enjoyment in the process, you have more choices than you think, and many of them are listed below. 

The Honda Civic has long been known as a fun car to drive, and it was one of many such cars featured in movies like “The Fast and the Furious,” although those were modified far beyond the car’s stock capabilities. These are also popular and have been for decades, so there are quite a lot of used examples available for under $10,000. 

In fact, you can find them easily for under $10,000 while also having less than 100,000 miles, which leaves a lot of life in the engine and drivetrain components. Most manual Civics in that price range with that mileage are from the early 2010s or late 2000s, although you can find them cheaper if you don’t mind having more miles on them. It seems the cutoff in the modern used market is about 50,000 to 75,000 miles for under $10,000. Those aren’t terribly common, though, and that depends heavily on where you are and the used car prices in your area. 

There isn’t much wrong with these older Civics. They’re known for being quite reliable, easy to repair, and generally easy to live with and drive. There are also some examples of the Civic Si, which is a more fun version of the Civic, for that price, but you have to go back to the mid-2000s to find one. The 2012-15 model years are a little less fun than some others but are still very drivable. 

When it comes to small cars that are fun to drive, there are few out there that can stack up to the Mazda Miata. It doesn’t matter who you ask; the car has a level of fun not seen in many other vehicles, and part of it is thanks to its tiny size. It’s low to the ground and doesn’t weigh a lot. That lets you throw it around like a go-kart, which easily makes up for the fact that it has never really been the fastest car in its class. Plus, they’re pretty easy to find in a convertible, which adds another element of fun. 

There are plenty of Mazda Miatas for sale for under $10,000, and many of them have under 100,000 miles, leaving the car with plenty of life. You do have to dip into some older models, with the most common years being the early to mid-2000s. Miatas tend to be used as weekend vehicles rather than daily drivers, so you also have increased odds of finding one in better condition than one that’s driven year-round.

They are also reasonably reliable, typically scoring in the top half of the compact car segment, with RepairPal saying that Miatas require fewer major repairs and have a lower ownership cost than the average compact car. 

If the Miata is a little too small for you, Mazda has another great option with the Mazda3. This little guy comes in a sedan or hatchback configuration and has for most of its production run. The fun factor is nearly the same as the Mazda Miata, where it’s so small that you can throw it around without upsetting the car. However, most reviewers recommend getting the upgraded engine in virtually any generation if you can find it in your budget. 

There should be plenty in your price range if you’re looking for something under $10,000 with under 100,000 miles. Unlike the Miata, you can also find newer examples, with Mazda3s going for that price into the mid-2010s instead of just the 2000s. That isn’t new enough for modern stuff like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but it is just one generation behind. These are generally used more as daily drivers, so the mileage is higher overall, but you can still find some in the 80,000-mile range with plenty of life left. 

That’s good news because the Mazda3 is considered pretty reliable by most authorities like RepairPal and J.D. Power. It’s not at the top of its segment, but it’s above average, so you have good odds of getting one that’ll last you a while. We also recommend the hatchback, since you get more storage space.

We’re as surprised as you are that a BMW made it onto the list, and even more surprised that it does so more than once. The BMW 3-Series is BMW’s compact car, so it’s fun for the same reasons that most compact cars are fun. You can throw it around and drive it aggressively with some confidence, and BMW even includes a decently fast engine and an option for all-wheel drive. This car has been around for decades, so there are a ton on the used market. 

For under $10,000 (and 100,000 miles), you’re mostly limited to 3-Series models in the early to mid-2000s, although there are a few that exist for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 model years. If you can swing it, try to get one after 2005, since that generation was particularly notable for being an outstanding generation of the 3-Series in terms of fun. They’re quick, handle well, and still have a solid interior even for their age.

The only downside is that reliability is average at best. If you’re looking for a reliable 3-Series, you’ll want to look for models before 2006 and after 2011, as those years were particularly problematic. So, as a shopper, you have a choice. You can risk it with a more fun 2006-2011 model or sacrifice a bit of fun for a safer bet on an older model. 

Arguably the more fun option for BMW is the BMW Z4. This is in the same category as the Mazda Miata, which means it’s a small, two-seater go-kart that can take a corner with the best of them. In fact, reviewers say that the car is among the most fun-to-drive cars that money can buy, since BMW also includes a swifter engine than the one included in the Miata. Also like the Miata, it commonly comes in a convertible, giving you some additional top-down fun. In short, there’s very little that’s not fun about the Z4. 

You can find them for a reasonable price as well, but you do have to go back in time a little bit. Early to mid-2000s model years are pretty plentiful, and more are available in newer model years if you don’t mind going over 100,000 miles. All of the models we found had convertibles, so you won’t have to choose whether or not you want one. Reviewers say to potentially avoid the Sport Package if you can, since the ride is more agreeable without it. 

The question mark is, once again, reliability, where the Z4 scores average at best. However, actual owners say that as long as you keep up with maintenance, it can last for a pretty long time, especially if you do your own repairs.

Volkswagen has long been a bastion automaker for people who enjoy a fun jaunt in their vehicles, and the GTI is arguably the best for this particular list. The GTI is a more performance-oriented version of the Volkswagen Golf, so if you want the best iteration of the Golf for fun, a GTI is where you want to go. Reviewers agree that the ride and handling make it a fun car to drive. It may not be quite as much fun as a Miata or a BMW 3-Series, but it’s certainly more so than your average hatchback.

You can find these pretty readily for under $10,000 and under 100,000 miles. You’ll most likely see them between the 2007 and 2012 model years if you want that particular combination, but you can find other model years if you go higher than 100,000 miles. Since it’s a hatchback, you get that extra storage room as well, which adds some functionality in addition to its fun driving nature. This is easily a car that you can use for a commute. 

Reliability is better than the BMWs, but worse than the Honda Civic and Mazdas on the list. It’s about average, depending on the model year. Drivers are similarly split, with some calling it quite reliable, and others saying that gremlins aren’t terribly uncommon.

The Volkswagen Beetle may be one of the most fun cars to ever exist. It’s not as athletic or as quick as some, but there’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing that wherever you go, people are being slugged in their cars. It’s an automotive icon, and if you can still get one, they’re actually pretty nice to drive as well. The base engine is okay and will definitely feel zippy around town, but if you can find one with the 2.0-liter turbo-four, you’ll get some extra zip.

You can still find these online for $10,000 or less, and some of them are in pretty decent shape. For newer models, you’ll likely find them in the early 2010s, several years before Volkswagen discontinued the nameplate. During our travels across the web, we even found one from 1965, a Wunderbug edition that was being sold for a scant $7,500 with only 34,000 miles on it. However, unless you like old cars, the newer models will probably be a little more fun to drive. 

Reliability for the Beetle ranges from average to just above average, depending on the model year. Its reliability scores are fairly good, it’s just that other compact cars do better. You can also find rebuild kits if you’re looking to restore one that’s seen better days.

The Ford Mustang has been around for over 60 years, and it’s usually not talked about as a budget vehicle. However, if you look in the right corners and the right dealerships, you can find them for less money than you would think. The Ford Mustang is clearly one of the most fun cars to ever exist, and the reasons are plentiful. The engines are generally quick, the car handles pretty well, and even the engine and exhaust noises bring a bit of thrill. They’re also sold as convertibles, which adds yet another element. 

You likely won’t find a classic Mustang from the 1960s or one of the myriad special editions on sale for $10,000 or less, but there are models that exist in that price range. You get a pretty good choice in terms of model years as well, with examples existing from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s. We even found a couple of convertibles in the mix. The Mustang enjoys the same special treatment as the Miata and others, where this is usually a weekender instead of a daily driver, so the mileage is often quite reasonable for many cheap Mustangs as well. 

Mustangs also tend to be pretty reliable, scoring high marks on multiple authority websites like J.D. Power, although the average cost of ownership is a bit higher than average. 

We return to the compact car segment once again with the Mini Cooper. It’s certainly one of the most distinctive cars on the list, and its tiny size makes it great for virtually any parking spot ever made anywhere in the world. Reviewers have long praised the car for its quick acceleration, sharp handling, and generally fun driving characteristics. Drivers tend to agree, touting the car’s handling and general go-kart-like nature as reasons why it’s fun to own and drive one of these. Plus, the interior is apparently quite spacious. 

There are loads of these for under $10,000, even with under 100,000 miles, and even more if you don’t mind higher-mileage cars. Model years have a good range as well, from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, giving you a decade of model years to shop around for. There are even a few with under 60,000 miles and at least one for sale as of this writing with under 50,000 miles at that price point. These make for good weekend cars or daily drivers, so you can find some with very high mileage as well. 

Reliability isn’t the Cooper’s strongest point, but authorities like J.D. Power say that the car’s reliability is at least average. Paired with the low mileage, you should get some good use out of a used one if the prior owners took good care of it. 

The Fiat 500 was built for this list. Fiat discontinued it in 2019, but for a few years it was an inexpensive small car that was fun to drive because small cars are almost universally fun to drive. For reference, the 2018 Fiat 500 maxed out at $21,740, which would make it one of the cheapest new cars in today’s market. Fiat still makes the 500e, an electric variant that costs a lot more than its gas counterpart ever did. It’s still pretty fun to drive, though.

Since it was such an inexpensive car, it’s almost harder to find a Fiat 500 that’s over $10,000 on the used market. There are a metric ton of examples online, with many of them having well under 100,000 miles. They are also available for that price in newer model years than any other car we looked at, with examples ranging all the way up to 2017. So, if you’re a little squeamish about buying a 20- or 30-year-old car, the Fiat 500 is worth a look. 

Its reliability is just okay, according to most authorities. It’s certainly not the worst car in its segment, but it’s also not the best, sitting somewhere in the middle depending on who you ask. Even owners say it’s better for quick jaunts than long, drawn-out road trips.

The Chrysler Crossfire is a bit of a wildcard. It’s just starting its character arc as a collectible car, and you may be able to get in on it before prices skyrocket. Chrysler only made the car for four years, and it has an interesting history. The car is best known for sharing parts with Mercedes-Benz, and even used an AMG V8-powered variant. About 34,000 Crossfires were sold in the U.S., making it a somewhat rare car. Reviewers also found the car fun to drive, even with the base V6 engine. 

There aren’t a ton of these for sale for under $10,000 and also under 100,000 miles, but there are a few. If you can pick one up, you get what is essentially a blend of a Chrysler and a Mercedes, which is an unusual piece of automotive history. It’s unlikely to skyrocket in value, but it does look nice, even by today’s standards, not just for a car made in the mid-2000s. The examples we found also had surprisingly low miles, with two of them being under 50,000 miles. 

Reliability here is a bit of a gamble. There isn’t any reliable data showing whether these things stayed together or fell apart once the mileage started getting higher. However, some drivers maintain that this is basically a Mercedes in sheep’s clothing, as the metaphor goes, and that’s definitely going to last a while.

These vehicles were selected based on three major criteria. They had to be generally known as being fun to drive, they had to cost under $10,000, and they had to be at least of average reliability or better with proper care and maintenance. Every car on the list above fits all three criteria, and that’s how it made the list. 

There are tons of cars that cost less than $10,000 that are reliable but also may not be in great condition due to high mileage. The Honda Civic is known for excellent reliability, but 200,000 miles is 200,000 miles, so we went the extra mile (pun intended) and made sure that every vehicle above was available for under $10,000 with under 100,000 miles, so the car has a solid chance at lasting a long life. 

We did check around, and there aren’t any fun cars for under $10,000 new, especially with the way auto prices have trended over the last few years. So, every car had to be used as well. Per the norm with used cars, availability may be limited in your area. All the cars above have examples that are under $10,000 and under 100,000 miles. However, that does not mean that they exist where you live, so that’s something to keep in mind.