I learned to drive manual transmissions (VW's) as a teen, so I like them the most. I enjoy making a small engined car accelerate as quickly as the same vehicle with a larger engine and an automatic. My old '99 high mileage F-150 5-speed manual with a V-6 is a good example. It moves quickly when needed, but gets much better gas mileage than the equivalent V-8 w/automatic.

That said, many new cars get as good or better mileage with automatics these days, and the cool ones have paddle shifters or at least an auto-stick option. Mrs. Tig likes automatics, so I'll likely go that way on the next vehicle.

I test drove a car with a variable ratio transmission but didn't like it.