13 GREAT Cars that NEVER Came with a Manual 

Here’s why I love Donut Media; While there are lots of car shows I thoroughly enjoy watching, it’s only Donut that I can count on almost every day of the week. After a long day at work, I know I can get home and have James or Nolan or Zach or Jerry waiting for me with 20 minutes of relaxing entertainment and education. I have never watched 1 lap race in my life, but Nolan’s excitement about it puts me in a good mood. So many cars James likes I think are butt ugly but it doesn’t matter because his joy with them is contagious. Jerry is the goofiest most entertaining engineer I’ve ever watched. And while Zach is a fantastic mechanic from whom I always seem to learn something, his Miata pain hits hard. His wins and losses with it take me high and low. To all the guys and Joes at Donut Media, thanks for doing what you do and keep the great content coming!

very impressed that james was able to make an engine noise for exactly 2.30 seconds

The Crown Victoria is such a legendary car, it keeps up with hypercars in Need for Speed

14:14 “You can pretty easily swap in a 5 speed from a Subaru Legacy” last time I read up on this particular swap, I found a blog by a former Subaru tech who did it himself and his conclusion was “Can it be done? Yes. Would I wish it on my worst enemy? No.”

I know Phumphrey's onto somethin' when the mic wire starts wrapping around his shoulders...

“Which car is that???” “Oh let me go check the shifter” 💀💀💀

Car modders: "Fine. I'll do it myself..."

"selling spreadsheets or whatever normal people do..." Made me shed a small tear sitting at my desk suffering from death by excel

"Changing gear is a form of self expression that I'm being denied" -Richard Hammond

Up to speed: James's dad Greddy Turbonetics Initial D Corvair Roadrunner 240Z falcon Need for speed nissan RB Trans am Coronet Nova Camry RX-8 Veilside Rocket bunny BN sports Blitz NOS Robocar Falken Feal RE amemiya C.O.P.O RTR C-west AEM Goodyear Infiniti Vios Cougar Formula drift daytona speedway caprice fairlane belvedere Dale earnhardt Sr. and jr. Hudson motor company Midnight club Brembo wilwood KIA Tesla Gran turismo game 24hrs of le mans Gum tape deathmatch V TEC VVT-i Shelby cobra M3 GTR Up to speed HURST FIA SCCA WRC Dodge neon Cobalt SS Edelbrock Chrisfix peel p50 Garett MOMO POLK Tatra mercury Work wheels TE38 AE85 Ramchargers Buffhorses post malone Recaro Sparco Yenko chevrolet

Me: Getting an automatic eliminates all possibilities of “money shift.” 2007 GT-R: Hold my beer.

“You’re probably on your phone right now. And on the toilet.” Me on my phone and the toilet: 😮

"You're probably on your phone right now! And the toilet!" James is a psychic confirmed

Netflix, Amazon, some random production house, give these guys access to top gear like production budget and you'll have one of the greatest car shows of the next several decades

The Grand National was perfect with the auto. The automatic means you never drop off boost. People have converted them to manual and found out they run slower quarter miles.

Ah yes, my favorite inventions of the modern era: Post Malone and Gogurt

9:13 hes lying all the MK4 supras came with a 1500 hp engine Source: a 12 year old fanboy

I will never stop loving this show just the way he hosts is perfection 😂

“But which one is a 86 and which is a Supra?” “IDK, let me check the shifter…”

1:48 Dodge Demon 3:35 Crown Victoria 4:42 Nissan GT-R 35 6:14 Camaro Gen 3 7:52 BMW 540iT wagon 8:56 Supra A90 11:04 Buick GNX 12:46 Subaru SVX 14:22 GMC Syclone 16:13 Corvette C8 17:40 Mercedes (ANY) 19:04 Lexus LS 400 20:47 Ford F-150 SVT ⚡

its sad to see manuals slowly disappear. and its even sadder to know that my kids will watch human-driven cars slowly disappear

You guys legit make the most entertaining car content for people that like cars but aren't hardcore car enthusiasts. Like me. I can't afford to do a ton of cool car stuff, I really only know the basics, but I absolutely love these videos.

"You're probably on your phone right now, and the toilet!" I feel like I need to cover my phone's cameras now.

“It could still haul 5000 pounds, OR, about 14 Nolans.” 5000/14=(about) 357 Nolan is an absolute unit

"looks like Darth Vader and drives like Anakin's pod racer" never even heard of a Grand National but I want one now

I don't think I ever laughed while watching a Donut video more than this one. The selling spreadsheets joke actually made me lol

I spit out my rice, when he said "what kind of car is it? Let me go check the shifter" Lol That was great

The fact that someone hasn’t made “Greg’s List” as an alternative to “Craig’s List” is beyond me. Someone should make “Greg’s List” for only cars & car parts lol.

"I say 'perhaps' because we didn't google it" is now one of my favorite phrases. That line is brilliant.

I drove a Mercedes with a manual before and it was one of the best driving experiences I have ever had (was an SLK 350)

I love how james is fighting the microphone cord the whole video😂

God help anyone that watches James's videos and is trying to learn English 😂

I had a 1994 SVX. Added a Supercharger kit to the boxer-6 which destroyed the automatic during tuning. I had the transmission and rear replaced with the drivetrain from a 2004 JDM STi WRX.

The thing people forget about manuals is that , when treated properly with accurate shifting, including minimal slippage of the clutch in and out , they can last a very long time. This is something that's always an unknown with almost any automated transmission. They do a job that is complex and and they are complex compared with a manual, thus much more prone to failier than manuals treated properly. Then, when they need repair, look out, because it will be expensive. Manuals are much simpler and easier to repair, almost always. Another tidbit for thought: Most modern vehicles have electric rack and pinion steering. In times past and the few that still use hydraulic systems, if you lost power steering, you would still be able to steer the vehicle with extra effort and get off the road safely. With electric steering, my experience with auction sale vehicles driven on a large lot, is that if you loose voltage to the rack or it has some other issue preventing the electric motor from working, you WILL NOT be able to turn the steering wheel at all. This is a potentially dangerous situation in modern steering design. Be aware. I had close calls with vehicles when power(12V) was lost. and almost hit cars because I could not steer. Peace.

Day 195 of asking James to do an Up to speed on his Dad

No one: James with the mic cord: 👆👉👈👍✋👇👈☝👉👈👌

There’s a ford svt lightning in my neighborhood. Been looking at it for years and didn’t think much of it till I learned from James

Thanks for another Entertaining Video. 5-Speed Fun Fact: Audi didn't offer an Automatic Transmission in any of their Quattro offerings until the 1990 Audi V8 (3.6L DOHC 32 Valve) Quattro was released (Manual was available in Europe / I only ever saw one Manual 1990 Audi V8 as a Professional Wrench in Colorado). The one year only 1991 Audi 200 20V (5-Cylinder Turbo Quattro) and subsequent 1992-1995 1/2 S4 Models were also only fitted with a 5-Speed Manual Transmission. Randy

"*yeah we got a problem on the amount of cars we own*" Us: catches a glimpse that he owns a whole ass ambulance

I wonder if everyone at Donut watches their own content on the toilet

Y’all are soo fun to watch! keep up the amazing work 👍

I love James's slow decent into madness as the video goes on

Fun fact: The top #1 selling car in italy (Fiat Panda) does NOT come with AUTOMATIC! Manual only!

Manual and Automatics have joined together to hate on CVTs. It's like driving a wet sponge.

One of the most unique and imo awesome cars to only have and auto trans is the 1990 to 1995 Enous Cosmo, which came as a twin turbo 20b 3-rotor from factory. What a weapon.

Wow, I really did not expect to see my car on this list! And yes, I really with that my LS400 came with a manual! The closest I get is the updated gated-style PRND32L shifter on my '95 where I can shift down from 4th to 3rd, or from 3rd to 2nd, but I can't keep the car in 1st, and I can't force it to upshift.

"We all have a problem with the amount of cars we own" *owns an ambulance*

I can never tell if hes one hell of a script writer or he took improv for like a decade

8:21 dude I would love to see more of that tiny motorcycle!!!!

At 19:48 James killed me 😂 “Boomwah” 🤣

The best car is James, powered by Dodge.

I would really like to see him start saying 3 years pre Malone for example when referring to 1992 and other years before 95

“Nein gears” lmaooo😂😂 James we love you dude

As he said goodnight I got an add such perfect timing 🤣😂

Last time I was this Early Miracle Whips Was Still a Series

Commenting every week till James meets Post Malone Week2: we should all go ask post malone to hop on pop up up and down headlights

This is one of my favorite episodes of all time. I’ve watched it over and over. 😂

At least since this video has come out, the A90 Supra has a manual option now. So they righted that wrong. Now we just need Toyota to come out with a modern 2jz for the A90 before the electric motor pulls a Palpatine and commits an Order 66 on gas powered engines. Love the videos Donut, keep up the good work.

@ 6:57. WTF!! LMAO! “Tom the tune man Tanor!” I had to rewind that 10 times!

10:50 horses not only have automatic transmission, they are also autonomous driving.

Ol' pump pump sounds like he's been practicing for that new up2speed episode we been waiting on 🤜🤛

14:20 aaaaahhh... that's why always when isee the GNX I'm reminded at the Cyclone and the other way around too.

12:11 "Cause it's not really experimental if you use the e" World Rally eXperimental bois: *Never has a truer word been spoken*

Donut Media: A multimillion subscriber channel James: holds a $2 mic

I agree with the r35 gtr also James is a GREAT host he is funny af and keeps us entertained throughout the whole vid. Love ya James

I always die laughing every time James makes a German accent lmao 😂

“Nien” gears 😂 my ribs hurt

James is the kind of guy who can make anything fun and enjoyable. I even sat through the sponsorship.

That Tom the too man tanner impression was spot on

I definitely knew the Grand National was gonna be on this list. One that I'm very surprised you didn't include is the 1994-1996 Impala SS.

I love how they bring up Post Malone every time they can

Last time I was this early, James was still doing Bumper to Bumper.

the 9 gears joke was the highlight of this episode. thank you for the lol's

Man I love this man ... I love it when he is the one commentating a video

A wise man once said: "There's the R32, 33, 34, and the one that's *missing a pedal* "

8:27 THE PEEPEE WAGON

easily the funniest vid I've seen from James idk such a goofy vid most under appreciated editors in existence lmao

I learned to drive in a 1953 Buick Special with a 3 speed manual and a Straight 8 engine. The car was a beast.

He literally owns an ambulance 😂

The “Nein” gears was so funny! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I’m becoming a car guy because of donut media and my golf 5 BKD 140 hrsprs is loving it lol

Y’all are too funny - love ya guys!! Also been a huge fan of the f150 lightnings

James: *Doesn't scream LIGHTNING!, LIGHTNING!, LIGHTNING!* Me: My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

“It was such a big deal to Nolan I took a picture of him and sent it to his dad” so you sent it to yourself?

Great vid. I just wish my Audi S5 Convertible 3.0 V6 Supercharged came with a manual transmission! With a manual, you can feel it in the corners & block shift (4th to 2nd) if you need to. All the best...........

Mkv r32 from vw. I do think the dsg is an amazing gearbox. However banging gears with that beast 3.2 vr and awd would be perfection.

When he said "bwuah", I felt that. 19:49

"Outselling competing models from Merceditz, Boowah and Jaguar" James, have you actually bought these life savin' medicines?

this has such a drunk feel to it and i love it. he just glides from sentence to sentence with such a cadence it seems like he's just a drunk guy rambling about cars.

Hi. I'm an SVX owner and I'm going to leave some stuff here for anyone who is thinking of buying an SVX after watching this video: -The SVX is not a sports car. It's a grand touring coupe. -When they were new, they cost as much as a Corvette or BMW. -For some reason, the spec sheet says they're rated for towing 2,000 pounds. Not sure I would try it, though. -Less than 25,000 sold worldwide. Parts are not easy to find for these cars if something breaks. Thankfully, some parts of the car are shared with other Subaru cars, but not a lot. -The 3.3L EG33 is basically an EJ22 with two extra cylinders, meaning rods, pistons and a lot of external parts will work. I've got a 92 Legacy crank pulley. -The automatic transmission was garbage that overheated. You can either 5-speed swap it or do what the SVX community calls the 4.44 swap where you take a 98 Outback/Forester transmission and rear differential and swap them in. I run a 4.44 SVX and I don't regret it. -Plastic endtanks on the radiator are known to crack easily. Be ready to replace them. There is a company that makes limited runs of full aluminum radiators when there are enough people on the waiting list. -The relay that controls the windows, mirrors and sunroof is under the driver seat. Good luck replacing it if it fails. -If you find one with a leather interior, the car becomes an oven on a sunny day. You will feel the heat rushing out when you open the door (my windows don't work, see above note.) -The SVX is HEAVY. It's a steel bodied car, weighing roughly 3600 pounds. And they're front-heavy. -The wheels are placed with the blades cutting into the air. It's supposed to help direct air to the brakes. -If you buy one to pluck the engine out for your project car and scrap the SVX, they will find you... They will find you... Hope that helps!

This is how I’m spelling it from now on, just like JP: “Turbacherjd”

Damn now I can't stop thinking of horses with automatic transmissions

I'd love to see you guys do something with good old paddle shifting cadillacs from 2011-2020. The XTS and CTS have everything from 305-450 hp stock. potentially all wheel drive, automatic transmission with paddle shifters/ super nice inside. great sound system.. and they're like 10-20k.

The Supra’s transmission is also extremely easy to swap from what’s been told

12:45 Speakin' of the Subaru SVX: pls do an Up to Speed episode on this forgotten car!🙏🙏🙏

16:29 "lambargine machine" 😂😂

Why am i hearing Daft Punk voices each time the car names is pronounced 😂

On one of the sim racing games I play the GTR R35 is driven with paddle shifters. 😭 I love the H-Shifter and having to use the clutch it's such a different feel. I can't wait to get a real manual.

The best thing about stick shift is when you rev-mach, it just feels right

19:49 the way he said bmw holy shit I haven’t laughed this hard all year