AWD/Manual Transmission

I've looked high and low, is Subaru really the only mfgr. that makes all the wheels powered with shifting being done with a clutch by the driver.

MudWife will not relent, she wants AWD and gears that change by her.:huh

The early bmw X5s had a manual option with the straight 6. Kinda rare though.

What about toyo land cruisers, range rovers, and the myriad asian brands?

CRV, rav4, pathfinders, xterras, and 4 runners all had manuals available with 4x4s, monteros also.

Sorry, we want a new car.................

I was like that, then we got our first Land Rover Discover (2004 model)
with an auto box. it was a bit weired at first but soon got used to it.
it has a sports mode as well and you can still change gear, just becuase its an auto you dont have to put it in drive and thats it.
I pull out of the drive way in 3, up to the highway through the first two round abouts and then in drive, often slipping it in to third for round abouts and 2 around town.

ours is a 5 speed box I think but newer versions are 6, 7 and 8 speed, so the engine and g/box are optimum at all times but can be driven like a manual.

maybe its a case of not knowing what can be done and limits the options?
Alternate would be to get a manual Land Rover
(and then that starts a whole Land Rover is rubbish thread which I am NOT doing, just relaying my experience)

Hay Ewe

When we were car shopping, the research I did into Subarus determined that the AWD system you get with the automatic was superior to what you get with the manual. Do a little google/youtube searching. We ended up buying a completely different car but that's my recollection. This was for the Forester. YMMV

I had an 05 outback wagon and wanted the 5-speed.........you are right the auto had better traction ability and the resale was better.

The wife wants what the wife wants, who am I to tell her anything?

When we sold our 02 A4 turbo wagon 5-speed, it was the end of an era.

We have had 3 Rovers...........not again.

Audi still lists an A4 with Quattro and 6 speed manual, how many they actually build is another question.

Audi still offers a manual in the A4 Quattro. Also,I believe that BMW does as well in the X1 and 3 x drive series.

We have an 03 A4, 178,000 miles. This has been a GREAT car for the last 10 years.

I thought you could get a CTS-V with a stick but not anymore.

Subaru is fun although I've owned a stick and a CVT and I like the cvt better. Better mpg and you can control it if you want to.

Mitsubishi still has at least 2.. Lancer and Lancer Evo.

With Subaru's AWD systems you need to take them on a case by case basis as they vary by model. All of the auto boxes (and in the case of our '02 auto forester) send 90% of the power to the front under normal conditions and when in 3 or D. When it detects slip, it starts sending power to the rear. In 1 or 2 the center diff is locked. There is a mod where you can have the center diff locked at all times though. Unfortunately the ultimate traction is going to be limited by the open diffs on the front and rear.

The newer auto boxes have basically the same system but also integrate the ABS into a quasi traction control system. If a wheel is spinning the ABS applies the brake on that corner and the open diff reroutes to the other wheel. Although the purist in me hates the idea of this system, it apparently works very well.

The manual box cars use a viscous LSD for the center diff. This basically applies an even split of power to the front and rear at all times. Most of the lower trim manual cars are open diff F and R and are therefore functionally equivalent to the auto cars. The WRX's however, have LSD's in the rear for at least three wheel drive. STi's have LSD F and R and would technically be best in poor road conditions, but these cars don't have much ground clearance and are generally equipped with summer tires that just don't work in snow.

Mini Countryman All4?

I think the Paceman has the same options. It's an odd looking beast, and in my mind they'll never be "real" mini's as they too big and too German, but whatever floats your boat.

How about a Mini Cooper S All4 Countryman? 6 speed manual, all wheel drive, turbo engine - fun cars and said to be Subie killers.

Porsche Cayenne still offers a 6 speed manual.

The Maccan will come with the dual clutch auto only though.

These cars remind me of fat little pigs

Jeep Compass and Patriot offer 5 speed and AWD with a lockable center differential. I have 45,000 miles between a 2010 and a 2012.

VW Tiguan 4motion stick shift

You can get a new Xterra with 6sp manual.

Toyota FJ Cruiser has a manual AWD option, though 2014 is the last year for it.