Manual transmissions are getting really rare these days, but they never have been common at the fancier end of the market. Even if a manual was technically available, so few buyers chose them that used examples are almost unheard-of. But for your consideration and enjoyment today, I have found two small luxury sedans equipped with V6 engines – and manual transmissions.
Yesterday, we took a look at two cars that are rare these days no matter what transmission is in them. You all weren’t happy about the automatic seatbelts in them (though only on one side of the Eagle), but lots of you had stories about one or the other, and I do enjoy hearing them. The vote wasn’t even close; the Mazda MX-6 won by a country mile. I get the feeling that if the Eagle had been a manual, the vote might have been closer.
I’d definitely take the MX-6. As I mentioned, I had a Ford Probe and really liked driving it. In fact, I only sold it because I bought a Miata and needed the parking space. An MX-6 or 626 with a five-speed would be high on my list of cars to look for, if I ever found myself in need of a cheap beater again.
I sometimes wonder if the rise in cell phone use by drivers and the decline of manual transmissions might somehow be related. Before cell phones, if you were a young executive on your way to the office, you had both hands free, and could have a little fun shifting gears before riding a desk all day. But once that phone was glued to your ear, a manual shifter was one too many things to juggle. These days, you have to go on a quest to find a manual, even among the usual suspects like BMW. The makers of today’s choices never were known for manuals, but nevertheless, these two have them. Let’s check them out.
1990 Lexus ES 250 – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter DOHC V6, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Odometer reading: 122,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
A lot of the early models from Japanese luxury brands – especially Lexus and Infiniti – were just fancy versions of Japanese-market cars that US buyers hadn’t seen before. It was a quick and easy way of adding something “special” to the lineup, to support the flagship V8 sedans. The Lexus ES 250 was just a dressed-up version of the Camry called the Camry Vista, Americanized a bit and sold at a premium. Hey, it worked well enough to establish Lexus in the US.
The only engine available in the ES 250 was the 2.5 liter V6 that was optional in the Camry. I guess a small front-wheel-drive sedan was ok, but a four-cylinder version was just too downmarket. I guess I realized that these were available with a manual transmission, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen one before. This one runs and drives great, according to the seller, and it doesn’t have many miles on it, so it should continue to do so for a long time to come.
It has seat covers on the front seats, and the seller isn’t hiding the fact that the driver’s seat is torn up a bit. There’s also a pretty big crack in the dashboard vinyl. The rest of the interior is in good shape, though, and all the power features work as does the air conditioning. I guess for the price, we can forgive a ripped-up driver’s seat. If it really bothered you, you could have it reupholstered.
It’s hard to tell from the photos, but according to the ad, it’s actually really dark green, not black. The only damage I see outside is a missing left front corner light, and the left headlight may be a little out of whack as well. The corner light may be hard to find; these aren’t common cars. But I think it’s a side marker light, and not the turn signal, so you should still be able to signal properly.
2001 Mercedes-Benz C240 – $3,795
Engine/drivetrain: 2.6-liter OHC V6, six-speed manual, RWD
Location: La Habra, CA
Odometer reading: 186,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The idea of a “baby Benz” dates back to 1982, when the W201 chassis was introduced. In 1993, when the W201 was replaced by the W202, Mercedes started referring to it as the C-Class, the smallest of three classes of sedan. This is the second generation of C-Class, and probably the last one before Mercedes cars started getting way too complicated to deal with.
The C240 is powered by a 2.6-liter V6 engine, which has a good reputation. It’s usually paired with Mercedes’s equally sturdy automatic transmission, but this one adds some engagement in the form of a six-speed manual. According to the seller, it runs and drives great, and has never once had a check engine light in five years of ownership. For a twenty-plus-year-old German car, that’s really saying something.
This is, unfortunately, the only photo we get of the interior, and it doesn’t tell us much. It’s dusty, and there’s a bunch of junk in the passenger’s footwell, but that’s all I can tell you. The seller does say that everything works. The air conditioner “could use a charge,” they say, but it works. In that instance, I can believe that maybe it really does just need a charge. I’ve had AC systems that were a little weak, but worked fine after a top-up. It’s worth a shot, anyway.
It looks good outside, though it could use a wash and a wax. The headlights are cloudy, which is typical of a car this age. I’ve had mixed results with the polishing kits; usually it’s better to just replace the whole unit, but these aren’t as cheap as some others I’ve replaced. It’s probably worth trying the polishing kit first.
I’m not sure you could exactly call these two cars fun to drive, but they’re more interesting than their automatic counterparts. And if you felt a little bit smug and superior driving them, I guess I can’t blame you; driving a manual transmission is a dying art. We certainly won’t see the likes of these cars again, so if you want one, here’s your chance. Which one will it be?
Both will be fine I think,but the Lexus just looks more together. And it is cheaper.
Both are interesting. Though I would.probably do the Lexus in the end, I would not hate the Merc either
My thought too. I’ll take the Lexus, but that Benz beats other cars this week.
The Lexus is too early – you want the ES300 manual; The MB is too late – you want an AMG E36 with a manual swap, or one brought from Europe , where I think they were available that way.
Normally I would take a C240 over a ES250, but everything about that Mercedes screams RUN AWAY!!
The interior is not just filthy, but touch points like the switches and buttons are coated with dust and dirt, like that car has been sitting dead for long periods. Bad photos taken at odd angles, headlights that are opaque, HVAC issues…. I would be hesitant to buy it for $1500.
In comparison, the ES250 looks pretty good for 35 years old. The rarity of the manual gives it serious cool points, and the 2.5 V6 is a fine engine. In fact, with some mods, and upgrades, and the right 80s performance wheels, that could be turned into a seriously cool little sports sedan!
Lexus for me. According to my brother who worked for a supplier that supplied parts to Toyota/Lexus, in his view, Toyota went to RIDICULOUS lengths to ensure Lexus had top notch quality… particularly in those early years.
Just looking at the headlights of each and you can see how the Mercedes product has lower quality/durability compared to the Lexus.
Japanese V6 sedans are/were no slouches. I don’t often floor my ’17 V6 Accord, but when I do, it has more than adequate power. Not orbital velocity power, but more than enough for terrestrial travel.
Still, I voted for the Merc, because I have always wanted one. (Not that one.) I’ve had a couple of BMWs and a VW. Might as well do the trifecta/hat trick. With imaginary Autopian dollars. In real life, I’d go with the Lexus. In the end, neither of these. Unless I had to. And even then, I’d probably keep looking.
I owned an ’86 Accord, AT unfortunately (wife issue) because it drove so much better than its Camry counterpart. I don’t imagine the few years newer Lexus was much better.
As a teen, I lusted after more than one M-B.
I’ve owned and driven two Toyota’s with sticks. My ’84 Tercel 4×4 wagon was fine. My ’90 or ’91 SR5 pickup was pretty industrial with long throws between gears.
The only M-B I have behind the wheel of was a neighbor’s ’68 220D with a 4M. It was kind of notchy, but not unpleasant. My ’01 Jetta 5M felt a bit similar. I haven’t driven a BMW with a stick.
The mom of my best friend in late elementary school, drove a Buick Sport Wagon with a three on the tree manual expertly. They had to custom order it and wait nearly six months for it to get built and delivered.
I’m not afraid about the AC thing on the Benz, if it cools but just not enough I’m almost positive that it will fix with an R134 can and stop leak.
I can do detailing and polishing even on the headlights. It will take me less than a day to do and would look great after that.
Also RWD >> FWD and the Benz is a proper luxury car, the 1st gen ES was a lazy badge engineering effort just like the Big 3 back then; a stop-gap that was replaced just 2 years in by the much improved ES300. It doesn’t look premium, it will never be fun to drive and if I wanted those attributes I’d just look for a contemporary Camry and pocket the change. The ripped seats, cracked dash and missing cornering light are enough to keep it from being cars and coffee material.
Just know on the Camrus you’ll be taking the intake off to change 3 spark plugs.
yup, and sideways V engine plug changes are just too much fun for me so I’ll leave it to those +60% that voted for it. Also while you’re at it you should know a timing belt will be in order .
Interesting. I always thought the ES250 was Cressida based. I’d still take it over a used Mercedes.
I had no idea at all that the fancy Camry was ever sold with a stick. You learn something new every day. Doesn’t make me want on in any way though. Not that this is my favorite Benz, but it gets my vote today.
the 2nd generation ES also got a 5spd manual, at least over the 92 & 93 MY. Not sure about newer cars, though
I’ll go with the Merc knowing that whatever weekend plans I had will be canceled for a seats out detail. The shot of the nice neighborhood paired with a dirty AF car says kids first car to me, which is a bit scary, but I revived a E46 330 ZHP from a similar state. So long as you know what you’re getting into.
The money pit opens up at the ac recharge. Thats a slippery slope I’m not willing to risk. Es250 all day baby!
It depends for me. With an older car like this, if the AC comes on and cools but isn’t as cold as it should be, I’ll definitely take a chance. There are good odds that a recharge can with stop leak will fix it.
If the AC doesn’t come on, or if it comes on but blows ambient-temp air, then I’m convinced it’s gonna be a pricey fix.
I’d rather fix A/C than mechanicals as a rule. Not difficult, and very satisfying. I have the tools other than a recovery machine – but generally by the time I am working on it the gas has escaped anyway.
Same. I was riffing of the potential of the cascading repair work and bills associated with the state of that Merc.
The car is interesting, but I’m suspicious given the lack of cleaning and general lack of upkeep pride of ownership and the tint.
Oh, in reality I would probably not buy THAT car, but if I had to choose between equivalent examples, I would never choose the fancy Camry.
On the other hand, sometimes diamonds lurk under dirt. And my own sainted mother, whose condo could be used as an operating room, generally has cars that look like pig pens inside while being impeccably maintained. Baffles me. But that is for sure a car I would not even consider without a very in-person inspection.
Agree.
I know on the W124 chassis the a leaky AC problem is frequently the evaporator in the dash – not a fun job. So the real question is how often does it need a recharge to work? Every year I could live with. Every week or day, probably not. I did buy an e36 that ‘just needed a charge’ and it really did only need a charge once in the 5 years I owned it, and I did that charge driving if home after purchase. My current e46, however, needed a hose under the hood. Not a big problem, but it was in the charge every week camp for a week.
Same. It’s not “environmentally responsible”, but I have no problem tossing a can of R134 in once a year if it saves taking the dash out. Hoses, no problem, chuck some dye in, figure out which one, and replace it.
Leaky evaporators are a German thing in general, unfortunately. BMWs are very prone to them as well. I’ve not had to do that fun job yet thankfully. I do need to backflush the heater core in my 128i, it has very little heat. But that is rarely much of an issue in Florida, thankfully. I’ll get the “round tuit” now that the weather has cooled off here.
You sure it’s not just the heater control valve being stuck? I’ve had that happen on a couple of my BMWs, and the thermostat being stuck open, too.
Yes, because e8x and e9xs don’t have them. The thermostat is electronic – and a failed one causes all sorts of issues (and will set a CEL in short order), and the water flow is continuous, heat is controlled by air blend doors. Which are working fine. Very common problem on these cars for the heater cores to plug up with time. Backflushing them usually fixes it.
If the Merc was clean, it’d be a no brainer. But man…it looks crusty af. NO interior shots, and the one that is there looks like an absolute dump. Hard to tell, but seems like the hood may be misaligned too. I’d hold out for a w204 C350 manual if you want a manual baby benz.
The Camry is a Camry. It’s fine. I’m sure it will drive, and looks reasonably clean.
Hard to tell from that one interior shot, but the exterior looks good for a car that will be 25 in a few weeks. I am sure in person the clearcoat is terrible though from the SoCal sun. Silver hides that somewhat in pictures.
It sure does baffle me when people can’t be bothered to at least give a half-assed cleaning and get the crap out of their cars before taking pictures to sell them. Even when I sold my GTI to CarMax and they came to pick it up it was about as clean as the day I picked it up new.
But somebody must have liked it, because the posting is now expired.
I chose the fancy Camry.
Sincerely, Person Who Dailies a 2001 CLK.
Like others, it was a tough call, but I went with the Lexus. I went in fully expecting to vote for the C240, but then I got a look at both and changed my mind.
The ES250 is awesome! I used to have one, though mine was automatic.
Yeah I voted for the ES250 😀
Geez, what a couple of mehs – dressed up Camry vs. low-end Merc. Normally, I’d default to the RWD vs. the FWD, but as pretty much everyone else has noted, the owner of the Mercedes doesn’t seem to understand the definition of the word “sketchy”. If someone doesn’t understand that this is an impression you want to avoid in your online car ads, then it’s probably best to not buy a car from this person. I’ll take the dull Lexus over the dull Mercedes.
Toyota all the way. Much cheaper upkeep.