The manual transmission may be disappearing from much of the new-car market, but Honda is not ready to give up on three pedals. Speaking with The Drive during the IndyCar Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., American Honda Vice President of Auto Sales Lance Woelfer acknowledged that interest in stick-shift cars continues to decline. “It continues to be a smaller and smaller portion of the market that gets excited about the manual,” Woelfer told The Drive, adding that demand will likely keep shrinking. Even so, Honda still sees value in keeping the manual alive in cars built specifically for enthusiasts.

That is encouraging news for anyone who believes cars like the Civic Si and Civic Type R should continue offering a more involved driving experience. Honda currently reserves the six-speed manual for its enthusiast-focused Civic models, while Acura offers one in the Integra A-Spec with Technology Package and the more powerful Integra Type S. Woelfer made it clear that Honda does not expect manual-transmission sales to suddenly rebound, but the company appears willing to accept their niche status as part of what makes these performance models special. In other words, Honda is not looking to spread manuals across more of the lineup, but it is also not eager to eliminate them from the cars where they still matter most.

There is some uncertainty in the immediate future. Production of the current Civic Si has been paused as Honda prepares for an all-new version expected with the next-generation Civic, leaving the Civic Type R as the primary manual-equipped Honda for the time being. The 2026 Civic Type R starts at $47,395 and continues to pair its 315-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with a six-speed manual transmission. That is a considerable jump from the Civic Si, which carried a starting MSRP of $31,495 before its production pause. The gap highlights an unfortunate reality for enthusiasts: affordable manual performance cars are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Acura faces a similar situation. The 2026 Integra A-Spec with Technology can still be configured with a six-speed manual at a starting MSRP of $39,200, while the 320-horsepower Integra Type S starts at $53,900 and comes exclusively with a manual. With the regular manual Integra tied closely to the Civic Si mechanically, its future is less certain once production changes arrive. The Type S, however, remains one of the clearest examples of Honda’s commitment to enthusiasts, combining a high-output turbocharged engine with a gearbox that requires the driver to actually participate.

For now, the takeaway is refreshingly simple. Honda knows the manual transmission is becoming a specialty item, and it does not appear interested in pretending otherwise. What matters is that the company still believes there is room for it in cars designed around driving enjoyment. Manuals may never again account for a meaningful percentage of Honda’s overall sales, but if the Civic Si, Civic Type R and Integra Type S continue carrying the torch, enthusiasts will at least have a few compelling reasons to keep practicing their heel-and-toe downshifts.