Very few manual shift vehicles available?   Really?  Let's see: 

VW: every model except EOS, Routan and Touareg; 
Toyota: Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Tacoma; 
GM:  Chevy Spark, Sonic, Cruze, Camaro, Corvette; 
Ford, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang; 
Nissan:  Versa Note, Versa Sedan, Sentra, Juke, Frontier, 370

Now, I admit to some surprise here - that list is missing a lot of models that used to come with manuals, such as the Ford Escape, Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra, Altima and Maxima, Toyota RAV4 and Camry, and even the VW Touareg.   So manuals are a declining breed - but not quite dead yet.

James
Ottawa, ON

> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 17:39:55 -0800
> From: dhanson928@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon Automatics...... (was :Re: cheap '89 Bluestar on CL
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> I'd guess there are very few manual shifter vehicles even available any
> more, certainly I don't see em around.
> 
> I get a special laugh when here in the desert southwest, where very new
> Jeeps abound...Most are 4 door, very large, automatic tranny, air
> conditioned, pretty ill-suited  for the desert, but their owners are
> "stylin" when they drive around.