the end of an era?

I remember driving fast, too fast, and not being sure we would make the turn.  But we always did.  I remember downshifting into second or third and watching the tachometer redline at around 6800 RPMs.  She was slim and responsive.  I'm talking about my first car, a 1986 Mazda 626 coupe with a 2.0 L engine.  She was a 5 speed and was quite fast too, with plenty of power due to her light weight, just 2,480 lbs.  Josh pointed out that she was more than a car, she was an Agent of Fun, so that is what we called her.  For 6 years, the keys were under the floormat and if you needed a car, you used her.  If you shifted properly, you could peel out all the way through first gear and into second gear.  That's what 93 hp could do.  (Our 2010 Prius is 3,000 lbs and 134 hp.)

It dawned on me, will I ever own another stick shift?  I really hope the answer is yes, but what will it be?

Image credit: http://www.mcdonaldindustries.com/james/DSC04261R.jpg