Break the Norm and Buy This Audi SQ5 With a Manual Transmission
If your life demands a crossover, but you still want something fun, there are plenty of options. BMW makes M versions of its SUVs, and Ford even has a couple of high-riding ST variants. The problem is, all of these new performance crossovers share one thing: they lack a manual transmission option. One enthusiast solved that problem, swapping a stick shift into their Audi SQ5.
This 2016 Audi SQ5 popped up for sale on Craigslist in the San Fransisco Bay area in California a few days back, and we can't stop clicking through the ad. In place of the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission sits a true three-pedal six-speed manual. According to the seller, they "spent endless time, had endless headaches and spent a completely irrational amount of money to make this dream a reality."
The transmission is an original Q5 unit imported from Germany (Audi never sold a manual version of the Q5 in the U.S., but did in Europe). The seller says no expense was spared in the conversion, and everything works as it would have from the factory. The car has been meticulously maintained throughout its life, and shows just 58,000 miles on the odometer.
The seller's asking price seems to reflect the amount of work put into it. The car is listed for $62,000 right now on Craigslist, or around double what an automatic SQ5 in similar condition would cost. That's a lot of money, we know, but knowing how devoted some manual transmission enthusiasts are, we can totally understand someone laying out the cash for this car.
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