Q: I'm looking for a new four-door sedan and prefer a manual
transmission. In the past I have driven a VW Sirocco, VW Rabbit
and Volvo 850, all with stick shifts. My first vehicle was a
1970 Ford Bronco with three on the tree [three-speed column
shift]!  Currently I am driving a 2001 Volvo V70 with an
automatic transmission and 115,000 miles and a 2006 GMC Canyon
with an automatic. I loved both Volvos; unfortunately, the Volvo
S60 is not available with a manual transmission. What
alternatives do you recommend?  —Tom Shallenberger, Oak Park,
Ill.  A: It's a shame that with each year stick-shift cars
become more difficult to find. However, there are a few manual-
transmission stalwarts out there, from economy models like the
Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat and Subaru Legacy to pricier
sport sedans like the BMW 3 Series.  One downside: Less-
expensive models tend to have five-speed instead of six-speed
transmissions. Increasingly, getting a stick shift is an extra-
cost option.  Q: What ever happened to vehicles wi