I can still remember my first time so well. Ahh, the excitement, the anticipation, the embrace — and finally, the experience. It was something I'll never forget. Oh wait, no no, not that first time. I'm referring to my first time with a manual transmission.

It was 1979. I had just graduated high school and was on my way to purchase my second car. I was fortunate enough to have started driving at a time when the '60s and '70s muscle cars were plentiful, cheap used cars. My first car had been an automatic 1970 Dodge Challenger, and the car I was about to take ownership of was also a '70 Challenger.

But this was no ordinary '70 Challenger; it was the limited edition T/A model. Powered by a 340 V8 with "six pack" carburation — that's three two-barrel carburetors to those of you not "in the know" — it had a fiberglass hood with a huge scoop, rear spoiler, side exhaust, big tires mounted on slotted mags, jacked up in the rear with air-shocks, all clad in a gorgeous "Go-Mango" orange paint job with big black stripes.

It was a looker, but the coolest part was waiting for me inside the car. Sprouting up from between the two high-back bucket seats was a Hurst "pistol grip" four-speed shifter. It looked awesome and was an 18-year-old's dream. The day came to pick up the car, and it would be my first time driving a "stick." I knew how it worked but had never tried it.

Dad dropped me off, we finished the transaction of the sale, and I got the keys. I turned over the ignition, and the V8 roared to life. Now, what to do? Ah yes, clutch down, run through the shift pattern and find first gear, put it in first, let off the e-brake, and then let up slowly on the clutch.

The beast started to move on its own, and off I went. I never stalled it. The other gears quickly followed as I explored the massive power of my new acquisition in a way I had never been able to do before, controlling the revs, working the clutch, applying the gas with each gear. It was a blast, and I was hooked on manual shifting for life.

As I moved through adulthood, the manual tranny continued to stay with me, and I developed my daily driving "techniques" that would only enhance my enjoyment. I learned to "listen" to the engine as the RPMs told me when to shift for whatever driving situation that I was in. Driving on snow-covered roads always proved a challenge, but in the right manual gear, I could keep a controlled speed and never need to hit the brakes.

I'm a busy guy, so I loved backing out of a parking spot and not having to wait for the car to come to a complete stop before shifting to first and getting underway. The vehicle and I became a team.

My new wife also enjoyed shifting, which is yet another factor in the success of our marriage. During the '80s and '90s, it was an easy choice for our new cars. Not only was the manual transmission cheaper for the car purchase, but it also delivered better performance and increased gas mileage over the automatics.

That said, being an automotive enthusiast, driving fun was always the number one factor in the manual purchase. The kids came along, but even that would not be a deterrent. We special-ordered the first family hauler — a 1998 Jeep Cherokee, with a five-speed manual.

When I purchased my first Porsche (1987 944 Turbo), it had a five-speed manual, of course. A true sports car combined with a manual introduced me to another level of enjoyment. Even though a tiptronic was offered on the 968, all four of my 968s have been six-speed manuals. In my eyes, a proper sports car should have nothing else. Putting the top down on the cabriolet and shifting that six-speed while driving a country road — it doesn't get much better than that.

But times have changed, and here we are in 2014. Thanks to technology, the automatic has caught up and surpassed the many advantages of the manual. With its computer-based controls, it now delivers better performance and fuel economy. And there is no longer the sticker-price savings advantage with a few new models offering the manual as a "no cost" option.

It seems like every year fewer and fewer auto manufacturers are even offering a manual transmission in their vehicles. But one advantage the automatic will never match is the driver engagement that comes with the experience of driving a manual transmission car. To me — and I know this is subjective — that is where the fun is. With more new drivers not even learning what a manual transmission is all about, they have no idea the fun they are missing.

And that brings me to the reality that I'm facing. My next new car could likely be an automatic, whether I want it or not. I’ve seen the statistics. The percentage of cars sold with manuals in the U.S. continues to drop, and many automotive companies are making the "smart" business decision to no longer offer a manual.

I'll have no choice. Sure, my next new car will have great performance, handling, safety, impressive mileage and all kinds of technology, but unfortunately, it won't be as much fun because I will no longer be shifting for myself.

So, I'll certainly mourn the passing of my standard shift transmission as I take delivery of my next new car, but at least I can find solace in the fact that sitting in my garage are two, six-speed manual-transmission 968s just waiting to be driven. Let me get the keys, I'm going for a drive.