If you're in the market for one of Mitsubishi's Eclipse Spyders and prefer the control a manual transmission gives you, then act now. Mitsubishi has quietly removed the optional five-speed and six-speed transmissions from its lineup for 2010.

We stumbled across this bit of news on Mitsubishi's consumer site, which lists both the 2009 and 2010 Spyder models for sale. Mitsubishi's Product MP manager Maurice Durand confirmed it with us.

The consumer site doesn't list any info for the 2010 coupe model, but Durand told AutoGuide that the manual transmission will continue to be offered for the coupe.

With the introduction of the new 2010 model Mitsubishi is also eager to move its 2009 inventory, offering $2,000 off on any model, meaning you can get a five-speed four-cylinder GS for $24,669 or a six-speed V6 GT for $27,869.

These deals sound even better when you consider the 2010 models see a price increase, with the base 4-cylinder automatic running $28,494 (a $1,545 increase) and the V6 automatic now priced from $33,523 (a $3,374 increase). Part of the added price comes from the fact that the GS model now gets a 5-speed auto-box rather thean the old four-speed unit, while the GT model gets a new 6-speed auto.

More: Report: Mitsubishi Drops Manual Transmission Option from 2010 Eclipse Spyder Lineup on AutoGuide.com

That's really sucks ... I think Spyder buyers would prefer the option of a manual more than the coupe buyers. I know when I bought my turbo Ford Probe GT years back I opted for the manual. Now I just want the convenience of the auto. Especially when towing a kid or two around. I need that extra hand with them (you guess why (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ). I like the bump shift though and I hope to he** they are at least keeping that option in with the auto.