Thinking about going manual..

Song0330 · 02-17-2006, 04:08 AM

I'm thinking about getting a vehicle with a manual transmission (versus the e-shift version of said vehicle). My buddy gave me crash course in driving a stick at the campus parking lot (huge, empty, got up to 3rd gear). I stalled after 10 seconds in the driver's seat, but afterwards I very quickly learned to shift smoothly and make it feel just like my auto.

Anywhos...I'm considering a manual tranny because people say it's fun, I'll get a little better gas mileage, and I've also been told I won't be a "real man" unless I drive a manual transmission

I've identified a lot of drawbacks. The biggest is the stop-and-go traffic conditions here in the Seattle area. I've been told by some it's just not worth it to have a manual in our area, and that I'll be dying to trade back to an auto within a month. 80% of my total commute is spent in very slow or stop-and-go conditions!

What do you current/former manual drivers think? Too much hassle, or no big deal once I get used to it?

nkotch · 02-17-2006, 04:24 AM

First car was a manual..... currently have an automatic and unless it was a real nice sports car, or a second "fun" car, or also had that sorta e-shifting capability I would personally stick with an auto. There are times I miss a manual.... and lot of others where I'm glad I have an automatic

ccsnet · 02-17-2006, 05:14 AM

Not sure what e-shift is but Tiptronic is a good middle option.... gives you auto when you want it and manual when you dont.

I'd like to get that but most of mine fall in to the fun catagory.

I've driven a manual for most of my life ( cause it the norm of here ) and it yes it does save a little more juice and it can be a little more playful as I have the roads where I am to do that... how ever when I lived down south and spent a lot of time in traffic and on the Mway I found the Auto far far better.

Terran

BTW - A clutch is a doddle once you get the hang of it....

DarquePervert · 02-17-2006, 07:14 AM

My Tacoma has a manual transmission and I deal with a lot of stop-and-go traffic in the Dallas/Ft Worth area.
I don't have any problems whatsoever, but I've also been driving a stick since I was 17, too.
Yes, driving in all that stop-n-go traffic will wear out your clutch faster. How much faster, I don't know.

jjh221 · 02-17-2006, 11:39 AM

ive never had a manual. Ive driven them and the car ima make will be manual. (sports car) Might be an AC cobra kit car or ima create the body myself. Anyways thats gonna be one of my long term projects. Ive always wanted a two seater convertable.
Id say go with an auto for everyday and a manual for when you have time for the drive. Although i have an auto i act like i have a manual, why i dont know its just a habbit. I can drive my auto and shift almost like its a manual. Its on in the feel.

Legarcondemerde · 02-17-2006, 12:17 PM

Both my vehicels are manuals, and I'm never bothered by them. Driving a manual in stop and go traffic doesn't bother me any more than BEING in stop and go traffic. I've also been driving a manual since I was 17, so it's what I'm used to.

lostreception · 02-17-2006, 12:26 PM

lol depending on your age you may wanna consider this when i was younger i always said i didnt want a manual only because

mostly if your driving and your dog tired its one more thing to think about and

if i didnt have a stick i wouldnt be tempted to race and

if i went out and partied and was a little buzzed driving home i never would wanna have an extra thing to think about

but if you wanna race your car and want to really tune your car manual is the only way to go and i totally agree with nkotch if its a second "fun" car go for it

jcdillin · 02-17-2006, 01:55 PM

I started with a auto car, went to a manual, even though I loved it, I went back to auto, it's too much of a pita to drive in traffic changing gears all the time.

roadhog · 02-17-2006, 02:13 PM

I have to agree with every one else here.

On an open road MT is great, better fuel consumption etc. You have more control in bad weather too.
Auto? If you're in stop start traffic, you really want it. It just makes crawling along that little bit more bearable. And you can feel up your woman at the same time too...

ccsnet · 02-17-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by roadhog

I have to agree with every one else here.

On an open road MT is great, better fuel consumption etc. You have more control in bad weather too.
Auto? If you're in stop start traffic, you really want it. It just makes crawling along that little bit more bearable. And you can feel up your woman at the same time too...

Hence Tiptronic...

Terran

MatrixPC · 02-17-2006, 03:43 PM

Well, all cars I owned happen to be manual transmission (2 Supras and a Matrix). **** I even took the driving test in a manual car.
Stop and go traffic isn't bad with manual. Down hill and up hill is what really kill you. Been to China Town San Fransico? You will be in trouble if you aren't a pro or don't know the trick.
If I am buying another car that consider sport or sporty, I buy a manual trans again.

JC-S60 · 02-17-2006, 04:08 PM

Here in europe the standard is manual, so I drove manual all my life.

But the daily traffic jams made me go with an auto for my current car.

I took the geartronic thing (that's how volvo calls it), but it's complete **** compared to manual. Manual isn't only diciding WHEN you want to change gears, but also HOW you change gears.

All the control you have driving manual is gone, even with geartronic.

That being said, I love the luxury of having the auto in daily traffic.

Gas mileage is a lot worse though. But I bet AWD doesn't help there either...

On the ease of use when drunk I can say that changing gears hasn't ever been a problem. Usualy, if you can't change gears anymore, you should stay away from the wheel because you're way too drunk.

numbers · 02-17-2006, 06:04 PM

Once shifting becomes a mindless task, stop and go is no problem. If you're worried about having to shift while juggling a cell phone, cigarette, and cup of coffee, then you don't belong on public streets anyway. Manual is what real men choose. I like a man who knows how to use his stick.

Bugbyte · 02-17-2006, 09:53 PM

I've only had manual transmissions. I live in the Washington, D.C. area and commute in stop and go traffic every day. Lots of people say they can't stand a manual in those conditions, but I don't know, I just feel more connected to the car. Like I'm actually DRIVING it because you are deciding when and where to select the gears.

Probably a stupid reason but I just enjoy driving a stick. It's fun. And after awhile, you don't even have to think about it.

Quattro · 02-18-2006, 12:27 AM

well my first car was a auto, now I've got a manual. I don't think I'll be going back to an auto any time soon. I drive in NYC traffic so you know its bad. Like others have said u get used to it and it becomes second nature. In the begining there were a couple of times were my leg would start to hurt in stop and go traffic but that doesn't happen anymore.
Oh and you have a very strong left calf muscle after a while.