This is probably a stupid question but i have never driven a manual and i am looking for a new car. What are the advantages to having a manual transmission rather than an automatic and how hard is it to learn?
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For all practical purposes, manual is an inconvienience for daily driving and transportation. If you're into the driving experience and performance, go manual all the way. Better manipulation of the engines power and more control. Plus there tend to be more gears in manual vs auto which leads to better accelration.

As for how easy it is, i think US drivers are pretty spoiled cause the rest of the world usually drives stick so its usually not an issue of whetehr its easy or not, you have to learn it to drive. But anyway, i think learning the basics of stick driving is easy, but it will always some degree of focus and concentration to drive well. Some ppl are better stick drivers than others. Some will never learn to drive stick well. Hope this answers your questions.

Ed

There are times when I am driving that I really wish I hadn't gotten a car with an automatic transmission.

Of course, those times do not exceed the number of times I am stuck in crawling traffic and am very glad to NOT have a stick.

I have bad knees. Driving a stick is fun. Very fun. But after even 20 minutes it starts to hurt enough to be very annoying.

It is really a matter of personal preference.

Try driving both around (but learn to drive a stick decently on a friend's car or something so you don't grind the gears of a brand new wrx!).

I can get out of the driveway with a stick and around town somewhat... but for the most part I suck simply due to never having owned a manual transmission car. My next car will probably be a vehicle for racing, and it will most likely be a stick.

One thing I must say though....

Left-foot braking is fun! I hardly ever touch the brake with my right foot anymore.

thanks a lot for the advice. i love driving and want to experience a manual so i will try one out and then consider buying one. thanks again for the help

[This message has been edited by SubaruLover (edited May 20, 2001).]

Driving autos can be great. You just need to know how to 'heel and toe'. Use your heel on the brakes when you see that poor little child run out in front of your car and you are scared poopless of all the people who'll beat on you if you hit that poor child. Use your toe when that 94yr old lady on the cell phone is putting on makeup and adjusting her bra while drinking cranberry juice and prunes and you want to get around her in a big big hurry. Some 118+ decibel Hella horns would be nice too. Hehe! J/K

Whatever, driving auto sucks! I wouldn't be caught dead driving an automatic. So much fun to rev the engine, to drag race it and etc. And I drive through one of the worst traffic places, Washington DC on regular basis, the 5spd is just as good as auto, only better, cuz you dont have to hold the brakes all the time. Its great! Get it!

Bottom line is that the 2 driving experiences are COMPLETELY different.

that's great to hear, driving is my passion and if a manual will make it that much more fun then hell yea i will learn asap.


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[This message has been edited by SubaruLover (edited May 20, 2001).]

SubaruLover,

If driving really truly is your passion, get a manual tranny for sure.

Other things that will inspire your passion will be: double-clutching and rev-matching to downshift and heel and toeing.

Spend sometime learing the above techniques and your passion for driving and automobiles in general will grow.

Mine did. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

Theres nothing wrong with driving a auto....I dont feel like I am any less of a person for driving one, and I dont loose sleep over it.

I waited 6 months..yes, 6 months to find a used Impreza which was in my price range, had AWD, and was treated well. It just so happened that the one which showed up was a auto, and it does the job just fine. Next car will be a manual, but for now, my auto is fine. There still hasnt been a better Impreza than mine offered for sale locally in well over a year now...

Well, this is not an insult or bashing. I am just saying that if you are into driving, get a 5 speed. After all, open up magazines, and speed option videos, I don't see any 4 speed slushboxes there. 5spd all the way baby.

Depends on the car

SubaruLover,

Go with a manual if you are into driving. I drive an auto and I love it but it seems most people love the manual tranny more so than the auto.

I don't mind people calling my car a non-performance commuter or whatever else they have in mind because it isn't a performance car being an automatic and all.

So that being said, buy a manual tranny.

Ok, when I was learning how to drive (well, it was an innate skill, but I had to pretend to learn http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif) I had to learn on a stick, cause it's all that my parent's had...And I couldn't stand it...I swore that when I got a care it would be an automatic....Then I began to like it...and..::gasp:: even prefer it! Now I can't stand driving an automatic...Manual all the way...On the rare occasion that I have to drive an automatic, I try to shift and clutch http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif...Manual gives you typically better acceleration, better gas mileage, better control over the car, and more fun...I'm sure I'm leaving something out....Ok, time to go to work heh...

Since there is nothing to do on an auto just point and shoot, I notive myself getting bored with driving and getting sleepy eyed, looking around more .. not a good idea. So I prefer stick since it requires more attention, is more fun to drive offers better vehicle control, and is IMO a safer drving experience for me...

your invoice $0.02 ...

Brad

I hate to be that guy but the automatic Impreza's do get the "far-superior" Variable Torque Distribution AWD system.

Sorry http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif. My bad.

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/lol.gif

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/lol.gif bruce hheh

its all about priorities, its a personal choice...


thats all im going to say about that...
http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

(have to be civil)

I drive the 405 South (Southern California) every day of my life to work, then back again after work. True, an automatic is easier to drive in stop/start traffic, but is it as much fun? I think the question you have to ask yourself is: fun vs. convenience.
The fact that you say you enjoy driving = manual/stick for sure.
Yes, I'm a foreigner......would I ever drive auto? If I lost one of my legs, I'd still choose three pedals http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif

Exactly. Unless you live with constant stop and go traffic or somewhere with really steep hills, manual is the way to go.

All the people above are right. More freedom of revs and speed http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif
tony.

thanks a lot for all the help. i am convinced, manuals sound like the better deal, sorry to all you auto lovers or what ever you are. My next car will most likely be a manual


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All I have to say is:
"Three pedals or no pedals"