City driver - should I get auto or manual?

[mdm]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Hey M did you get a FRS/BRZ yet? I tried your left foot thing at the dealer last time I was in and the position just sucks big time. The brake pedal in these things are really way too far over to be even remotely comfortable.

Nope, haven't even test-driven it. What you're saying does not sound promising, but I'll check myself when the time comes. It wasn't a problem for me in any automatic car I have driven, from Toyota Yaris and Chevy Sonic up to Ford Mustang.

[VTEC]

Originally Posted by Mishiimoosh

Haha! Thankfully, my commute does not involve that. My whole point of getting this car is that I am bored with driving cars that have no life. And if the auto takes a bit of that life away, why get it? A lot of you are helping a lot, thank you.

If that's how you feel I definitely think you belong in a manual

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by mdm

Nope, haven't even test-driven it. What you're saying does not sound promising, but I'll check myself when the time comes. It wasn't a problem for me in any automatic car I have driven, from Toyota Yaris and Chevy Sonic up to Ford Mustang.

The pedals are close enough to heel-toe with, without any modifications. Thats how close they are together. The gas pedal is also basically all the way to the right, so your two legs will be kinda sideways if you try to do left-foot braking.

Sit at your desk with your legs spread a normal amount apart, so shoulder width. Now put your left foot next to your right foot without shifting/rotating your butt. Thats how it'll feel in the car.

[BRO8A86]

Got my FRS lil over a month now and gotta say it sucks driving manual in socals stop and go traffic....sometimes I wish I would've went with auto when I'm in traffic but manual is sure a lot of fun to drive when traffic is good....this is my first manual car and still not perfect driver but def easy car to learn with....I'm sure once shifting becomes second nature it won't be as bad to drive in traffic...GL


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[mdm]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

The pedals are close enough to heel-toe with, without any modifications. Thats how close they are together. The gas pedal is also basically all the way to the right, so your two legs will be kinda sideways if you try to do left-foot braking.

Yeah, I see your point, I won't know though before I really try it. Like I said, I have been doing it for several years in a few cars, and I don't find it uncomfortable. The FR-S may turn out to be different enough though. I sat in one for a a minute or two, and it seemed fine, but that wasn't enough time to be sure.

[Blueapples]

I bought a MT before even knowing how to drive manual. Only experience I had was from youtube videos and at the arcade, playing gran turismo.. It took me a week to be able to drive confidently to and from work (30 minute commute with some hills and traffic). At first it was a bit difficult and certain times made me wish I bought an AT. but after getting the hang of it, regardless of traffic or hills, it's a lot more fun and engaging to drive. Difficulty will not be an issue after you've become familiar on how to drive it. Sure it can be an inconvenience at times, but you will sure as hell get a better and engaging driving experience. Well worth it in my opinion.

[bcj]

The twins have an option for a very competent automatic transmission.
Don't have to use the paddles if you don't want to.
It has a manual mode so you can select exactly the gear you want to be in at any given moment.
Gosh.

I've been avoiding this all day mostly due to the dutch rudder MT (p|b)romotion crew.
Try one out. You may not be disappointed.

[daiheadjai]

Gonna weigh in on this.
Get the manual if you enjoy the act of driving.
The clutch in this car is light (assisted) so that your calves will never be sore.
The car is actually quite easy to handle in stop-go once you commit the engagement point to muscle memory.

I would suggest (if this is an option) that you get your brother to teach you to drive manual on the Miata, AND THEN ask if you can borrow the car for a few days to drive during rush hour traffic (assuming that you've gotten used to driving manual and can do it fairly proficiently).

FWIW, it took me about 2 weeks of daily driving to stop stalling, but getting smooth takes a bit longer than that. But once I got it, I haven't looked back, and do not foresee buying another automatic in the next 5 years.
Leaving work (even in lousy traffic) in this car was my daily decompression ritual for the better part of 2 years.

[kerbal945]

I'm curious when people say city driving, what's your average speed?

I've always had urban commutes, but recent work change gave me 1.5hr commute in both directions, with mostly stop and go traffic, and lots of stops along hills. My average speed for the week dropped from 35 to 22 kph (~14 mph).

I've never hated driving so much, and for the first time in my life, a cvt hybrid is sounding attractive to me. lol should I get help?

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by kerbal945

I'm curious when people say city driving, what's your average speed?

I've always had urban commutes, but recent work change gave me 1.5hr commute in both directions, with mostly stop and go traffic, and lots of stops along hills. My average speed for the week dropped from 35 to 22 kph (~14 mph).

I've never hated driving so much, and for the first time in my life, a cvt hybrid is sounding attractive me. lol should I get help?

My usual "long" drive is about an hour from manhattan to the eastern edge of queens. Without traffic that drive is only 20 minutes (I know this from my late night drives). In traffic on that route, I end up on 10-20 minute stretches driving as slowly as 10MPH, or literally just stop-and-go.

The drive got real bad since the stretch on the BQE between Williamsburg Bridge and the LIE is down to 2 lanes due to road work. Mentioning this for any other NYC drivers on here.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

Sit at your desk with your legs spread a normal amount apart, so shoulder width. Now put your left foot next to your right foot without shifting/rotating your butt. Thats how it'll feel in the car.

I tried doing this, squished my family jewels.

[turtlefeeder]

Originally Posted by soulreapersteve

I tried doing this, squished my family jewels.

lmao you need to rest them like you're doing the splitzzies. than you'll forever remain the pearl lol

[Stratoside]

anyone that says "Manual is only fun on the highway" is missing the the whole point of manual, which is shifting gears.
On the highway, you don't shift gear, therefore it's more like driving an automatic
Might as well get an automatic if you find driving in the highway fun, i certainly don't find that fun at all

if you like shifting gears, go with manual for city driving
Manual is only fun in stop and go traffic.
if you say otherwise, you don't like manual

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by Stratoside

anyone that says "Manual is only fun on the highway" is missing the the whole point of manual, which is shifting gears.
On the highway, you don't shift gear, therefore it's more like driving an automatic
Might as well get an automatic if you find driving in the highway fun, i certainly don't find that fun at all

if you like shifting gears, go with manual for city driving
Manual is only fun in stop and go traffic.
if you say otherwise, you don't like manual

LOL I really hope you're being sarcastic.