Commuters driving stick

[jjaisli]

When I learned to drive, my father insisted I learn to drive on a manual transmission car. To this day, I'm thankful for it. I've been driving for 26 years and have lived in various places with painful commutes:

Long Island, NY
Southern California
Northern NJ
Sarasota FL
Basel Switzerland*
Hamburg Germany

During those 26 years, I've NEVER owned a car with an automatic transmission. And I've driven everything from an Audi to a Volvo, with a clutch, and no regrets. The highest mileage car I had was my 2002 Mini Cooper S, which I drove for almost 150,000 miles on the original clutch, through an eclectic cross, ranging from country back roads to Midtown Manhattan traffic.

There were few times I really sat there there and said, "Boy, I wish I had an automatic car now." Although it may have happened on occasion.

That said, my current commute is about 100 miles round trip, from extreme northern NJ (1 mile from the NY State border northern) to central New Jersey. And I decided to buy a used Honda Fit as a commuting car and keep the FR-S for the weekends/track days/special ocassions. And the Fit is actually the very first automatic car I've EVER purchased for myself. I wasn't opposed to getting a manual Fit but it was actually tough to find a used Fit Sport with a manual and it's useful as an extra car when my inlaws come to visit as few of them drive manual.

* Commuted mostly by public transportation in Basel for obvious reasons.

[Vincenttam]

I drive to Pasadena from El Monte every Monday through Thursday. So yes, i do take the 210 east and west. I learned to drive stick a month ago and i loooooove driving. I mean i loved driving auto back than but now i truly truly love driving. Going on the 210 west at 2pm is fine, not much traffic, i can just cruise through it going at 75mph. Car feels awesome, suspension is comfortable but the slightest bumps mess me up when i shift lol. Comming back at on the 210 east at around 4-4:30, man the traffic is annoying. As specially when you're getting to the 605. Sometimes theres traffic from Pasadena all the way to the exit in Monrovia. But it's fine cause i like pew pewing through the gears . And don't worry about gas, my best is 35 mpg at tail to tail traffic haha.

[bcj]

[hamzam]

I commute 22 miles one way, 22 miles way back.

Five days a week. Since that lovely day, August 1, 2013

100% rush hour traffic.

I've adjusted my clutch throw so it is super short, and it's like 2nd nature now.

I would be complaining only if I had an auto, I will tell you that much.

[Trmx2]

Originally Posted by hamzam

I commute 22 miles one way, 22 miles way back.

Five days a week. Since that lovely day, August 1, 2013

100% rush hour traffic.

I've adjusted my clutch throw so it is super short, and it's like 2nd nature now.

I would be complaining only if I had an auto, I will tell you that much.

Curious as to how to adjusted your clutch throw, I've wanted mine to be slightly shorter as well.

[Manic]

Originally Posted by Trmx2

Curious as to how to adjusted your clutch throw, I've wanted mine to be slightly shorter as well.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040

[TIsbell34]

MT is what makes the commute bearable for me


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[JNovo79]

Haven't had a daily driver without a 3rd pedal since 1998. I don't even notice it... of course, I take the train to work every morning :P

[azngolfur]

BRZ was my first MT.

Stop-and-go traffic actually helped me learn how to drive a lot faster.

Now I don't mind traffic at all… keeps it interesting and burns some extra calories… lmao

go for it!

[00vsmcoupe]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

If you are a good MT driver it will become second nature. I sometimes an hour + in heavy stop and go traffic and not once has the clutch or shifting crossed my mind, let alone become an annoyance.

Guys who claim AT would be better just need more time behind a MT. Or they are doing something wrong.

Couldn't agree more.

[reeves]

Originally Posted by 00vsmcoupe

Couldn't agree more.

Also agree with this.. 90+ mile round trip commute every day doesn't bother me at all. 20-60% of the time in stop-n-go traffic, depending on how many accidents I encounter.

[bkblitzed]

For me in traffic it's not the stop and go that bothers me, it's the retarded people all around me that either cant or wont merge when they need to, or they tap on their brake ever second because they're afraid of hitting the car infront of them. Thus making a domino effect. Therefore i see no point in even commuting in a car in congested areas like socal. Buy a motorcycle, lane split and win !

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by 00vsmcoupe

Couldn't agree more.

Well, the World is accelerating past you.

There is no doubt this car would be quicker and more pleasant to drive with a DCT.

There is very little doubt this car could be made to be quicker and more pleasant to drive if the final drive on the automatic version was lowered to match the automatic overall gear ratios to the manual overall gear ratios.

Make no mistake, automatics are dominating the market because they are quicker and easier to drive. Subaru deliberately handicapped the automatic version of this car, for obvious reasons that have nothing to do with performance.

Same reason they made it oversteer...which actually ruins an otherwise nearly perfect chassis.

[Canadian Greg]

If you are good with a clutch, this car is easy to drive.
I can creep along at 4 km/hr in first no problem.