Manual shift in local traffic? A soon-to-be FRS owner
 

Hey guys,

Is driving a manual shift annoying in local traffic? I've never driven a manual before, but I'm going to get the stick shift FR-S. Therefore, I'm just wondering what your experience is in handling local traffic emotionally and physically.

Thanks a bunch

If you really like driving manual, it won't bother you at all. I can safely say that I'm more likely to drive no matter how much traffic there is because I have a manual.

Ask people in the Philippines section :lol:

...Majority of cars in the Philippines are manual, and in heavily populated places like Manila, people get used to driving stick in traffic.

Had mine for 4 days now, 25 miles in SF Bay Area traffic one way.

If I didn't have a manual transmission I would despise my commute, as it is I tolerate it and I am much more patient in a stick.
Your mileage may vary.

I have been driving manual transmissions for almost 15 years now. It has become second nature it is not something I think about. I think after a few weeks you will feel the same way.

I don't think I have an emotional or physical response in regards to driving a manual in traffic. I just have emotional responses to the local traffic's terrible driving.

If you're stuck in prolonged stop&go traffic on a highway then yes it can become annoying otherwise its fine. I would recommend having someone give you a couple of lessons before driving your FR-S off the lot. Also, its best to practice in a low traffic area like an industrial park in the evening or on the weekends.

It's not that bad and I personally don't mind it. I also leave some space ahead of me and try to keep the car rolling in second gear during rush hour.

Unless you're in traffic 24/7 then it ain't so bad. This is my first manual too and now a little traffic doesn't bother me. Of course I'm in GA and its not so bad where I am. Depends on you're location. I will say the good of driving stick out ways its bad in traffic though. Just my personal opinion. So man up lol! :P

My FR-S is my first manual too...and I love it. I still get a little nervous when I come across any kind of an incline, but I guess that doesn't really depend on traffic and gets better with more experience. I really, REALLY enjoy driving my car :) much more engaging and fun...and it also helps me stay awake in traffic--I used to doze while driving pretty often...

This is my first MT as well. I'm still pretty scared of any incline... mostly because people like to get as close as possible to the rear bumper. :mad0259:

SERIOUSly. But I realized that I've just been used to driving longer cars and that people aren't as close to me as I thought. Most times they're still too close for my comfort, though. :thumbdown:

I've lived downtown in a big city with ridiculous traffic for the last 5 years, my previous car was a manual and my FR-S is a manual. I never found it to be a problem. It's obviously not as brainless as an autotragic but it's not hard or annoying in the least.

I have friends who bought automatics because they're scared of traffic or something. They think it will be too hard or too much hassle. It's not, and they bought the wrong car.

Anyone who has ever told you a manual in the city is too much work has never actually driven one, anyone who drives a manual will tell you it's cake.

Just leave it in second gear, you'll be fine. Autos are weaksauce.

There was only one time in my life that I had a problem with a manual in traffic. That was my '01 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic. My left hand (the clutch hand) would really take a beating. :) With cars I've never had a problem.
:burnrubber:

A dumb follow up - Will that kill the clutch in long run?

I think he means leave it in second in bumper to bumper traffic, you'd still shift into first from a stop.

Driving the car will kill the clutch in the long run. Just use sense. If you are doing 0-10, first is a good place. But if traffic continues rolling, you can take second all the way down to about 7-8 with out issue.

lol aww so i guess i'm a weak sauce?

How cute.

Haters gonna hate.

My advice is to try and keep your momentum going. It's easier on you and the car if you already have a bit of speed to start with. That said, there is nothing wrong with starting and stopping. It's what the clutch is designed for. And if you never figure it out, you could just replace the clutch after you destroy it.

Since our cars don't come with hill start assist, you could hold the handbrake up while you move your foot from the brake to the gas. It takes a bit of time to get used to, but it can come in handy when you inevitably stop on a steep hill with a soccer mom right behind you.

And hey, nothing wrong with an automatic. You won't be impressing any girls with a jerky ride. :lol:

Frs is te first car I owned with a manual I don't think I'm ever going back to auto....... Haha jk maybe but nah it's worth it especially on the frs

NYC,Seattle,Denver, and now PHX

I drive a manual. Once it becomes second nature, you think about it as much as You think about making sure the spoon has the correct trajectory for your mount when eating cereal.

Automatics just make you lose a lot of thrill with the car. Take it on a windy road, where you have to brake, accelerate, downshift for power up hills. It's a ton of fun compared to flipping paddles on a steering wheel. Not to mention working the clutch is really fun as well. Even in traffic, I have no problems with a manual. Even from a dead stop, I'm able to take off from second gear without riding\burning the clutch at all. First gear is extremely short. Long term damage? Not at all, just normal wear and tear on a clutch. Second gear isn't jerky at all in bumper to bumper traffic.

Hey Guys I'm also new to manual but on the FR-S i noticed 2 things.

Granny shifting: the only way to get smooth shifts from 1-3 is to apply gas when releasing clutch otherwise you get jerks.

Fast shifting: I cant seem to shift fast 1-3 without getting jerkyness is this normal?

Goal: I want to shift fast without getting jerks. but the clutch always either pulls unless i give it gas. and if i give it gas release clutch fast and shift I get a ROCK sensation rather than jerks. almost like i was trying to drive it hard but it wanted to engage at a higher RPM but im driving slow.

i learned driving home (first time sitting in a stickshift at all) from the toyota dealer in nyc to staten island, late at night, construction blocking the bqe, stop and go traffic. youll be fine. just learn to not react to the people around you and dont rush when you dont fully know how to drive stick yet.

(learned on tc that i bought there and traded soon after for the FRS)

I drive hittin the traffic on the BQE in the morning, since your from NYC, you know what the traffic is like, emotionally, most of the people know how to go around you, so dont sweat it.

Granny shifting and not double clutching like you should

broski double clutching? im not sure how to do that. why do you recommend it?

I think you're sweating it too much but that said. Have you adjusted the clutch pedal? (see this post) and I noticed that my fast shifts smoothed out once I installed the Perrin crank pulley.

Why would you double clutch on upshifts?

My first vehicle was a 1993 S-10 and it was a manual transmission. My driveway sloped up and by the end of it, it was a steep incline. To make matters worse, I lived on a busy street, so I always had to stop at the end of my driveway. Every time I left the house I had to deal with an incline, lol. :mad0259: I learned quickly.

once you get used to shifting in traffic,you won't give it a second thought!
as the french so eloquently proclaim, it's an "event psychological!" translation:
(it's all in your head!)

there is an element of truth in this!

ehe! he! he! ''slush" box in THIS car is "sacrilege"

i'm feeling exactly what you're feeling..the mini jerks/rocks between the gears. Today i watched the rpms closely and noticed at the right rpms the jerking motion goes away...for example im shifting at like 3k rpms and releasing clutch at 2k rpms from 1st-2nd. dunno :iono:

this is true! when you get "good",and you will,you will learn to leave it in "creeper gear" (second),WITHOUT disengaging tranny,and just flow in bumper to bumper on very light throttle,without stalling the car! car will move forward smoothly with no jerking motions,but of course,when you have no more room,you must disengage tranny and hit the brake to stop.

this is "dead nuts" accurate!

car has sufficient torque to "light up" from second. generally speaking,1st gear gets the car moving forward from a dead stop.it's all it's really good for!
with sufficient torque down low, car will "pull a dead horse" in second!

this. The only problem with a standard transmission is everyone else. The majority of american's drive automatics and have lead feet. Over-speeding from a red light just to hit the brakes hard to sit at the next light. A lot of cars are in shops simply because of this, and the price of gas should not negatively affect anyone if they drive right. So, when you're at a light and someone is sitting three inches behind you and rides you at that range because you are not accelerating fast enough for them, let it roll as it will happen many more times. They won't be enjoying life nearly as much as you.

The FR-S BRZ is a car that was purpose built. Any model that was made with an automatic transmission is simply a waste, regardless of how fast the transmission shifts. You made the right choice.