manual/stick shift
 

question arises again and again :D

I got a 2013 auto limited BRZ

i live in NYC with b2b traffic all day. My job requires lots of traveling so most of time im stuck in traffic.. i got a hole in my carpet under the brake pedal..because thats where my foot is most of the time.

New facelift is here, maybe time to trade in brz for a stick shift brz.

Would it be stupid for me to do so? Hows the wear and tear from stick brz in the situation i described above versus an automatic?

The carpet savers are cheap, and the carpet is even cheaper.

I have a manual and carpet saver (factory floor mat) is quite worn in areas below both the clutch pedal and brake pedal. 26000 miles on my 2015 FRS.

So if you buy a manual...you get two holes...LOL.

Suggest you stay with the auto trans if you do, as you've stated, drive constantly in stop and go traffic. With a manual your left leg and left knee take a beating in stop and go. Same goes for LA traffic.

In NYC I'd be more worried about the outside of my car. Typical there to see lots of dents on sides of cars. Also there, drivers who parallel park, use the front or rear of their car to push cars backwards or forwards to make a space for themselves.

The autos are pretty nice. I daily in some stop & go but mostly creep below 10 in places and open up to 70 in others.

Done properly, I don't think there's much more wear and tear on a manual.

Be good at creeping forward without gunning it.

I spend a LOT of time shifting between first-second-first... I've never owned an auto so I don't really think about it.

Can you borrow someone's manual for a few days? You'd get a pretty good idea driving any old manual.

I drive a manual. Wore through my floor mat in less than 6 months, and I only had like 5k miles. I put a piece of rubber kitchen mat under it to keep from going through the carpet.

I had been driving manual for past 20 years. It does not bothers me with LA traffic. Driving auto in traffic made me sleepy, manual kept me awake. Also, you can just put the gear at first gear and just use left foot to control clutch to glide at stop and go traffic without using right put much (i still use my right foot for brake and acceleration if needed). funner i guess

i got dings on side panel(rear) and... scratches..front/rear bumper already but you are right how they push your car.. I never touch anyones bumper btw, all damage caused by other assholes


I will be focusing on getting private parking before i make a move for next car because i already learned the hard way.

i might just wait for rs3..if it ever comes out ( i know NOT RELATED LOL)


fuark it, going to just keep saving for house lol


edit: yes i do feel sleepy as hell when driving auto in traffic but thanks for the bluetooth subaru, i just make a call to friends/family while driving to keep me up

As others have stated, I think you get wear either way. The better question is how is you tolerance on using your left foot. Sitting in traffic, my left knee would start to ache after having to work the clutch for 30 mins straight, even with the stock clutch which is one of the lighter ones I've used.

It's called parking by braille. I've watched people do crazy damage to car doing it and then just drive or walk away. Once I called someone out on it because he completely wrecked the other cars front bumper, grill and headlights then just walked away so I left him with two flats and a busted headlight.

I personally say manual all the way. I live in DC and daily drive with traffic and still love being engaged in a manual w bored and sleepy in a automatic. I definitely notice I pay more attention and am a better driver with a manual, any day of the week in any condition. If you drive properly I would not be worried about wear.

Also a DC area guy that drives manual. You get used to it, and carpets are cheap. You either want to drive manual, or you don't.

Plus, reducing feeling sleepy by driving manual > reducing feeling sleepy by talking on the phone. one makes you more engaged, one makes you less

What shoes are you guys wearing that will punch a hole thru the carpet, wooden heel dress shoes?

I've even seen some people that have made holes on rubber car mats and have always wondered how that happened.

Maybe try some shoes with a curved up driving heel? You can always swap shoes before walking into the office.

I drive manual in LA and it's fine (seems to be what you want to hear anyway). Basing your decision off of floor mat wear and tear is pretty insane but, if you must, I replaced my stock mats with Lloyd mats (purchased through Works) and they're holding up insanely well... no wear spots at all after about 10k miles.