What to do, what to do..
 

Hi all, been looking for a new car for a few months and keep coming back to the frs. Now I know how awesome this car is and that I would be completely happy with it. But i've got some reservations about jumping up to the plate. I've owned one car in my life, which was an automatic, and have only driven strick maybe twice in my life. Now why is this relevant? Well i feel as though if Im going to buy a sports car(and especially this car) I should do the right thing and get one with a manual transmission. Im sure i would be happy with a auto, but it just seems like this cars full potential can only be reached with a manual transmission. What would you guys suggest? Should I risk the clutch in a new frs while trying to learn the ins and outs of driving stick? Or maybe go for an auto..Thanks in advance!

I have driven a manual for a rather long time and purchased my FR-S as an AT. Mostly I settled because there wasn't a car in sight for a while but I also bought it because for the time being it just suits me more.

You will be fine purchasing this as a MT and in all honestly you will achieve the best driving experience in the MT if you are looking for the real sports car feel.

I love my AT. You honestly can do vastly more things with the way the AT is set up in the Toyobaru than any other AT I have driven. This isn't a Civic or Sentra we are talking. The shifting when using the paddles is unbelievably timely and you can really get a sporty feel dropping into sport/M.

AT works for me because I am driving through rural/city on a basic non-stop basis while taking phone calls (District Manager Sales) so honestly having to shift and stop and go traffic is just annoying. Get the MT. Don't doubt yourself. Get the AT and Trade up on a later model MT if you want, but if I personally had the freedom I would have gone MT.

TL;DR: MT. From an AT owner.

If its for toy use, hpde learn the manual.

I couldn't get the AT into 2nd into a corner, it decided to do so only if I braked right before apex a lil extra to try n be faster on exit by being in right gear.

I own AT cars too, but the MT is fun. Plus if FI and more power is desired its easy to put a high tq clutch in a MT

I'm confident you can Learn with right coaching

It all depends on your personal situation.

Most people that learn how to drive stick just jump in head first and learn and never go back. And most people that I have talked to think I was retarded for choosing an automatic in this car. I have my reasons for choosing an AT.

Firstly, the good news is that the automatic doesn't suck. It is by far one of the best AT's around. Speaking from my own experience, had the automatic sucked or if only a POS CVT was offered, I would have forced myself to learn stick.


It definitely accelerates faster with the stick (once you become competent at it) and it definitely will garner you more respect for choosing a manual; however, you have to make your own decisions.

Honestly if you are even thinking about going to a MT you should do it. In the long run you will probably regret getting an AT over the MT if you are torn between the two.

I didn't know how to drive MT before i bought mine, but I knew It was what I wanted. I felt like I was cheating myself if I got an AT so I asked the people at the dealership to teach me before I bought it, and I absolutely love it now. First week was rough, but after that it gets easy.

First off you won't be making a mistake which ever way you go. I would suggest getting the manual. You have to start some time, some place and it might as well be now. What's the worst that can happen? If, in the end, you regret buying a manual and think you would have been happier with an automatic, trade the manual in and get an automatic. I've had two Miata's. The first one was manual and the second was an automatic. I bought the automatic because that's what I thought old farts were supposed to do. I sort of regretted buying it but it didn't change the fact I was enjoying a neat little roadster while I was driving it. What did I do about making a mistake? I bought my next car, my FR-S as a manual. Problem solved.

Get the manual and learn. If you don't, you'll probably always wish you had.

I was in the same situation as the OP.
Driving the FR-S home from the dealer was my first time ever with a stick.
(They let me pick up the car at 10PM. Longest 5 mile trip ever :D)

4000 miles later I know it was a good decision.

buying an AT will be a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I've driven this car in both forms and i can say the auto is good, for an auto, but to me its like driving a car in the most realistic driver simulation video game. If you want the real thing, to get around that corner braking, shifting, rev matching, hitting the apex, then accelerating out and knowing "i was the reason for every step of that perfectly initiated corner", then get the manual. If you are ok to sacrifice the opportunity to learn something new, expand your horizons, understand how your car works, and have that feeling that you and your machine are working together, if all of that is worth giving up then get the AT.

Something else to consider with the FR-S. This is as close to the perfect car for a manual beginner as you can find. The owners manual will show you how to program your instrument panel so it will show you when to shift up and when to shift down. I've driven manual most of my life and don't use that feature but it is available and should be a great help to a beginner.

Sports car = manual, always always always. You risk being called a p**** for driving an auto, but if you don't care about that, go for it. I know some people have valid medical reasons for an auto which I understand, but if you want to improve your driving skills, have full control over the car, and have a damn good time, go manual.

Just an opinion. :)

:bellyroll:

Or if you want to impress forum funny guys who live in la-la land; get the MT.
:happy0180:

Is a MT car more 'engaging?' Depends - I would find an Ariel Atom with paddle shifters more engaging than a Noble M600 with stick shift - I find a Scirocoo with DSG is more engaging than a Mazdaspeed 3 with stick. The transmission doesn't necessarily make the experience.

Is it a complete PITA when sitting for 2 hours in stop and go traffic and you want to eat lunch while playing with your iPhone and calling your suit tailor? Yep. Consider what you'll be using the car for instead of impressing the boys and girls when parking hard.

That said, I vote MT since you don't mention commute time, I'll assume that isn't an issue. The shift feel is good in the FRS and clutches aren't that expensive to replace :thumbup:

Get the MT. This may be your only chance to learn and drive one for a while since they seem to be going off grid. It's a great life skill and teaches you a lot more about cars and an appreciation for how they work. I had to make the same decision. I don't regret it one bit.