Manual vs Automatic in SoCal?
 

So if the insurance gets back to me with the news that my FR-S is totaled, I have to ask myself the same question that I did when I first got an FR-S... Manual or Automatic. I really would like to get a manual, but I've never driven one before. In Cali, you are almost always going up or down a hill plus I here the highways are pretty bad too. What would you guys recommend I do? Keep in mind, I have never driven a manual before.

if you haven't driven a manual before, it would be best to just stick with an auto. the manual will infuriate you initially, especially in traffic. the manual is by far more rewarding to drive, but unless you already have the experience of one under your belt, it's just gonna be a nuisance (plus the clutch will be crying)

Was not infuriating for me and I had to drive through bumper to bumper Capital Beltway traffic on the second day I owned the car, no previous manual ownership. You either want the experience of driving manual and you're willing to work for it, or you're okay with an automatic.

Why do you want manual? Because auto is for poseurs? It's not.

Manual isnt that difficult to pick up, so with you having never driven manual wont be too large of a problem. where are you moving to exactly?
I have an auto and i live in south orange and im either going up or downhill all the time.
but I honestly wouldnt mind having a manual either. I just find a certain satisfaction with driving one so i personally wouldnt mind. But Auto is nice to have and it gets better gas mileage with all these hills.
In the end i just think its personal preference. you might end up loving driving a MT or just hating it. I hope i was of some help, haha

Which part of Cali are you moving to?

It's much easier to find a manual than an auto around me. I was actually looking into getting the BRZ limited which I can find Manual in almost any color. I can only find one Auto BRZ limited around me and it's white which isn't really my cup of tea.

Wrong reason to get a standard transmission.

I actually already moved. Dec. 27th. Just forgot to change my thing. I moved to Aliso Viejo.

how about test drive a manual at the dealer 1st? any car. atleast u get the idea/how when u decide to get a MT FRS

Sorry I guess my post was a little confusing. I would love to have a MT because it just seems like it would be more satisfying to drive. I kinda want that feeling of being more connected to the car. Then again, I still had a ton of fun in my AT

There's honestly not that many hills around. I live in orange county as well. Are you commenting to work/school? Some freeways can get pretty hectic

That's the right reason! I did it and I love it. Is traffic annoying? Yes. Am I used to it? Yes? Is it worth going back to AT? No!

The only place I could find a manual WRB BRZ (not even talking Premium vs. Limited here, just transmission and color!) was Massachusetts and I had the car shipped from there to my house.

The one dealer actually let me test drive a MT FR-S in a parking lot, lol. It was odd, but seems like something I could get used to

try to go to another dealer again to test drive. haha lol. try a different car, like corolla or civic MT, some common cars they let u test drive a couple miles. but not the FRS.