frs test drive mid june?
 

was notified that canadian dealers set to receive a demo model each (auto tranny) mid-May.

75% of all allocated Scion units have been "spoken for," ie, pre-ordered.

ETA end of June

:burnrubber:

Shiiiit.... I was hoping to have my car by the end of May. Why the hell would they get an Auto tranny for the demo? Aren't over 70% of the people that are buying this car real men? (Standard transmission drivers)

Really the only difference manual makes is launching off the line. once you're cruising you can shift whenever you want to. Everyone can drive auto, not everyone can drive stick.

a huge deciding factor for me will be how smooth/easy the manual shifts as well as how short they are as well. we've been reading great things from the reviews but I want to feel it for myself before I spend $30 grand..

also be interested in clutch feel etc.. I'd definitely take the auto for a spin but those are things are key in evaluating the manual

Mixed feelings here - Like rawbz I would much prefer to test drive the manual, but reviewers have been consistently positive about shift action and clutch weight so I would not hold back because I could not drive a manual ahead of time. Anyways with my refundable deposit, in the improbable case I do hate the manual, I can walk away.

Testing the auto will be interesting, if I really loved using the paddle shifters I could even change my order - although that seems highly unlikely.

This is the most inaccurate statement I've ever read on this forum. I don't know where to start... the entire experience of driving a manual is so much more engaging. I like to drive my car... not the other way around.

have you ever driven a luxury sports car with DSG/Shift Paddles?

If they made these things affordable i'd get one in a heartbeat

Yes, on multiple occasions. Every time I hate it. No Clutch = no fun.

I don't care if it's a Ferrari with instantaneous shifting, I'd rather do it myself. Less efficient and slower, definitely, but also infinitely more involving and rewarding. That's the whole point of the this car!

I nothing special about paddle shifters. its the same as if you want to downshift in a regular auto, just push in the pedal more lol.

the point of the car is to drive it, not to compensate for a lack of technological advancement

manual cars have the advantage of staying in the gear that you need to stay in as dictated by the situation, that is all.

For the longest time a 3rd pedal has been a viable and economically sound solution to this problem.

Now technology is advancing, get with the times.

Why does "involving" have to be "difficult", i can tell you right now that when you're flying into Turn 2 at Mosport, the clutch is the last thing you're going to touch... ever heard of the term "both feet in."

In the case of the Toyobaru, the gear ratios being used are such that the manual will be notably quicker on track, all else being equal - 1/2 sec less to 60 mph for example in road tests to date. Of course the gas mileage of the manual suffers as a result of its shorter gearing.

Most of us will be driving off-track 99% of the time, and for that a manual is simply a lot more fun. I have heard those with paddle shifters say that they initially found them fun but eventually they just didn't bother with them and let the car shift for itself. From a totally utilitarian perspective, can't argue with 7thgear. But then if we were being utilitarian we'd all be buying Prii.

I dunno

having a clutch was "cool" back when i was one of the first kids in my highschool to have one, my social status got elevated the day i rolled in mai honda civic.. (later to be stolen from yorkdale)

fast forward many moons to today and i'm just fed up with the whole thing :) , i still have tons of fun driving, it's just that having to move my left foot has nothing to do with it.

my opinion of course.. but i'm a vocal son of a bitch >=]

I found manually shifting my father's auto trans car just got old very fast and I stopped bothering. I much prefer my fully manual trans. Could be an age thing. He had manuals until he entered late middle age, then decided they were too much work.

I've always had manuals. Couldn't stand the idea of a "slush box".

I can't wait to get a DSG-equipped car.

Assuming it works as smoothly as a manual, including at low speeds where some of these transmissions are reported to be jerky, it just seems like such a better way to control a car. I'm sure it would take off a tenth or two on my typical autocross runs.