I always get a chuckle out of these debates.. I have been a long time standard driver. I ordered my 2013 whiteout in manual and while the dealer was doing up the paperwork took the auto out just for a laugh. Upon my return we cancelled my order and switched it to Auto. I honestly had just as much fun in the auto. Also on days when traffic is standing still on the highways just reassures me i made the right choice. Who cares if its auto or manual, enjoy your car for your own reasons you bought it.

Stop using Torque.

Absolutely. I generally only use the paddles in D mode to take temporary control. If I'm running in full manual mode, I don't use the paddles at all, just the shifter.

Right, I suppose I don't have two manual cars and two autos. The auto in the 86 is light years ahead of the 2 manuals and even more so than the other AT.

Drive one bro, not a single person with that mindset still had doubts after trying out the AT.

Keep it at 9-3. You will be able to leave your hands on the steering wheel even for 90 degree turns. If you must, learn where to shift your hand as it comes back around.

Or just don't shift during a corner being such an amateur.

I'll probably be buying a FR-S this week. I am getting the 6MT version. The reason being is I already have a DSG GTI whose gearbox is light years ahead of any standard automatic with torque converter.

This will be the first manual car I've purchased and the most I've ever driven manual regularly is moving my friends' cars from parking spots and driving an ex-girlfriend's car home.

I think I still have the clutch gas thing down but I am a little heavy on riding the clutch especially when getting out of first.

If the FR-S was offered with an automated manual, I might have chose that over the 6MT version.

Automatic FRS
 

Kudos on a very well-mannered thread with healthy discussion and rational insight 😁. I'm happy with my auto, and like any FR-S/BR-Z owner, I just care about getting rid of the torque dip.


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I was going to get the MT (cheaper, more fun, yada yada) and I've driven manual before, but I just moved from a town of 5,000 people tops to Cleveland, OH. My first week in Cleveland traffic made me want to slaughter everyone including myself even in my AT Pontiac.

Long story short...I bought the AT and have gotten some slack for it, but I dont care. If other people want to waste their time talking about how I made a bad choice that's their decision.

You virtually owned him.

Honestly, the most annoying thing from re-learning stick has been getting used to the slight bump with every gear change. I know of a handful of stick drivers that can make their car feel like an automatic, but as of right now, I'm nowhere near that proficient.

Once I got over the hurdle of "GAH!!! WHY CAN'T I SHIFT SMOOTHLY!" and just accepted that I can't make every shift as butter smooth as a modern A/T... I've had a blast.

I definitely considered the A/T for a while, but I knew that if I didn't start driving stick again while I was young, I wouldn't bother with it when I'm too old and too lazy to deal with it. Inevitably, knee issues will take away my ability to DD a manual transmission, so I wanted to get some good years before that happens. Plus, even if A/T is by far a more practical choice in SoCal, I'm glad to know how to drive a standard car (a dying skill in the US).

At the end of the day, I'll still have my gripes when stuck in SoCal traffic, but for those Sunday drives with clear B-roads... I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Like others have said, Manual or Auto, this car is something special. Don't worry about people who rag on you for driving an automatic. It's just technological progression. It'd be akin to people driving old crash boxes looking down on a modern manual transmission for having synchros.

I have the AT BRZ, primarily because my wife does not drive stick, and we needed our 2nd car to be an auto in case she needed to use it in an emergency. i've driven stick for 30 years, so it's not a 'novelty' to me or a feeling of being more engaged - it's just another way to change gears with its pros and cons. i don't even think about it when switching back and forth between manual and AT, except that my left leg reminds me it's getting more tired in traffic when driving manual.

i have a short daily commute in traffic, so an AT is much more convenient for me to use. the paddle shifters are actually still a 'novelty' to me and i like using them; more so than the shifter. the whole advantage (to me) is not having to remove my hand from the steering wheel. most of my shifts done are before or after turns. the locations of the paddles are fine for me - i use a 9-3 hand position.

other than being able to launch faster from a stop with a manual, i don't find any practical difference between the AT and manual - i can upshift or downshift at will; either from the steering wheel or with the shifter (if i want to simulate more of a stick shift feel), quicker and smoother than i ever did with a manual, and all without using my left foot.

the only time i see anyone given flak for owning an AT is on this forum. no one else i talk to in person cares, or argues different, as there are good reasons on both sides, and it all boils down to personal preference.

if i want to feel fully engaged with my vehicle, i hop on my motorcycle, which basically demands full attention at all times.

Whatever helps you sleep better at night. :)

It's only car forums and jalopnik where people complain and criticize about AT/MT usage. I'm buying my 6MT FR-S because Toyota chose not to offer the car with a dual clutch gearbox and also the novelty of manual transmission.

My plans for this car are autocross, spirited driving, commuting, and track days.

I'll see if after 5K miles if I hate driving stick, if so I'll trade it for an AT model or buy something else.

I have an auto, and some days I love it some days I dont. Ive driven both...the auto doesnt feel much slower then the manual to me....in sport mode and all it goes. But I kinda do miss having a clutch