[Big D Design]

Let it be known that I had been driving manual trans for over 40 years. I still have 3 manual trans cars in driveway, and there are drivers cars. The FRS is my DD and the others are just my fluff fun machines. I have moved from the Jersey Shore to Northern Florida about 4 years ago.

A lot of how you drive a manual is determined by road surface and traffic. If you have lousy roads... you will not be able to coast very well. If you had traffic with other cars trying to kill you around...... better leave that sucker in gear. In New Jersey the roads for the most part have lots of bumps or lots of traffic. I would hardly find anywhere to coast except when new asphalt has been laid and there wasn't any traffic around me. We all know what it feels like when a new road is paved. It feels so cool to drive a manual car and bring it to redline over and over again in these butter smooth conditions. The car will feel like it was worth all the money you spent on the damn thing.

When I would go to my parents home in Florida for the last 30 years and bring my racecar....... wow!! It was the most amazing thing just rowing thru the gears and not hitting any bumps. Because racecar.

So here is where I say neutral works in butter smooth roads that are not crowded. The FRS has that spring back to neutral like no other car I have driven. The FRS trans IMO is one of the best transmissions I have ever had the pleasure to use. My Roush Mustang trans is nice but you don't have the certain notchy feel that lets you know exactly what gear you are going into. I don't coast as much with the Roush, the noise that crackles when dropping a gear is just way too intoxicating. The exhaust in the Roush seems to me equal to the Jaguar F type. Mostly I drive the Roush to make loud noises and stick myself to the seat with the supercharged acceleration.

Getting back to the roll or no roll. The FRS is so light and so enjoyable in these butter smooth Florida roads that neutral roll is a no-brainer to an experienced driver. The car just keeps rolling and is so light that brake pressure is minimal. I have enough experience to put a FRS back in gear at any speed in a half second or less. I know what gear to use every time. The new Porsche GT3 has neutral coasting now. I'm not sure if you guys are aware of it. the GT3 customers clamored for it and Porsche delivered. Coasting is cool and just like anything in this world..... you have to have the conditions and experience to do it safely. Happy Holidays to all. Peace