[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Johnny Horsepower

I can understand why manual vs auto was such a big debate back in the day. For me, with a total of 30 minutes of stick experience, it was a big struggle when I was thinking about buying a sports car. Do I get a manual that I'll barely be able to drive at first, might cause serious damage to, and might end up hating, or get an auto and always be thinking that I'm missing out on a lot?

I don't understand though, why paddle shifters are rarely mentioned in this conversation (not this thread, but in general). They give a completely different driving experience from a conventional automatic, even if the transmission uses the same mechanics (i.e., a torque converter).

For people who were torn between manual and auto, they no longer have to choose. Paddle shifters give them all of the auto functionality and (IMO) the best part of the manual functionality without some of the downsides.

Do paddle shifters give you everything that a stick does? No, and I understand why many of you have to have a stick. I might be in that camp too, given different experiences. But for those who were on the fence, seeing major benefits on each side and unable to choose, the debate is over: get an auto FR-S and you won't be disappointed.

Some people want a third pedal, so they get a manual. Some people don't want to think about gears, so they get a traditional automatic. And some people would prefer something in between. At this point, I don't know if I could ever buy another car that didn't have paddle shifters.

Very well said!
I think a lot of the controversy stems from people believing that the auto transmissions in these cars are the crappy slush boxes from the past. They are not. AT tech has come a long, long way in the last decade and the use of TCUs has made many ATs more effective than anything in the past. MT tech on the other hand has hardly changed in the last 60 years.