Originally Posted by dominican
ok, here goes.
I've driven all types of cars, from old minivans with crappy Slushboxes to hyped up street racers with Stage 3 Clutch setups. Personally, I always stick a 3 pedal configuration. I am a fan of simple mechanics, and nothing is simpler than that. When I say simple, I mean that mechanically. The only thing to go wrong in a manual box (besides driver error) is the clutch and flywheel, and those are relatively easy to change out. In auto boxes, any kind of problem and you're looking at a new tranny, which oftentimes means a new car.
I used to live right next to the city, and I can actually say that I prefer having a manual vehicle. This is because in an auto car, whenever you let go of the brake, the car automatically thinks you want to go forward. This is just not true, it just means I want to stop braking! if I am on flat pavement, I always go of my brakes so I can just chill in me car. Furthermore, shifting in traffic is not difficult at all. This is not stressful, and for me, it actually makes traffic more bearable, because I'm not bored out of my mind.
With that said, that's purely my opinion, and although Honda only offered the S2000 in Manual form, and only until recently, BMW has only offered manuals in their M5 cars, I can see a business case for the FT86 to offer a manual. I recently drove a G37S automated shifter, and came away very impressed. For those days where you just feel like not driving, you just sit back and get to your destination. I get that, I can understand that not everyone is an enthusiast 100% of the time like I am (I am currently sitting in my cubicle, waiting so I can get into my car and enjoy dodging old people down here in Florida). However, put it in manual mode, and shift using the paddles, man that thing is fun. I thought it was a double clutch setup for a moment actually, it was that good.
I am no longer that adamant about getting a 3 pedal car only. For the near future though, I am looking at getting an E39 M5, and either an S2000 or an FT86, depending on a few factors. I'll take all of them, in manual flavor please.
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