Commuters driving stick

[DarkSunrise]

My wife is from CA so I drive out there a couple of times per year when we visit. It's interesting because out there, the highway traffic (from what I've seen) isn't really stop/go like it is on the east coast. It's usually slow down to 10-15 mph, then go.

If that's true of your commute, then stick won't be too bad. Stick is only really hell in traffic if you have to completely come to a stop, then accelerate again.

East coast highway traffic shift pattern: 2-N-1-2-N-1-2
CA highway traffic shift pattern: 4-2-3-4-2-3-4

Just my observation.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by AsianStyle

First of all never use the phone when driving. Second of all never use the phone when driving.

Can't stand these morons who text or talk on the phone especially in stop and go traffic. They tend to sit in the fast lane and leave huge gaps stalling traffic. Luckily the FR-S lets you do hands free calling.

My point isn't about using a phone... it's about being distracted.

A stick shift requires you to use both hands, so you can't even drink coffee or eat a piece of bread/sandwich/etc or anything else that requires hands. Most people will at least look at their phone for missed messages or calls, so that's the basic premise I am working with.

If you have the need to use a phone or drink coffee or whatnot, don't get a stick in rush-hour commute. The location of cupholders and lack of storage space in this car makes having a stick in a stop-and-go commute that much worse...

Originally Posted by rawrmatty

Wow that is crazy. I was on the freeway heading west today around 7:50- 8:45 am and saw a couple of police cars escorting an ambulance heading east...

Yeah, sadly 2 people died today on the 210 in Pasadena...

Originally Posted by Chen

It isn't so bad until your left leg starts to cramp from all the leg workout it's doing lol.

No, it's bad when you have an aftermarket clutch with a much heavier pressure plate. That's when you regret all the mods.

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

East coast highway traffic shift pattern: 2-N-1-2-N-1-2
CA highway traffic shift pattern: 4-2-3-4-2-3-4

Just my observation.

You clearly have not been on any of the freeways when it counts.

Morning:
60W
10W
405N
110N
101 (both directions)
5N

Afternoon:
opposite direction of above listed freeways

And your shift pattern should be:

East coast highway traffic shift pattern: 2-N-1-2-N-1-2
Los Angeles highway traffic shift pattern: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-1-1

I'm going to screenshot capture LA traffic to share one of these days. It's too epic not to.

-alex

[userjack6880]

I deal with light to mild traffic, a few stop signs, and three lights. 15 minute commute no matter the way I look at it (except on days when nobody is going to work elsewhere... or the students don't have class).

Do I wish I had an automatic sometimes? Sure. Especially on days where people go, suddenly stop, and the go right after stopping. Reallly throws me off. But do I ever have regrets? None. It keeps me busy, alert, and active. And it's TONS of practice in the lower gears.

It's easy to drive a manual fast. It's a challenge to drive one slow. But if you can drive one slow, you can really drive one fast. At least, your shifting will be better.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by mav1178

You clearly have not been on any of the freeways when it counts.

Morning:
60W
10W
405N
110N
101 (both directions)
5N

Afternoon:
opposite direction of above listed freeways

And your shift pattern should be:

East coast highway traffic shift pattern: 2-N-1-2-N-1-2
Los Angeles highway traffic shift pattern: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-1-1

I'm going to screenshot capture LA traffic to share one of these days. It's too epic not to.

-alex

Interesting. Her family lives in Orange County and I've taken most of those roads (5N, 101, 110, 405). We've left around 8:30-9am at times during the week driving to LA and rarely hit true stop/go traffic on any of the highways. There's definitely a bunch of cars and I usually have to slow to ~10 mph at points, but not really a lot of actual stopping. Might just be lucky I guess.

[Braces]

You don't choose a transmission in this car based on your time in traffic. You choose the right transmission for the times you will be having loads of fun. Go manual.
Welcome to the forum.

[1Cor10:23]

IMHO: if you're set on this car, get it in 6MT. Of course AT is more manageable in traffic but I would personally find that my experience of this vehicle would be significantly limited if I had the AT.

[SnyperSuicide]

I actually live in Upland and I take the 210 to work everyday.


It really depends what time of day you drive to work and how far you have to drive. My commute is about 56 miles (I work by LAX), and I have an automatic.


I know a lot of people are die hard manual drivers, but the type of traffic I'm stuck in and the distance, I prefer the automatic.


Plus, it's supposedly a little better on gas mileage. I've gotten almost 400 miles on one tank.


Ooh, and there's also the cool paddle shifters...

[EZ Shifter]

I lived in Los Angeles for 13 years (North Hollywood). I was fortunate to get swing shift (4:00 pm to midnight) for a few of those years. So the traffic flow was a little better.

However, I had to get a new clutch on a 4 speed Mustang I drove during rush hours.

[strat61caster]

I've got probably 4000 miles of freeway stop and go rush hour commute traffic in the SF bay area on my 6MT FRS, average speed is somewhere around 20-30 mph on the slow days.

No regrets, I'm not terribly smooth just after waking up or after 8+ hours of work but I don't have any passengers complaining. Every once and awhile I'll miss a shift or something but it isn't the end of the world. LA traffic is a slightly different animal with drivers treating the pedals as switches, although I would totally do it.

[autobrz]

I have the auto. I don't find I'm missing anything when the traffic clears. All my previous cars were manual so I do know what it's like in a manual when the traffic clears. IMO, this car is about cornering speed which is not affected by having a clutch or selecting gears using a stick. just my 2c.

p.s. the auto in manual mode is very good...
p.s.2 the only knock on an auto I can see is that maintenance is more expensive (more quarts of ATF and much more complex procedure.)

[tiz22]

No doubt go manual...This car deserves to have a proper stick



Signed,
A DDing MT

[SoCal909]

depends on when you're on the 210 lol, if you are going east everyday around 4-6...i would probably go with an automatic lol.

i'm in claremont, and have a stick but i don't drive a whole bunch, and have other cars to drive if/when i need to.

[AKBrrrrrrrrZ]

Go for the manual. Better to get what you want rather than let this one obstacle get in your way and cause you to regret it down the line.

[355rockit]

I have an MT FR-S. It is allot of fun and commuting is not bad at all with MT. The only annoyance is stop and go on hilly roads. There is a roll-back risk and it is annoying when people pull up almost to touch your bumper or when light changes pull up to your bumper before you can push off safely. People use the e-brake method which I don't use since it can put wear on the e-brake. I just leave enough room ahead of me so I can push off with a little more throttle.