Completely new driver. Need advice

[PoRco]

Originally Posted by FRSjeff

Hey man! Congrats on your hard work! I can't think of a better way to reward yourself than buying an FR-S!! You should definitely get the manual; like you said, you'd always wonder what it was like if you "settled" for the automatic. As far as learning, maybe you could purchase additional lessons from a local driving school who offers learning on a manual. Or maybe you could rent a car with a manual and find a good friend to take you out help teach you. Or at least, go ahead and practice on your new FR-S -- just be super gentle until you aren't stalling and/or jerking anymore. Then take it to the biggest parking lots/tracks and give it a whirl!! Good luck man. Congrats, you should be proud of yourself!

Thank you so much man!

[sevenmgte]

Originally Posted by Chewie4299

I always recommend driving the first couple of times with no shoes on. Barefoot (socks OK) makes it very easy for the car to communicate the behavior of the clutch to you. My very first time I was very afraid of stalling or rolling back on an incline into someone. By driving barefoot I never did either.

This really does help you learn, and it's more fun . Driving barefoot is one of my favorite parts of summer!

Get the manual. After a year, (or possibly less), you will be totally comfortable driving it, and will realize what a mistake you avoided. I don't mean to offend anyone with an AT, this is solely based on my preference. I have driven MT exclusively for the past 11 years and have never once wished for an auto.

And as far as people saying you should buy a beater as a first car, I would advise the opposite. Get what you want. If you want an FRS go for it. If you want an 1988 pontiac firefly, that's fine too. At the end of the day, it's your money and your life. Don't worry about what people on the internet say.

[Re~Mix]

I got this car as my first manual after driving stick only two times prior to purchase (for a total of 1.5 hrs). I am an engineer so I might have a better intuition for how a transmission operates, but nevertheless I was a total noob.

Honestly, it was a breeze to learn and I haven't damaged the clutch or car at all. Take it to a parking lot, learn the car, and give yourself a week or two to get familiar without the hassle of stop-n-go stressfull traffic.

I will say this. I was scared as hell, and had second thoughts for a good 3 weeks. Now into week 4, I love this car. Take everyone's 2 cents into account, and make the right choice for you.

[PoRco]

Originally Posted by sevenmgte

This really does help you learn, and it's more fun . Driving barefoot is one of my favorite parts of summer!

Get the manual. After a year, (or possibly less), you will be totally comfortable driving it, and will realize what a mistake you avoided. I don't mean to offend anyone with an AT, this is solely based on my preference. I have driven MT exclusively for the past 11 years and have never once wished for an auto.

And as far as people saying you should buy a beater as a first car, I would advise the opposite. Get what you want. If you want an FRS go for it. If you want an 1988 pontiac firefly, that's fine too. At the end of the day, it's your money and your life. Don't worry about what people on the internet say.

Originally Posted by Re~Mix

I got this car as my first manual after driving stick only two times prior to purchase (for a total of 1.5 hrs). I am an engineer so I might have a better intuition for how a transmission operates, but nevertheless I was a total noob.

Honestly, it was a breeze to learn and I haven't damaged the clutch or car at all. Take it to a parking lot, learn the car, and give yourself a week or two to get familiar without the hassle of stop-n-go stressfull traffic.

I will say this. I was scared as hell, and had second thoughts for a good 3 weeks. Now into week 4, I love this car. Take everyone's 2 cents into account, and make the right choice for you.

I'm an engineer too... but Software Engineer :P Hehe. So not as in-tune with the mechanical/hardware part :P

But yeah, definitely. I'm glad I've posted this thread, you guys have cleared out a lot of doubts I've been having in the past weeks!

I feel like going out tomorrow and putting a downpayment :P

[Mazdaspeed]

Originally Posted by PoRco

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I've already been looking up AutoCross in Ottawa. I came across the posts in neutrals crash thread where people recommended doing AutoCross. And I'm definitely going to be doing it!

I'm worried about driving the car home haha :P None of my friends know how to drive a manual.

I'd absolutely encourage you to go with the manual, even if the drive home will be a bit of an adventure. I know several people who have bought brand new cars as their first manual transmissioned car ever and none of them have experienced premature failure of any components. If you already have some experience driving manual you'll likely do very little (if any) actual damage to the engine/transmission as you get comfortable with it, just try not to ride with your foot on the clutch and try not to rev the car way up and dump the clutch. Even if you do these things a couple times it's not going to hurt in the long run.

Hope you enjoy the autocross once you get comfortable with stick shift, it's addictive!

[FRS_Ken]

PoRco - I'm in Ottawa too
I have been driving since '85 - all but two occasions in automatics.
I have yet to order my own FR-S, but it will be a standard trans, I plan on taking lessons later in summer / early fall. I'm not going to drive the FR-S in winter - the 05 Corolla will be the winter car. I'll hopefully take delivery of the FR-S in April 2013.
I feel that an auto will be a waste in this kind if car.

I have to get a std trans in this car.

[PoRco]

Originally Posted by Mazdaspeed

I'd absolutely encourage you to go with the manual, even if the drive home will be a bit of an adventure. I know several people who have bought brand new cars as their first manual transmissioned car ever and none of them have experienced premature failure of any components. If you already have some experience driving manual you'll likely do very little (if any) actual damage to the engine/transmission as you get comfortable with it, just try not to ride with your foot on the clutch and try not to rev the car way up and dump the clutch. Even if you do these things a couple times it's not going to hurt in the long run.

Hope you enjoy the autocross once you get comfortable with stick shift, it's addictive!

Yeah, I don't ride the clutch at all. I just feel safer doing it while reversing slowly, that's fine right?

Originally Posted by CorollaKen

PoRco - I'm in Ottawa too
I have been driving since '85 - all but two occasions in automatics.
I have yet to order my own FR-S, but it will be a standard trans, I plan on taking lessons later in summer / early fall. I'm not going to drive the FR-S in winter - the 05 Corolla will be the winter car. I'll hopefully take delivery of the FR-S in April 2013.
I feel that an auto will be a waste in this kind if car.

I have to get a std trans in this car.

Nice! I looked up if this car would be fine for Ottawa's winter and it seems like this car will do more than just fine. I'm sure you're gonna end up using this car in the winter too :P

What color are you planning on getting? I'm so torn between the FireStorm and the Argento

[eifer]

Get the manual

[ichitaka05]

You know, I'm not gonna tell you to buy MT or AT. I've driven both tranny HARD both at the track & at the freeway. If you think, you won't get full experience of this car cuz it's AT? If that's the case, I'll leave few vid for you. All these are AT tranny

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSndiN24Wxk"]SCION FR-S AutoX 1 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyUo7caicY"]SCION FR-S AutoX 2 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3YivnuSLAI"]Club4AG's Scion FRS, Paddle Shift AT, Drift Testing - YouTube[/ame]

[wallace03]

This will be my first manual car as well. as far as advice on how to drive, all i have to say is Tokyo Drift

[PoRco]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

You know, I'm not gonna tell you to buy MT or AT. I've driven both tranny HARD both at the track & at the freeway. If you think, you won't get full experience of this car cuz it's AT? If that's the case, I'll leave few vid for you. All these are AT tranny

I've actually seen the first two videos before! You posted it on some other thread. This was the video that actually made me rethink for a bit.

But isn't moving the stick shift part of the entire "feel" of the car ? That's what I'm afraid I will lose out on.

What's your opinion on that?

Edit: I wish your friend mounted the cam the way you did :P

[motofan]

Get the manual. You can master your manual driving with it.

[Mazdaspeed]

Originally Posted by PoRco

Yeah, I don't ride the clutch at all. I just feel safer doing it while reversing slowly, that's fine right?

That's fine for low speed maneuvering just don't make a habit of cruising down the street with your foot resting on the pedal.

And in reference to AT versus MT, the reason I prefer MT is because it takes a little more skill and driver involvement. I find heel-toe downshifting to be a lot of fun and I like the feeling of banging off my own shifts without the engine computer deciding when it's appropriate - it just feels more fun to me.

I will say though, Ichitaka has a point, the automatic is VERY good in this car and I'm usually the first person in line to bash automatics. It never once complained about my shift points and it was always quick to respond to my inputs, which is something I can't say of any other "manumatic" that I've driven. It's actually quite fun and not at all a bad compromise, give them both a try and see what speaks to you, you can't go wrong either choice.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by PoRco

I've actually seen the first two videos before! You posted it on some other thread. This was the video that actually made me rethink for a bit.

But isn't moving the stick shift part of the entire "feel" of the car ? That's what I'm afraid I will lose out on.

What's your opinion on that?

Edit: I wish your friend mounted the cam the way you did :P

If I go to the dealer and ask for FR-S MT tranny, but they only have AT tranny FR-S, I'll prob buy that AT FR-S.

& that story goes vice versa.

I'm planning to buy MT. Not cuz it give me full experience blah blah blah. I'm planning to buy MT, cuz it's cheaper than AT.... Simple is that.

I already know this car's potential and I liked both tranny.

Look over your daily route & what you want to do w this car. If you want to be weekend warrior & have a fun at autox, trust me, AT tranny still can do that plus more.

Hope that helps