Standard VS. Auto

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by ExWhyZer0

Yeah I'm going to call around to some in my area. Though I have a feeling I'm going to get the same answer as you. But I just can't imagine rental companies having all autos and no manuals. Someone has got to have some somewhere.

For rental companies, offering manuals just adds to their logistical costs with little if any benefit to them. *All* of their customers can drive AT while only a (comparatively small) subset is able/willing to drive MT, and an even smaller subset would actually request or demand MT. So if they offer MT cars as well as AT they'd either have to have far more total cars (for the same number of customers) or they'd forever have the scenario that they only have MT cars left and that impatient customer at the counter can only drive AT.

Different situation in Europe, though. So one idea would be to plan a "learn to drive MT" vacation across the pond

[wparsons]

I've never seen a manual rental in Canada either, LOTS in Europe though

[einzlr]

@wparsons, love your sig quote!!

[Lo]

I feel as if people have a "give me manual or give me death" kind of mentality. I love manual. The family only owned manuals (except for that one time) and I would find it hard to imagine myself owning an automatic. It is simpler to go with the automatic and feels luxurious.

The important thing here is how you feel when you drive your car? What do you enjoy about it? For that you need to know what it feels like to PROPERLY drive a manual. I stress "properly" because I'm sure your first few times might be horrible or filled with stress and anxiety (generalizing here). After getting the hang of it, just try and enjoy it, then you can weight both options.

It would be a lie to say manual have only advantages compared to automatics. One thing for you that will be important to check is how much of an annoyance can it be if you're stuck in traffic going in and out of 1st gear alone VS having the ease of just pressing on the gas. Personally, being stuck in traffic doesn't bother me at all since manuals have been mostly all that I've known and besides, the joy I get from my occasional aggressive driving (read quick shifts and high reving. I have an old '95 saturn so it's no sportscar) beats those times when I do get caught in traffic.

There was a time when manual cars had better fuel economy, but that's no longer the case. If your car has a problem and stalls while you're driving or if you can't start it with the ignition, you can always start it with momentum and putting it into gear (although that's not important with a new car. You'd usually use these measures with beater cars or very old ones: like my '95 saturn lol).

IMO I would get the manual because no matter the automatic, I always get turned off with the acceleration from a dead stop and I hate those "kickdowns" when you mash the pedal. But if I try putting myself in your shoes, I think I would go with the automatic seeing as it doesn't feel like most automatics I drove. It feels sportier with that rev matching thing.

[WSK]

So...I just done driving my friend's brand new manual transmission Ford Fiesta. I am a believer. The other times I had driven stick were on a highly modded Audi S4 Avant turbo, a Porsche Carrera S, and an Integra (I forget which kind). I don't know if it was because they were actually harder to drive, my lack of driving experience (I just turned twenty-one) or if I was just scared to mess them up, but I did much better driving the Fiesta. I was even able to drive around town after ten minutes. The only thing I had a problem with was occasionally stalling in first gear on flat ground. I am almost definitely going to get a manual.

[WSK]

Would it be unwise to test drive a MT BRZ? I'm not fluid at all with it yet, but I can definitely hold my own, at least on the Fiesta. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to wait for the turbo to come out.

[WSK]

Also, to all the people asking about renting a manual...you may want to consider going to a driving instructor like teenagers go to when they get their permit, they often offer manual transmissions, albeit at a higher price.

[WSK]

I honestly feel like a sucker for driving auto for so long. Anyone have any recommendations on good manual cars of similar value to my Passat? I also live in the north east, so winters can be an issue. That being said I've driven RWD cars exclusively since I was sixteen until last December when I got my Passat.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by WSK

Would it be unwise to test drive a MT BRZ? I'm not fluid at all with it yet, but I can definitely hold my own, at least on the Fiesta. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to wait for the turbo to come out.

Not unwise per se, but you'll probably get more out of it if you first get a little more practiced by driving your friend's Fiesta a few more times if possible. That's a good car to learn in.

Originally Posted by WSK

I honestly feel like a sucker for driving auto for so long. Anyone have any recommendations on good manual cars of similar value to my Passat? I also live in the north east, so winters can be an issue. That being said I've driven RWD cars exclusively since I was sixteen until last December when I got my Passat.

Dunno about similar value, but the Mini is great in the snow and cold. In addition to being a neat little car all around.