Manual in traffic stigma

[naikaidriver]

Originally Posted by MidnightRunner

There's no substitute for a manual transmission. This car was made as a driver's car, so in my opinion an AT shouldn't have even been made. And while traffic in downtown ft lauderdale can be a huge pain in the ass; it's the positives of enjoying the simple things like double clutching, heel toe downshifting, clutch kicking to a wicked drift, and being in full control of my car that outweigh the negatives like riding out 1st and 2nd in stop and go traffic.

Wow! I didn't realize we had Rhyss Millen on the forums!

Oh wait! You CAN'T be Rhys Millen! Because Rhys Millen would never make such a stupid comment such as this!

Scott

[shawnperolis]

Originally Posted by HotLava

You don't have traffic where you live.

Plenty of traffic, I used to work in Cleveland. Hit rush hour at the right time and you are going 10-20mph for about an hour. Funny how just about every automatic owner accuses manual drivers of "not having traffic" when this topic comes up.

[MidnightRunner]

Originally Posted by naikaidriver

Wow! I didn't realize we had Rhyss Millen on the forums!

Oh wait! You CAN'T be Rhys Millen! Because Rhys Millen would never make such a stupid comment such as this!

Scott

Now just to clarify, what was so stupid about my comment? Was it about where I said that the 86 should have never been released in AT? Because as we all know this car was released as a car to bring back the excitement of driving, and I don't see how driving an AT could possibly signify that. Maybe I'm wrong, and I respect you from all your useful posts on this forum, so please show me the error in my logic.

[Sonolin]

Just went to LA and back this weekend. Still no regrets for trading in for the manual!

My right leg (gas +brake pedal) got more sore than my left leg did, lol...

[Jose Carumba]

After 27 years commuting 62 miles round trip in heavy traffic (uphill both ways ) in manual transmission cars I decided I would try something different. My own cars have always been manual (Alfa sedan, Datsun 1600 roadster, Triumph TR-6 & Spitfire, various Honda "commuter cars"). I bought my FR-S as an automatic and have to say that it has been great in traffic. I do not miss creeping up miles long hills clutching in and out at all. Sometimes I miss being able to launch the car aggresively, heel & toe, etc, but since my driving is more GT than track these days it's not such a great loss especially since with its quick shifting and manual mode the automatic is great fun in its own way.

[djmodernroq]

Hey man,

don't text and drive.. If i was to see u doing that.. believe me.. i would chase ur azz and call the cops on u! I almost got hit twice by 2 IDIOTS doing that!! luckily i was able to swerve and not get hit. "knock on wood it won't happen"

I know for a fact they were on their phone because they kept looking down and holding something on their hand.

[campy]

Originally Posted by djmodernroq

Hey man,

don't text and drive.. If i was to see u doing that.. believe me.. i would chase ur azz and call the cops on u! I almost got hit twice by 2 IDIOTS doing that!! luckily i was able to swerve and not get hit. "knock on wood it won't happen"

I know for a fact they were on their phone because they kept looking down and holding something on their hand.

I sometimes wish I was a cop so I could pull over texting 17 year olds all day.

[naikaidriver]

Originally Posted by MidnightRunner

Now just to clarify, what was so stupid about my comment? Was it about where I said that the 86 should have never been released in AT? Because as we all know this car was released as a car to bring back the excitement of driving, and I don't see how driving an AT could possibly signify that. Maybe I'm wrong, and I respect you from all your useful posts on this forum, so please show me the error in my logic.

Yes. And thank you for acknowledging my (albeit very small) contributions around here.

As I have stated multiple times around here, I have only owned sports cars and muscle cars which all had manual transmissions for nearly 25 years. I have nearly two decades of motorcycle and car racing experience (not professional by any means) and I consider myself a "competent" driver as well as an "enthusiast". I continue to race and autocross at least once a month and I believe that I have earned my "enthusiast" moniker. Last year I purchased my first automatic car EVER and it was my FR-S.

I have a real sore spot for people when they make broad, blanket statements about cars that are only there to bash other people. While I do enjoy poking fun every now and then at ricers and what I consider to be poor decision-making, I believe there is no room in the enthusiast community for elitism or degrading of others. Your statement about not Toyota not making auto FR-S's is the kind of thing that does, honestly upset me. Not because I bought an auto specifically, but limiting a market segment to a few while depraving everyone else is just wrong.

Not everyone wants to be Ken Block around every corner, or Marco Andretti in the mountains. Does that mean they should not allowed to buy an FR-S? Not everyone can drive a stick or wants to learn. Its a skill that is getting rarer and rarer (for better or worse). Should that mean that my wife should never be able to drive an FR-S? Or a handicapped/disabled person? Wounded warrior? As a vet I will tell you that there are many out there that driving a manual with a clutch is no longer possible due to war injuries. What would you tell them?

And then there is me. Why on Earth would I have bought the auto FR-S? Well, its because the auto in the FR-S is just THAT GOOD. It really is. I test drove both and this is what I wanted. The wife can drive it and that makes EVERYONE happy especially after a night of :happy0180: . Also, remember that the clutch on the FR-S has to be replaced by the time you are pushing around 300rwhp. The auto has been easily handling over 400rwhp with zero modifications. (for now anyway. lol!) You can find more details in the Forced Induction Section of the Technical Forums.

Sorry for the lecture but I've been due to give it again so here it is.

Scott

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by bdub85

I think it's hilarious when people complain about driving a manual in traffic. Lazy fuckers. Most manuals in production cars are so fucking easy to drive. In my Jeep, I can pretty much just let the clutch out without hitting the gas.

Try driving a dogbox (un-synchronized transmission) and an unsprung 6 puck clutch in stop and go traffic. The clutch was like an on/off switch, and I had to double clutch every shift.

yes! this is ''dead nuts" accurate! the old ' '"conical" shaped gear boxes in many old trucks "had" to be "double-clutched" in order to shift at all. today
all gears are cut in a "helical" pattern,and all use synchros,so double clutching is a thing of the past,although,i gotta tell ya,i STILL double clutch every time i shift. old habits die hard. this is not to kind to the "throw-out" bearing over time,however,it's been my experience in several vehicles,that this part will easily go a minimum of 150,000 miles,and much farther in some vehicles,regardless of ''double-clutching" also,when you have driven "stick" for a long time,driving in traffic is something you do without even thinking about it. it becomes second nature,and is not a concern at all.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by bdub85

I think it's hilarious when people complain about driving a manual in traffic. Lazy fuckers. Most manuals in production cars are so fucking easy to drive. In my Jeep, I can pretty much just let the clutch out without hitting the gas.

Try driving a dogbox (un-synchronized transmission) and an unsprung 6 puck clutch in stop and go traffic. The clutch was like an on/off switch, and I had to double clutch every shift.

Originally Posted by Jose Carumba

After 27 years commuting 62 miles round trip in heavy traffic (uphill both ways ) in manual transmission cars I decided I would try something different. My own cars have always been manual (Alfa sedan, Datsun 1600 roadster, Triumph TR-6 & Spitfire, various Honda "commuter cars"). I bought my FR-S as an automatic and have to say that it has been great in traffic. I do not miss creeping up miles long hills clutching in and out at all. Sometimes I miss being able to launch the car aggresively, heel & toe, etc, but since my driving is more GT than track these days it's not such a great loss especially since with its quick shifting and manual mode the automatic is great fun in its own way.

this is true! never thought i would ever say this,BUT in THIS car it IS true!

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by naikaidriver

Yes. And thank you for acknowledging my (albeit very small) contributions around here.

As I have stated multiple times around here, I have only owned sports cars and muscle cars which all had manual transmissions for nearly 25 years. I have nearly two decades of motorcycle and car racing experience (not professional by any means) and I consider myself a "competent" driver as well as an "enthusiast". I continue to race and autocross at least once a month and I believe that I have earned my "enthusiast" moniker. Last year I purchased my first automatic car EVER and it was my FR-S.

I have a real sore spot for people when they make broad, blanket statements about cars that are only there to bash other people. While I do enjoy poking fun every now and then at ricers and what I consider to be poor decision-making, I believe there is no room in the enthusiast community for elitism or degrading of others. Your statement about not Toyota not making auto FR-S's is the kind of thing that does, honestly upset me. Not because I bought an auto specifically, but limiting a market segment to a few while depraving everyone else is just wrong.

Not everyone wants to be Ken Block around every corner, or Marco Andretti in the mountains. Does that mean they should not allowed to buy an FR-S? Not everyone can drive a stick or wants to learn. Its a skill that is getting rarer and rarer (for better or worse). Should that mean that my wife should never be able to drive an FR-S? Or a handicapped/disabled person? Wounded warrior? As a vet I will tell you that there are many out there that driving a manual with a clutch is no longer possible due to war injuries. What would you tell them?

And then there is me. Why on Earth would I have bought the auto FR-S? Well, its because the auto in the FR-S is just THAT GOOD. It really is. I test drove both and this is what I wanted. The wife can drive it and that makes EVERYONE happy especially after a night of :happy0180: . Also, remember that the clutch on the FR-S has to be replaced by the time you are pushing around 300rwhp. The auto has been easily handling over 400rwhp with zero modifications. (for now anyway. lol!) You can find more details in the Forced Induction Section of the Technical Forums.

Sorry for the lecture but I've been due to give it again so here it is.

Scott

you are correct in that THIS particular "slush" in THIS particular car is really "gotdamn" good,and i've been drivin' stick all my life (over 40 years) they engineered the shit out of it,and it shows...just sayin'

[bdub85]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

yes! this is ''dead nuts" accurate! the old ' '"conical" shaped gear boxes in many old trucks "had" to be "double-clutched" in order to shift at all. today
all gears are cut in a "helical" pattern,and all use synchros,so double clutching is a thing of the past,although,i gotta tell ya,i STILL double clutch every time i shift. old habits die hard. this is not to kind to the "throw-out" bearing over time,however,it's been my experience in several vehicles,that this part will easily go a minimum of 150,000 miles,and much farther in some vehicles,regardless of ''double-clutching" also,when you have driven "stick" for a long time,driving in traffic is something you do without even thinking about it. it becomes second nature,and is not a concern at all.

I still have a habit of double clutching also. It's just like riding a bike. Once you learn how to do it, it's hard to forget.

[jlu]

Originally Posted by shawnperolis

Plenty of traffic, I used to work in Cleveland. Hit rush hour at the right time and you are going 10-20mph for about an hour. Funny how just about every automatic owner accuses manual drivers of "not having traffic" when this topic comes up.

I didn't realize "every" and "one" had the same meaning. Learn something new every day.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by bdub85

I still have a habit of double clutching also. It's just like riding a bike. Once you learn how to do it, it's hard to forget.

yes! i learned back in the 70's (showing my age) on 'fuller" road rangers.
damn boxes were 15 gears strong!.shift..shift..shift! (p.i.t.a.) never forgot,and
do it everyday...just sayin'