Manual in traffic stigma

[bdanisi]

I've read about double clutching but I still don't fully understand how it works. Could someone describe a real world application? Seeing as this thread refuses to die lol

[jmaryt]

there is none! it's a way of shifting transmissions that required double clutching.
today's transmissions don't require it be learned anymore,as it's not necessary.

''don't ever use a cell phone while driving,unless it's to inform the lottery commission
that you have won!"

[MidnightRunner]

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

I apologize if my opinion hurt your feelings and led you into that drawn out and well thought of comment. You do bring up a good point about handicapped or injured vets that should share the opportunity to drive this car, but at the end of the day you wound up buying this car because you wanted a car that both you and your wife could drive. I respect that decision. But at the same time I stand by my opinion that ATs are a hinder to fully enjoying the capabilities of a car that was labeled as the resurrection of the driver's car of long ago. We both have different opinions, and whether or not you agree with me, my opinion will always be the same. So let's both do this thread a favor and stop the childish debate of autos vs manuals. Thank you Scott.

-RJ

[HotLava]

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.

Yea, you have rush hour. Real traffic is rush hours (plural). As in 5 am to 9:45 am. It will never take you three hours to drive out of Cleveland on a Friday night.

[airjonny]

I'm in the process of learning right now, but Chicago traffic with a stick is really intimidating. I don't want to stall! lol

[shawnperolis]

Originally Posted by HotLava

Yea, you have rush hour. Real traffic is rush hours (plural). As in 5 am to 9:45 am. It will never take you three hours to drive out of Cleveland on a Friday night.

Even if I had to deal with that, it wouldn't make me pick a different transmission. If one hour of intense traffic is a total non-issue, why would three make any difference? It's all in the technique and comfort level of the driver.

[n2oinferno]

No hatred, some people just don't want to deal with it. Same way that some people use an abacus while most stick to the calculator. Some people prefer paper files while others keep everything digital.

Convenience really.

[shawnperolis]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

No hatred, some people just don't want to deal with it. Same way that some people use an abacus while most stick to the calculator. Some people prefer paper files while others keep everything digital.

Convenience really.

Comparing the manual transmission to the abacus or paper files is a bit off, considering that the manual is faster than the alternative. :happy0180:

[pascalbrax]

I learnt driving with manual and only drove manual cars.

A few months ago I've used the company car, which is auto, and I got lost in traffic.

Okay, it was a Smart, not really the best and responsive auto gearbox, but I still wonder how people can drive with that thing. So, I think that's a whole subjective matter.

[Hook]

I learnt manual (I'm 30) for the first time so that I could buy a manual version of this car. Previously I had owned v8 autos, so this car is completely different and was way out of my comfort zone.
I have owned it for about 5 months now and I must admit driving in traffic did worry me at first (especially going up big hills!) but I am getting much better.
So I understand the perception of driving a manual being difficult in traffic as that was my perception too.

On a side note I am so glad I brought the manual, had my first track day on sunday and loved it. Also learning all the skills like rev matching (rev blip on the downshift is really fun and sounds awesome with my new exhaust). Like others have said it just keeps you much more engaged in the process of driving. I haven't driven with the radio on since I brought the car, I just listen to the engine revs and try to drive as smooth as possible.

[saiyajinimports]

its laziness.

[radroach]

The FR-S / BRZ is a car that loves momentum, hates braking. I fet the brakes thrown on me ALL THE TIME by witless people driving crapboxes, and that's my only problem in traffic. I'll wrangle with my gearbox and clutch anyday!

[Endless Mike]

Hey guys, I live in the city with the most time wasted in congestion and I drive a manual. If you're complaining about driving in traffic maybe you should just take the bus.

[daiheadjai]

Not to advocate texting and driving, but didn't NHTSA or something just release data that showed texting/distracted driving accounted for a very small sliver of traffic accidents/deaths?

Not to say that we should continue the practice, but it really isn't on par with things like drunk driving.

On a side note: I love M/T, even in traffic - someone asked how you can enjoy driving any car when you're crawling at 25mph (~40-50kph for us metric folk)?
Easy - it gives you a chance to use your brain (still gotta upshift, rev-match downshifts, etc.). That sort of engagement just doesn't come with most autoboxes.