Manual Pros

[lantsalot]

Originally Posted by cgrey

If you've ever driven a Miata, how would you rate the transmission against the S2000?

If not, maybe someone else has driven both?

I actually have not had the chance to drive a miata, so hopefully somebody else will have your answer!

[MI FR-S]

Gearbox is lovely when up to temperature. Can be a bit of a pig when it's cold.
Clutch is not as smooth as almost any other car I've driven. There is an area where a very small percentage of the pedal travel is responsible for a large percentage of the engagement. If I'm not concentrating I'm likely to engage too quickly through this area and the shift isn't as smooth as I want.

Previous car was a Civic so I may have been spoiled by Honda.

[Cade01]

I have to agree with everyone else on the clutch being too light. Short of installing a heavier clutch, is there anyway to get a heavier feel to it? It feels even lighter after you adjust the grab point.

[Bonburner]

This car's flywheel was like 20 lbs .. I thought that was heavy and was thinking about replacing it so i can do harder/faster shifts lol

[mit_peid]

I really like the FRS MT gearbox and transmission, but I still struggle to shift smoothly. My first three cars were MTs ('83 Celica, '84 Toy P/U, '97 Civic) with my last one being a AT ('05 4Runner). I do have to give Honda their props that the Civic gearbox was actually quite good in relationship; I haven't driven a S2000 before but I can imagine it being Civic-like but just better. I have to agree that the FRS gearbox is a little extra knotchy in the morning when it is still cold (sometimes 2nd is a little difficult to get into when it is cold for me). Transitions between gears both up and down are still challenging to get super smooth for me. I doubt I will ever get it as smooth as the FRS AT which for the most part is almost unnoticeable, but in a good way. But I do enjoy manual rowing the gears.

[steve87j]

give more gas to match revs it wont bounce

[JDM_OBP]

I'm coming from a WRX with a stg 3 clutch and the FRS clutch is really soft not as stiff at the oem WRX one as well. At least thats how it felt from my test drive (still waiting on delivery).

[WolfsFang]

Im came from a Eclipse GSX using a ACT 2100 clutch then to a 2005 Evo running a ACT Extreme pressure plate (such a stuff clutch my left leg was like twice the size of my right). I think the FRS shifts much more smoothly but the clutch is way to light, even my friend who has a stock clutch Si says it's way to light.

[DarkSunrise]

When warm, I think this car's transmission is nearly as good as the S2000/Miata shifters. About on par with the RSX-S. Slightly notchy, but very very good.

[EBMCS03]

I think I'm the only one then. I actually do not like the clutch or the transmission on the FRS. Here's my opinion on clutches and transmissions

Clutch is too light on the FRS and has no feedback at all. Clutch travel is on the short side, catch point is almost like an on off switch. I can barely tell where the engagement point is. You're suppose to be able to feel where it starts grabbing then as you release the clutch more it'll grab in a linear fashion, instead if you feel it grab then when you continue to disengage the clutch it'll make the car hop like a bunny rabbit. (i'm exaggerating to get my point across)

Transmission is too clunky. The short shifts are nice but shifts are not smooth. It does not glide in smoothly. In my Porsche it slides in very nicely yet you can feel it shift into gear

Comparing to my previous MINI Cooper S and Porsche Cayman S

Porsche has the best clutch and shifter feel I have ever driven. You really get what you pay for at 3X the cost. MINI is very good also. the clutch is lighter but has very good feedback.

BMW on the other hand I do not like. It has too much spring feel to it. feels like you're stepping into a rubber band and springs back.

[FRSupra]

I want to say that I'm dissapointed that a lot of owners are learning to drive a MT in this car,... but I guess that's sort of what the engineers inteneded it to be.

The gearbox is definatly on par with the best, but sadly I've still felt better Honda's.

EBMCS03 makes a lot of valid points.

[Speedy000]

light? meh i think it feels great i drove a 04 vw jetta shifter on that thing was the lightest i have ever used felt like there was nothing but air when pushing the clutch in. and the gear box felt like the whole thing was plastic.

[Snoopyalien24]

Originally Posted by Purdue FR-S

I also think the FR-S is easy to drive. Very forgiving as far as not stalling it goes.

I learned to drive a manual in a 97 camaro in highschool. That thing was pretty sad (though I did love it at the time lol).

I also agree about the s2000. My dad owns one that I get to drive on my birthday lol. So amazingly smooth and you get a "snick-snick"ness that's very impressionable. I also test drove the Civic Si and I must say, I think Honda has to be a dominant player in the affordable sports cars' transmission quality. The whole time I drove it I got the feeling that Honda had been doing this right for a long time and knew what they were doing.

That being said, you can't really weight my opinion too much as I've only driven a handful of manuals in my life.

Its like Honda did something so well (the S2000) they ran out of juice to make another similar car. I mean between the NSX, and the S2k, those people know how to make a RWD car - even if its FR or MR.

Stop making a car we wont afford and make one that we can Honda!!! Im lookin at you new NSX