Manual vs Automatic (Help!)

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i would go with the manual simply based on the fact that you seem to be on the fence and the manual is cheaper. if youre gonna regret something, it might as well be a thousand dollars in your pocket

+1, might as well have a thousand dollars in your pocket. It'll take many many years for the auto to pay itself off in "saved gas", if at all.

Although I admit, having practiced my rev matching and shit for the past few weeks, I can understand why it would be kinda neat to just pull a paddle and have it do a perfect rev match. Those throttle blips are so hard to get right!

[russv]

You will get numerous opinions on this forum on which transmission to get ranging from being called a wuss and unfocused if you choose an auto to the position that a manual is more "manly". I've driven manuals since I was 6 ( my Dad's MG TD) to various Porsches, Mercedes, Volvos, Hondas, antique cars and pickup trucks. All were great fun and a manual does have a feel of being more in touch with the car. However, I chose the automatic as it is a well sorted transmission, allows you several choices on how to use it ( manual mode with paddle shifters or shift lever), sport mode which shifts smartly between gears, or the standard mode which is good for around town driving. I have driven both manual and auto FRS and can recommend either one. It's a matter of personal preference so don't allow ANYONE to intimidate you into buying one or the other by implying you are a dummy by making either choice.

[CircuitJerk]

Nothing like jumping right in to a manual. Since you've had a little practice you'll be fine.
Since you are young, and have the opportunity, by all means you should learn and spend your first years in a manual.
To round out your driving skills, I suggest learning how to ride a motorcycle if you haven't already done so.
Just think, you will be ready to drive ANYTHING at a moments notice. It's especially helpful in an emergency situation. You won't be hindered by not having the experience...

Good luck and just do it! You'll be fine.

[Mister_Sir]

Originally Posted by gmookher

17

get a manual

learn to drive while youre still young

youre welcome


the auto will teach you NOTHING

^^^^^ This. My first car (05 tC) was automatic. It was kinda boring to drive since I had no input on what gear I was in or RPMs. And the sound of an exhaust on an auto is lame. I practiced driving stick on my mom's car when I was 15 and took to it pretty quick. 5 years later it only took me a week to feel completely comfortable driving the manual FR-S and I WONT be going to another auto. Life is about taking chances and having fun. Trust us, manual is the way to go. Anyone can learn it if they have patience.

[luxmn]

I live in college town (UTexas alone has 50k students) and drive a lot. From my experience, young drivers with nice automatic cars have no appreciation for the car's capability and respect for others on the road. All they do is slam on the gas to squeeze in/past someone at red light to feel good then immediately slam on the brake to stop. Perfect example would be as we approaching red light, as I'm trying to heel-toe to stop smoothly, a kid in an M3 whip right in front of me although there is plenty of space in front of me, then brake hard, now I have to brake to not hurt the moron.

When you have a manual car, you learn how to launch correctly to go fast, coordinate shift and steer to maneuver in traffic, heel-toe to brake safely and smoothly. Learning how to do those tasks perfectly can take months and once you know them you find yourself not feeling the urge to "whip in and out" just because you drive a nice car, unless its track day . It's like martial art, the people who are masters are not the bullies picking on pp, those usually are the pp halfass the first few techniques then drop off thinking they know it all. The true masters have great respect for the art itself.

Long windy answer but my advice for you is buy a manual, learn to drive, appreciate the car and respect the art of driving.

[GingerExtract]

1.) You're 17, save the money and don't buy a BRZ. Pick up something used for half the money and bank the rest.

2.) Learning to drive a standard takes literally only a day or so when it's your own car and you have to get around.

[Kochinopride]

buy a $1000 beater Civic... Learn from that. Be Smart.

[Boxer-86]

I would buy a used turbo Miata, S2000, or something similar. You have your entire life to drive cars with back seats, so if you don't need the practicality, I would advocate driving sportscars before you finish college, have a family, and need cars with backseats. The FR-S meets my needs perfectly, but if I was younger and didn't have one child with another on the way, I would have an Elise in my garage parked next to my Miata..

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Mr. J

I'll be short; I'm considering an automatic over a manual. Now most of you probably cringed at that sentence, but hear me out. This will be my first new car. I'm a 17 year-old high school student, who is pretty much funding this car entirely on his own. So here's the deal; I can't exactly drive a manual. I've tried once before and I picked up on it fairly well, but I was driving a little Chevy Aveo and I had some trouble with starting (gas + clutch release). I was considering the car in automatic simply because I'm not comfortable with driving stick just yet. I would feel guilty purchasing this as an automatic because I feel it would hinder the driving experience. My question to all of you is, is the manual a huge improvement over the auto? I'm going to need a lot of practice, but I think I can be fairly confident before the car would arrive to the dealer. So what are your thoughts overall? I'd love some opinions!

nut up and get the stick

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

nut up and get the stick

That's an impressive necro.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

That's an impressive necro.

Thank you. It's all for the community.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Thank you. It's all for the community.

As a token of my appreciation for your effort I offer this pic:

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

As a token of my appreciation for your effort I offer this pic:

She's lovely.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

She's lovely.

I wholeheartedly agree. But is she real or CGI?