Heavy City Drivers, please opine...

[paulca]

Only autos I have driven have been dealer courtesy cars, so I can't really judge compared to an auto, though I found heavy stop/go traffic sleep inducing in an auto. Brake off.... wait.... brake on.... snooze.... brake off.... wait.... brake on... snooze.

Minimum crawling speed is about 4mph but if on a hill it will require you to milk the throttle 1mm on and off and be extra smooth or it will lurch (no auto sponge-iness). You can get so slow the rev pick up from the AC coming on actually accelerates the car to 5mph. Below that you'll either need to keep pressure on the clutch to not bog down or coast to a stop, wait for a 10 yard gap and resume. Even if you sit on the clutch constantly you're clutch will last 60k at least and isn't that expensive to replace.

The torque dip is, as said, 'mostly' in people's heads. The only reason I notice it is there is a definite second kick around 4500, which is more positive than the virtual un-noticable pause in acceleration. So I actually like it. Driving in genuine slow traffic amongst normal cars you don't need the power from high RPM, the car has enough torque below 3k to out pull 90% of cars on the road.

One thing I have noticed about this car in heavy stop/go traffic is that the cabin air intake is susceptible to sucking up someone else's exhaust fumes. Stay back from diesels and smoking exhausts. If you smell exhaust, hit the recirc on the AC and open a window.

Also, be aware the car is low. You will find it hides in car parks when you come out from doing the shopping and it's hiding behind other cars and doesn't reveal itself till you get up close. Remember this as it applies on the road too. You tend to hide behind other vehicles and people have a tendency to pull out in front of you as they don't see you until much later. If there is an SUV blocking 'your' view of a junction expect a car coming out of that junction can't see you either.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Don't feel it in CITY driving. Even between it is "there" it is gone in a fraction of a second as you ;pow through the gears. None of this "I can't get up to speed to merge since it takes too long" crap that some spew.

Reminds me of back-in-the-day ....... (I know ) when people would put 3 deuces on a car (picture attached for the younger folks) and most would use a progressive linkage (center carburetor would open first - all 3 open at more throttle), however some would hook them up in series (all 3 open at once).

When the series folks would be asked why not progressive ...... they would reply, oh, I just can't wait for the end two carbs to open up....... MORE POWER!

(never mind that on most street setups - the engine couldn't use most of the extra gas, at lower rpms ..... )


humfrz

[FX86]

buy an automatic..much better..not sure why they made one with three pedals...we don't have 3 legs

[amcluesent]

I'd get the auto, far better in city traffic and you only lose a small amount against the manual on open roads.

Unless you plan to track it, of course.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by FX86

buy an automatic..much better..not sure why they made one with three pedals...we don't have 3 legs

.......that's for ..... just because ......


humfrz

[WWFT86]

I'd suggest test driving both the MT and AT in the "heavy traffic" condition in your area, then go with your gut feel.

Also it doesn't need to be black and white - I've driven the AT exclusively in manual mode, albeit with the regular shifter and not paddle shifters, and have never regretted it one bit. Having to drive through a snow storm recently where I was bumper to bumper for 1.5 hours to go 6km reaffirms my decision to go semi-AT.

[guybo]

I drive highway and city often in traffic. My car is a M/T and my left knee is kind of screwed up from when I sprained it a few years ago.

It's fine in traffic. I even did the assist spring delete that makes the clutch stiffer. Sometimes I even look forward to traffic when I'm bored driving home because then I get to listen to my engine and exhaust

I also did a 900+ mile round trip 3 day road trip and only I drove (my wife doesn't drive M/T) and I was fine there too. over 10 hours on the first day of the trip.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by WWFT86

I'd suggest test driving both the MT and AT in the "heavy traffic" condition in your area, then go with your gut feel.

Also it doesn't need to be black and white - I've driven the AT exclusively in manual mode, albeit with the regular shifter and not paddle shifters, and have never regretted it one bit. Having to drive through a snow storm recently where I was bumper to bumper for 1.5 hours to go 6km reaffirms my decision to go semi-AT.

i believe shifting with the gear lever in an automatic is blasphemy...not even sure why they put a shift boot on the automatic pretending to be a manual

[Somerandom18]

I don't see how people think the torque dip is imaginary.. my car pulls hard until 3500 rpm then just falls completely flat until 5500 and pulls again. It's so bad..

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[mazeroni]

Easy if you start in 2nd gear. You don't need too much throttle to get rolling and won't bog the engine because the gearing is so short. That makes it far more tolerable in traffic. Unless you need to jump into a gap. Then yes, getting stuck in a higher gear under 3K makes it very, very difficult to sneak into openings. You must always be conscious of your surroundings and be ready to grab a lower gear.

It also helps to learn how to rev match into 1st under 20 mph. You do not want to get stuck in 2nd then have to floor it. Nothing. Happens. For. A. Long. Long. Time.

Otherwise, I find the seats to be excellent, the brakes are easy to modulate, and the sightlines are mostly good so it is easy to move between lanes.

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by FX86

i believe shifting with the gear lever in an automatic is blasphemy...not even sure why they put a shift boot on the automatic pretending to be a manual

I think you are trolling but you might like this: clutchless sequential shifter for modern days of racing. Do you see a boot there?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XviGi4u0eTA"]MTI Racing Six Shooter Sequential Transmission - YouTube[/ame]

[FX86]

Originally Posted by mrg666

I think you are trolling but you might like this: clutchless sequential shifter for modern days of racing. Do you see a boot there?

nope i can't even see the driver's feet...or were you referring to the trunk?

[HKz]

my friend has a newer WRX and his clutch felt so much heavier than my FRS's clutch but it may just be his clutch...regardless, the clutch isn't a problem in traffic but shifting in the mornings when it is cold is really the only issue I personally have. The stick feels stiff and clunky for the first couple miles which is especially rough for me since I have to go over 6 horrendous speedbumps to get out of my complex and I have to go through 7 stoplights before I hit the highway.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Somerandom18

I don't see how people think the torque dip is imaginary.. my car pulls hard until 3500 rpm then just falls completely flat until 5500 and pulls again. It's so bad..

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Welp, I reckon you shudda got an FR-S .........


humfrz