Heavy City Drivers, please opine...

[Vic4uf]

The clutch and manual shifting isn't an issue but the seats need lumbar support. I bought a Tempurpedic lumbar cushion and the lower back pains eventually went away.

[daiheadjai]

Not sure if I'm a heavy enough city driver to comment. I'm only 155lbs (Ba dum bump).

I drove my BRZ to work for 2 years, and had a weekly 2.5hr commute home from school through traffic (at least 30min of it) for one year.
The clutch makes it easy to creep along with traffic, but gearbox mods like the mtec shift springs, TRD Quickshifter and a weighted shift knob make shifting fun enough that you almost don't mind traffic.

One thing to bear in mind, the windshield is pretty thin (had to repair 2 stone chips in one year due to gravel kicked up during my commute to work).

The torque is enough for most situations, but tight openings/lane changes may require a downshift. Steering gets a bit skittery if you commute through slush at highway speeds, and if you have to deal with icy, steep uphills, pray that it isn't stop and go or you might enjoy a backwards toboggan ride.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[guybo]

Lol 2 lanes over doesn't qualify as a blind spot.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Vic4uf

The clutch and manual shifting isn't an issue but the seats need lumbar support. I bought a Tempurpedic lumbar cushion and the lower back pains eventually went away.

Can't disagree here. The bolstering is great, but the lower back section of the seat back is almost devoid of material. A little would go a long way there. The only time not having support there bothers me is when my lower back is already acting up before I even start driving, though. So far long stints in the car haven't brought on lower back pain due to a lack of support.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

That is actually not always true. In some states, the right of way law is written so that the "overtaking vehicle" must yield the right of way to the vehicle being overtaken. That is supposed to refer to someone entering the lane next to them when there's already a car there, but it has been interpreted to also mean that in the case of two cars merging into the same center lane, the car to the rear, in the blind spot, has the right of way even though they have the better visibility to be able to avoid an accident.

Additionally, that's almost always incorrect with reference to traffic entering from an on ramp. The guy on the on ramp must yield the right of way to traffic already in the travel lane, regardless of whether it's in his blind spot. While it's an asshole move not to allow traffic to merge in, the guy in the travel lane has the right of way over merging traffic.

But you're not overtaking the guy who is two lanes over trying to occupy the same space as you, you're overtaking the guy one lane over. The one two lanes over, if they're passing that middle car and trying to merge over, is passing on the right, something that, again maybe not across the board, is not supposed to be legal. Happens all the time, but technically wrong because the driver's right side is always lower visibility. Anyway, back to you in the farthest left lane, you can't really be expected to yield to someone you can't see two lanes over who can see you and shouldn't be passing anyone on the right, but if that's the way a local law is written, that blows.

Wasn't talking on-ramps, but you're correct about how that's supposed to go down. I know Texas has some really stupid "on ramps" in San Antonio and Austin territory that's more like 30 feet of blacktop you're supposed to miraculously achieve highway speed in before you enter, but I personally don't have issues seeing traffic on my left when I'm the guy on the ramp, and usually see them coming and can gauge where they'll end up long before we get close to each other when I'm the guy in the traveling lane. Could just be my state gives people plenty of room to get up to speed and merge more often than not.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by guybo

Lol 2 lanes over doesn't qualify as a blind spot.

Semantic argument. This is the first car I've ever almost driven into a panel van. Happened within a couple weeks of ownership.

Even with optimally-adjusted mirrors it requires next level situational awareness of the driver. Nothing wrong with that. It just takes some practice.

[kpamir]

I daily mine into the city winter and summer.

The only time I had any regrets was when I first got the car and was learning stick as I went a long. But if you're used to stick already then honestly you shouldnt really have much to worry about.

The clutch is light and apart from being a bit vague at the start you get the handle of it.

I don't think I'd ever consider a car that isn't stick after this. It is engaging and it makes a dull commute worthwhile.

Just my two cents.

[Spec C Wannabe]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

And thus guybo should not have said, "If your mirrors are really adjusted right there's no blind spot- at all."

Got it. Done deal.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by kpamir

I don't think I'd ever consider a car that isn't stick after this. It is engaging and it makes a dull commute worthwhile.

Just my two cents.

Only downside is that you've chosen one of the best manuals to learn on. Anything else that isn't a high level sports car is going to feel pretty terrible as far as shifter feel and that nice exact movement from one gear to the next. Odd clutch pedal feeling aside, you're pretty much spoiled now when it comes to manuals.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Semantic argument. This is the first car I've ever almost driven into a panel van. Happened within a couple weeks of ownership.

Even with optimally-adjusted mirrors it requires next level situational awareness of the driver. Nothing wrong with that. It just takes some practice.

I wonder if it's a tall person problem (no idea your height or that of others commenting, I just assume most folks are always taller than me). I'm 5'7", and I adjusted myself to sit fairly low in the car. When I turn my head I can see right out of the quarter window into what would essentially be my blind spot. Anything else in front of or behind that I can either see from the head turn or see in the mirror, which I've turned pretty far out.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

I wonder if it's a tall person problem (no idea your height or that of others commenting, I just assume most folks are always taller than me). I'm 5'7", and I adjusted myself to sit fairly low in the car. When I turn my head I can see right out of the quarter window into what would essentially be my blind spot. Anything else in front of or behind that I can either see from the head turn or see in the mirror, which I've turned pretty far out.

Excellent point. I wrote on that some time ago and have since forgotten. I'm 6'5" and best seating position puts that B-pillar right in my field of view.

[swimmbo]

I got the automatic so my wife and daughters could enjoy it, they don't do clutches much....
I love my FRS in traffic, it's so sporty and zippy you can't help but drive it like a maniac especially around corners and going into the roundabouts.
It's not the hottest thing on the streets, so I don't try to beat the Porshes and Vettes from the green lights. It is only 200 horsepower, remember. About twice what my old MG had...
It's a blast. Gets good mileage, is comfortable.
It is fun to drive! It's very affordable and insurance is reasonable because of the fraudulent rear seat.
It's great in snow, too. That story is in the photo/videos forum, didn't mean for it to go there but that's where the search feature landed me.
Yeah get one of these cars.

[PandaSPUR]

I only drive for pleasure (usually weekends, sometimes weeknights) so I'm not sure how much my opinion counts. However, NYC traffic freaking sucks, especially with all the road work on two of the main highways I use. I guess having an automatic would make it suck a little less, but traffic is traffic and I dont think the manual transmission makes it much worse.

Although sometimes I am afraid that I'm wearing out the clutch prematurely thanks to traffic

[guybo]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Only downside is that you've chosen one of the best manuals to learn on. Anything else that isn't a high level sports car is going to feel pretty terrible as far as shifter feel and that nice exact movement from one gear to the next. Odd clutch pedal feeling aside, you're pretty much spoiled now when it comes to manuals.

Mazda is supposed to have an even better clutch and shifter than an 86 (so I read, but I haven't driven one). Can anyone confirm that? One thing I can confirm 100%- this M/T is a LOT better than what my Genesis Coupe had! I am not a fan of dual mass flywheels.

Originally Posted by Overdrive

I wonder if it's a tall person problem (no idea your height or that of others commenting, I just assume most folks are always taller than me). I'm 5'7", and I adjusted myself to sit fairly low in the car. When I turn my head I can see right out of the quarter window into what would essentially be my blind spot. Anything else in front of or behind that I can either see from the head turn or see in the mirror, which I've turned pretty far out.

I'm 5'8"- maybe that is the difference?