Is the manual transmission a good choice for an everyday driver?

[whateatsrabbits]

Originally Posted by shishand

Stupid question i know.. But i been saving up for a while now, and i cant decide between which.. Im 18 right now, so i have to pick a car to stick with for a while (probably through college as well) and i worked too hard for the money to waste it wrong.. Anyways i been driving an auto and never even drove a stick, so i need some advice haha I need a car to have fun with(im not talking about going on tracks and drift, like maybe a little stupid powerslide..ect) but i like REV'ing the engine to redlines and ect.. and IM SURE i can learn the manual, so not ever driving a manual car isn't a big thing either. I just basically need something reliable to last for a bit and not too costy for the maintenance, be convenient, an EVERYDAY car .. what do you think?



& Also, so does the original HU, the basic ones have RCA outputs for speakers? i know the premium HU does "Six 2.4-volt pre-amplified RCA outputs for front, rear and sub-speakers, allowing owners to add external amps to boost power and expand the sound field for a truly custom speaker system"

FACT: You would be wasting your hard earned money buying an auto. This car is an easy stick to drive. I have driven many manual vehicles and this one is second only to a honda element in ease of driving. I have stalled many cars, but not this one, yet... But idk it seem pretty hard to stall. It just takes off... Just make sure you have somebody to teach you, how to drive stick.

The thing that concerns me is your need for an everyday car. You might want to think about something more practical, A used stick shift VW golf/rabbit would be the Ideal for college, Enough room to move your shit, and enough room to comfortably seat 4 and enough torque to go blunt riding in rural/hilly areas. Then once your out of college and making some good money. Then the FR-S seems practical for an everyday car, commuting back and forth to work, picking up some groceries.

I have the standard radio equipment.
Yes it has a hook up for a sub, But honestly the stereo in this thing sounds great. I would not change a thing, save your money for stage1 ICE Intake Chip Exhaust. Putting in a sub adds weight, the car has 8 speakers, pioneer headuint, with bluetooth. Basically its the best sounding stock system Ive ever heard. You can make it real loud and the music still come in clear. I like blasting techno pretending I'm that german guy in a porche from sooper troopers.

[SkitterSkotter]

Holy shit, yes it is. You can get INSANE mileage with the manual. I've averaged 35.2 mpg for the last 2000 miles and on my current tank (350 miles in) I've averaged 38.8mpg. I had no idea this car was so good at hypermiling.

[whateatsrabbits]

Originally Posted by SkitterSkotter

Holy shit, yes it is. You can get INSANE mileage with the manual. I've averaged 35.2 mpg for the last 2000 miles and on my current tank (350 miles in) I've averaged 38.8mpg. I had no idea this car was so good at hypermiling.

Yeah I'm getting 29 mpg city driving. Low rpms and fast downhill and slow uphill.
Please give a better explanation of hypermilling. Ive hear it before but don't know what it is.

[jflogerzi]

I have been averaging about 32MPG in my MT FR-S (85% freeway with little traffic) so I am pretty stoked. IMO if you plan to keep this car for a while, mod it, etc.. get a MT. Its so much fun and you will feel connect to the car. Now the AT is very good in this car. You really can't go wrong with either. On the plus side, MT is 1K less which you can put to mods :happy0180:

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by whateatsrabbits

FACT: You would be wasting your hard earned money buying an auto. This car is an easy stick to drive. I have driven many manual vehicles and this one is second only to a honda element in ease of driving. I have stalled many cars, but not this one, yet... But idk it seem pretty hard to stall. It just takes off... Just make sure you have somebody to teach you, how to drive stick.

The thing that concerns me is your need for an everyday car. You might want to think about something more practical, A used stick shift VW golf/rabbit would be the Ideal for college, Enough room to move your shit, and enough room to comfortably seat 4 and enough torque to go blunt riding in rural/hilly areas. Then once your out of college and making some good money. Then the FR-S seems practical for an everyday car, commuting back and forth to work, picking up some groceries.

I have the standard radio equipment.
Yes it has a hook up for a sub, But honestly the stereo in this thing sounds great. I would not change a thing, save your money for stage1 ICE Intake Chip Exhaust. Putting in a sub adds weight, the car has 8 speakers, pioneer headuint, with bluetooth. Basically its the best sounding stock system Ive ever heard. You can make it real loud and the music still come in clear. I like blasting techno pretending I'm that german guy in a porche from sooper troopers.

Umm the stock audio is good, but I have heard much better stock units from plenty of other cars. I mean don't get me wrong, I like the stock system, and decent enough that I will not add new speakers unless I am just flush with cash at some point down the line.

[czar07]

The biggest disadvantage I have found with a MT is that you just want to downshift and hit a corner much faster than you should be on public roads!

[GNS]

Originally Posted by DaJoian

I also hate to call you out, but if you were to buy a GT-R, you wouldn't have a choice to get a MT anyways...they only come standard with the six-speed automated dual clutch transmission. (AKA automatic with paddle shifters, but with clutch mechanics)

I hate to point it out to you, but you're under the impression that I didn't already know that.

Given a choice I will always choose MT, unless I'm buying something extraordinary like a GT-R.

Keyword: "unless"

[DaJo]

Originally Posted by GNS

I hate to point it out to you, but you're under the impression that I didn't already know that.

"Given a choice I will always choose MT, unless I'm buying something extraordinary like a GT-R."

Keyword: "unless"

I apologize if I misunderstood your statement, but take a second here...

Re-read your own quote out loud again and tell me that it doesn't sound like you're giving yourself an option of choosing a MT for that particular vehicle.

[shishand]

Originally Posted by whateatsrabbits

FACT: You would be wasting your hard earned money buying an auto. This car is an easy stick to drive. I have driven many manual vehicles and this one is second only to a honda element in ease of driving. I have stalled many cars, but not this one, yet... But idk it seem pretty hard to stall. It just takes off... Just make sure you have somebody to teach you, how to drive stick.

The thing that concerns me is your need for an everyday car. You might want to think about something more practical, A used stick shift VW golf/rabbit would be the Ideal for college, Enough room to move your shit, and enough room to comfortably seat 4 and enough torque to go blunt riding in rural/hilly areas. Then once your out of college and making some good money. Then the FR-S seems practical for an everyday car, commuting back and forth to work, picking up some groceries.

I have the standard radio equipment.
Yes it has a hook up for a sub, But honestly the stereo in this thing sounds great. I would not change a thing, save your money for stage1 ICE Intake Chip Exhaust. Putting in a sub adds weight, the car has 8 speakers, pioneer headuint, with bluetooth. Basically its the best sounding stock system Ive ever heard. You can make it real loud and the music still come in clear. I like blasting techno pretending I'm that german guy in a porche from sooper troopers.

Fuck i wish i had someone to teach me stick or even let me try it haha thats the thing that im worried about, i never drove stick and i dont want to jump blindly into one.
And nah haha the FR-S seems too godly to pass up, besides i need a tad bit of fun anyways haha.

You're right i wouldn't add a sub at all, if anything change the speakers and amp them but eh if its that good then i wont touch it! Im just hoping it matches my 300watt amp with BOSS speakers haha and oh ill be blasting lots of techno and fist pumping hahahaha

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

I have been averaging about 32MPG in my MT FR-S (85% freeway with little traffic) so I am pretty stoked. IMO if you plan to keep this car for a while, mod it, etc.. get a MT. Its so much fun and you will feel connect to the car. Now the AT is very good in this car. You really can't go wrong with either. On the plus side, MT is 1K less which you can put to mods :happy0180:

For the cash thing, ill be paying payments anyways and might be leasing it so im not shabby about that!






Thank you everyone for your inputs honestly, this is a very friendly community!
I'll let you guys know my decision haha I just really want to test drive a manual which i dont have access to! Someone needs to teach me haha

[GNS]

Originally Posted by DaJoian

I apologize if I misunderstood your statement, but take a second here...

Re-read your own quote out loud again and tell me that it doesn't sound like you're giving yourself an option of choosing a MT for that particular vehicle.

My turn to apologize, in one interpretation it does sound like I'm actually giving myself a choice. But you can also interpret it as 'I will always choose MT, unless it's a car that I truly adore (and is widely known by those who love one to be AT only)'. That last part in brackets was left unsaid because I already knew that a GT-R was AT only and it wouldn't stop me from wanting one (because I know how good that car is).

[avp1]

The only auto transmission appropriate for a sport car is one with dual clutch, like you can find in Audi and some other cars. There you practically have regular mechanical transmission with clutch controlled by computer. Our BRZ/FRS cars have conventional auto transmission with hydraulic torque converter. Thus it inherits all limitations of that technology. Conventional auto transmission only makes sense if you have large reserve of torque, which our cars obviously do not provide. That is why manual is the only reasonable option for my BRZ. I do not mind having auto in my truck with 4 litres V6 though.

[driftartist]

Originally Posted by avp1

The only auto transmission appropriate for a sport car is one with dual clutch, like you can find in Audi and some other cars. There you practically have regular mechanical transmission with clutch controlled by computer. Our BRZ/FRS cars have conventional auto transmission with hydraulic torque converter. Thus it inherits all limitations of that technology. Conventional auto transmission only makes sense if you have large reserve of torque, which our cars obviously do not provide. That is why manual is the only reasonable option for my BRZ. I do not mind having auto in my truck with 4 litres V6 though.

This

[steeloyangster]

Hey, let's not forget about the simple benefits of a manual!!

- Cheaper!
- Typically Better Gas Mileage! (Not in this case though, according to the EPA)
- If your battery dies from lights left on, roll and pop the clutch! (Same goes with dead starter)
- Power Delivery is better! (Typical Results, not including DSG's and Super Cars)

Benefits of Auto!

- Comfort and Convenience!
- ............. Can eat a burger while driving?! (I can do that too in my Manual though.....)

Go with whatever you like!

[shishand]

Ah i just hate to have a new car has a guinea pig for learning manual haha but you guy guys make it sound like the easiest standard car there is!