Worried about Buying a Manual

[swift996]

Come on man, just borrow someones manual..it shouldn't take that long to master or you probably shouldn't be driving a sports car. Hondas are super easy clutches to figure out if you haven't had much experience.

[nibor33]

Originally Posted by YaX

Except, while you "learn" on your car, you're destroying it.

Might want to consider buying a beater, first.

I think this might be a touch of an exaggeration. Truly, clutches are wear items. You won't be "destroying" your car.

OP, you may be going through the clutch a little quicker than those of us that have driven manuals for years. But, for an item designed to last tens of thousands of miles, is a few days of a little clutch slippage while you're learning really a big deal? You'll certainly be easier on the clutch as a newbie than someone who "knows what they are doing" slipping the clutch repeatedly for launching.

The first car I bought was a manual, and I had recently learned on my brother's car with only a few miles of driving. I stalled several times on the way home from the dealer. I traded it 50,000 miles later with the original clutch.

If you're hard on your brakes or tires, is it considered destroying your car?

[karbon]

I was going to get an automatic, but with everyone here attesting to how easy and little time it takes to pick up driving a manual, I'm on the fence! Three reasons I want(ed) an auto: 1) I've only driven automatics. 2) Living in LA, I figured an automatic would be more practical. 3) If most reviews can be trusted, the auto is pretty good in this car.

What should I do??

[Buggy51]

Originally Posted by karbon

I was going to get an automatic, but with everyone here attesting to how easy and little time it takes to pick up driving a manual, I'm on the fence! Three reasons I want(ed) an auto: 1) I've only driven automatics. 2) Living in LA, I figured an automatic would be more practical. 3) If most reviews can be trusted, the auto is pretty good in this car.

What should I do??

I hate to say it, but this forum isn't exactly unbias (especially if it revolves around transmission...). Personally, I think it truly depends on what you want to do with the car. I am not really a track person, and I plan to use the car more for a daily driver. I am keen on the idea that it has great handling characteristics and its nimble. I'm fond of its chasis and overall look and I don't exactly transport people so a 2+2 is just fine. I live in the SF bay area, so I do get annoyed by traffic (I'm pretty sure the traffic here is better than SoCal, but still). I want to enjoy this car as more of an adventure car especially traveling up and down the Great Highway. I'm looking towards the automatic mainly since I like the idea of paddles and I honestly have very little experience with the clutch (the few times I actually used the clutch, I wasn't too fond of it. But hey, what do I know?).

I wouldn't mind learning how to use a manual but as of this time, none of my friends are car people and none have a manual for me to ask to use. Only one family member has one, and he's not even remotely close so that's useless. I just want a new car since my older one is slowly becoming less and less reliable and I really don't have much time to mess around. Oh well, my post is rambly and probably offtopic by now, but I think the main thing is that you have to figure out what you want from the car; your purpose, needs, etc. should all be considered. Also, I think it depends on your own ego and sense of mind. Some people will probably call you out and claim that its unmanly and other misogynistic phrases. For me, it sounds inane to even bother to listen to these people. Its how you live your life, not what others dictate, just make sure that what you do suits your own purpose.

[YaX]

Originally Posted by nibor33

I think this might be a touch of an exaggeration. Truly, clutches are wear items. You won't be "destroying" your car.

OP, you may be going through the clutch a little quicker than those of us that have driven manuals for years. But, for an item designed to last tens of thousands of miles, is a few days of a little clutch slippage while you're learning really a big deal? You'll certainly be easier on the clutch as a newbie than someone who "knows what they are doing" slipping the clutch repeatedly for launching.

The first car I bought was a manual, and I had recently learned on my brother's car with only a few miles of driving. I stalled several times on the way home from the dealer. I traded it 50,000 miles later with the original clutch.

If you're hard on your brakes or tires, is it considered destroying your car?

Ah, he won't be just going through the clutch... he'll be lugging and stalling the engine, damaging the transmission from missed shifts, shocking the differential and driveshaft because he won't know how to shift smoothly... basically, every component in the drivetrain is going to feel it to some degree, and you can't tell me it won't.

Why the hell would want to do that to a brand new car? And it's not just any car... it's a finely tuned sport car - something built with precision in mind, and not some cookie cutter sloppy econo shitbox.

It's stupid to do that. It won't be the same car once he's done "learning".

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by YaX

Ah, he won't be just going through the clutch... he'll be lugging and stalling the engine, damaging the transmission from missed shifts, shocking the differential and driveshaft because he won't know how to shift smoothly... basically, every component in the drivetrain is going to feel it to some degree, and you can't tell me it won't.

Why the hell would want to do that to a brand new car? And it's not just any car... it's a finely tuned sport car - something built with precision in mind, and not some cookie cutter sloppy econo shitbox.

It's stupid to do that. It won't be the same car once he's done "learning".

The way he drives long term can have a much more significant effect on those components. Launching/dumping the clutch a few times can do more damage than total wear due to the entire learning process.

The OP has had more prior experience than I did when I drove my first new manual car off the lot. I and a few other people learned to drive manual on mine (of course, I was extra careful learning myself and in selecting who could learn) and by 74k miles no components had any problems. Plus the OP has expressed his concern. That kind of concern shows he won't beat on it as he learns because... well... it's his new car. His car will probably stay in better condition than that of many seasoned stick shift drivers. He doesn't need a beater IMHO.

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by YaX

Ah, he won't be just going through the clutch... he'll be lugging and stalling the engine, damaging the transmission from missed shifts, shocking the differential and driveshaft because he won't know how to shift smoothly... basically, every component in the drivetrain is going to feel it to some degree, and you can't tell me it won't.

Why the hell would want to do that to a brand new car? And it's not just any car... it's a finely tuned sport car - something built with precision in mind, and not some cookie cutter sloppy econo shitbox.

It's stupid to do that. It won't be the same car once he's done "learning".

They have springs and bushings to compensate for the extra vibrations. It's not like he's driving a race car with a triple plate clutch, solid bushings, and 700 hp. You can definitely get away with some slopiness in these cars. So as long as he's not an idiot and forgets to push in the clutch while trying to force it in gear or downshift into 1st at 60mph, then it should be perfectly fine. Modern manual transmissions are more or less fool-proof. Of course, if he forms some really bad habits like always slipping or dropping the clutch and drives it like that for a few years, then we're looking at problems. But surely anyone would realize that's not how it should feel and compensate properly.

[cmspooner]

Originally Posted by karbon

I was going to get an automatic, but with everyone here attesting to how easy and little time it takes to pick up driving a manual, I'm on the fence! Three reasons I want(ed) an auto: 1) I've only driven automatics. 2) Living in LA, I figured an automatic would be more practical. 3) If most reviews can be trusted, the auto is pretty good in this car.

What should I do??

You need to decide for your self, but I would at least get a few lessons before buying (or even test driving) a manual. If you have a friend that can let you learn on their car then do that, if not see if you can get driving lessons on a manual around you. I have had roughly 5 hours of experience on 8 different cars (2 friend/relative cars) 6 test drives, and I still managed to completely embarrass my self on a test drive.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by cmspooner

I drove an MX-5 Miata, a Mazda Speed 3, a GTI, a Civic Si, and finally a Mini Cooper S. All manual transmissions. I had no problems when driving most of the cars. I am new to driving a stick, but have had a few lessons and some practice.

Originally Posted by cmspooner

I have had roughly 5 hours of experience on 8 different cars (2 friend/relative cars) 6 test drives, and I still managed to completely embarrass my self on a test drive.

I'm surprised you're worried. I only practiced a couple hours in my uncle's 1983 BMW 3 then test drove a new 2005 tC at the dealer for 20 minutes (my 1st time driving stick on the freeway). Then got my Celica and winged it lol

[Pakjk89]

Originally Posted by karbon

I was going to get an automatic, but with everyone here attesting to how easy and little time it takes to pick up driving a manual, I'm on the fence! Three reasons I want(ed) an auto: 1) I've only driven automatics. 2) Living in LA, I figured an automatic would be more practical. 3) If most reviews can be trusted, the auto is pretty good in this car.

What should I do??

If you haven't driven a manual and want one, this is the car to get it on. It's has a great shifter and a great clutch. I had the privilege of test driving a brz as only my second manual car driven and it was fairly easy.

To the OP, get the manual without worry. Like I'm telling this guy, I drove one manual before I drove the brz. I didn't drive the brz perfectly but I did fine and didn't stall once. The car seems to have a forgiving clutch to say the least.

[cmspooner]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I'm surprised you're worried. I only practiced a couple hours in my uncle's 1983 BMW 3 then test drove a new 2005 tC at the dealer for 20 minutes (my 1st time driving stick on the freeway). Then got my Celica and winged it lol

I wasn't worried until this miserable experience in the Mini. The other test drives before it went fine, but having the Mini one become a complete fail has shaken my confidence. I think I just need to relax. On the other hand this thread has been really nice with lots of good info.

[cmspooner]

Originally Posted by Pakjk89

If you haven't driven a manual and want one, this is the car to get it on. It's has a great shifter and a great clutch. I had the privilege of test driving a brz as only my second manual car driven and it was fairly easy.

To the OP, get the manual without worry. Like I'm telling this guy, I drove one manual before I drove the brz. I didn't drive the brz perfectly but I did fine and didn't stall once. The car seems to have a forgiving clutch to say the least.

YAY! This is the info I was hoping for....now if Subaru would just get these things into dealerships I could stop worrying and just drive the damn car away!

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by karbon

I was going to get an automatic, but with everyone here attesting to how easy and little time it takes to pick up driving a manual, I'm on the fence! Three reasons I want(ed) an auto: 1) I've only driven automatics. 2) Living in LA, I figured an automatic would be more practical. 3) If most reviews can be trusted, the auto is pretty good in this car.

What should I do??

I want to say drive a manual then decide but the learning process can be very discouraging and the decision to choose auto will come so easily from it. The only way to make a truly informed decision is to master driving a manual first, then decide.

Those who are indifferent about auto vs. manual, the decision is easy. Those who only know how to drive auto but are allured by manual, I say just go for the manual. There's a man-to-machine connectedness it gives you (forcing all 4 of your limbs to get involved each doing different things) which an auto can't. And what better car to drive a manual than in this car which was specifically designed to glorify the driver-focused experience. You won't regret it. Else you'll spend your whole life wondering.

[YaX]

Originally Posted by cmspooner

You need to decide for your self, but I would at least get a few lessons before buying (or even test driving) a manual. If you have a friend that can let you learn on their car then do that, if not see if you can get driving lessons on a manual around you.

That's really good advice.

Originally Posted by cmspooner

I have had roughly 5 hours of experience on 8 different cars (2 friend/relative cars) 6 test drives, and I still managed to completely embarrass my self on a test drive.

Okay, I could be wrong about you... maybe. You're humble enough that I think you're willing to listen to those with more experience, and in my book, that's a good trait. So as long as you have access to some folks that really know what they're doing, I think you could get the manual. It sounds like you're willing to study, and treat driving like the artform it is. Regardless of if you decide to get an SMG, PDK, DSG, whatever gearbox in the future, you will have a far better appreciation and understanding of how to drive them if you first learn to drive a manual competently.

The folks who have always driven automatics can't comprehend this. They think there's some misguided elitist motivation for saying the manual is superior to the automatic. Bullshit. It's completely justified elitism.