Driving a manual transmission car

[Sniper82]

I've drove a few manual transmission cars but not much. I've never owned one. Never seemed to have to much trouble except pulling up a hill(if I have to come to a stop for some reason). I am shopping for a used car and it seems all the ones I like are manual. Every car I've came across that I liked ends up being a manual trans. I'm not sure if I would get totally used to one.

Is this something alot of ppl go through getting their first manual transmission cars?

 

[compnovice]

Do you live in area with too much traffic? If yes, then don't buy one. Its a pain to drive no matter how 'sporty' it feels...

 

[andylawcc]

i live in LA, have to go thru heavy traffic once in a while (not on a daily basis) and still chose a Manual for my first AND second car. Been driving for 6 years already. no complaints.

its all boils down to personal preference. I think you should go with your gut feeling.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: compnovice
Do you live in area with too much traffic? If yes, then don't buy one. Its a pain to drive no matter how 'sporty' it feels...

I drive in heavy traffic almost every day, and drive a stick...it's no worse then an auto imho..

if you are talking about a big truck in traffic, that might be different, but a smaller car is easy enough, and I usually just jam first, and let it idle...no need to touch a pedal for a few miles.

 

[chuckywang]

I drive a manual in heavy Chicago traffic. I'm used to it now, though sometimes during rush hour, it's a pain.

Learn as you go.

 

[Staples]

I never kill my car but my launches are still slow after a year. I think the clutch just sucks and that is why it never catches very fast. Either that or the whole thing about never pushing over 1500rpms when you enter 1st is a bunch of BS. Anyway, you will get used to standard transmission with time but do not let anyone in this forum tell you they are the only way to drive or some other BS like that. Amongst the many things that are over rated here, standard transmission is probably the number one item on the list.

 

[natto fire]

My past 4 cars have been manuals, and I think I got my first one because it was cheap. I perfected driving a MT by driving my drunk friend around in his mom's 5 speed Saturn.

I live in a fairly big city with lots of traffic now, but if I pace it just right (most people want to speed up real quick, only to slam on the brakes when the light changes again) I don't have to do much clutch work.
I will probably be getting an automatic if I keep living in this city, but back in my hometown with the long country roads, and minimum traffic, the manual was great.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

I live in a fairly big city with lots of traffic now, but if I pace it just right (most people want to speed up real quick, only to slam on the brakes when the light changes again) I don't have to do much clutch work.

Plus, manuals are just infinitely more fun, regardless of what you drive

 

[Excelsior]

I'm not sure if I would get totally used to one.

I think you would. I started driving with automatics, but I started driving a 5spd a couple of years ago and it didn't take long for me to get completely used to it. Maybe a month, tops?

Now the fact that my car is MT is a complete afterthought. I don't think about shifting, I just do it. I think I really do prefer MT now because I do feel like I have more control over the car. When I drove my father's AT sedan a short while ago I was reminded why I like my MT car.

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
i live in LA, have to go thru heavy traffic once in a while (not on a daily basis) and still chose a Manual for my first AND second car. Been driving for 6 years already. no complaints.

its all boils down to personal preference. I think you should go with your gut feeling.

Same. I live in San Francisco, so I drive on a lot of hills, also been down to LA a few times and sat in 3 hours of traffic. My first and second car have been manuals. I like driving manual transmission cars, hills dont bother me, traffic doesnt bother me. Yes driving auto cars is nice and comfortable, but in the end I enjoy manual cars the most. My next car will be stick too.

 

[canadageek]

I started on Auto, but have since driven MT. my first stick (Nissan 200sx) was tons of fun, and my current car (Suzuki grand vitara) just wouldn't be the same without it.

just last week i was driving my neighbors BMW, and i hated it...i kept wanting to shift at different points than the tranny wanted to...pissed me right off.

if you buy a stickshift car, just practice with it for a while. don't go out in heavy traffic your first time, and take someone along who has lots of experience.

 

[humanure]

You'll get used to it, I've had both auto and manual and prefer manual by far. Plus maintenance and repairs(if needed) are much cheaper. It really becomes second nature, even in heavy traffic.

 

[j00fek]

only thing a friend told me when i got my first stick was, either 3rd or 2nd on a turn. its pretty much all you need to know

 

[OVerLoRDI]

MTs are more fun for when you want to enjoy your driving. It makes your more connected with the car and gets your mind more involved in the driving process. I'll admit stuck in traffic it does get a bit tedious but really it isn't that bad, when driving a stick daily it just becomes second nature. The strange feeling is getting in an automatic stomping your left foot around looking for a clutch then grabbing at nothing looking for the stick. For a brief millisecond your whole world crashes around you... but then its okay, just not as fun anymore

 

[eunsang]

i was in same position as you before i got my mt car. i knew how to drive stick but was always afraid of hills.

hills, i just give it lil more gas and let go of the clutch tiny bit faster.

 

[Colt45]

After a while, it's totally natural, hills, traffic, no different...

You just can't hold a beer and a cheeseburger while driving manual.

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
MTs are more fun for when you want to enjoy your driving. It makes your more connected with the car and gets your mind more involved in the driving process. I'll admit stuck in traffic it does get a bit tedious but really it isn't that bad, when driving a stick daily it just becomes second nature. The strange feeling is getting in an automatic stomping your left foot around looking for a clutch then grabbing at nothing looking for the stick. For a brief millisecond your whole world crashes around you... but then its okay, just not as fun anymore

I've done that so many times! I always end up pushing my foot all the way to the floor board before I realize there is no clutch, or reaching around blindly looking for the shifter. It always gets weird looks from passengers.

It seems to only happen to me when I am stopping, not accelerating.

 

[Sasiki]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again.. once you get used to it, it becomes natural. You won't even notice.

The trick to coming up to stop signs on hills, just don't use the brake. Work the gas and the clutch to keep you steady. Sounds complicated, but it's really not.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Sasiki
It's been said before, but I'll say it again.. once you get used to it, it becomes natural. You won't even notice.

The trick to coming up to stop signs on hills, just don't use the brake. Work the gas and the clutch to keep you steady. Sounds complicated, but it's really not.

Sure, if you are trying to figure out the quickest way to destroy your clutch.

 

[Elderly Newt]

i just bought a subaru legacy outback 5speed, and ive never driven a manual before. its been several days so im still messing up (stalling, rough starts, etc), but I know ill get used to it. Every time I drive i feel myself becoming better and more comfortable with it. Even though I'm still relatively bad at it, I can tell ill probably like it better than AT. Although... I haven't done heavy traffic or hills yet.. In time...

 

[LogitechFreak]

well i can tell you i had to learn to drive on a 4spd 79 ford courier and it was kinda hard at first but after a few days it becomes natural man.. now i drive an automatic but everytime it goes to shift i try to shift myself but forget that its a manual they aren't hard at all to learn but for hills just dont pay no mind if you start rolling back to much ease off the clutch and back on the gas its not hard at all.. but when pulling something behind you on a hill if at a complete stop drop it to 2nd gear when trying to get it going again.. if u put in 1st ur screwed plain and simple.

other than that its extremely simple.. i infact miss my manual car

 

[elcamino74ss]

my 3rd car was a mt and i bought it without knowing how to drive it. We got it home and I just kept it in familar residental areas till I got the hang of it. You'll be getting a 3rd gear scratch in no time. I only drive AT now cause the wife can't and I tried numerous times and gave up on it.