Your veiws on Manual cars?

[Dulanic]

Manual baby. I have an auto to go to work since I work in Chicago... its a automatic M3... but for my "fun" car hehe I have a manual 99 Firebird Trans Am..... oh my god is it fun to cruise around in... manual rules but not in Chicago traffic. Viper have you ever drove in Chicago rush hour in a manual? Its hell trust me.... but out by my house in the subarbs ill always drive the Firebird cause its alot more fun.

 

[Viper GTS]

Umm... No. I've never driven outside of Oregon. Rush hour traffic here is either 75 mph with two car lengths between cars, or a dead stop.

Viper GTS

 

[Elbryn]

my illustrous driving career started in an old ford escort wagon manual. I currently drive an auto which is the unsed parental car as i'm still in college on a co-op. I would definetly go with the manual. You get much more control over the way the car moves. You also gain the benefits of higher gas mileage and cheaper to maintain. Only bad thing would be sitting in heavy traffic often. Once i get out of school and into a job, i'm most definetly going to be going manual over automatic.

 

[Dulanic]

hehe Well it takes me an hour and 25 minutes to go 30 miles to work. The average speed is 20-25MPH on the expressway although it is stop and go nearly the whole way. See why I drive a automatic to work?

 

[Ponyboy25]

I've driven manual all my life, and I don't mind it. Currently, I'm driving a V8 Mustang, and there was really no choice in that decision, it had to be 5-speed. However, I do get those times that I just wanna chill in my car while driving, and shifting gears really gets to be bothersome. Sometimes I wish I had gone with an automatic (especially in the rain!), but when it comes to really enjoying my car, nothing beats slamming the gears. But I'd say the biggest factor would be city traffic. No way would I have gotten a stick-shift if I had to drive through that crap. If you could afford two cars, I'd definitely say to go manual with the sports car and stay auto with the grocery car, but not everyone has that kinda money. Its a tough decision, but I think the best thing to do before making a mistake is to get a manual rental car for a few days. Those bucks you spend on a rental will be worth it if they help you in making the right decision whey you plop down all that money for a new car! My sister bought a 5-speed Honda Accord, and I thought it was cool cuz' she was getting into the stick-shift driving like me, but after a few months she hated it and traded that thing in for an auto Grand Am.

 

[Dulanic]

Your argueing that its a 5 speed? Crap Id be pissed cause its a Mustang.

 

[NIUBurned]

Give a manual,yellow and black 2001 Mustang and I'll be a happy little college student.

 

[Dulanic]

What is with people and Mustangs? I think they are ugly, and also they have alot more problems than most sports cards.... trust my friend owns an auto mechanic place. Ill take my firebird any day over a crappy mustang... it looks better, and its faster.

 

[Doggiedog]

Getting my 2001 Blue BMW M3 in January!

6 Speed manual of course!

BTW: Hey JRVR6 you are my kinda guy. I hate those jerks that brake all the time without any reason!

 

[Electric Amish]

It's the only kind to have. It's all I've ever owned!

amish

 

[Redwingsguy]

Cool I guess I'm goin manual! I'm getting a brand new Jetta GLS 2.0 115hp 4cylinder...is that good? But i'm just a high school student I guess anything will do But one question, say im on a pretty steep upward hill stopped at a red light, and the guy behind is tailgateing me...what do I do then? I heard you put on the ebrake then shift, but doesnt that screw up the trans?

 

[jaywallen]

Redwingsguy,

Starting from a dead stop going uphill, assuming you're in neutral, with foot on brake:

Pull on the hand brake. Take your foot SLOWLY off the foot brake, just in case you didn't pull the hand brake lever hard enough. Adjust that hand brake to be certain you're not going to roll backward. Left hand on the wheel. Clutch in, and hold it there. Snick it into first gear with the right hand. Right foot on gas. Apply a little gas with right foot, ease the clutch out with the left foot, and release the hand brake simultaneously.

PRACTICE! Do the practicing with no one behind you, preferably NOT on a public road until you're proficient. The idea is to coordinate the clutch release with the brake release so that you don't roll backward, and so that you don't burn the clutch or dog the engine.

I've driven manual transmissions since before there was synchromesh on most trannies, about fifty years. I love 'em, but my next car will be my first personally owned automatic. (I'm gonna get one of those little gas-electric hybrid things. I can't help it. I'm an old hippie.)

Drive your new car safely and courteously, and enjoy the hell out of the freedom it gives you -- also, the financial burdens it imposes. Just don't let it be an extension of your ego. Let's face it, none of us is entirely above the temptation of exhileration or the expression of anger. The problem is that a car makes a lousy means of personal expression. I hope you have a great time with that Jetta. They're very nice cars, especially for the driver!

Regards,
Jim

 

[Doggiedog]

Corollary to Jaywallen:

If your manual car battery ever dies, on a down hill turn the ignition on, hold the brake down, release the brakes, as you start rolling down slowly release the clutch until you are close to catching then pop the clutch. Car begins to stutter and will start.

Something you can do with automatics.

 

[Doggiedog]

BTW: I believe Jettas are the most popular car amongst people your age group so it should be ok.

I went through an 8 Valve GTI and Jetta both fun to drive but beware of some maintenance problems.

 

[Celstar]

automatics are fun. my hands are free to roam upon other things.

 

[BDawg]

What doggiedog is talking about is called "bump starting." But, you must do it in 2nd gear. 1st spinst too fast.

As for starting up a big hill...you just have to practice. When I first started, I used to roll a lot. Now, I don't roll at all. It's all about learning your friction point (the place where the clutch engages).

 

[Hercules]

Since it's a Jetta, I really won't say.

However, if you were to buy a Corvette or M3 in manual, I'd have to come to your house, rip your arm off, and beat you with it.

 

[BigSmooth]

Manuals are cheaper, get slightly better gas mileage, give you better acceleration if you use them properly, and are (subjectively) more fun.

Automatics cost more, but are more convenient in many ways such as in hilly areas or when trying to eat in the car. Modern automatics are better as far as using the right gear, accelerating well, and getting good gas mileage than they used to be.

I think it just comes down to personal preference. Do you like having that third pedal there so you are in control, or do you want the car to do the work? An automatic does cost more, but it also ups the resale value of your car.

Good luck with your manual, RWG... too bad you don't have the Jetta's optional 174-hp V6 to go with it!

 

[Impact55]

Yes I do agree that they are a lot more fun, but do not buy if in a stop-and-go traffic type of city.

 

[jaberwonkey]

if you get an automatic car i will personally dive over to your house, where ever you are, and push you into a big mud puddle!!!


there!

 

[lostnthenet]

BTW, technically this forum is called General Hardware so a car IS hardware. I mean, it's not software anyway. It also doesn't say computer Hardware. Please don't flame me, I am just a wisea$$ making a quick observation.

Later Guys.

P.S. I like manuals more. Gives my other foot something to do.

 

[The Sauce]

Just imagine all of the "stick shift" innuendos you will be making with the ladies as well. (no joke)

 

[TheNemesis]

I don't like mustangs...They don't have much power compared to other cars, and I don't think they "look nice" and that's why people want them...*Mostly*

 

[Theslowone]

rolling down a hill is fine to start a dead battery, depending on how dead the battery is. I left my int car light on for like 2 weeks, don't drive my car a lot at college. And that damn thing wouldnt start for nothing. oh yeah and if you ever get a pos like i have a stick is a life saver. If I was driving to college in my car with an auto i wouldnt of gotten here.

 

[Teatowel]

Weird how much Americans dislike manuals cars, on the whole.