M_A_T_T Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Looking into a buying new car this summer. Manuals seem to be about $1000 cheaper for the car I like. So I was wondering how difficult it is to go from 3 1/2 years driving an automatic to a manual. I learned on a auto, but my dad drives a manual and could probably teach me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I've you've got the hand eye coridination and brain power to play a guitar you can easily drive a standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skatz Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 manual is much more fun. :burnout: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duff Beer Man Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 manual is much more fun. :burnout: not to mention sticks are usually fast then autos . i love my prelude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted February 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 not to mention sticks are usually fast then autos This is what a reviewer on Canadian Driver said about the car I'm looking at...another reason I may want a manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Myth. It takes a very talented and practiced driver in a manual transmission-equipped vehicle to outrun a similar vehicle with an automatic. Most pro-streeters don't even run a manual because it's easier to get a controlled launch and hookup with an automatic, anyway. The gas mileage benefits are also pretty much gone with newer computer-controlled engines and transmissions. Most cars with a stick will now get lower fuel-economy because the drivers don't know how or refuse to drive them more economically than an auto. Having said all that, I love manuals. There's just something about the whole shifting process and wrapping the car out at will on a country back road or a twisty pass that's just more satisfying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Yeah, I have to disagree with the manual=faster idea. That's perpetuated by ricers who think they're seasoned F1 drivers. I had an automatic transmission in my 300zx which was never lacking in speed. I learned how to drive a manual in a twin turbo rx7. That had to be one of the best experiences I've had in a car (clothed, that is ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwhiteandthemaple Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Play lotta arcade.. it helps.. seriously! -IR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Driving a stick? Piece of cake. Now a Harley with a suicide shift ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I think it's really easy and if you can play guitar and have some coordination then you are perfectly fine. I had an auto for a couple years when I first started driving, then I got a new manual car, and bad timing had it my best friend from years back flew in to a town a fews hours away from me while on a skating tour, the same day I had taken my car home. So I got a ride home at 5pm asked my dad to show me how to drive stick went around the block a couple times, backed my bags and drove 3 1/2 hours through Los Angeles during rush hour stop and go traffic, by myself and had to go over some mountains with very curvy roads. So I think you'll be fine, with someone showing you how it works you should pick it up easy, takes a while to perfect and on hills you might want to start with the Ebrake method until you get the feel for the clutch, but other than that you should pick it up easy. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croaticum Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 it depends what kind of stick do you get in your car. I drive street races here and there and i allways use stick! You have full controll over your speed that way. Offcourse if you have racing stick that is much better. And driving with stick is as easy as automatic just clutch, shift and accelerate! lol plus side is that you have faster responce between gears and there is no 2 sec waiting perion between baking up and first gear. And considering economical driving you can be more economical since you can drive about 30 miles in your 5 gear on just over 1000 rpm's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepultura999 Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Having said all that, I love manuals. There's just something about the whole shifting process and wrapping the car out at will on a country back road or a twisty pass that's just more satisfying. I think all cars should be manual. Why? So people will be using their brain more while they drive AND they won't be doing stupid things such as putting on make up, or eating food. If you haven't seen that yet, then you're lucky but in Toronto it's almost becoming the norm at 8 am. I don't drive yet but manual is definitly for you if you're right handed. My mom almost failed her driving tests back in the day because she was left handed lol. -Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Sorry man, but stick with the auto. I learned to drive on a manual, it's no big deal. Especially if you ride a bike. It'll take you all of half a day to figure it out and get it smooth. But here in France it's rare to find automatics, so I've been back to stick for the last few years. And it really sucks. Okay, I admit it, I'm a relaxed, lazy driver type, don't give a hoot about being first off the line, and I could care less if a car full of punks passes me on the highway. But I just don't see the point of having to shift gears every two seconds --especially in traffic. Tell you what--get into rush hour traffic just once with a stick and tell me you really prefer that to an automatic. Besides, the last car I had in the States was an automatic with a V8...that car kicked some serious ass. The wife recently bought a minivan (shudder) but at least it's automatic...I'm looking to change cars too now, and I'll definitely go automatic from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I prefer automatics myself. But have no problems driving manual transmissions, its just that you need both hands and feet to drive. IMO, gas mileage depends on how you drive and how the car is set up to burn gas. A lot of people don't know this but, if driven properly, a 4-barrel carb uses less gas than a 2-barrel carb. The primary jets on a 2-barrel are bigger. When driving a 4-barrel you are only using the primary jets until you nail down the accelerator, that opens the secondaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted February 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I don't drive yet but manual is definitly for you if you're right handed. My mom almost failed her driving tests back in the day because she was left handed lol. I'm left handed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 It's not difficult to learn. if you know how to ride a Motorcycle it's even easier because you know what the slipping clutch feels like already. My sister bought her first car without knowing how to drive a manual tranny. 10 minutes and she was on her way. of course she avoided hills like the plague for the first few weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 of course she avoided hills like the plague for the first few weeks Hills are ok, just don't stop on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted February 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 of course she avoided hills like the plague for the first few weeks Hills are ok, just don't stop on them. The car is practically in neutral when out of gear, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 You mean when the clutch is pushed all the way in? yes. So you have 3 pedals on the floor. Gotta let off the brake and hit the gas while letting off the clutch...before you roll too far backwards into the guy behind you. And its a real drag when you stall out and that guy behind you starts leaning on the horn while you try to get going. Happens to everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 of course she avoided hills like the plague for the first few weeks Hills are ok, just don't stop on them. The car is practically in neutral when out of gear, right? Yes, when either the clutch is pushed in or the shifter is between gears, once you let off the brake, there is nothing to prevent the car from rolling backwards or forward. See if you can rent a manual-equipped car or borrow a friend's and take it out for a day to learn to shift. Clutches and gears in brand-new cars tend to be a little more fragile and a little more intolerant of popping the clutch or shifting without clutching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borge Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 I don't drive yet but manual is definitly for you if you're right handed. My mom almost failed her driving tests back in the day because she was left handed lol. I'm left handed. same, but i think its a null point considering there are millions of righties driving rhd cars and millions of lefties driving lhd cars. i think your mum is making excuses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Yeah, I've driven right-seat-drive Suzukis with sticks before and it's only taken me about 5 minutes to get used to shifting with my left-hand. Shifting is really the easy part--it's getting used to clutching that's a little tricky. Three-on-the-tree is a little tougher than four-on-the-floor, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 (edited) Yeah, I've driven right-seat-drive Suzukis with sticks before and it's only taken me about 5 minutes to get used to shifting with my left-hand. Shifting is really the easy part--it's getting used to clutching that's a little tricky. On right seat drives is the pedal setup the same or is that backwards too? Edited February 18, 2006 by jmrentis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martrix Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Driving a stick? Piece of cake. Now a Harley with a suicide shift ... whats a suicide shift? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Yeah, I've driven right-seat-drive Suzukis with sticks before and it's only taken me about 5 minutes to get used to shifting with my left-hand. Shifting is really the easy part--it's getting used to clutching that's a little tricky. On right seat drives is the pedal setup the same or is that backwards too? Pedal setup is the same on modern vehicles. YMMV on antiques, regardless of being right or left hand drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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