Driving a Manual (Stick)

Discussion in 'Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Airplanes Talk' started by IndySpeed, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    No snow, but we just got dumped on with rain. Kept the Prius / CT200 tires. and indeed it is quite fun considering how controllable the car is past its limits. I would do stuff I would NEVER do in my old EVO or Mustang.
     
  2. AKMike

    AKMike New

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    That car is SO controllable.

    I also have a 135i and while it's very controllable, once you get past its limits, it's much scarier and feels less composed. The BMW also has a lot more understeer and you can really feel the weight. The BRZ just felt light and tossable.
     
  3. Whatup69

    Whatup69 New

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    I've always driven manual but here in NZ, we have plenty of old and new JDM imports. My '85 AW11 is my daily driver. Makes me smile everyday, and of course it's so much fun out on the open road and through the twisties ;-)
    Also used to own a '87 supercharged AW11 with HKS supercharger pulleys and custom exhaust + TRD 2 way LSD. That was a great car but unfortunately succumbed to astronomical levels of rust. That and I was too young and too poor to give it the love it deserved.
     
  4. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Have had several manual transmissions, two of which were really grabby (Italian, German) and not easy for others to drive. A strong clutch feels nice and positive/solid but can require more concentration.

    Really looking forward to a BRZ later (checking out Marv's cemented my plans). A Japanese manual will be better in parking lots and I'll teach some family to drive stick.

    The engagement and connection to the vehicle is so much more involving for me in a manual.

    Still miss blasting through canyons shifting on sport bikes. Shifting was the best on bikes. Precise control of the clutch with two fingers.
     
  5. fishski13

    fishski13 Friend

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    i learned how to drive with a 1977 Ford F-150 and three on the tree. total bitch. i bought a 1977 Volvo 240 in 1992 with four on the floor and it felt like a dream in comparison. same with the 1981 242 that followed. best vehicle i ever owned was a 2000 Tacoma stick...and then the tit-suckers reared heads.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2016
  6. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I'm waiting for Scion to come out with a turbo model then I would consider it or something bigger than the Civic SI :)
     
  7. BIGGER Dave

    BIGGER Dave New

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    The whole auto/manual debate isn’t an issue for me, because I own one of each! My Jeep is an automatic and my C7 Corvette is a 7-speed manual.

    The Corvette Driving School is located at Spring Mountain Motor Resort just outside of Las Vegas Nevada. Tuition for the 2-Day course is $2,500, however when you purchase a new Corvette, Chevrolet pays the first $1,500, so it only cost me $1,000 (plus airfare). I learned a lot and it was enjoyable.

    http://www.springmountainmotorsports.com/driving-school/corvette-owners-school
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    [​IMG]
     
  9. L'Orfeo

    L'Orfeo MoatsArt the Second

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    I haven't seen @velvetx around for a while. Is he OK?
     
  10. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Me and my buddy usually drive in this every year:

    https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/events/rally-for-the-lane

    Driving a vintage stick is very fun. The oddest car to drive in this Rally was a Citroen SM. It has a button, not a lever for brakes, and they grab...hard! It had air suspension, which just feels odd around corners. Tons of lean, but still has tons of grip. And you had to jam it into 5th - made you want that 5th gear. Although the roads we were on did not much call for it. By the time I did manage to get it into 5th it was time to slow down to turn onto another road. The AM radio mounted sideways in the center console was also kind of a cool touch.

    And don't talk to me about the MG TD. That car was made for someone not 6 ft tall. My legs are sore just thinking about climbing in the drivers seat again.

    We almost drove a right hand drive, but then we thought it would be too weird trying to shift left handed.
     
  11. L'Orfeo

    L'Orfeo MoatsArt the Second

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    This thread needs more music.

     
  12. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    I finally got a manual a couple years ago. I had been wanting one for a while but couldn't bring myself to spend money on a new car while my current one still ran.

    Eventually it didn't, and I found a good deal on a manual 2005 Mustang GT with ~38k on it. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, even if it's just to the grocery store.

    It's also one of the very few sporty or even halfway sporty cars I can actually fit in. Why don't modern cars have decent headroom any longer?
     
  13. Ntbm3

    Ntbm3 Friend

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    Glad to see some people keeping manuals alive! Save the manuals!

    As a life long car enthusiast I have always had a manual car and would not have it any other way. It is what brings joy to driving!

    Luckily Honda is offering more manual options on their newer cars which is great news for car enthusists :)
     
  14. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    I drive a 2008 Porsche Cayman S, because I'm a big fan of mid-engine cars, and choices are limited if a mid-engine is wanted. 6 speed manual of course. Yea sure the newer double clutch auto transmissions can shift faster, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy making a good heel toe downshift, and no auto can give me that hands/foot-on experience like a manual can.
     
  15. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I feel the same about rowing a boat.

    Seriously! Beats sailing, even: Boat, man, oars, water. Absolutely connected.
     
  16. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

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    I’ve always loved the feel of manuals, and owned mostly manual Scoobies over the years. The BRZ is just gorgeous and I’m sure it handles really well; too bad Subaru released them in the US after I moved to China.

    I had one of the original WRX (before STi was introduced) with 2.5 NA H4 engine that I did a ton of DIY work, and spend a lot of time at Road Atlanta track day events and local SCCA stuff. Talk about a time consuming and very expensive hobby! I do miss those days.
     
  17. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Yeah, I grew out of fast cars and modding and into fatherhood and minivans. I miss my Miata and WRX still, but I can identify more with what we called the whine and cheesers these days :). Making your girlfriend puke by the bottom of Decker canyon ain't really classy :D.
     
  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I read that first sentence really fast and thought it said something about modding minivans. :p
     
  19. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Same here. I do like automatic, but most people in Spain and Brasil have manual. I have a 1986 Volkswagen Beeatle. It smells gasoline and has crazy manual gear. Love it

     
  20. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

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