driving a manual

**beanbag** · 06-15-2009, 04:31 PM

I did a quick search and didn't find anything useful, so I am going to guess that either no one has asked this, or no one has asked this after mid-2006.

I am looking at downgrading my car for various reasons. if you're interested in the reasons, you may ask or look at my journal because I will probably write about them. one of the ways I am looking to save money is by getting a car with a manual transmission. I've only ever driven automatics but learning to drive a manual shouldn't be a problem, because my uncle is willing to teach me so long as I have a car available to practice with. plus, I've driven stick-shift tractors before..not quite the same, but y'know.

my questions are:

1. how difficult is it to make the shift from an automatic to a manual? (no pun intended. I promise.)

2. how difficult is it to drive long distances with a manual? say like...across the country, or at least halfway across the country?

3. how annoying is it to drive in the city with a manual?

thanks guys. =)

**redbaron** · 06-15-2009, 04:38 PM

1) Depends on how quickly you can pick it up, but it's not that hard. It'll make you a better driver too since you'll be more in tune with what the car is actually doing (consciously at first, then subconsciously, it's great.)

2) Starting and stopping are the hard parts for most. Once you're moving, it's a cakewalk aside from small nuances like downshifting and such, but that's just practice.

3) Depends on how bad the traffic is, and how steep the hills are. It's annoying but I wouldn't trade any of my vehicles for an automatic for what that's worth.

**beanbag** · 06-15-2009, 04:42 PM

thanks. =)

the hardest part will be telling my dad that I am getting a manual. (provided the dealership allows me to downgrade on my lease, instead of upgrade.) but then again, if my parents expect me to pay for it with the extremely tight salary I will most likely be receiving, then they had better stand aside and let me choose my own car.

guitarguy90 · 06-15-2009, 04:43 PM

1. It really varies from person to person. . .some people pick it up in a day or two, and some just don't get it. I personally didn't think it was hard, though. The second time I drove a stick was when I bought my present truck and drove it home. I only killed it once

2. No more so than with an automatic. You'll be in your top gear for the most part, and won't be doing much shifting. The only catch to this would be if you're used to using your cruise control all the time - a lot of manuals don't come equipped with cruise control.

3. I haven't had much experience driving in big cities, but just around towns and stuff it's not bad once you're used to it. For me, now, it's no different driving a stick or automatic around town. If you're talking NYC type of city, though, I'm thinking it would be quite a hassle.

I prefer manual over automatic, but that's purely personal preference. I just enjoy having that extra little bit of control over the vehicle

**thesteve** · 06-15-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarguy90

2. No more so than with an automatic. You'll be in your top gear for the most part, and won't be doing much shifting. The only catch to this would be if you're used to using your cruise control all the time - a lot of manuals don't come equipped with cruise control.

I've found this to be more model dependent than auto vs. manual. For example, I own a '98 Civic EX. It is manual and has cruise control. My wife's '06 Corolla CE is automatic and does not have cruise. The EX was (I believe) one of Honda's "luxury" Civic models (oxymoron) whereas the CE is Toyota's entry Corolla (doesn't have automatic windows either).

3. Generally speaking I haven't had any trouble driving in the city with a manual. There are areas that are more difficult than others, but I've been driving manuals in San Diego for about 8 years without any real problems. Like guitarguy90 said, if you're talking NYC type of surface street driving, that's a whole 'nother issue, but for general city driving it really has been a non-issue for me.

**beanbag** · 06-15-2009, 04:53 PM

haha. I remember once when I was a kid, my mom killed her car in the middle of the street. she just calmly turned it off and turned it back on and took us on our merry way.

I don't use cruise control unless I'm on I-5, which is the most boring and desolate interstate I've ever been on--perfect for cruise control.

I'm not sure how big the cities are that I may potentially encounter, but I have driven in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles, and as far as traffic goes, they all suck.

thanks for the help so far. =)

**redbaron** · 06-15-2009, 05:02 PM

Yeah, typically cruise control will be more of a model dependent option- many cheaper models have the automatic as part of an "upgrade" package (which I find a dubious title given my opinion on automatics) that would include CC.

San Fransisco would be the most challenging due to hills, LA would just be annoying due to stop and go but it's not that bad. It's not like you're looking at trucks or sports cars with ridiculously heavy/difficult clutches after all.

I learned how to drive in Seattle and commuted across the city daily for a couple years, it's not that big of a deal, but it can get annoying. Timing your commute better is the best solution.

OiBoyz · 06-15-2009, 05:19 PM

I drive a manual. I learned on one. I prefer driving a manual to an automatic, because you're actually driving. A manual transmission, especially on cruise control, is more like riding in a car, not driving it.

It's not hard, but it will be a learning curve. Especially if you have hills to contend with.

***Art*** · 06-15-2009, 05:35 PM

My manual can be very hard on me in the city. It kills my knee after a while. Of course, if you don't have a bad knee, that shouldn't be a problem.

I would not hesitate to drive a long distance in my car. The stick is no big deal, especially on the highway/freeway . You pretty much just leave it in gear.

I adore my cruise control. But that's beside the point.

mulletman · 06-15-2009, 05:39 PM

Indeed. Manual transmission cars are relatively easy to learn to drive. It can be a little annoying in stop and go traffic, but I actually find it less annoying than the throttle response on most automatics that I have driven. Cross country driving is a non-event. Starting on hills can be interesting, but once you get it figured out, it's no problem. A little help from your parking brake makes life easier....

For what it's worth, I will never willingly buy a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

OiBoyz · 06-15-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

For what it's worth, I will never willingly buy a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

Yup me too. My mom thinks I'm crazy, but I just prefer a manual. They are harder to find though.

mulletman · 06-15-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

They are harder to find though.

Not if you like good cars......

**redbaron** · 06-15-2009, 05:46 PM

Heh, unless the road is angled as such that I can only see sky I don't bother with the parking brake trick. You get to the point where you can feel the clutch start to get into the friction zone and just step from brake to throttle and you're cooking with crisco.

Cruise control is great on factory cars, maybe even newer factory turbo cars.

On my galant it nearly got me into "going to jail" situations so I've since removed it. When your stock power output = x and current = y, different things happen, like cruise cracking the throttle 3/4 building 23psi cranking from 74 to 95 instead of 74 to 78 as per CC setting. That adds the benefit of it then abruptly chopping the throttle to nothing, and then lather, rinse, repeat.

I picked up 4.8mpg average by skipping CC on my trip from Poulsbo to Oceanside, CA which is pretty significant considering that it was ~2700 miles round trip (in a weekend)

mulletman · 06-15-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbaron

Heh, unless the road is angled as such that I can only see sky I don't bother with the parking brake trick. You get to the point where you can feel the clutch start to get into the friction zone and just step from brake to throttle and you're cooking with crisco.

Indeed. But for a n00b with a clutch.... it may help a bit.

**beanbag** · 06-15-2009, 06:08 PM

I would've learned to drive a manual years ago, only my dad was like, "there are these things called automatic transmissions, and they're better for girls. there's no reason for you to learn to drive a stick-shift!"

(my dad means well. he just grew up in a different school of thought, particularly about girls.)