Current Events > is it worth it getting a manual transmission car?

(+) Yeah! (+)

im looking at new cars and all the fun ones seem to have manual transmissions. ive never drove a manual car outside of video games so id prob have to take driving lessons or w/e. is it worth it getting a manual car, like does it make the driving experience better, or is it just a car nerd thing

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it's really just preference, so it's hard to determine if that's "worth it" to you. it's not difficult, especially if you watch a quick YT video on what's actually going on under the pedals.

from a purely technical perspective, automatic is more effecient in every regard. but i've been driving manual for over 20 years and i happen to like it.

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If you want to have fun and feel more "Engaged" and that's your thing then sure go for it. Other than that, automatic is literally better in every single aspect.

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I learnt on and prefer manuals and get them when I can. It's tricky for about a week or for a few stop lights worth of time when you are using a new car with a different clutch, but as soon as you get your muscle memory locked in, it's not very different. You don't hardly touch the gears once you're up to speed.

It IS a ne d thing, but one of my favorite things with a manual is driving late at night when there are light flurries with woo music and pretending I'm a space captain. Being able to use the gear shift is that much more spacey and interactive. So...there's that.

In highschool, drivers ed told us manuals were slightly more fuel efficient because drivers tens to hear up sooner than automatics do. But it's negligible and that was almost 20 years ago, so things may have changed.

Also edit for full disclosure: I currently have an automatic, but I still prefer manuals.

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It's preference, but manual really sucks in rush hour traffic. So if your main use for a vehicle is for a commute, I would recommend automatic.

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Are you lazy? Do you like to relax while you're driving? If the answer is yes to either avoid manual.
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VanananaHeyHey posted...

I learnt on and prefer manuals and get them when I can. It's tricky for about a week or for a few stop lights worth of time when you are using a new car with a different clutch, but as soon as you get your muscle memory locked in, it's not very different. You don't hardly touch the gears once you're up to speed.

It IS a ne d thing, but one of my favorite things with a manual is driving late at night when there are light flurries with woo music and pretending I'm a space captain. Being able to use the gear shift is that much more spacey and interactive. So...there's that.

In highschool, drivers ed told us manuals were slightly more fuel efficient because drivers tens to hear up sooner than automatics do. But it's negligible and that was almost 20 years ago, so things may have changed.

Also edit for full disclosure: I currently have an automatic, but I still prefer manuals.

This is a good description especially the last part! I learned on one (dad wouldn't let me take the driving test on an automatic) and still love the feeling of shifting from third to fourth where you pull it straight down.

voldothegr8 posted...

Are you lazy? Do you like to relax while you're driving? If the answer is yes to either avoid manual.

If your answer is yes to both of those, pray self-driving cars come sooner

VanananaHeyHey posted...

It IS a ne d thing, but one of my favorite things with a manual is driving late at night when there are light flurries with woo music and pretending I'm a space captain. Being able to use the gear shift is that much more spacey and interactive. So...there's that.

bluezero posted...

It's preference, but manual really sucks in rush hour traffic. So if your main use for a vehicle is for a commute, I would recommend automatic.

damn im conflicted. on the one hand, my entire lifes goal is to be like ryan gosling in the opening credits scene of Drive. on the other, realistically im going to spend 90% of the time in my car driving to/from work & going to the grocery store

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voldothegr8 posted...

Are you lazy? Do you like to relax while you're driving? If the answer is yes to either avoid manual.

counter point: i'm so used to driving manual i dont even think about it, similar to riding a bike. i just ... do it. the only time manual really grinds my gears (yuck yuck yuck) is when i'm in stop n go / rush hour traffic.

but i've learned to mitigate the annoyance on my leg by making a game of seeing how long i can go w/o touching the brakes. i wait until space has formed in front of me and creep up. sometimes this infuriates other drivers who will pass me in the most aggressive manner possible to express their rage at me, only to slam to a screeching stop 10 feet ahead of me. then i look into their rear view and smile.

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My last five cars have been. I enjoy it.

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Most people that knock manuals either hate driving or suck at it.

Honestly, if you're not a car person, you're either going to love it or feel indifferent.

It's less efficient and slower

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all the fun ones have dual clutch transmissions, which can work both ways with paddle shifters to shift or as automatics.

unless you're buying a classic muscle car, dual clutch does everything a manual does better with faster shifts. while still having all the benefits of automatic when you don't want to deal with it in traffic. The only benefit a manual does still have is it's usually cheaper and as an american it's a slight anti-theft deterrent.

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I'm no car expert but the idea seems to me:

manual: actual racing, very fast acceleration (e.g. highway entrance ramps), and going up and down steep inclines regularly

automatic: everything else.

My first two cars were standard and then I went like a decade without one. I just bought a 5 speed car a couple weeks ago and I'm so happy I did. Didn't realize how much I missed it.

Yes it's worth buying. It takes some getting used to but it makes driving so much more interesting. I'm not going back to automatic for as long as I can help it.

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Lol, no

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CommonGrackle posted...

I'm no car expert but the idea seems to me:

manual: actual racing, very fast acceleration (e.g. highway entrance ramps), and going up and down steep inclines regularly

automatic: everything else.

Standards are also better for gas mileage if you drive them properly

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I had one for probably about ten years. It was fun for a while, but it turned into a chore. I traded in for a big Subaru wagon and I really like it better. Theres a lot of stop-and-go traffic in my city, so youre basically staying in first through third gear, which isnt very fun. Having a cool and fast car is nice, but unless youre taking it to the track youre probably not going to get the experience.

I Like Toast posted...

all the fun ones have dual clutch transmissions, which can work both ways with paddle shifters to shift or as automatics.

im looking at the civic si, wrx, and gti at the moment. for all 3 it seems like they only have manual versions, or they have a dct/auto trans on the highest trim, so then im paying 30k+ for a compact car.

Zodd3224 posted...

My first two cars were standard and then I went like a decade without one. I just bought a 5 speed car a couple weeks ago and I'm so happy I did. Didn't realize how much I missed it.

was the readjustment hard?

Payzmaykr posted...

I had one for probably about ten years. It was fun for a while, but it turned into a chore. I traded in for a big Subaru wagon and I really like it better. Theres a lot of stop-and-go traffic in my city, so youre basically staying in first through third gear, which isnt very fun. Having a cool and fast car is nice, but unless youre taking it to the track youre probably not going to get the experience.

i live in a very congested area w/ a lot of traffic (north NJ) so this is definitely concerning to me

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Nah, its like riding a bike. You don't forget. I was zipping around like nothing within 5 minutes.

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> fun car
> civic
SHUCKY DUCKY QUACK QUACK

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