Automatic vs Manual

[JimmyTwoTimes]

i would rock the OEMs until you need a new set. i think the pirellis have a really short tread life anyway, the ones that came with my car at least. i was going to try to wear thru them in a year since i do about 20k a year anyway. i heard they last 15-20k. the p zero neros may last a bit longer.

I had 18" PZero Neros on my S197; they needed replacement at 25K. I used them year-round and didn't switch out for winter tires -- right now my OEM 19" PZero Neros have 327 miles on them, and my Michelin snow tires have about 2,000.

I guess my main concern is that my summer roadtrip plans involving driving through the high desert of Texas / New Mexico / Arizona / California in the middle of July... not sure if stock all-season PZero Neros are up to that. We'll see, I guess.

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[Ruckus]

FWIW, I actually enjoy shifting. But I've really become pretty fucking lazy over the past few years. Stop-and-go traffic around Seattle sucks even more than the infamous L.I.E. rush hour (which I endured for three years while living in Medford and commuting daily to Bethpage (Grumman). I just don't see the nobility or fun in it any more. Constantly worrying if some jackoff is gonna cut in front of you, stalling out when an unexpected obstacle looms in front of you, etc. It's just not worth the trouble any more. In short, why work harder than you have to for the few brief times it's actually fun to trounce on the gears and give yourself whiplash? I'm done. You can row your gears. Please. Be my guest. LOL

 

[Ecoboosted]

My last 12' Camaro SS had the 6M transmission and it was clunky as hell. This time around I ordered the EB with an auto and i'll be perfectly happy with an auto.

 

[Rhys]

Yes, reviving this thread after about a week right?

I'm in a bit of a conundrum...I want a manual whether it be the GT350 I want or a GT pp if I have to settle (which I may have to do now...).

My problems are:
I've never driven a manual as a DD
My wife thinks I'll wreck it because of point 1
I live in houston and I'm a bit worried about driving my first DD manual in heavy traffic.

I really want a PP or a GT350 but still have reservations...how do you manual guys handle heavy traffic? Any tips/suggestions?

Also, are autos more likely to overheat on a track? I probably won't track a LOT but when I do since I live in Houston it'll be HOT and I would t want to have things overheating on a track day...especially the trans.

Ok, heres some tips;
While the car is off, practice pushing the clutch in and out so you can get the feel for the clutch. Also practice moving the gear stick into gears so you can get the feel for that.
Take your car out away from most traffic for an hour or two and practice changing gears and stopping.
Try doing some parallel parking with some golf clubs or whatever you have at home. This is key for when you are trying to park in town so you don't stop traffic.
And thats all you'll really need!

 

[SkapeGote]

I learned by turning on the car, putting it in first, and slowly easing the clutch out till you feel it grab. As for heavy traffic, it becomes second nature. When in doubt, clutch in and brake. Took me about 30 mins to get the hang of it, and a day to be comfortable with it. Liking an auto is fine, driving a stick sublime.

Skape

 

[marks]

Good to see manual winning the poll! Showing the Mustang is still driven by serious drivers!

 

[Asharus]

barely

 

[DeepImpactBlue2015EB]

by 62 thats a decent amount

 

[Asharus]

true but we're still at 6 out of 10.

if this was nasioc (my subaru forum) it would be at 9 out of 10 or more, LOL

 

[FLSTANG]

Manual all the way!

 

[Norm Peterson]

FWIW, I actually enjoy shifting. But I've really become pretty fucking lazy over the past few years. Stop-and-go traffic around Seattle sucks even more than the infamous L.I.E. rush hour (which I endured for three years while living in Medford and commuting daily to Bethpage (Grumman). I just don't see the nobility or fun in it any more. Constantly worrying if some jackoff is gonna cut in front of you, stalling out when an unexpected obstacle looms in front of you, etc. It's just not worth the trouble any more.

Having to cope with heavy traffic sucks regardless of transmission type. Too much of my early driving years was spent in the creep-and-beep stuff in Boston, Cambridge, and on a horrible stretch of pavement known as the Central Artery (plenty of appropriate medical jokes) and the Southeast Expressway (express, my ass). Cured me of ever wanting to get trapped in that sort of commuting life, and that was back when I was driving automatic transmission cars. Made it stick, too.

In short, why work harder than you have to for the few brief times it's actually fun to trounce on the gears

The flip side here is why force yourself to tolerate a car all of the time for its possible benefits part of the time? You won't get a CTRL-ALT-DEL do-over.

Actually, now that I'm out the other end of having to do any commuting at all, when I do occasionally get stuck in traffic I'm kind of glad to be dealing with a MT and its clutch. Gives me something to do besides mindlessly riding the brakes.


Norm

 

[Ruckus]

That's what I like about you, Norm. You always offer cogent arguments and well-balanced points of view. Having visited car forums for years, I've heard the arguments for auto vs manual ad nauseam. I'm glad you're happy. I believe I will be happy as well, driving an automatic. I've weighed the pros and cons, but as I said, I'm over it. What I find mildly amusing is the notion that I'm missing out on realizing the car's full potential by allowing the transmission to convey me, rather than row the gears to achieve the same result. (I know this will elicit "He just doesn't get it" remarks.)

I don't understand why people in either camp want to win the others over. I couldn't care less whether someone shifts or doesn't shift. Why it's so important to them what I choose to do? What difference does it make? Every one of these manual vs auto threads always arrives at the same conclusion: If you want to shift, shift. If you don't want to shift, don't. Why belabor the inevitable?

 

[Asharus]

i couldn't care less about what engine/transmission someone chooses either. as long as i know i got what i want.

 

[fionic]

Don't know how to drive a manual, and am afraid of destroying the engine with an accidental shift into first gear at 65 mph.

nearly impossible. you'd have to really, really try to do this.

 

[Alloye]

I couldn't care less whether someone shifts or doesn't shift.

+1. Nor do I make assumptions about their masculinity, level of enthusiasm, or driving skill based on that choice.

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