1.5 Months In Without a Manual Transmission

by "VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
Published 12/31/2016 at 15:26

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STARS: 3

I own two cars right now and both of them are automatics. This is the first time in about 11 years that I have not owned a clutch and stick combo. This was done intentionally as it was a practical decision as my wife does not yet drive stick (I’m working on it.) as well as finding a Chevy SS Manual that isn’t across the country and 10k more is pretty much out of the question.

What I didn’t anticipate is that I’m starting to feel withdrawal effects. When I’m by myself in the Lexus I shove it into M immediately and begin my run of gears up and gears down. I have found that the shifts up after the car warms up are crisp and quick. I have found that I am getting much better at paddles having never used them regularly before except on video games. I have found that the last 2 gears, from third to first coming to a stop, are still best when handled by the car itself, as downshifting 2-1 is akin to getting smacked in the back of your head by a friend.

But oh, clutch, I do miss you. I miss being able to engage and disengage the drivetrain on a whim. I miss being able to perfect rev match for a heel toe turn. I miss being able to put it in whatever gear *I* feel is best, whenever I want, however I want. If i want to shift 1-2-4-5-3-4-2, who are you to argue, car? This is MY road and MY time and you’re here cause of ME.

I was never even one of those people who hated driving sticks in stop and go traffic. I even did that through the middle of Los Angeles downtown rush hour in a WRX - did not even feel a strain. My left leg game was strong. I loved finding clutch engagement, attempting to make my ride as smooth as possible for my passengers. I imagined with enough practice and smoothness, I could eliminate physics inside my car altogether .

The reality is different, of course. Sometimes I make clutch-smell on accident when I’ve missed the engagement point, sometimes the acceleration bogs down after heel toe cause I’ve misjudged it, and my wife thinks I’m a terrible driver because all my shifts are aggressively quick and jerky. I’ve ground a gear or two mistiming clutch engagement during quick shifts; I’m only human.

So, I have automatics now. They’re great, they reduce squeals from the passengers and from the tires, too. They’re smoother than I’ve ever been, and I can still poke the bear if I really want to with the sporty modes.

But I could now amputate my left leg and it wouldn’t affect anything I do in my cars, as left foot braking really needs a harness so my body doesn’t help push down on the pedals. So I miss my clutch. So make sure that you approach the loss of a manual car with tissues on hand and a saved contact for grief counseling, just in case you need it. ‘Cause you might.

I’m not allowed to get a third car. But I am allowed to think about it.

Replies (16)

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/31/2016 at 15:30, STARS: 5

I’m not allowed to get a third car.

Neither was I. I solved the problem by getting a third car. Wife stayed anyway.

"RazoE" (razoe)
12/31/2016 at 15:31, STARS: 1

My wife learned stick for this reason. Problem solved

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 15:31, STARS: 4

While I applaud the successful show of force, in this case the bank and my wife apparently are in cahoots.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/31/2016 at 15:34, STARS: 0

That’s fair. Considering the combined value of my cars is far less than half the value of your IS-F. So money isn’t really an issue.

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 15:37, STARS: 0

Prices have come down on the older ones a long way, btw. Maybe it’s not your particular tipple, but the 08s are starting from somewhere around 25k. Which is not bad, honestly.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/31/2016 at 15:39, STARS: 1

I think were I ever to buy a nice car (hah!) it would still be the SC400 or maybe the IS Sportcross. If the Sportcross had a stick, I’d gladly travel to pick one up. But alas... ALAS!

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
12/31/2016 at 15:41, STARS: 1

I feel ur pain

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 15:42, STARS: 0

Those are not bad picks. I looked at SC400s all the time, and the 300s too. the IS Sportcross looks like it would be super fun to own.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/31/2016 at 15:45, STARS: 0

Maybe someday. Saving for a house instead. Only many many thousands of dollars an 3 to 5 years to go!

Back to you sir — about the IS-F... Buyer’s remorse yet? Looking back would you have got something with a third pedal, or was it simply non-negotiable going in?

"AndyG_UK" (ajg1974)
12/31/2016 at 15:46, STARS: 1

I changed to an auto for my daily driver just under 2 weeks ago (my first time in 25 years of owning cars) and do not miss the manual gearbox at all. Mines a DSG with flappy paddles and I love it, so glad I made the change. Drove our other car yesterday, which is a manual (Citroen DS4) and I just found it annoying, can’t wait until we swap it in a few months (for probably a BMW i3) and I don’t have to deal with manuals again.

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 15:54, STARS: 0

I don’t have buyer’s remorse, for certain. The V8 sound and thrust alone are able to cover up tons of other complaints I could have, of which I don’t. Since I’m not willing to take on ownership of 5+ year old German cars as of yet, and since I prefer to stay away from muscle cars, basically the IS-F was the near-perfect blend of speed, comfort/luxury and practicality that came in below my max budget range.

The one thing that came down to the wire was the automatic. I made the practical choice, but not the emotional choice. But everything that would parallel the IS-F that has a manual option is costly, either up front or later on down the line. Aside from the Chevy SS, and a rather older E90 M3 (going for sedans here) and Caddy CTS-Vs it’s hard to find manuals in that segment, and they’re all going for 40+ looks like. And if I were going to go 40+ in a segment like that I’d probably chuck all that out the window and just buy a used C7.

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 15:55, STARS: 0

So you found it easier to move on? Were you just tired of pushing the pedal all the time? What’s annoying about it now?

"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
12/31/2016 at 16:28, STARS: 0

my winter DD is a powerstroke with an auto. I really want a manual bad. Luckily i have one summer manual (Miata) and another on the way (ls swapped rx7)

"AndyG_UK" (ajg1974)
12/31/2016 at 16:32, STARS: 1

Having drove manuals all my driving life they have never held any sort of fascination for me, it has always just been a part of driving. Every time I’ve driven a modern auto car I have always preferred them, especially “DSG” type boxes, even better if they have flappy paddles! I do a lot or city driving and just find having an auto box much more relaxing when dealing with stop start traffic etc. I am so happy with the DSG box in my new Leon, I don’t think I will ever go back to a clutch pedal, they just seem redundant now for me, which is why driving our DS4 yesterday, in town, bothered me so much. 

"VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely" (vajazzlemcdildertits)
12/31/2016 at 18:03, STARS: 1

If it works for you, who am I to disagree?

"AndyG_UK" (ajg1974)
12/31/2016 at 18:19, STARS: 1

Exactly! Happy New Year!!!!