Have any of you survived the transition from manual to auto with your soul intact?

"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
12/28/2016 at 14:11 • Filed to: None

This is not a manual vs auto discussion, but a question for those of you who prefer a manual transmission.

Did you ever end up buying an automatic, and if so, how did you manage?

There are some very fun cars out there with no manual option, but I’m afraid they’d be more boring to drive than a decent econobox with a stick. If it helps narrow things down, I use the car to commute, road trip, autocross, and occasionally track.

DISCUSSION (96)

Cash Rewards > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:14

GTI with dsg. Now that I’m back in a manual I realize how much I did miss it, but something with paddles if you could.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:16

Considered daily driving the Camry, but the Camry is now for sale and I’m taking the bus.

Sam > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:17

My first car was a Miata 5sp, but my current car is a 95' 530i wagon. I’ve found that a fun car is a fun car, no matter the transmission. Sure, it may be *less* fun, but people get way too caught up with what transmission people have.

There’s also the fact that there are hundreds of ATs out there, some terrible, some not that bad, some pretty good. The E34's is not terrible in sport mode. It’ll hold a gear to redline if you are really hammering on it. It also shifts very smooth.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:17

Manual transmissions ain’t what they used to be. Nowadays you get lots of rev hang, lousy shift linkages, and drive-by-wire throttle response. As well, automatics have gotten much better and paddles are pretty common.

LOREM IPSUM > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:19

I absolutely hated everything automatic until I bought my e38. The zf transmission in that thing was a revelation. It upshifted and downshifted at appropriate times which is something no other autobox had done for me before.

I still found myself manually selecting 2, 3, or sport mode often though.

...and I 100% would have preferred a 6 speed manual over the auto given the choice.

A lot of it came down to the fact that the e38 had a v8 behind it. In our Catera, which is also automatic, the transmission makes the car feel even more gutless than it actually is.

All things considered, if the vehicle I want has a manual as an option I would select it pretty much 100% of the time.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:19

my Focus is an Auto, my wife needed to be able to drive it, and she wasn’t going to be driving a manual.

Just this morning I went to clutch in and downshift to slow down for the traffic ahead. I was very sad when my foot hit nothing but air.

I have a sad.

crowmolly > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:20

Absolutely. You can still have a lot of fun in cars with autos/DSGs. Just find a car that ticks enough of the other boxes (power, handling, braking, etc).

Averyrm - GTI YUP > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:21

I too had a GTI with a DSG. Awesome gearbox... I sold it to buy another GTI with a proper manual.

It just wasn’t the same.

WilliamsSW > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:22

I’ve gone back and forth over the years, and always miss stick when I’m without one. Luckily, I’ve had the same stick car the last 16 years - it’s not my DD any more, but it’s always there when I want it.

If you face stop and go traffic on your commute, an auto is kinda nice sometimes, but other than that, sick all the way.

Personally, I think paddles are a poor substitute. The visceral feel of a well executed shift isn’t there. You’ll find yourself not using them most of the time, IMHO.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > LOREM IPSUM
12/28/2016 at 14:22

I’ve used and like the zf, but not as much as a mediocre manual. My ongoing assumption is that a V8 could fill in for any missing fun if the car is an automatic.

Wacko > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:23

I’ve been Driving Manuals from 1995 to just this summer, when I sold my manual jeep. Now I drive a 7 passenger CVT pathfinder. Mines a 2014 so it doesn’t have the fake shift points and has smooth and constant acceleration. I would still prefer a Manual, but let’s face it a awd 7 passenger in a manual ain’t gonna happen. I prefer the feeling of the cvt to a conventional automatic. I have never driven a DSG. And I don’t plan autocrossing it or trackdays.

But I think the DSG would do what you want.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Sam
12/28/2016 at 14:24

There aren’t that many cars where I’ve driven both the manual and the auto versions, but when I did, it had a huge impact on the fun. Most obvious example is the Mustang. I guess you’re right, though, it was still fun, just a lot less fun.

AMC/Renauledge > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:25

I miss having a manual transmission, for sure. In fact, when I traded in my Fiat 500 Pop manual for my Buick Verano automatic, I searched far and wide for a Verano turbo manual used. Couldn’t find one.

That said, “settling” for the automatic makes me much more relaxed in my day-to-day commute. Which is quite in keeping with the reasons I bought my Verano in the first place. And I wound up loving the thing.

Sam > LOREM IPSUM
12/28/2016 at 14:25

My E34 probably has the same ZF, and it’s very good. Sport mode is a fun feature (especially since it’s super loud), but I’ve also been averaging <13mpg because of it.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
12/28/2016 at 14:26

True, and at the high-end, auto rev-matching sucks the fun out of rowing your own.

Sam > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:27

Yeah, having a V8 helps. It’s not really a sports car, either, so a manual isn’t a requirement. It’s just a quick, luxury sedan.

WilliamsSW > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/28/2016 at 14:27

I live in constant fear that I will grab the console auto shifter and throw it into park when I try to upshift at 35 mph.

Hasn’t happened. Yet.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Cash Rewards
12/28/2016 at 14:28

How often do you drive your GTI in manual-mode?

PartyPooper2012 > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:30

It’s very hard to find a good manual car these days. Automatics are abundant and decent in power.

Don’t get me wrong. I would take early 90s honda with a manual any day of the week, but these days it’s harder and harder to find. New cars suck in that they don’t make decent manuals for US markets at least... LOOKING AT YOU, ALFA ROMEO

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:30

I just can’t stand the way automatics favor fuel economy. Fuel economy is last on my list of things I will ever care about. I didnt hate the automatic in the rental Camaro I tried last year but only because the paddles were actually responsive and did what I asked. So I think I would be more willing to “deal with” an automatic in a higher performance car so long as it has useful paddles and enough power/noise to keep me entertained. But no way in hell could I ever own an economy/lower powered car without a manual.

Sam > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:31

In a sports car, either a manual or a good DCT (DSG, PDK, and such) is a requirement. I drove an auto Boostang and it wasn’t that bad, really. But that’s a modern, good auto.

Tareim - V8 powered > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:33

I had an auto BRZ with flappy paddles (as my town was forever gridlocked around commuting times and couldn’t be bothered with the clutch in - 1st gear - move 5 cm - clutch in - neutral etc repeat)

I was using manual mode 99% of the time, the only reason I ditched the auto is that it’s weak, if you want to go Forced Induction on one of the twins then manual is the only way due to the clutches melting in the auto box

if I could’ve got 20-30bhp more without going FI then I would still have it as I didn’t lose any of the fun from having a manual, if anything at times it was more fun as I could just pull the paddle to change gear rather than taking a hand off the wheel to change gear

Tripper > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:33

Traded a 3 pedal E90 M3 for a flappy paddle Audi S3. What got me over the hump initially was the notion that I still have access to two fun 3 pedal cars. After driving the Audi for a few days, I wouldn’t have traded it for the 3 pedal version even if it was available.

It really depends on the car. Part of what makes the S3 so fun for me is the DSG. It shifts so fast up and down, I don’t think that 2.0 4 cyl would feel nearly as quick with a full manual.

Even if the Audi was my only car, I would be fine with the DSG. Not sure that I could say the same about a CVT or similar. I prefer 3 pedals, but only in cars where it adds to the experience.

Urambo Tauro > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:33

Automatics can be challenging. I’ve had my truck (4L60E) for almost a year now, but I’m still trying to work out just how the transmission shifts. I want to get to a point where I can easily sense TC lockup and anticipate exactly when it’s going to shift. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m getting a better feel for how far I need to push the accelerator to initiate a downshift. It’s a different ballgame.

smobgirl > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:41

I think it totally depends on the car. I haven’t had a rental that I didn’t wish was a manual, except when I was stuck in horrible traffic situations (Bay Area during rush hour, for instance). But for a fun car I probably could be fine either way.

punkgoose17 > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:41

I have not had my own car in over a year. We share my wife’s autotradgic car. It is one of the things that makes me dead inside.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Tripper
12/28/2016 at 14:42

That’s encouraging.

smobgirl > WilliamsSW
12/28/2016 at 14:43

I’ve had a couple close calls when driving a rental automatic Fiat.

Cash Rewards > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:44

All the time. Only way to stay sane. And when I switched over to full auto, I paid less attention to the road in general.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:45

Had a manual. Sold it and bought an auto in 2008. Was OK with it for a while. Got bored. Sold it bought a manual again in 2011. Then another to replace that one in 2015.

LOREM IPSUM > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/28/2016 at 14:47

Ever forgotten you’re driving an auto and attempted to clutch-in while approaching a stop light by hammering the brake pedal with your left foot?

Yeah... thats fun.

WilliamsSW > smobgirl
12/28/2016 at 14:49

Well, if you’re going to make that mistake, a rental Fiat seems like one of the better cars to do it in, at least...

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Cash Rewards
12/28/2016 at 14:51

I drove a friends’ GTI with DSG in manual mode and it was good fun. Didn’t drive it long enough to see if I could live with it, though.

HammerheadFistpunch > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:52

Moving from manual only my entire life to auto was hard, and im still not over it, but my wife’s car is a stick, so that helps. its going to suck if it gets replaced with an auto which is a very distinct possibility.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:52

I prefer manual in cars but not in full size trucks and suvs. But a good automatic to me must have a transmission dipstick to service it. Sadly my e38 doesn’t have that and a majority of bmw automatics don’t. The zf I have shifts hard when cold and never recieved a fluid change until I owned it. Great automatic but servicing it is not fun and sketchy at best.

camaroboy68ss > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:54

I went from daily driving a 6spd 98 Camaro SS to a 14 Camaro SS auto, was wanting a 6spd car but couldn’t beat the price I got the 14 for. After a week of my daily work commute I was hooked and my left leg was happy from not having to do stop and go everyday. Now it help that when I long to power shift I have two other Camaros that are both 3 pedal cars and they he driven quite often in the good weather, but I’m now glad I have an auto to drive to work.

DipodomysDeserti > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:54

I ended up buying another manual car after getting an auto.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 14:56

I bought a TL with an auto...loved every minute of it and would still have it if the transmission wasn’t utter garbage. When it went I got my Si and honestly, while I do enjoy driving a little more, I kind of miss the TL

Chasaboo > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:01

Yep, had a BRZ with paddles. Had a blast while I owned it.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > DipodomysDeserti
12/28/2016 at 15:01

That’s what I’d like to avoid.

Tripper > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:03

My main downside with all of the features/modes with fancy automatics is that I feel like I have to choose how I want to drive before I drive. I can’t just change my driving style the way I can in the cooper or the M3. Changing transmission modes does not happen instantly (with DSG at least)so if you were not already in sport/manual mode and you’re quickly approaching one of your favorite turns, you’d have to flip the shifter in sport or manual and then almost confirm that it’s in that mode before you can enter that turn with confidence. In a 3 pedal car the same turn is only a downshift and a smile away.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:06

Went from a W210 and Ford Windstar back to manual with the Mazda5. The MB was just dull, and short of a V8 nothing was going to fix that (and even with a V8 it would still be uninspiring in the corners). The Windstar was just a joyless, soul-crushing contrivance, and there wasn’t a damn thing, short of a trip to the crusher, that was going to redeem that turd.

Everything else I’ve had has been manual, and the cheapskate in me wants to keep it that way (the maintenance costs on a VW DSG scared me away). Eventually I’ll probably have to buy something with an automatic, but you’ll have to drag me kicking and screaming to that time.

E92M3 > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:06

I went from a S2000 to a SMG E46, and now DCT E92 M3. I live in Atlanta, and don’t miss it one bit. If I lived in a more rural place I would prefer a manual though. I have 2 trucks that are manuals that fill the void. Truth is I have to time when I drive them, NEVER in rush hour traffic. Sometimes I still get caught in stop-and-go traffic despite my efforts to avoid it.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:14

I preferred manual for most of my early driving life. Now I’m 32 and for my daily driver, I prefer an automatic...I spend a lot of time in traffic, and the benefits of a stick don’t outweigh the convenience of not-a-stick. I don’t get on board anymore with the “OMG IF IT ISN’T A STICK IT ISN’T A CAR!!!!!!!1!!!” crowd. Would my Land Cruiser being a stick enhance the driving experience? Maybe for like an hour, and then I’d get sick of it and want to just go back to the automatic.

That said, if I have a dedicated ‘fun’ car, it ought to be a stick. I want to drive a stick when I want to drive it, not every day because I have to do it.

CodyVella > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:17

I drove manual my whole life (save for my first car) and about two years ago, and after owning 6 cars, bought my first auto. Honestly, for daily driving I have no issues with it at all. My summer car is still a manual, but my Xterra is an auto, and I love it with all the commuting I do.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Tripper
12/28/2016 at 15:25

With a steering column paddles and DSG you can grab a downshift anytime, that is why people like them so. Can you not in your Audi? First time I took a corner with one and it matched the revs on the downshift I was like...

Kinja'd!!!

Cash Rewards > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:28

Problem is the engine is too good to bother shifting, and when you do it’s just pressing a button. Torque curve is dead flat, so 2nd, 3rd, 4th, doesn’t matter. Want faster, press button. It’s awesome when you can open it up and rip through 5-6 gears.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 15:29

I’ve never owned a car with an automatic transmission.

I’ve rented some automatic cars not long ago. The automatics of today are way better than what we had 10 years ago.

Having said that, in my experience, to make the EPA fuel economy numbers, you have to drive VERY GENTLY with the automatic.

Whereas with manual cars, I find I can match and usually beat the EPA fuel economy numbers without having to drive super slow/gently.

At some point in the future though, I will probably get a car with an automatic transmission.

But when I do, it will either be a BEV like a Tesla or something with a good hybrid electric powertrain.

Tripper > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
12/28/2016 at 15:34

You can but if you’re coasting along in a standard driving mode, it takes a second to execute that downshift. If you go down two gears or quickly from “D” mode it takes for-ev-ver to get in gear. The DSG is great but it works best when you’re doing all of the shifting manually or none of it.

Notorious GIGI > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 16:04

I am admittedly not as much of a car person as your average Oppolock poster, but after careful consideration when I bought a car 2 years ago I went with an automatic (CVT). I live in a city, and easily 90% of my driving is in traffic at speeds well under 40mph. You can’t really enjoy driving that much in those circumstances anyway, and a manual is just a pain in the ass in stop and go traffic. Also, it’s a lot of wear and tear on the clutch, which was excluded from the warranty.

My previous car (like 8 years prior) was an automatic and I hated it, but I didn’t live in a city then. I have zero regrets about buying an automatic this time. I don’t know if I’d feel the same in your situation though where it sounds like commuting is only a small portion of your driving.

Notorious GIGI > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 16:04

I am admittedly not as much of a car person as your average Oppolock poster, but after careful consideration when I bought a car 2 years ago I went with an automatic. I live in a city, and easily 90% of my driving is in traffic at speeds well under 40mph. You can’t really enjoy driving that much in those circumstances anyway, and a manual is just a pain in the ass in stop and go traffic. Also, it’s a lot of wear and tear on the clutch, which was excluded from the warranty.

404 - User No Longer Available > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 16:14

TBH, if I’m getting another BMW ever after Valka, I might actually go the 8AT route. John Liebermann wasn’t kidding about BMW manuals being not very good. The more I drive it, the more I notice the rubbery and springy feel, and on top of that the ASS system just isn’t geared very well for a manual (pun intended).

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 16:24

That too.

XJDano > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 17:05

My old Daily Driver was a manual metro. Nothing to write home about. My DD now is my wife’s old equinox. It’s whatever. I’d rather have a manual, but I’m not going to buy one just to replace it. Although I’ve thought about it.

I’ll wait until this dies, then see what funds I have available.

I would DD a manual XJ again. Or I may be looking for a pickup. Even better if I can find a manual wagon.

I’d go back to a manual, but no reason forcing me to do so now. Am content.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 17:14

My soul is dying just thinking about it.

Stef Schrader > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 17:49

I have the Parsh for a reason, heh. One of those is “the Lulzcer is automatic.”

If it’s a nice car and makes commuting easier, maybe just buy a cheap trackrat with three pedals and hoon the crap out of that.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Stef Schrader
12/28/2016 at 17:54

Where do people put these cheap trackrat fun cars? I love the idea, but where would it go?

Stephenson Valve Gear > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 17:59

This is going to be a long post, so bear with me. The first thing I learned to drive was a tractor, and the first licensed vehicle I learned to drive was a ‘64 Chevy 3/4 ton w/ an unsynchronized 4 speed manual. I’ve always been a die-hard manual transmission guy, especially after a bad experience with an automatic Pinto many years ago. However, that has begun to unravel in the last few years. The first problem is that the big 3 don’t make 1/2 ton pickups with manuals anymore! So, I ended up with an auto in my pickup... *sigh. Then, my wife started having issues with her knees and couldn’t reliably work the clutch, so her beloved ‘09 manual trans Yaris got traded for a similar Yaris with a slushbox... which for me, sucked what little fun existed in the Yaris out of the car. Thankfully, the Mustangs are still available with manual transmissions, so our 3rd vehicle has three pedals and six forward gears. The motorcycle is - of course - a manual transmission, too. So, I have the irritation of driving different vehicles with autos and sticks. There are times when the autos just cannot predict what gear I want them to be in, which leads to extra shifting and is annoying. Also, they tend to be a little downshift happy in overdrive, dropping down a gear on the hills around here when I think they could hang in OD and pull the hill just fine... which is annoying. Finally, there are times when I want to downshift for engine braking, and the darn slushboxes in the truck and Yaris don’t rev match! Irritating! Having said that, I won’t argue that a good auto in a sportier car can shift faster than a manual trans, and I’ve read good things about auto ‘Stangs after they have had the benefit of a tune. Still, I don’t want to give up a stick shift in the sporty car. And, I occasionally depress the phantom clutch pedal in the automatic vehicles.

TL:DR; If you have to get an auto in a DD, buy an extra car with a stick.

Stef Schrader > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 18:19

Heh, I wish I had a better answer to this. That’s usually the limiting factor on crapcans: space.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 18:23

I’ve made the switch to auto from two manual cars, but it’s a fun car, so I’m okay with it. It’s an adjustment, but so far, no regrets. So as long as the car you’re going to is fun, shouldn’t be an issue.

My bird IS the word > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 18:37

Only car? Manual. Two cars? Automatic.

PepperMRoadster > Stephenson Valve Gear
12/28/2016 at 19:07

I concur w this sentiment. I’m fortunate 2 have & have access 2 a bunch gr8 cars. I couldn’t imagine my DD Jeep Grand Cher Summit deisel w a manual. I also luv mashing the pedal in my CL55 & letting it rip & shift on its own. BUT when I want 2 have fun I take a 3 pedal S54 M roadster out. Those r the 3 cars I keep in the garage attached 2 my house. I wouldn’t in my wildest nightmares imagine my brother’s F40 w an auto just like I prefer his 991 GT3 w paddles. The trans operates w seeming perfection. It is super satisfying clicking thru the gears at near 9000 rpm. He sold a gt2 manual & a 993 turbo (obv manual) 4 that car. If I drive an E30 M3 I want 2 row my own. If I take an M5 out 2 diner & or w my kids it’s an auto w paddles I crave. The ONLY car out of the cars we have that I would consider changing the trans is a 360 Stradale. When we bought it we really really wanted paddles. As times & tech have changed & improved, we now would prefer that car 2b manual. Both 4 fun & investment potential given the current climate relating 2 transmissions. It cert is an ever evolving discussion & opinion. That’s y I enjoy this web site & the participants of its community.

PepperMRoadster > PepperMRoadster
12/28/2016 at 19:11

I know that that 360 wasn’t avail in manual but the general idea is that the cars like that of its time have gained value & r more fun because the tech at that time were not as advanced as today.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 20:51

I have repeatedly encountered this situation but bought manaul again anyway (Celica, then Tercel). My wife’s car is great for what it is, but I would rather drive my old 5-speed pickup than either her Vibe or my work Taco... Once we bought my wife’s Vibe, after driving it many thousands of miles, I said to myself: “I can’t do this.”

citrus > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 21:25

Kinja'd!!!

First car was a stick, loved every minute of it, even chicago traffic lol (the mustang on the left)

Current car (caprice) is an auto, i do miss driving a manual but it helps that the caprice is faster and more comfortable

Next car will have a stick probably another pony car but I’m not planning on getting rid of the caprice

Are you in a position to own two cars?

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > citrus
12/28/2016 at 21:30

My wife owns a car and I have one, so there’s no room for a third car to get my manual fun times.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/28/2016 at 21:33

I think that’s how I’d feel too after the new-to-me car shine wears off.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > My bird IS the word
12/28/2016 at 21:34

Seems like a good rule of thumb.

citrus > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 21:39

What kind of cars are you looking at?

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > citrus
12/28/2016 at 21:46

Nothing serious, but I just recently found out the IS F only came in auto and then sort of fell down the rabbit hole of other 4 door RWD beasts, barely any of which have a manual option. Yes, I’ve heard of the M3 and the Chevy SS.

citrus > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/28/2016 at 21:53

M5?

V10 stick m5 is one of my dream cars

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > LOREM IPSUM
12/28/2016 at 22:53

Ever raced someone the first time you drove a VW with Tiptronic? (It wasn’t my car, I worked at a dealership and it was a used car. I wanted to race a coworker as we were bringing it back to the dealership.) Leaving the stop sign at WOT, and getting near redline... I slammed my left foot down and hit the shifter to go to the next gear... left foot hit the brakes hard, and I felt stupid and gave up that race.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/28/2016 at 22:57

Why couldn’t you teach your wife to drive a manual? I have heard the wife reason many times, but I have also taught a handful of women to drive manual in my cars.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > citrus
12/28/2016 at 23:21

No way do I have the fortitude for the repair costs on that V10. No doubt it’s amazing, though.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/29/2016 at 03:15

i went manual to auto back to manual x 3

OPPOsaurus WRX > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
12/29/2016 at 08:07

i did on the WRX. she could do it and just wasnt having it at all. hated every second of it.

citrus > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/29/2016 at 09:21

Yeah manual rwd beast sedans from this decade are on the expensive side

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/29/2016 at 11:01

Ah, bummer. Now it’s time to play the waiting game until you can justify a toy car, eh?

OPPOsaurus WRX > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
12/29/2016 at 11:03

pretty much, it might be a long wait.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/29/2016 at 11:53

Drove through (and around) Atlanta on the way back from Orlando last week. Was very glad to be in my wife’s MDX... ha!

TahoeSTi > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/29/2016 at 13:18

I couldn’t buy an automatic, just couldn’t do it to myself.

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/29/2016 at 14:11

What are the odds! I have a MDX too. Excellent taste sir!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/29/2016 at 14:27

Ha! Hers is a ‘14 we just bought this year. Great trip car.

sn4cktimes > LOREM IPSUM
12/29/2016 at 14:50

Did it a lot when I first got my Veloster. Don’t do it anymore. Sometimes still reach for a shifter when in the AMC.

sn4cktimes > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/29/2016 at 14:54

I still prefer manuals. But I don’t mind the wife’s CVT Juke. I use the “manual” override sometimes when coming down sketchy ski hill roads and whatnot. I MIGHT convert the Eagle to a manual someday if I can keep the Select Drive feature in place with a clutch.

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/29/2016 at 17:37

6spd or 9spd trans?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/29/2016 at 17:44

6. Yours?

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/29/2016 at 17:52

6, it’s a 2009.

TheBimmerGuyWhoNowOwnsAChevy > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
12/29/2016 at 19:34

I don’t daily any automatics, but the few times I’ve driven them, it just feels boring, too easy, also I keep dropping my foot onto the floor board only to find a lack of clutch. Old habits die hard

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/29/2016 at 21:56

I’ve actually heard some don’t like the 9 speed.

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/30/2016 at 00:54

Yeah, they’ve updated the software recently. Curious to know if it solves the complaints. The 2017 refresh has really grown on me.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3
12/30/2016 at 14:52

Hope they figure it out.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
01/02/2017 at 18:53

Went from a NSX to an IS-F. I still prefer manual, I reminisced about it on Oppo earlier, and argued about it on /r/cars (what a waste of time that was.)

The way I see it, as one of the very few people who 100% did not mind about stop and go traffic with a stick, the only way having an auto feels alright is to get one with lightning quick shifts (DSG or aggressive torque converter locking) and/or a lot more HP to keep the blood pumping.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
01/02/2017 at 19:09

The IS-F is basically the reason I made this post. I also don’t mind stop and go with a stick because it gives me something to do.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
01/02/2017 at 19:12

What I like about manuals is the way it encourages you to keep paying attention to the events in front of the windshield. You’re not dicking with a phone or anything stupid like that. Both your legs and both your arms and both your eyes are occupied.

I do like the IS-F though, quite a bit. Chevy SS Manuals, CTS-V/ATS-V Manuals, and G8 GXPs are pretty hard to find. And I’m nervous about owning 5-10 year old German cars like M3s.

bhtooefr > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
01/24/2017 at 14:59

Most of my problem with automatics is how they misbehave, and it’s why I don’t like any stepped automatics.

So, my first automatic was a 1988 Honda Civic, and the transmission wasn’t in good shape. I was incredibly happy to get back in a manual diesel after that - 52 hp in a Mk2 Golf with a manual felt faster (it wasn’t faster, but it felt faster) than 92 hp (if that, the engine wasn’t in good shape either) with a bad automatic in a Civic sedan.

My second automatic is my Prius... and the transmission behaves exactly as I expect it to, and it responds faster than my Mk4 Golf TDI’s turbocharger did. I could actually be fine with not driving a manual again if automatics are this well behaved, although a manual’s certainly more engaging to drive.