Is it time to learn El Manual?

"Frosted" (frostedbuns)
05/04/2019 at 17:43 • Filed to: None

My Golf Sportwagen is equipped with a shiftable auto and on a twisty road, putting in manual mode and flappin those paddles can be a lot of fun. But I’ve been wanting to properly learn manual for a while. The wife has given me a budget of 3k for a second car and I’m looking for ideas. It seems like a mid to late 2000s Ford Focus would be a good bet. This car doesnt have to be ultra fun or THE car, just something that I can learn on and then sell for a real toy without taking much of a loss. I’m also not looking for a specific car as I won’t truely be ready to buy until the summer. So Oppo, Yay or Nah to the Focus? Other options? No Miatas plz.

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DISCUSSION (19)

syaieya > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:07

Preludes, 540 or 535 bmw, porch 944, mustang gt, 240sx, roll the dice on an rx8.

Basically find the phrase "never hooned" on Craigslist and look at what that gets you im the tags. As long as you dont need it pretty or with functioning AC 3 grand goes a way

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:07

Honestly it’s less about the car and more about the clutch. I’d try to find something older and cheaper that has a newer clutch installed, be it a Focus or Saab or Subaru. I learned how to drive stick on a 92 Legacy; I feel that longer throw trans are easier to pick up than sporty short-throw shifters.

My bird IS the word > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:08

TLDR yes.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:17

Honestly, I’d get a mazda 2/3 or protege. Mazda spends some serious money on their transmissions and shifters but those are also cheap runabouts that were meant to take some abuse.

Alternatively - Nissan sentra SE-R. The forgotten sport compact. Drivers with some wear and tear go for 2-3 grand. Easier to sell than a focus since people expect the SE-R to be manual. More fun too.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/d/romeoville-2003-nissan-sentra-se-spec/6867992874.html

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:25

May I suggest an ‘06-’10 Accent like mine...would be a great car for learning stick on. I suggest the car all the time for a cheap runabout, lol. They’re dirt cheap if you get a base model with no options and are very reliable...I’ve had no major issues at all with mine other than a starter once and the usual maintenance items like coil packs, spark plugs, etc.

The clutch is light, easy to moderate and very forgiving. Also, as it’s an Accent, parts would be part cheap and readily available if need be. The shifter is not super snickety sports-car-esque, no, BUT (at least to me) pleasantly notchy so you know definitively when you’re in gear, which would be useful as you learn. Reverse has a lift-up lock-out so you can’t accidentally shift into it without thinking. Shifter throw is a bit on the longer side, so less easy to accidentally shift into the wrong gear unknowingly.

Good luck with whatever you get! :D To get all stereotypically El Manual mushy for a sec, I know modern CVTs and dual-clutch autos are more efficient and quicker-shifting than us good ole humans with manuals are, but to be cliche, there’s just something engaging about being a constant ‘cog in the machine’ in getting your car from point A to point B and having that extra level of engagement as you drive. I’m one of those people that will be still be buying my next car with a manual for as long as I can find them. It’s a dying art these days, and a random skill you can take pride in knowing how to do, especially as you improve and pick up tricks like blips on downshifts and the like. No matter the mundane car I am driving or the boring task I am on my way to do, rowing my own gears just brings me enjoyment, as lame as that sounds. :)

smobgirl > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 18:39

I’m going to say the opposite of these guys and tell you to learn in the least forgiving vehicle you can buy, because anything else will be easy from there. My parents tried to teach me in our old Corolla and the clutch was total mush, so I never really caught on at the time . (The Golf we had at the time was deemed “too sensitive”). Just check out Doug Demuro’s story of teaching someone in his Viper.

AestheticsInMotion > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/04/2019 at 18:41

I second the SE-R.

If you’re going to do this, just use the money to get a fun car now. It won’t be any harder to learn stick in a Miata/E36/Z/etc. Than it would be in a Fo cus or Hyundai.

Frosted > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
05/04/2019 at 19:07

For me it’s the eco friendly tunes on my Golfs trans, it constantly wants to be in the highest possible gear. I took it on a twisty in WV and had to use manual mode as the road was perfect for 2nd-3rd gear but the trans REALLY wanted 4th-5th.

Whatever I get will almost definitely put an exhaust on to raise the entertainment value of too.

daender > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 19:08

Hondas and Acuras have wonderful manual gear boxes but the hard part is finding one that isn’t beat to hell. It’s worth checking your local SCCA group on Facebook to see if anyone is selling theirs. The Ford Focus is an alright car to learn manual on. A Sentra SE-R could also be fun but just like old Hondas, good luck finding one that isn’t abused.

The Mazda Protege and the Mazda 3 are stupid-fun but watch out for rust!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 19:10

I have an 08 Saturn Astra 5-Door XR with a 5MT and the huge pano roof. It’s been parked for a while but I can get it running again easy enough. Needs some door seals replaced.

I’d let it go cheap.

Frosted > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/04/2019 at 19:20

Color me interested. Very interested. I love the Astra. Where are you located?

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 19:43

Civic, Toyota anything, a Sentra

Shift24 > Frosted
05/04/2019 at 20:06

No cheap honda, easiest clutch to learn on. Most forgiving and best for feel. No clue where you are near Roscoe but was guessing near there so here is one in Milwaukee

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/d/milwaukee-1999-honda-accord/6859289062.html

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Frosted
05/05/2019 at 07:58

Dayton, Ohio

Frosted > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/05/2019 at 12:04

If you want, shoot me an email to nov-91@hotmail.com. I'm very interested, though Ohio is a bit of a hike.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Frosted
05/05/2019 at 13:31

How far?

Frosted > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/05/2019 at 14:10

About 8 hours one way.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Frosted
05/05/2019 at 15:41

Oof. I’ll have time to fuss with it on Tuesday. I should be able to get it running, probably just needs a battery. I’ll take some pics and a short video to email you.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/07/2019 at 12:54

So no video or pics. It fired up immediately with a new battery. However, it needs brakes replaced before I would drive it further than around my block. As such, we are going to get the needed door seals replaced as well and the radio antenna is broken too.

Also, a 4 hour drive if I agreed to meet half way is still possibly more effort than this is worth?

I will let you know as soon as I have the car roadworthy again, but if you find something closer I also will not be upset at all.