stickshift or automatic

[entranceive]

Im still contemplating on whether or not I should get a stickshift. First looks, stick shift looks really fun and you have more of a hands on approach with you car. Give me your opinion whether or not if i should drive a stick. Im thinking 70% a stickshift car...and 30% automatic. Hmmmmm....

[tdvo2]

As a student before I have always had stickshift cars simply because it is cheaper and a little more fuel efficient. I can bargain hard because the guy knows he can't sell it easily. Racing and reckless driving is not part of me. Plus, it gives more maneuverability. 90-95% Americans don't drive stickshift. This is a powerful statistics to keep in mind. It is very difficult to sell a stickshift except it is a sports car. Most people who drive a sports car know how to drive stickshift. The vast majority of people don't. Also they don't want to buy a car that only one or two persons can drive.
If you buy a car to drive and keep for a long time then stickshift will be a good choice. IF you live in a hilly city like San Francisco or places with a lot of traffic jams, then it can be a chore to work that clutch in stop and go commutes.

[light]

...If you buy a car to drive and keep for a long time then stickshift will be a good choice. IF you live in a hilly city like San Francisco or places with a lot of traffic jams, then it can be a chore to work that clutch in stop and go commutes.
...yup...it's fun when you accelerate the car from a stop...uphill can be more challenge if you are new at stick shift....but once you get use to the car then you'll be fine....traffic jams mean nightmare.... stick shift is not design for traffic jams....one advantage is that your sis will stay away from the car.... :) :)

[Tuong-Vi]

one advantage is that your sis will stay away from the car.... :) :)
gees.. why is there always an assumption that girls can't drive a stickshift cars!! :weed:

[TriCkyS]

stick...

[jeffnguyen23]

Get a steptronic one like I did if you're in between the 2 choices.

[entranceive]

Hmmm...im not a great fan of step/tiptronic because it doesnt have that stickshift feel u kno? It doesnt have that clutchness to it. I live in LA, not alot of hills but theres prolly gonna be alot of traffic jams, but o well. I think stickshift is worth it dont you think? It has sum fun factor to it which is pretty coo. These days ive seen people who drive automatic talk on the phone and they begin to lose concentration on the wheel. Stick is kinda different, it takes a lil more thought when u drive.

Hey jeffnguyen23, is that a bmw m3? or 325i. Beamers are pretty bad ass but the cost of maintaining it or putting performance parts in it can be a big money hogger.

ps. can anybody tell me how to drive a stick on a steep hill? People say u have to "rock" the gas/clutch. Can anybody explain that to me. Thx (You dont use ur emergency breaks while driving on a steep hill)

[taydu]

If you are the only that goinng to drive the care and you want to save money buy muanual because a new car in the dealer manual is llike 1-3 thousand dollars less then automatic. I buy me a stick shift if i can

[R-34]

indeed shift stick is fun but not recomended for new driver

[tdvo2]

I hope Tuong-Vi is not upset about that generalization. I honestly don't have a statistics on how many percent female drivers can drive stickshift. This is probably a result of the fact that male drivers constitute most buyers of sports cars, which tend to have stickshift to maximize the control of the cars. And so the stigma sticks. Well, now most automatic cars can be as fast as manual ones given the sheer increase in horsepowers. I remembered reading an article 6-7 years ago that said the automatic M3 is actually 0.2 or .3 second faster in 0-60mph tests. The new IS300 when first debuted only had automatic gearbox. Also remember that car companies make so few manuals now that they may charge the same or even more for a stickshift. I think Infiniti G35 is an example.
As for my own experience, I think knowing how to drive stickshift is a survival skill, a versatility that everyone should master. What if the only car available is a manual and you need to bring somebody to the emergency immediately when you are in the middle of nowhere? However, I gave up teaching my girlfriend how to drive a manual.
In other countries especially third world coutries, most people know how to drive stickshift simply because cars imported or made there are mostly manual to reduce cost. It is changing now.
I remember back in Vietnam when I first learned how to ride a motocycle, my dad has the Honda 67 which has a hand clutch, which I think is more difficult to control than a manual car.
Anyway, I think the OP should go for a manual. Just make sure bargain hard and get a good price.

[andyhn]

I have been driving stick shift cars from Truck to Sport car for over 12 years and still driving it now so I love it. Anyways, California girls drive stick shift.. some are really good as I know. I agreed that manual car will save you gases.. but not for in hill areas or traffit jams.

[Tuong-Vi]

ps. can anybody tell me how to drive a stick on a steep hill? People say u have to "rock" the gas/clutch. Can anybody explain that to me. Thx (You dont use ur emergency breaks while driving on a steep hill)

there are a number of things to learn when driving on a steep hill
Firstly it's learning to start on a steep hill... initially, the key is the parking brake. It will allow you to remain in place and not roll backwards while you practice reaching the friction point quickly. With the parking brake fully set, practice quickly releasing the clutch until the friction point is reached and then back off. Next, quickly reach the friction point and then partially release the parking brake as you give the car gas and release the clutch some more. The idea is to give the car just enough power to overcome the brake and gravity, which will allow you start smoothly without rolling back. As you get better, you will be able to reduce the amount and time that the parking brake is set, until you won't need it at all.

so once you know how to start on a hill, climbing up the hill is quite easy. The engine will require more power, hence a lower gear when climbing a steep hill. You can stay in 3rd, 2nd or even 1st depending on the slope of the hill... The lower gears help cool your engine, and you can climb the hill better. 2nd gear is the best choice unless the hill is really steep.. When accelerating up a hill, make sure that you shift later than usual, revving the engine sufficiently to compensate for the coasting that occurs every time you shift.

when going down hills. let your engine do some of the slowing down for you so you don't have to use the brakes as much, saving wear on the brakes.. Shift down from 5th/4th gear when you go down a steep or long hill. You can use 3, or 2 or even 1. NEVER USE NEUTRAL . That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes.

'rock' the gas/clutch is simply refers to balancing both gas and brake at the same time while finding the friction point on the clutch.. quite difficult to do..

hope this help :)

tdvo2.. nah I'm not that easily offended, sometimes poeple just have to look outside the little square they are living in.. cars are not just toys for guys :)

[entranceive]

Damn in text, driving on a hill is hard to explain. You actually have to have a stickshift car right in front of you and a stickshift master next to you. lol... Then maybe you will know what is what.

[tdvo2]

Some hills in San Francisco are up to 30% gradient which I think is insane and dangerous. People there are pretty knowledgeable and stay further back behind your car. Most ignorant automatic drivers elsewhere just stop right behind you. They don't know that manual cars need a little room to go backward and then forward. That is why I drive automatic when I go to SF to enjoy the surroundings and not too focused on driving.

[warlock110]

there is this freaking hill where i live that's sooo steep, it feels like u are sideway when ever the light there hit red and u are stuck at the top, my 95 camry will roll down that hill if i don't step on the gas, gosh i don't even want to go up there, just take another route instead. i know i'm a pussy but it's safer like that in my opinion. (i wouldn't have a problem if they didn't have a light at the top of the hill. i don't imagine driving a stick shift up that hill, i still perfer automatic since it's alot easier to drive and u can do all sort of stuff (eating, talking, and stuff like that)

[jeffnguyen23]

Hey jeffnguyen23, is that a bmw m3? or 325i. Beamers are pretty bad ass but the cost of maintaining it or putting performance parts in it can be a big money hogger.

I love stick shift but since I moved to San Francisco from OC, stick shift wasn't fun any more so I got myself a steptronic. It's a 528i, entranceive.

[seanguyen]

They don't know that manual cars need a little room to go backward and then forward.
Actually, I don't need any backspace room to go up and most of the stickshift drivers don't need that kind of room.

Man, you know, driving manual uphill is quite challenge though, but fun, realy fun.

[entranceive]

Damn its gotta be pretty crazy when u just learn how to drive stick and you have to get ur car out of a parallel parking position... but its all 2nd nature later on, just like typing you dont look at your keyboard you are busy looking at the monitor. You just get it eh...stickshift is the same, so i bet ill get a stick cuz anybody can drive an automatic and not everybody can drive a stick, unless they want to learn.

[light]

...and problem solved.... :cigar: ...happy driving...

[entranceive]

Now..i have to find a stick car...i want a honda 96-99 accord coupe, but those accords are hard to find in stick. does anybody know a car dealer that sells alot of accord stickshifts?? I dont want to go2 santa ana or sumwhere and go to every single dealer ship on car dealership ave. and find my suitable accord stick.

[heyou]

have you tried cars.com ?

[entranceive]

yea i have tried, little or no cars. If so, i guess i have to go car hunting then eh?

[entranceive]

Hmm r-34 you say that stick isnt recommended for first time drivers, what if i just use my dads car to train for a couple of years, you think that is enough experience to learn stickshift?

[heyou]

Hmm r-34 you say that stick isnt recommended for first time drivers, what if i just use my dads car to train for a couple of years, you think that is enough experience to learn stickshift?

take it easy, r-34 probably mean drivers who just got their driver license.

[R-34]

take it easy, r-34 probably mean drivers who just got their driver license.

thank you very much

[cis]

Đi với ghệ phải automatic :) :)

[MuonChoi]

Đi với ghệ phải automatic :) :)

Minh khong dong y, di voi ghe phai di stick, de luc len nhanh minh co coi hoi soi mo, thu 2 thang gap cung co coi hoi soi mo.....