Buying a Stick Shift

[Tsaar]

I have been looking at sporty cars lately (another long post of mine is a couple pages back asking advice about a Camaro with kids), and I have just assumed I would buy an automatic because I am constantly in traffic. I have also never owned a stick shift and only driven one on a flat, country road maybe a handful of times. I have heard no end of insults when mentioning buying an automatic Camaro (if I still get one at this point...kind of worried about depreciation and having kids in one). Then I thought about it and I *THINK* I actually do want a manual. It is something good to learn and I think it could make driving more fun again. Also...I could hate and be stuck with it.

But....I don't really know how to drive one beyond the most basics.

Would it been foolish of me to just jump into buying one? It is fairly hilly here in north Georgia with many impatient drivers. I can just see myself stalled on a hill at a stop light with 20 people honking at me...

Any advice or tips?

 

[Tristicus]

If you lived in LA or NYC for example, I'd say get an automatic. If you have open roads, or don't have stoplights every 10 seconds, that'd be a better condition for a manual. I drive a 5-speed Jeep (my previous Amigo was too) and I love it around here. Yeah, I only get into third gear on a lot of roads, but it is more fun to drive and keeps me more focused on driving itself. It does make driving fun, and I assume a Camaro would be loads of fun. As for the hills, you'll get used to them. At first, the rolling back absolutely killed me because I just couldn't get used to starting out and was afraid I was going to hit everything behind me...then I got over it. You can keep the clutch at its friction point and give it a little gas instead of just holding the brake down, which makes it easier. If you have a friend that has a manual transmission, ask them to give you a few lessons in it and let you drive it around a bit and see if you like it.

 

[Tsaar]

Thanks for the reply.

I actually drive in Atlanta traffic for my commute 5 days a week.

In the morning I usually leave early enough to beat the traffic so I get to go anywhere from 55-75 mph with some slowdown in places. In the afternoon it is usually stop-and-go most 20-25 out of the 30 miles.

 

[RKS]

We drive in relatively heavy traffic every weekday and prefer manuals. After a while you and your wife will be able to drive a manual with 2 kids screaming in the back and not be bothered in the least. I learned how to drive one on fairly hilly streets and it does take a while to get used to it but it's worth it. There are few things as emasculating (automotive wise) as not knowing how to drive a stick.

 

[soydios]

<-- '06 Infiniti G35 6MT owner/driver

I have only driven in stop-and-go traffic once in my car. It was annoying enough that I moved my seat forwards to make the clutch pedal effort easier, and after a few minutes proceeded to get off at the next exit to take surface roads instead.

Stop-and-go traffic is the real killer on your left leg, particularly if your car has a heavy clutch pedal. Flowing traffic is fine.

Stalling on hills: you'll get better pretty quickly. Practice makes perfect. Tip: stopped uphill, leave your right foot on the brake and let the clutch in until it starts to grab and pull the engine RPMs down a little bit. Then move your right foot over to the gas and off you go, without rolling back at all.

Manual vs. automatic: I like my manual transmission, probably because I like driving and control.

 

[lupi]

atlanta, stick shift, lol.

 

[drinkmorejava]

Got my first manual a month ago. I love it. It's also starting to become natural enough that I don't think about it either. However, when I do end up in traffic, it's hard not thinking about slamming on the gas and obliterating the asshole who just pulled in front of me because I'm trying to leave some coasting room.

My left leg never really gets tired. I suppose it did at the beginning, but I haven't notice it in a few weeks.

 

[kornphlake]

I don't regularly drive in heavy traffic, but a couple days each month traffic will come to a crawl on the freeways. I've just learned to deal with it for the most part, it is tiring but you do get used to holding the clutch. You can always shift into neutral and let off the clutch if traffic is more stop and less go.

I learned to drive a stick in my dad's pickup, the parking brake was a rod you pull out from under the dash, it was awkward to use when driving so I learned to "hill hold" by running the clutch half way engaged to keep from rolling backward, the car I drive now has an emergency brake lever on the console that I'll often use when stopped on a hill so I don't have to abuse the clutch so much. Grab the brake, let out the clutch, step on the gas then drop the parking brake without rolling backwards, it's pretty simple and easy on the drivetrain.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I had an 89 5.0l mustang with a heavy aftermarket cable clutch and that thing would wear your leg out quick. With a hydraulic clutch which pretty much everything has now as far as I know a 88 year old grandma with a bad hip could drive one in heavy traffic all day without any problems, slight exaggeration.

Find a friend with a manual that will let you drive his/her car around for awhile.

 

[Heller]

bought my first car as a manual, couldn't even drive it home. I live in south florida and im in stop and go traffic cause i leave/go to the local univ.

when i first got it i was like wtf did i get my self in to but now its natural you dont think about after awhile i definitely think its time for your first stick shift, and the camaro would be hell of alot of fun to drive with the stick shift.

 

[RockinZ28]

Both .

I have a automatic '01 z28 Camaro and a 6 speed '01 Trans Am ws6. The manual is way more fun, but they are both weekend cars since I have a company truck too. Couldn't see myself wanting to commute in Los Angeles with a stick.

Gas mileage is fine too. Don't know what the fuss is about the v6 300bhp Mustang that gets 30mpg, my Camaro gets 28+ on the freeway with ~340bhp, ws6 gets 25 if you drive it nice with ~450bhp in 10 year old cars with masculine v8's.

The sticks do get better gas mileage, at least in the 4th gens, 70mph at 1500 rpms in 6th gear is nice.

 

[DietDrThunder]

My daily driver is '63 Chevy Corvair with a 4-speed and I drive it in D/FW stop and go traffic all the time. It averages 24mpg. I can't even get close to that gas mileage with our other two vehicles. Of course, they aren't exactly economy cars.

 

[BlackTigers]

I want the 6spd WS6 =[

 

[StageLeft]

I did birmingham, AL for years. I've seen atlanta traffic. It's much worse, but bham is no picnic, either, at times. I did it all with a stick and it's quite fine. Sometimes when I'd do it in an auto I definitely did appreciate that, but the rest of the time it seemed to be worth it to have the stick, even if it does suck worse in traffic. Main issue with it is how much it sucks in bumper to bumper up hills because then you know the clutch is being worn hard.

I'd find a friend to help teach you but otherwise you can definitely learn this on a new car that you buy.

it was awkward to use when driving so I learned to "hill hold" by running the clutch half way engaged to keep from rolling backward

That sport-fvcks a clutch. I never used a handbrake, even on steep hills, with my stick shifts. Once you get good enough you can disengage brake and get the clutch going with minimal roll back. I think the only times I'd ever use the handbrake on a hill is if a cop is behind me or somebody right up my ass, otherwise just be real quick with the throttle.

 

[BlackTigers]

To whoever hill-holds, yikes.

I don't have an emergency brake, so on steep hills I cover about a third of the brake with my foot, and the heel of my shoe easily catches my accelerator.

Roll my foot to the right, from the brake to the gas, and let the clutch out. Took a little while to learn but it's as smooth as a normal take off for me now.

 

[GoatMonkey]

You've got another issue here. You have a choice of buying what is probably more logical in Atlanta traffic, or giving in to your friend's insults.

I drive in Atlanta traffic every day. I've tried it a few times in a manual car. I don't feel the urge to do it again.

A Camaro with an auto is probably still faster than whatever crap cars your friends are driving.

Another thing, I didn't read your other thread, but if you want a big V8 with room for kids, think about a GTO or G8 instead.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Yeah, G8 is a good choice. The GT has the same 6spd auto as the Camaro iirc.

 

[Supersonic64]

Automatic. Just as fun as manual without the hassle. Don't let the manual tards fool you, they just have a sense of unwarranted self-importance because they drive manual and think they are better than everyone else.

 

[Tsaar]

Another thing, I didn't read your other thread, but if you want a big V8 with room for kids, think about a GTO or G8 instead.

I am actually getting the V6. It has much better gas mileage (and 304 HP to go with ~30MPG highway).

A stick shift sounds fun sometimes, just not sure if I am ready to commit to it 24/7.

Also, the autos come with remote start so I can pre-warm the car during the winter.

 

[Supersonic64]

What about a 2011 Mustang V6? 305HP.

 

[kornphlake]

That sport-fvcks a clutch. I never used a handbrake, even on steep hills, with my stick shifts. Once you get good enough you can disengage brake and get the clutch going with minimal roll back. I think the only times I'd ever use the handbrake on a hill is if a cop is behind me or somebody right up my ass, otherwise just be real quick with the throttle.

You're right, the clutch in that truck only lasted 250k miles, I only put about 10k on it myself, but I know that my dad hill holds as much as I do because he insisted I do it rather than rolling backward. You assume that I'd hill hold at every signal, stop sign and just for fun in parking lots, the fact that I can hill hold doesn't mean that I go out of my way to burn up the clutch. Normally I will tolerate an inch or two of roll back, I've replaced the clutch in my car, it wasn't fun, I'd prefer not to do it more than absolutely necessary. I can only think of 1 signal in town where I've used the parking brake, and only when there's someone behind me and I don't want to annoy them with a slight roll back. There are still situations where I use the technique though, snowy or icy roads is one condition where dumping the clutch and jabbing the gas doesn't help forward momentum much.

I don't pretend to be a superior driver, I'm good enough to realize that I'm not. For drivers like myself there's no shame in using the parking brake as an aid when needed.

 

[Tristicus]

Automatic. Just as fun as manual without the hassle. Don't let the manual tards fool you, they just have a sense of unwarranted self-importance because they drive manual and think they are better than everyone else.

Look at me I da focus boi yaaaa!

 

[Tsaar]

What about a 2011 Mustang V6? 305HP.

I actually care more about the looks than the engine. And I *LOVE* the way the 5th generation Camaro looks.

 

[Supersonic64]

Ah ok, well cool, both are awesome cars! Make sure you post pics when you get it!

 

[punjabiplaya]

I actually care more about the looks than the engine. And I *LOVE* the way the 5th generation Camaro looks.

Def put up some nice pics. Any specific color you're looking at? I was looking at Camaros before I got my car.