ThePianoMan

One of the downsides of having a manual. I was playing softball for our company softball team on Friday and wound up fracturing my ankle.

My left ankle, AKA, my clutch foot. Now my car will have to sit for about 6 weeks while I drive my wife's automatic Santa Fe. She'll be driving our manual civic until then.

Anyone else ever been in this situation? It's so hard seeing it sitting in the garage an knowing that I can't drive it. This is the only time I've ever wished my TL was an automatic.

TL Tita

sorry for the incident but no one really buys an automatic to prepare for a softball injury. u made the right choice. 6mt owns

TL CHROMETIDE

Magnutz

HAHHA, yeah, I seperated my right shoulder and had to have surgery.....

I was driving my audi at the time..... fortunately, I also had (still have) my legend :-)

dAveSPEC

So what if you fractured your right ankle?

MR1

Apply gas and brakes with left foot, that can be done if necessary.

ThePianoMan

Good point...then I wouldn't be able to drive anything...at least not safetly anyway.

I wouldn't give up 6SP for the world though. It is worth the wait, as tough as it may be.

I am hoping it won't be too long.

Moosh

Yeah I love manual but I bought an automatic TL. It is a lucky thing because I hurt my lower back and would be in a lot of pain if I had to use a clutch.

Though, I plan on getting a stickshift car as a secondary fun car in a few years.

jpcullen70

So why is the wife going to drive the Civic? Why not the TL?

TL Tita

may be he loves the TL more than his wife?

crazymjb

Ouch. Does anyone use both feet for there automatic. I know its odd, but when I race go karts there are peddles on either side of the steering colum(but the TL isnt a go kart, its way more fun!!!).

Why not drive it, suck up the pain!!!(and before you question my knowledge of fractures I have had 2 broken arms)

KJSmitty

I left foot brake all the time with my 5AT. Freaks some people out. Kinda second nature for me. Depending on the cam, torque converter etc., some of the race cars I have built/driven required a little throttle manipulation while stopped and still in gear..... Not to mention, staging/launching the car. Never did use a line brake..

Vicman17

Broke my right wrist after X'mas and was in a cast. I always wanted a 6MT but driving the Type-S at that time was heavensent. I don't know how I could have managed if I had a stick. But then, how often do we break wrists and legs to justify the knid of car we drive.

ThePianoMan

She is still just learning the clutch! (need I say more?)

Dafried

Whew - I thought he meant the Service Manual. I was racking my brain trying to figure out the downside of the Service Manual: Knowledge? obligation to make repairs yourself?

jtow

Watch some JDM drifting videos and learn how to heel/tow drive.

TheTriads

::sigh:: let me guess, this is your first MT ever?

ndx2

it'd be one jerky ride with TL's 6MT if you were to drive it just with your right foot.



thepianoman-
sorry to hear about your misfortune. at least you get to keep some mileage off your car. haha everytime you get an urge to drive it, just wash & wax it... your car will look amazing with 40+(once a day? ) coats of wax by the time your ankle heels.

TL Tita

The TL 6mt is not that easy to learn imo. However, the soft clutch makes it a little easier...

TL CHROMETIDE

i went crazy for the first 2 months, but now im getting better

crazymjb

I think I would prefer a harder clutch, dunno cause i have never driven a manual. Seems like one would have more control with a heavier clutch.

PoochaKannInc

Enlighten us please on this new method of driving.

TL Tita

i test drove the nissan 350z today (i will make a thread on this later) and that car is so stiff. Everything is tight, suspension, handling, clutch, etc. With a hard clutch, u have to switch gears faster bc the clutch literally moves by it self.

crazymjb

Good, incentive to get from gear to gear. If the audi A3 and its tranny wasn't so ugly I would definatly look into that thing. 2/10 of a second for shifts. Wow!

xcb5

I feel for you pianoman... i had a big surgery on my right shoulder last year. couldn't drive it for almost 2 months. even then it was slow b/c my arm was still pretty weak. good luck with your ankle.

KilroyR1

I had an "event" at a motorcycle track-day where some dope lost control of his bike and it crashed into me. The "event" broke my tibia/fibula at the ankle and I had to drive my 1989 Chevy S10 pickup (auto) for a few months.

If you have a manual, it pays to own a beater. I also use it if I drive into the city where roads suck and door dings are the norm.

Don

1FasTL

I blew my ACL (knee ligament) a few years back and had to drive the minivan instead of my Mustang GT (left leg). I am 100% recovered now but still chose the auto tranny for my TL. I was really torn trying to decide (they had both in my color) but for 97% of my driving the 5AT is ok. But sometimes I do wish I had the 6MT and Brembos but everything is a tradeoff. I plan to keep the car a long time (usually 10 years) so who knows what my knee will be like then. I will also have kids that will probably get the car at that time and we all know kids and clutches tend to get expensive!!!!!

merdely

I blew my left ACL last year playing bball. Couldn't drive my Prelude for about 6 weeks total. I'm 70% recovered now and bought the 6MT. I wouldn't give it up for the world.

-ME