subzero

Am I alone? The number one complain about manual transmission that I always see is "it sucks in traffic"...I disagree. Even in traffic, I still prefer a manual transmission.

I know about traffic, I used to live in the Bay Area and now I am in Seattle. Probably it doesn't compare with SoCal but is bad enough.

I think that people that say that a manual sucks in traffic either:
- Don't know how to drive a manual (in bumber to bumper traffic, it's easy to just play with clucth without touching gas, and you don't have to depress it completly, just get to the friction point)
- Are not enthusiast driver emough and see the car more as a transportation mean than other thing

Another excuse that I don't agree: "to many hills!" as in San Francisco...again...come on...I could climb a wall with the hand brake technic!

What do real MT lovers think?

Tripp11

Ahhh, to drive my 6MT, no matter what the conditions may be...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

bgronek

I totally agree.

Put it in 2nd and either coast or have the engine slow the car down. No braking, very little clutch work, less to do overall.

caball88

live in NYC never once complained about traffic and manual tranny. just like you said hardly any shifting required when you are crawling bumper to bumper. hills are no problem once you get to know your car and the release point of the clutch. my first car was a stick and i loved it. i bought an auto after that and have regretted it ever since. i hate auto's they truely take the fun out of driving for me. its not so much the shifting but the clutch that i missed so much. i know the new autos now have tiptronic and stuff but its just not the same without the cluctch. even with cars like the M3 that have SMG(electronic controlled clutch), its not the same.

copter

6MT in traffic?

No complaints here!

UminChu

I don't care about traffic. I want my 6MT!

Skeedatl

Traffic? You think you have traffic? Brahhhh ha ha ha ha. Give yourself 2-3 hours a day in B2B like we have here in hell and you'll have a 4sale sign on that 6MT in no time.

DMZ

With a manual, you drive the car.

With an automatic, the car drives you!

DARK6mt

iTrader: (1)

auto doesn't drive the car for you either.

stick and auto has no difference in traffic.....well with stick you can "play" with clutch....auto you just let your feet off and on.



Hey only drove stick for 4 month, and steep hills are sometimes a bitch OKAY???

jredit

I've had a manual since I learned to drive, but my last car was an auto that I had for five years. I will never have another one. I missed driving until I found my 6MT TL and now I feel like I'm in control of the car again. The TL is Pure Greatness.

BlackSunshine

I spent two and a half hours in just one night trying to get through Sunset Blvd., while I was in the SoCal area. While the "view" was fantastic, I will never do that again in a manual (or even a car period).

101 was bad enough for me as well. The TL clutch is much smoother an engagement than my Si, but never again will I endure such hellish traffic on a daily basis (in a manual).

mischa

hills and traffic only stress out manual drivers who must not be very good at it or must not really feel the need for complete control over the vehicle. it seems the amount of people who are staying close to their vehicles, MT drivers, is decreasing each year (at least in the states). slushboxes will probably make up for 95% or more cars sometime soon.

I am a high school senior (dad owns TL) and i looked around the lot i park in at school consistiong of 20 cars and there were only 2 manuals: my civic and this guy's 70s or early 80s Land Cruiser.

KilroyR1

The TL's torque is so good you can use second with few problems in traffic. As far as I'm concerned, it's a non-issue.

Don

UminChu

I agree 101%

Skeedatl

Anyone who sees no difference between MT and AT in traffic isn't in "real" nasty traffic on a daily basis. There is traffic everywhere, but there are few places where it takes over an hour to go just a few miles like here in Los AnHELLes or in Houston.

I drove manual here for quite a few years in a very torquey Mustang and all the let the clutch out slow no gas crap doesn't fly here where speed varies not between 0-15 or 20-30 but 0-40 where you have to shift CONSTANTLY. I had manual and will never again have a MT commuter car. It's great for a weekend cruiser, but it sucks for commuting here. If I lived in an area with no traffic like most of you guys, I'd surely had gotten a 6MT.

bluenoser

Does the 6mt drive much differently than the cl s 6m?
The reason I ask is I tested the cl s and found it a joy to drive when I was "driving" the car, but a total mis match when I was "transporting" in the car. Cruising along at a comfortable low rev in 5th left you no torque for a rapid get away, and that 5th to 3rd shift just doesn't happen quickly when you're not prepared. Since my normal driving style is relaxed driving, my 5at works way better for me. It had nothing to do with traffic. I drive my z28 6m in traffic all the time and it's 20x the effort to clutch and shift than the Acura - but the torque is there to get handle being in a low gear.

UminChu

I grew up in LA, I know LA traffic lol. I live in the Chicago area now. Trust me, it qualifies as traffic. I still prefer the 6MT. I'm not saying you're wrong about your transmission preference. Instead, maybe we're both right.

cblackburn

I truly enjoy driving a manual. Before I got this car, I had an Auto and Manual at the same time and still drove the manual more (even tho it didn't have leather and was 7 years older). I drove the auto and 6mt TL's. It was a clear choice after that. I was in love with the 6MT... it's simply in my blood.

The way I see it, I'm not 'old enough' for a Automatic Transmission. Perhaps when I'm closer to 70 or 80, then I'll look into it, heh.

Another good thing about a manual, is that it keep some people from wanting to drive your car if they don't know how to drive a stick.

DARK6mt

iTrader: (1)

AGREED!!! only my brother drive my car, then i have a WRX to drive!
my parents specially my mom wants to learn MT because of my car! LOL!

bgronek

I lived with a 3 hour daily commute in Chicago for 3 years before I gave up and moved to AZ. I now have two 80 mph highways litterally at my front door.

GoBig

I'm w/ you guys!!!

caball88

i commute here in nyc and the traffic gets hairy basically stop and go for a while. but it doesn't bother me at all. just depress the clutch that's all. what's the big deal? i don't even think about it, have long conversations with passengers listen and listen to the radio.