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Strange how some men actually define their own manhood by the transmission they have. Also strange how another man can define what is fun for another man...
My first real experience with a manual transmission was the motorcycle safety course I took a few years ago. Like the OP, I eventually got a Hayabusa (07), but never had a car with a manual. I got my first Vette, an A6 06 coupe, last year, and recently traded it for an 08 M6 vert. I figured it was time to learn to drive a stick, and if I could handle a motorcycle transmission, I could get the hang of a manual in a car.
Throttle/clutch coordination is working its way into muscle memory, but I still don't like stopping on an uphill slope. The more I drive the stick shift, the more I like it. When I get into my truck, my left foot automatically tries to push down the clutch
Hey guys, I'm interested to see what is said about this topic. I've always owned automatics, but every since I got my '08 Hayabusa I've been more intrigued with owning a stick shift car. It really has me wanting a stick the more I ride it. I know a motorcycle and a manual car are 2 completely different animals, but still. I'm curious to hear from others on this. Thanks.
I'll comment on something that I haven't seen mentioned. I have the A6 and love it. I use the paddles almost all the time. That said, your comparison to motorcycles made me think how the A6 is more like a motorcycle transmission than the M6 tranny. By that I mean, with the exception of using the clutch at a stop, a motorcycle doesn't use a clutch to change gears. And, the foot pedal/paddle changes gears up or down sequentially. Really loved my bikes but that whole hold the clutch in at stops got old at times. So, I bought the A6.
you can select gears with both so it comes down to drive train efficiency and if you want to be able to select gears with a clutch pedal or without one
I've driven manuals all my life so I bought a 2003 Z06 back in the day. Found out quickly that I could no longer drive a manual. I couldn't hold in the clutch for more than a couple seconds without pain. It was a sad day when I realized that driving a manual was no longer possible. Since then I've owned 4 auto Vettes and can't say that I really miss the manual any more. (BTW the reason for the pain is an old sports injury that left me with about half of a calf muscle in my left leg.)
All I can think of is Walter Matthau when he was in "Out To Sea". He faked a knee/back injury and the he told the woman it was an old football injury. She asked "College?" and he said "Professional.....the Jets blew a 20 point lead!"
I have heard the same thing from other people though.
My first real experience with a manual transmission was the motorcycle safety course I took a few years ago. Like the OP, I eventually got a Hayabusa (07), but never had a car with a manual. I got my first Vette, an A6 06 coupe, last year, and recently traded it for an 08 M6 vert. I figured it was time to learn to drive a stick, and if I could handle a motorcycle transmission, I could get the hang of a manual in a car.
Throttle/clutch coordination is working its way into muscle memory, but I still don't like stopping on an uphill slope. The more I drive the stick shift, the more I like it. When I get into my truck, my left foot automatically tries to push down the clutch
That's what got my attention for a manual. It's just so much fun popping the gears on the bike that it has me thinking about the same thing in a car.
Hard to say. It's never been discussed before here. Very few even have opinions about it, and the small number of folks that do don't raise them, usually because they are either too shy to do so, or for fear they might offend or upset somebody.
j/k
Hint: Use the search function - this has been beaten to death.
IMHO, the automatic and the manual are both fast and fun.
To each his/her own.
For the record, I have bad knees and a manual would only become an added burden I don't need.
Ive owned many manuals and auto's. It depends on the car for me. For my 2013, I went with manual this time to save some money. That extra money went to more options on the Coupe.
I'm looking for my first Corvette and I'd like a manual. I had a 340 Cuda many years ago and it's Torqueflite was pretty boring. I am hoping this go-round will be funner with the manual.
I apologize for bringing up this old topic, but I'm a new member here. I don't know if it's a generational thing or not, but I don't personally know anyone in my age group (31-40) that has a stick. Everyone in my age group drives an auto and living in Houston sucks with daily driving on the freeways. My next vehicle will not be my daily driver though.
My Dad, a greatest generation guy, taught me how to play chess, how to fly a plane (he was a certified instructed), how to defend myself, how to shoot (he was an expert marksman who shot competitively), and how to drive a standard transmission (at age fourteen). I'm sorry your generation hasn't had these same advantages. The only thing you apparently learned from overprotective soccer moms is how to drive auto transmission mini-vans, SUVs and such; how to use cell-phones incessantly, and how to menstruate.