Question for Manual Drivers?

[Anonymous]

For my next car, I'd love a manual transmission, but I live in the DMV and not sure if it'll drive me crazy with the traffic. Haven't driven a manual for 20 years. What are thoughts from those who are daily manual drivers in the area? FYI, I have a short work commute and it's only 2 day/week.

[Anonymous]

I only drive manuals! Live in DC so plenty of city driving with it. Love it. I have a hard time still finding cars with it. Jeeps, Subarus, Minis are good - BMW used to be.

[Anonymous]

I'm also looking for a new car with manual transmission. Slim pickings.

I think Audi has one or two.

Maybe a Mazda too?

[Anonymous]

Love driving manual, in the city and everywhere else.

VW also has some cars in manual still, I think. Audi. Jeep. Porsche?

[Anonymous]

Both of my cars are manual. I prefer it because of how they handle in bad weather. But it can get tiring in traffic.

[Anonymous]

I have daily driven a manual for 20 years until my most recent car. I think given your situation of short commute and twice a week, definitely go for it. Might be your last manual as EVs slowly take over. What’s your budget and type of car you are looking for?

[Anonymous]

We drove a manual until our second kid was born and we needed a bigger car. It was fine but not my preference for city driving in stop and go traffic, plus you get less bang for the buck in terms of having more control.

[Anonymous]

I drive a manual. I put a lot of city miles on it. Even with traffic it's doable.

[Anonymous]

If your commute is short I think you'll be fine with it. I used to drive an hour to Bethesda and it was kind of a pain.

The new Acura Integra will be released soon with a manual version.

[Anonymous]

I grew up learning on a manual then driving one in England. Never drive an automatic until I moved here. I would not want to go back to a stick shift, I use my hands too much, drink, gps, pass something to DD etc…..

[Anonymous]

Let it go. I love manual but we are moving to electric cars which don’t need ANY transmission or shifting of gears. Be happy you still get to point the wheel, they are working to get rid of that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up learning on a manual then driving one in England. Never drive an automatic until I moved here. I would not want to go back to a stick shift, I use my hands too much, drink, gps, pass something to DD etc…..

I actually wish I had a stick to teach my kids to drive; they will be less able to text and drive if they are busting shifting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let it go. I love manual but we are moving to electric cars which don’t need ANY transmission or shifting of gears. Be happy you still get to point the wheel, they are working to get rid of that too.

We bought at EV five years ago, and DH and I occasionally still lament that we no longer have a manual car. The EV is super fun to drive, and regenerative braking feels a little like manual when you ease off the accelerator. But still. I do miss driving stick (and I did so while living in downtown DC for ~8 years)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up learning on a manual then driving one in England. Never drive an automatic until I moved here. I would not want to go back to a stick shift, I use my hands too much, drink, gps, pass something to DD etc…..

I actually wish I had a stick to teach my kids to drive; they will be less able to text and drive if they are busting shifting.

+1 Drive in England and you won't see the multi-tasking you see here. Some of that comes down to laws and culture, but you can't argue that the roads wouldn't be safer if we focused away from distractions and back to driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your commute is short I think you'll be fine with it. I used to drive an hour to Bethesda and it was kind of a pain.

The new Acura Integra will be released soon with a manual version.

Manual is a huge pain if you get stuck in traffic. I'm still traumatized by the Delaware toll backup (pre-ez pass I think) over the Susquahanna that I was in for hours. My foot was going to fall off.