Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:58     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a car for my 18 year old son. He is very much into cars and driving and wants a sort of sporty one with a manual transmission. We will be buying used as the budget is 20k.

He’s a responsible kid who has no incidents thus far. It would make him very very happy. Is this reasonable to get him a sporty manual transmission car? Like Impreza WRX.


Good for them. My first car was this. I enjoyed it greatly.
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:50     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:My sister made her kid drive a manual bc it’s much harder to text while driving one.


+ 1
Also, a two-seater means that your rowdy pals are not passengers.
Additionally, harder for car-jackers to drive your car.
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:48     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He will race it. That’s why he wants it. Would be a no for me.


Only if he wants to lose. Modern automatic transmissions with dual clutches shift faster than any human.


Not on $20k cars


DP. 2% of new cars in the US are manual transmission. Automatic Transmission even on a 20k will be better vs manual. It is a pain to own a manual Car because no one else can drive it. Can’t share driving on a long trip or give the keys to a valet. Also automatic is more efficient in terms of mpg.

Impreza WRX is rather slow as with a 0-60 time of 5.5. Most EVs will blow it away. Even something like a Volvo ex40 beats it by almost a full second 0-60 4.6. Times have changed and manual transmission are things of the past.


Maybe better for fuel efficiency but not for spirited driving. People get manual cars these days not to get better mpg or fastest 0-60. It is fun to row your own gears and it is a unique skill that very few possess. Similar to horse riding, lol

Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:36     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sure. But prepare to replace the clutch in a year. Part of learning!
Not necessarily. I bought a manual when I was 21 not knowing how to drive it. I never had to replace the clutch.


Agree! I have always driven a manual. Was taught "never to ride the clutch." Never had to replace one.


Growing up all our cars were manual. Three kids learned to drive on one car and went through 2 clutches. The linkage also went a few times . Lot more stop and go traffic these days.
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:29     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Don't do this OP if you want to see him on his 19th bday and anything that follows
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:28     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He will race it. That’s why he wants it. Would be a no for me.


Only if he wants to lose. Modern automatic transmissions with dual clutches shift faster than any human.


Not on $20k cars


DP. 2% of new cars in the US are manual transmission. Automatic Transmission even on a 20k will be better vs manual. It is a pain to own a manual Car because no one else can drive it. Can’t share driving on a long trip or give the keys to a valet. Also automatic is more efficient in terms of mpg.

Impreza WRX is rather slow as with a 0-60 time of 5.5. Most EVs will blow it away. Even something like a Volvo ex40 beats it by almost a full second 0-60 4.6. Times have changed and manual transmission are things of the past.
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:27     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:Go VW, the hatchback will come in handy when moving in and out of the dorms.

Can't text while driving a stick? Amateurs.


lol, agree that a manual transmission is not a deterrent to texting. You spend less than 1% of the driving time shifting
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:17     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a car for my 18 year old son. He is very much into cars and driving and wants a sort of sporty one with a manual transmission. We will be buying used as the budget is 20k.

He’s a responsible kid who has no incidents thus far. It would make him very very happy. Is this reasonable to get him a sporty manual transmission car? Like Impreza WRX.


No sane parent will find it reasonable to get their kid a race car. Are you really a parent?
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:13     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Go VW, the hatchback will come in handy when moving in and out of the dorms.

Can't text while driving a stick? Amateurs.


Why would anyone text while driving?


Because they are teenagers?
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:10     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He will race it. That’s why he wants it. Would be a no for me.


Only if he wants to lose. Modern automatic transmissions with dual clutches shift faster than any human.


Not on $20k cars
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 11:09     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:Go VW, the hatchback will come in handy when moving in and out of the dorms.

Can't text while driving a stick? Amateurs.


Why would anyone text while driving?
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 10:54     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
I’d be more worried about a used clutch having to replace it quickly
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 10:45     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:He will race it. That’s why he wants it. Would be a no for me.


Only if he wants to lose. Modern automatic transmissions with dual clutches shift faster than any human.
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 10:42     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Teenager driver + stick shift + fast car = death trap
Anonymous
Post 08/02/2025 10:39     Subject: 18 year old wants manual transmission
Anonymous wrote:He will race it. That’s why he wants it. Would be a no for me.



Are you ok to take a $20k loss in case he wrecks it? Insurance is not going to cover racing