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| Member |
I'm a mustang guy and have owned many, always with a manual. I currently drive a 2011 Shelby GT500, awesome car, and puts a smile on my face after work. Seeing as you are looking for something a little more efficient, I would look for a Mazda 6, they are available in Sport and Touring trims with a manual. Enough power and handling to be fun, but great mileage, backseat and trunk room. | |||
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Member |
I've got 2 kids in carseats, and they were good in the back of the 6, the 3 was good too but a bit tighter. I believe they dropped the 6MT 6 after 2017.5 model year. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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King Nothing |
Some good tips here, and things to think about. Insurance was something I was concerned with. I ran a quote for the 18 Fit and 17 Si that are nearby and the quotes were only about $50 apart over 6 months... Was thinking the insurance would kill the idea of a sportier car for me, but apparently that's not an issue. Premium gas isn't a deal killer for me either. I do really like the Mazda6, it seems like it'd be a great choice. They seem to be a little hard to come by in manual, though. Nearby there's a 16 Touring with 65k miles on it for $13k. A 16 Touring with 40k miles for $14,500 (doesn't look as good as the other). That's basically all within 100 miles. It's like the Accord, the cheapest decent example is a 16 sport with 65k miles for just under $19k. I sort of looked at the Impreza, but doesn't seem to get too good of reviews from what I've seen, and I feel like I've been reading about Subaru reliability getting a little worse, as well. It's also looking like itll run me into the high teens. Certainly would love s Mustang, just doubt itd work well with kids  I definitely thought about it......Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... | |||
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| Member |
When we got married and would go places we took my 1978 4 by 4 bronco because it had enough room jor all the stuff that goes with a less than one year old. So I figured that my wife, who grew up on a farm, should be taught to drive a stick shift ( I was driving a Willy’s Jeep when I was 8 years old, yep new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing, she still can’t drive standard shift! | |||
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Happily Retired |
Everyone should know how to drive a stick. I do, my wife does and when my daughter turned sixteen and got her license, I borrowed my dad's Isuzu Trooper and spent an hour showing her the ins and outs and told her to drive it like she stole it. A week later she announced she was now a "pro". The old man and I went on a test drive with her, she was right. As years went by I lost count of the men she dated telling me she drives their car better than they do. Oh, to the OP, buy the damn Fit. They are good cars and you will have a blast with it. .....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress. | |||
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| Member |
Another option would be the HRV. Like a Fit with a lift. Had one for a loaner with the 6MT & it was better than the 04 Civic I was driving at the time. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| King Nothing |
Kids are little, they can share a seat haha. HRV is interesting. There is 1, new or used, within 100 miles of me. $16k with 30k miles but sold by a shady looking dealer. ...Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... | |||
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| Member |
HRV felt smaller inside than the Fit because it wasn't as boxy. Boxy is good if you want space. I'd be pretty happy in a Fit (which is about the size that the Civic used to be when they had an awesome wagon (3rd Gen). Everyone saying brakes are cheaper than clutch... correct. Everyone saying otherwise is wrong, or has/had too much money to worry about replacing clutches. Upshift points are easy, use the tach. Downshift points aren't much harder, and you'll learn them quickly. Leave it out of gear as you slow, or brake, and you'll know which gear to use if needed and where it is. This all presupposes that you can ignore the children and passenger and drive the car. If you HAVE to reach back to pick up that toy, or HAVE to turn to look at the passenger as one of you is talking, or HAVE to answer that phone call/download the latest podcast/check Twitter, then you may not want to buy a manual trans. You may in fact want to check out a Johnny Cab. But you sound smarter than that, an d know what you want. Finally (as stated by many) a manual trans is nearly an anti-theft device. | |||
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Member |
Good points all. My Father taught all his kids to drive on a stick shift. During winter in Ohio and included up and down narrow country roads. He stated several times that if you couldn't drive a stick you couldn't really drive a car. Both my siblings are good drivers and if I may say so I am too. Teach your kids to drive a stick. They'll be better drivers because they have to use their brain. ___________________________________________________________ Your right to swing your fist stops just short of the other person's nose... | |||
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| Member |
Almost all of the cars I have owned had manual transmissions. I have only replaced one clutch. The replaced clutch was on a Datsun 510. Hydraulic that I did not keep adjusted. I downshift coming to a stop all the time. But I rev match. Smooth engagement. My current fun car is a 2012 Mustang GTCS. 6 speed manual. Smooth downshifting is another skill to learn when driving a manual. Personally I believe slipping a clutch holding a car on a hill is the clutch killer. | |||
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E tan e epi tas |
This really can’t be stated enough. All the other stuff we have talked about really comes down to technique or preferences etc. Using a clutch on a hill to hill hold or “riding the clutch” in traffic WILL kill clutches. "Guns are tools. The only weapon ever created was man." | |||
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| King Nothing |
I had to look up those 2 clutch terms. I don't quite get the purpose of doing either... Why would people hold the clutch to hold the car on a hill? I assumed you let the clutch out and hold the brake until ready to go, then clutch in and go...Why would people "ride the clutch," keeping it partially pressed down while driving, if I understand correctly. Im actually trying to understand it, not question people's way of driving.It is good to know not to do it, either way  I keep going back and forth with the idea of spending the extra $6500 or so on an Si... I think I'd want to drive the Si as long as it could last... I, also, think I'd pick the Si over the GTI, which would probably be my first two choices. Mazda3 and Civic apparently are not much cheaper than the Si, and the Accord and Mazda6 are not plentiful in the lower range I'm looking at. We are planning on buying the new family car next year when the little guy leaves pre school and we have that tuition as extra money. That's my main reason for looking to go as cheap as I can, and still be happy. I'd rather buy a nicer ride for my wife/family car. The low price point, and a seemingly good car, is the only reason I'm recently looking at the Fit. Decisions, decisions. I've been kicking around the idea of a new(er) car for a few years, but finally feel ready to take the plunge. I'm just having a hard time committing haha. Thank you guys for all the replies and enduring my noobness. ...Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... | |||
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| Member |
BS. (Not on the fun part unless you're in stop and go traffic) Go to a track and get in a modern manual vs a stick in the same model/year. You'll be much faster in the auto. Very much faster. If you want to feel like you're going fast (but slow as shit) get a manual. If you want to go fast get a modern auto. If you're faster in the manual you're a very, very good driver There aint that many of them out there. FYI, I used to be a manual nazi but stop and go traffic plus track times changed my mind. | |||
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| Member |
I haven't driven one, but have talked to a few people that were a bit disappointed with the Si, granted one ended up in a Golf R. My biggest gripe, that I had forgotten about, with new Honda manuals, is rev hang. Really annoying if you're trying to have fun, but much less noticeable in day-to-day driving. Basically, when you press the clutch in, the ECU holds the RPMs for a second & results in jerky shifts if you're at it quickly. Slower shifts allow the RPMs to drop for the next gear. I tested a couple GTIs (DSGs, not 6MTs) when I was shopping & really enjoyed the car, but wanted it all & an Autobahn model was a bit over budget for us. With the Mazda3 getting a redesign for the current model year, new-old-stock may have some discounts. If I were looking at the 3, I'd make sure to get the 2.5 engine over the 2.0. Bit more power & equipment. For a manual Accord, I think you're stuck with either an LX or a Sport in the last few years. LX is pretty basic, but the Sport is in between an LX & EX. On the prior generation, I believe the Sport rode on 19" wheels, so keep that in mind. Same with the Mazda6, Touring & Grand Touring are on 19s; manual transmission only available on Mazda6 Sport & Touring. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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At Jacob's Well |
No advice for the OP, but this thread has me missing the stick shift I drove in college. A manual gives you a feeling of control and connection to the car that you just can't get with an automatic. J Rak Chazak Amats | |||
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| Member |
One of my favorite cars was a 1991 Honda Civic si. Manual of course. My son like it so much he went out and bought the same car except black instead of red. For me manual is enjoyable to drive (city stop/go excepted). Today’s high performance cars accelerate faster with auto trans and take corners faster (for many drivers) with software help. For me there is satisfaction doing a smooth heel and toe downshift. It comes down to what you want. | |||
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| King Nothing |
That's interesting folks were disappointed. Sometimes I feel like people's opinions hold a bit more water than the pro reviews. I read mostly good reviews, but the rev hang came up a lot. It does sound like a pain in the ass. I wonder if the tuning community has come up with an ECU flash or anything to eliminate it or correct it, or if they will... You're, also, saying it's all newer Honda manuals, even the Fit? Might be a deal killer if that's the case. I just dont know how much of a hindrance it is or not. Obviously, being new, I have no idea what to think about it, but that complaint came up a lot reading about the Si. I read the Mazda 2.5 was a more reliable engine over the 2.0. That'd be a solid choice. I think it's a good looking car, too. GTI really seems like it'd be sweet, it just seemed the Civic came with more for a little less money. I was figuring the reliability would much better with the Si over the GTI. That was probably the main thing I was scared of with the GTI. I could go for the 17 Sport, has pretty much everything I want, other than the basic audio. Probably would grab aftermarket sound system. The R would be cool, but I'd go DSG and stage 2 haha. Plus it's way more than I would care to spend.This message has been edited. Last edited by: SigSauerP226, ...Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... | |||
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| King Nothing |
Does the 2018 Mazda3 have a good transmission? Found a brand new 18 Touring left over for $20k. I think that'd be a good route to go instead of buying a used Si or GTI. I really started to look at and zoom in on the Si's I liked and found most had pretty good scuffs and scrapes. It reminded me that you just don't know how the previous owner drove the car, and I imagine a decent amount of Si and GTI drivers are younger guys driving hard. The 2 Fits I noticed looked great in the pictures and I would imagine the previous owners probably didn't drive them as hard. I think the Mazda3 would be a great balance of fun and reliability. Seems like they are nice cars. I feel like it's a car I could drive for 10+ years assuming it is reliable. ...Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... | |||
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| Member |
Slipping clutch on incline hold usually comes from anticipating the green light. Riding the clutch comes from using clutch as a foot rest or too lazy to lift foot completely off the clutch between shifts. Shifts come rather quickly on lower gears but gets longer on higher gears so riding clutch between these longer shifts is really bad. | |||
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Told cops where to go for over 29 years… |
I’ll just throw this out... Lots of cars with AT have the option to mimic manual shifting. Best of both worlds, convenience/ease of AT and when you want to play Ricky Racer you can work the gears yourself. No clutch, but if you really want the whole “experience” you can just stomp the floor with your left foot while working the stick or paddles. I’ve had a few of them over the years, 2004 Chrysler Pacifica was the first, my 2015 Kia Optima Turbo had it as well. We have three vehicles right now, 2015 F150, 2017 Mustang GT, 2018 Ford Escape. Mustang and Escape both have AT with paddle shifters and “Sport mode”. For me, it is a much better way to go. MT can be a pain in the ass with stop and go traffic, city driving, or long commute. Gets one and you ALWAYS deal with shifting. Go AT with “Sport Mode” or whatever term the maker uses and you have the comfort of AT and the option to “have fun” when you are feeling spirited. And yes, todays computer controlled AT beat MT when it comes to speed, I learned that while shopping Mustangs. What part of "...Shall not be infringed" don't you understand???  | |||
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