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Stick or automatic?
- Thread starter 204467
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I've done exactly that! I was on a motorway, behind a lorry, moved out to the middle lane to overtake the lorry, went to change down gears, hit the brake, did an emergency stop in the middle lane doing 80mph!
Whenever I have to drive auto's now I tuck my left foot underneath me well away from the pedals.
I think I've seen a traffic jam or two. L.A., Sacramento, Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis. Do I need to go on? These are places I go to on a fairly regular basis, traffic is just a part of life when you log 41706 miles in 4 months (odometer reading from 6/17 to today)
For one week just try not stopping in heavy traffic. You'll have less wear on your clutch, brakes, get better fuel milage and even better, you'll be less stressed when you get where you are going!
For one week just try not stopping in heavy traffic. You'll have less wear on your clutch, brakes, get better fuel milage and even better, you'll be less stressed when you get where you are going!
Stick.
I find it humorous when people complain about using a stick in heavy traffic. If you learn to not actually stop then you won't be using the clutch so much.
Also, the clutch in most cars these is is so light it's almost funny. The heavy-duty clutch in my Mustang feels like I'm stepping on a plum after I get out of my work truck. If your leg is tired after holding in the clutch through one red light then you'd probably be crying if you had to do the same in my KW
I was about to say the same thing...
I just drop back 2-3 car lengths on the freeway and I never have to hit the brakes or clutch... Amateurs
Also, who holds the clutch at a red light?
Also, who holds the clutch at a red light?
i do. plus ive heard its safer as you are ready to move if you see a car behind you not slowing down, etc
Stick. And I'm usually in traffic at least once a day too. My mind doesn't even think about shifting, I just do it....
No sense in wasting your clutch or making your foot tired...
Where do you plan on going? Oncoming traffic in front of you? :-!
Got nailed in a stick like this, as I was slowing down, didn't have time to speed up so I just let the vehicle roll instead of coming to a full stop.
Anyhow, at this point, you either pull into cross traffic and risk getting hit in the driver door or get rear ended.
As long as the clutch pedal is completely in, you're not wasting your clutch.
That said, I keep it in neutral, clutch out, and when I see that we're about to get going (oncoming traffic light turns yellow) I clutch in and put it in first. I wish we had the yellow+red before green like Europe has.
It depends on the traffic...for long road trips or windy mountain roads I like manual...although my SAAB is a 3 speed automatic. In phoenix traffic it's nice having an auto.
My olds have two auto cars, so I don't get any time to drive manual. I'm not particularly fussed either way. If I was buying a new car, I'd get a manual.
When I'm in control of ~1,600 kg of car, i don't mind being a control freak.
Automatic. All you stick-heads are just control freaks!
When I'm in control of ~1,600 kg of car, i don't mind being a control freak.
I can drive both.
Currently have a 5-speed automatic, but with Selectronic shifting, if I feel "challenged".
I also use neutral at long lights.
Currently have a 5-speed automatic, but with Selectronic shifting, if I feel "challenged".
I also use neutral at long lights.
I used to like manuals but a lot of recent cars have horrible manual shifters with really "rubbery" feel, which makes it difficult to find the right gear. It seems only Honda and BMW seem to have a clue about doing a manual shifter that actually works correctly.
Besides, a new transmission technology called dual-clutch sequential transmission is making manuals obsolete. I've tried the DSG gearbox on the VW GTI and the shift quality is excellent. Ford recently started to build this type of transmission (in a co-operative effort with Getrag) and we may see this transmission on the new Fiesta and next-generation Focus models in the USA by 2010.
It seems only Honda and BMW seem to have a clue about doing a manual shifter that actually works correctly.Besides, a new transmission technology called dual-clutch sequential transmission is making manuals obsolete. I've tried the DSG gearbox on the VW GTI and the shift quality is excellent. Ford recently started to build this type of transmission (in a co-operative effort with Getrag) and we may see this transmission on the new Fiesta and next-generation Focus models in the USA by 2010.
I would LOVE to see US traffic lights have the yellow/red signal just before green, too! This right there could cut down on a lot of intersection traffic collisions from "jackrabbit" starts from startled drivers going from red to green light.
I love to 'ride the stick' makes me feel in 'control'
Are we still talking about cars here?
