Anyone here drive stick? - My new Subaru BRZ

My work truck is auto, but Jeep is stick. I like driving stick, but it is tough to drink coffee while driving. I still don't have a cup holder in the jeep Cj. However, it will probably will not stay in the cup anyways, it is quite a bumpy ride. It would be like trying to drink coffee while on a horse.
 
I have an 2007 Honda Civic in manual. Not the prettiest or fastest car in the world, but its mine and I love it.
 
Thanks for all the nice comments guys. :)
I'll post up some more pictures when I've got it in the daylight.
 
The last vehicle with a stick was an '84 Toyota 4X4 peekup. I drove it for 14 years. I could drink coffee, eat a burger and shift gears all at the same time. I was busier than a
one armed paper hanger with the hives. I spilled a lot of coffee too. I developed problems with my left knee, so I had to get rid of it.
 
You sir, SUCK!!! :p (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) :D

That is exactly the same car I had planned on buying as my next one. I even went out and test drove the Scion and the Subaru back-to-back to compare the differences. Unfortunately, life intervened and I got laid off from my 11-year salaried aerospace position back at the end of February. I'm a contractor now, so things aren't nearly as stable. Still hoping it will happen one of these days though.

I grew up driving a manual transmission, and I've never purchased a vehicle for myself that wasn't. I followed the development of the twins closely, and while I was a little bit disappointed with the final products, they still did a pretty good job all things considered. I'd still like to see a bit more power from the factory (soon, or so I've read), but it does pretty well for a NA power plant of that size.

As salt in the wound, someone in my neighborhood has a dark grey BRZ, and someone where I'm currently working has a red FR-S, so it gets rubbed in every day for me.

Congrats on the sweet ride! :cool:
 
My son just got a real basic Impreza with a stick. He has never had one although he grew up driving my truck with a stick. He is having a blast with the stick shift. He reported that he is getting 35.8 mpg on his first 500 or so miles.

He also liked the looks of the BRZ but it was a lot more expensive and rear wheel drive.

I've been driving for over 30 years and have only had 2 cars with an automatic but I'll be getting an automatic for my next car. I've done enough shifting for one lifetime! Of course, if I get a mid-life crisis car it will have to be a stick shift.
 
Not for years... My very first car, back around 1967, was a re-built 64 VW Beetle. I subsequently owned three more...
Also, a three-on-the-tree Maverick at some point, and also an execrable Chevy Vega (what can I say, we were poor...)

It was living in the city of St. Louis that disenchanted me with the stick... The place is a forest of stop signs. In order to get to any major street you have to drive through a dozen of the things. Getting stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway is no fun either.
 
mwerner said:
Not for years... My very first car, back around 1967, was a re-built 64 VW Beetle. I subsequently owned three more...
Also, a three-on-the-tree Maverick at some point, and also an execrable Chevy Vega (what can I say, we were poor...)

It was living in the city of St. Louis that disenchanted me with the stick... The place is a forest of stop signs. In order to get to any major street you have to drive through a dozen of the things. Getting stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway is no fun either.
Click to expand...

A three on the tree. Those were the worst. You either had to sit really close to the wheel and jam yourself up or lean forward every time you wanted to shift.
 
I prefer a manual, and in my fun car it has to be manual.

In my truck it is automatic, which is much easier in stop and go traffic such as you would see in the Chicago area.

I used to drive a truck with a three-speed manual with a column shift. That truck was theft proof- nobody that was under my age knew how to drive one.

best

mqqn
 
I've driven a manual trans most of my life first car was an mt, still use an mt on the bike but as I approached my 50s the thought of bad knees and ankles and clutchin' through 2 hours of stop and go traffic for work I got my first automatic about 7 years ago.

There's nothing more exhilarating than a 6 speed manual and the sense of control you get, just be careful that your ability keeps pace with your bravery.

Missed gears and stalling will be the least your problems, burning out a clutch can be an expensive lesson on how to drive a stick.

Have fun, be safe, good luck.
 
I currently own my first Automatic, a F150 for work. First car was a subaru impreza 2.5, have a soft spot in my heart for subaru.
 
Nobody is going to mention the Beemer on the wrong side of the road on a turn?!

Congrats on the Subaru. I have wanted a WRX for years now and I thought the price on them was going to come down. Technically they are cheaper than they were new, but people still want a ton for their used, abused, and modded 10 plus year old cars. Where is the mythical grandmother owned Sti I am looking for?

Congrats again, new cars are always fun
 
Nice car.

Almost all of my vehicles have been stick, including the current pick up. I started driving when I was 12 or so and those vehicles were always stick shift. I also spent quite a few years driving a 13 speed, so shifting gears while drinking coffee and smoking is no challenge at all. I did drive an "automatic" transmission pete once when my truck was in for service - it was ok in heavy traffic (NYC/DC) but I really hated it overall.
 
De Plano said:
Nobody is going to mention the Beemer on the wrong side of the road on a turn?!

Congrats on the Subaru. I have wanted a WRX for years now and I thought the price on them was going to come down. Technically they are cheaper than they were new, but people still want a ton for their used, abused, and modded 10 plus year old cars. Where is the mythical grandmother owned Sti I am looking for?
Click to expand...

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bmw-drivers-really-are-jerks--studies-find-214456020.html :D

I was looking at new WRX's back in 2006, and there were two things preventing me from buying one:

1. They aren't that fast (turbo lag, heavy car)
2. Here's the big one... My monthly lease payment was going to be $224, but my monthly insurance payment was going to be $312 (I was 23). Damned flat-brim-hat wearers ruined the WRX for adults. I ended up getting a 2.5i Sport Wagon and was content in saving the $$.

I also looked at the STi, but was unimpressed with the ride and build quality. Around 130 mph the hood begins shaking to the point of worry. Same goes for the rear spoiler. Also, when the tach needle hits the shown-redline, the rev limiter hits like a brick wall. There is absolutely no overtravel. To say one good thing though - the brakes can reverse diarrhea.

I eventually moved out of Montana, so the AWD went away and the BMW came to be. It has been THE most reliable car I've ever owned, and the small things that have gone wrong, I've fixed in an hour or less. I recently replaced all six spark plugs in 32 minutes... A job BMW of Eugene was going to charge me $275 to do.

/tangent
 
I love manual, I drive an auto now because in traffic its not pleasant.

the canyons are great for a low weight vehicle with competent handling and good power to the wheels. I miss those days...
 
Cypress said:
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bmw-drivers-really-are-jerks--studies-find-214456020.html :D

I was looking at new WRX's back in 2006, and there were two things preventing me from buying one:

1. They aren't that fast (turbo lag, heavy car)
2. Here's the big one... My monthly lease payment was going to be $224, but my monthly insurance payment was going to be $312 (I was 23). Damned flat-brim-hat wearers ruined the WRX for adults. I ended up getting a 2.5i Sport Wagon and was content in saving the $$.

I also looked at the STi, but was unimpressed with the ride and build quality. Around 130 mph the hood begins shaking to the point of worry. Same goes for the rear spoiler. Also, when the tach needle hits the shown-redline, the rev limiter hits like a brick wall. There is absolutely no overtravel. To say one good thing though - the brakes can reverse diarrhea.

I eventually moved out of Montana, so the AWD went away and the BMW came to be. It has been THE most reliable car I've ever owned, and the small things that have gone wrong, I've fixed in an hour or less. I recently replaced all six spark plugs in 32 minutes... A job BMW of Eugene was going to charge me $275 to do.

/tangent
Click to expand...

Part of it was I was into rally racing at the time so I just assumed they all came with factory teams to do maintence every 12-30 miles ;)

I do live on a dirt road that took out the oil pan on an old (late eighties) BMW sis times in four months. Maybe it just popped out the JB weld, put the pan did hit each time. I assumed the pan on a WRX was not the lowest point under the car, and either way I would get a skid plate just to be sure. I never would be able to get one off a flat brimmer because they seem to drop them as soon as they get them and that would ruin it for my purpose.

The insurance and recommended premium gas on the mediocre (at best) mileage did and do not help me in getting one at this point.
 
The Germans have a name for how they fit everything into the engine compartment, it's called shoehorn engineering, I've done 4 motor jobs in the last 2 years on 4 different VW Jettas, actually if you look me up in W&C there's/here's the link...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/830373-WIP-Lots-of-pics-The-motor-is-in-my-daughter-s-VW-Jetta?highlight=jetta

lots of pics on what's involved from start to finish. I did this in a fully equipped garage with a lift, I've also done it in the driveway of a friend's house, I prefer the fully stocked garage. :)
 
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