motor

Neema702 · 09-01-2005, 02:51 PM

So I'm at work, extremely bored, and i have an epiphany... i need to learn how to drive manual REALLY well. Until now, I was never really good at driving a manual car. I mean, i know the basics, and i've driven other peoples manuals, but i've never owned one and i've never really practiced driving with manual.

So i would like to know, which car ya'll think has the smoothest, most responsive manual transmission. I would also like to know, which car ya'll think would be the best learner car. And if these two cars are not the same, please differentiate. Price is no object, but please keep in mind that i would like to buy this car to practice on, so if your answer is a Carrera GT, please def. say that, but also add another car that is more realistic for my needs.

Thanks

twboy1999 · 09-01-2005, 06:00 PM

honda cars?? clutch are easy in and out

alot of ppl know how to drive manaul.. but i think not alot of ppl can really drive it well... if u are really good at driving manual,, the passenger shouldnt even feel u shift gear.. feels like automatic... unless u are going WOT

or just regular manual shifting guys,, every shift, feels a little jerky

Vansquish · 09-02-2005, 12:29 AM

The Mazda Miata in any of its iterations has an extremely user-friendly clutch and gearbox. It's slick, the throws are short, and it'll move away from rest at idle without a great degree of clutch-modulation. It also has an easy to exploit chassis that's both benign and fun, so it won't bite you if you screw up. I'd recommend it both for the transmission and the handling.

nchs09 · 09-02-2005, 11:54 AM

id say mazda cars. the new ones. their manual boxes have an exellent feel for them.

he7lius · 09-02-2005, 12:13 PM

I drove a toyota corolla and the new focus when i went back home this summer and i have to say that the toyota was a joy to shift. While the focus the clutch pedal wasn't very easy to get used to cos u have to floor the pedal until it damaged the floor specially when getting 1st gear, while the toyota was just perfect.
I spent about 10 days with each one of the I had never drove neither before but from day one the toyota felt like i had it for years as the changes where very intuitive.
And as the guys said, that a good shift is one that the passeger does feel the change, well on the toyota is was just like that since day one.

But if u want to learn then i presume u should choose a hard one to change.
Good luck.

Cornutu · 09-02-2005, 01:25 PM

IF money is no object, buy an array of cars from trucks to asian cars to european. You now you can drive well when you can get into any of the cars and not have to think about driving them. At that point, see if you can figure out the rev drops off so that you can shift without the clutch. This will be rough at first and will kick the shit out of the trans.

komotar · 09-02-2005, 01:29 PM

First cars that come to mind and that they have good gearboxes and clutches are the S2000 and the MX5.

I'd go for the Honda.

Maybe a BMW 330. The new one.

If you're looking for a sport's car or a sporty car that is.

Neema702 · 09-02-2005, 02:35 PM

lol.... i wish money was no object in the way Cornutu put it. thanks for the repsonses tho. I have found a common car among you guys and my other friends, and that is the S2000. I think im going to go with that. I'll keep you guys updated.

5vz-fe · 09-02-2005, 02:42 PM

Honda....no question.

The clutch on the prelude is on the heavy side tho.....so try the civic or accord

Evil-ution · 09-02-2005, 03:49 PM

buy a honda city.. 1.3 liters engine and when my friend drives that car he says this is the car u can always trust, pull the hand the car will go side way! put it back and return the steering to its postion there u got ur car back on the road!!

it costs like 11,000 $$ new and if u can find a second hand one with good condition it would be nice to train on ( light weight steering, smooth clutch, easy car to handle specaily with its 76 bhp engine!! )..

thats an opinion at the end..

5vz-fe · 09-02-2005, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Evil-ution

buy a honda city.. 1.3 liters engine and when my friend drives that car he says this is the car u can always trust, pull the hand the car will go side way! put it back and return the steering to its postion there u got ur car back on the road!!

it costs like 11,000 $$ new and if u can find a second hand one with good condition it would be nice to train on ( light weight steering, smooth clutch, easy car to handle specaily with its 76 bhp engine!! )..

thats an opinion at the end..

I don't think there are Honda City in NA.

"pull the hand the car will go side way! put it back and return the steering to its postion there u got ur car back on the road!!"

uhh.... :roll:

stracing · 09-03-2005, 08:58 AM

stay away from the corolla with the 6 speed!

ae86_16v · 09-03-2005, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Vansquish

The Mazda Miata in any of its iterations has an extremely user-friendly clutch and gearbox. It's slick, the throws are short, and it'll move away from rest at idle without a great degree of clutch-modulation. It also has an easy to exploit chassis that's both benign and fun, so it won't bite you if you screw up. I'd recommend it both for the transmission and the handling.

Definitely. Miata has one of the slickest shifting gearboxes around.

Other than that, the NSX is also very nice. The gear gates are so close, that it is almost like sequential shifter when driving.

number77 · 09-03-2005, 09:19 PM

The newer models Corollas have a very smooth gear box.

Evil-ution · 09-04-2005, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by 5vz-fe

uhh.... :roll:

what?? u don't believe that?? try it ur self..