A shout-out for the Manual transmission
11-29-2019 | 10:09 PM
#47
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 1,137
From: SW Colorado
I taught both of my kids on manual and to this date they thank me for it. While my daughter was in college I gave her a manual Honda Accord and all her buddies can't drive it which gave her tremendous satisfaction. Nobody ever ask to borrow her car thats for sure.
The point is that once you know how to drive a manual, you can jump into any car knowingly that it is under your control. On the other hand those that can't drive a manual will always be intimidated when an automatic car is not available.
The point is that once you know how to drive a manual, you can jump into any car knowingly that it is under your control. On the other hand those that can't drive a manual will always be intimidated when an automatic car is not available.
And my own MT list (just the fun ones):
1969 Fiat 124 Spider (when I learned how to change the synchros in a MT)
1969 Datsun 510
1971 BMW 2002
1976 Fiat X1/9
1985 Ford Escort XR3i
1973 Porsche 914 (street car)
1974 Porsche 014 (race car)
1987 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 911 C4
2005 Porsche Boxster S
2017 Porsche 911
1973 Porsche 914 (project car)
11-29-2019 | 11:18 PM
#48
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 1,332
From: ^ The Bay Bridge
Love seeing those who taught their kids how to drive on a manual. Have taught quite a few kids how to drive a manual transmission, and a few spouses too. Always fun, and really satisfying to see them "get it" and smile. But the best was a kid I budgeted an hour for and he had it so down within 20 minutes that we spent the next 30+ minutes working on the concepts behind heel-toe. Told him he wasn't going to learn it that day, but when I saw his mom years later, she said, "I love riding with my older son—he's soooooo smooth around town. My other son? Not so much..." 
Manual? PDK? It's a personal thing, but when it comes to sports cars for the street, for me, personally, it's still "no stick, no sale."
On track? A lot? I'll take PDK every time.
Manual? PDK? It's a personal thing, but when it comes to sports cars for the street, for me, personally, it's still "no stick, no sale."
On track? A lot? I'll take PDK every time.
11-30-2019 | 10:32 AM
#49
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
11-30-2019 | 10:32 AM
#50
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 82
Likes: 24
From: SE Massachusetts
For me personally, sports cars for street use have to be manual. Back in 2017 I bought a Corvette that had an automatic and I just could not warm up to it. There was almost no real joy in driving it. Other than the shear acceleration, there was very little engagement. I actually traded it in on the 911 I have today, which was always my dream car anyhow. It was an expensive mistake considering the depreciation hit I took.
Both of my sons only drive manuals and I was fortunate to teach them both when they each bought their first cars. I am lucky they are both sports car enthusiasts.
Both of my sons only drive manuals and I was fortunate to teach them both when they each bought their first cars. I am lucky they are both sports car enthusiasts.
11-30-2019 | 12:22 PM
#51
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 121
From: Golden, CO
A very well calibrated ankle... 
With a SC (or as close to SC as they put into our Ts; personally I am very happy with the changes and deletions) and MT equipped 9A2 lump... In Sport or Sport+, when you are static, in gear and floor the accelerator, the car keeps the revs held at 4k. Apparently it isn't "Launch Control", but... In the above clip, my first time using the feature, I had PSM set to Off (so only nannies left were ABS), side stepped the clutch and rode it out. I later tried it with PSM set to Sport and it definitely engaged in 1st and 2nd gear. I think Launch Control in a PDK car allows 6k of revs, so I am pretty confident in the buffer. Having owned a MT Corvette with a 427 in it, I'm real familiar with BCS (Burnished Clutch Stank) and there was zero of that yesterday.
Not sure how much I will use the Hillbilly Launch Control that P offers in the MT 991.2s, but it is a pretty cool feature IMO.
SS
With a SC (or as close to SC as they put into our Ts; personally I am very happy with the changes and deletions) and MT equipped 9A2 lump... In Sport or Sport+, when you are static, in gear and floor the accelerator, the car keeps the revs held at 4k. Apparently it isn't "Launch Control", but... In the above clip, my first time using the feature, I had PSM set to Off (so only nannies left were ABS), side stepped the clutch and rode it out. I later tried it with PSM set to Sport and it definitely engaged in 1st and 2nd gear. I think Launch Control in a PDK car allows 6k of revs, so I am pretty confident in the buffer. Having owned a MT Corvette with a 427 in it, I'm real familiar with BCS (Burnished Clutch Stank) and there was zero of that yesterday.
Not sure how much I will use the Hillbilly Launch Control that P offers in the MT 991.2s, but it is a pretty cool feature IMO.
SS
Unfortunately, the acceleration suffers because of it. Zero to 60 times would likely improve by up to half a second with an optimal clutch drop, which is probably around 6 grand.
11-30-2019 | 01:52 PM
#52
Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 606
Likes: 153
From: Northern Vermont
I taught both my kids to drive a manual as their first car, for a learners permit at age 15(!) and they both passed their road test using a manual (old 3 series). I put a large magnetic sticker that said "Please be patient, beginner driver" on the rear of the car during their first handful of drives. My daughter got me back by putting it on my Cayman one April Fools day.
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AlexCeres (11-30-2019)
11-30-2019 | 05:33 PM
#54
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Joined: Oct 2019
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no idea how I survived being a teenager, but pretty sure the horsepower stuck in the double digits helped. 0-60 in 12 seconds!
11-30-2019 | 06:03 PM
#55
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 888
From: Liberty Hill, TX
i had that thought after seeing the kids in NJ who crashed their boxster into a building. The second floor of the building. After flying over 75 feet from the roadside. Land missile was supposed to be a metaphor...
no idea how I survived being a teenager, but pretty sure the horsepower stuck in the double digits helped. 0-60 in 12 seconds!
no idea how I survived being a teenager, but pretty sure the horsepower stuck in the double digits helped. 0-60 in 12 seconds!
ẞ
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AlexCeres (11-30-2019)
11-30-2019 | 06:09 PM
#57
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 878
Likes: 311
I do wish Porsche used the Audi style lockout for reverse, where you'd have to push the gear lever down first before rowing over to reverse.
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koala (11-30-2019)
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Porsche911GTS'16 (12-01-2019)
11-30-2019 | 06:59 PM
#59
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,644
Likes: 268
From: NJ
Both my kids as well are manual drivers and both love it. Took my daughter just that little bit longer, but one day she just 'clicked' and there was no stopping her. Now her default choice to drive to school is a manual car (not the 991!).
My wife is also a fully qualified manual driver.....jackpot in this house!
My wife is also a fully qualified manual driver.....jackpot in this house!
11-30-2019 | 07:27 PM
#60
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 194
Likes: 61
From: Vancouver, BC
I am one of likely the very few who has never owned an automatic in all my life (I'm 54) and my current stable of 4 cars are of course manuals. I'm afraid that will likely change on my next purchase, which will probably be a mid size sedan such as a E-class, A6 or 5 series.
I tend to keep cars a long time, hence the relatively short list.
Sold
1971 Datsun 240Z, 4 spd
1983 Toyota Supra, 5 spd
1991 Mazda Miata, 5 spd
1992 VW Passat, 5 spd
1990 Audi 90, 5 spd
Own
1991 Alpina B10 biturbo, 5 spd
1997 Audi S6, 5 spd
2008 Audi A4 Avant, 6 spd
2017 Porsche 911 C2, 7 spd
I tend to keep cars a long time, hence the relatively short list.
Sold
1971 Datsun 240Z, 4 spd
1983 Toyota Supra, 5 spd
1991 Mazda Miata, 5 spd
1992 VW Passat, 5 spd
1990 Audi 90, 5 spd
Own
1991 Alpina B10 biturbo, 5 spd
1997 Audi S6, 5 spd
2008 Audi A4 Avant, 6 spd
2017 Porsche 911 C2, 7 spd