Love your channel and his easy you make it for fans like me to understand. You saved me from making the mistake of buying a Chevy equinox for way too much money. Thank you for the service And advice you provide to all of us!
I'm looking at a 2016 HondaE EXSport Utility 4D with 68,461 miles for $16990 4cyl I-VTEC 1.8L 6 speed manual. It has all the bells and whistles we like in our price range. I have never learned how to drive a manual. My wife seems to think it would be a good car to have since we live in Colorado where we get snow. We haven't had a car in a few months since my 06 Dodge Stratus's engine seized about a year ago.
Do you think it would be a good idea to get this car, take a leap of faith that I will learn how to drive it or should I stick with an automatic? She seems to think repair, MPG and maintenance will be a lot better in the long run because it's a manual. My biggest concern is skating stuck with a good car I can't drive.
Eh, driving a manual isn't difficult. Maintenance costs tend to be cheaper. Better MPG, however, goes to the automatics these days.
Yes, learn to drive a manual transmission vehicle. It's not that difficult, especially on a Honda or Toyota. Learned to drive a manual when I was 16, have had some sort of manual vehicle ever since, and it's a lot more fun too.
Your wife is correct regarding the repair costs and overall maintenance. Watch some videos on how to drive a manual transmission and go for the test drive on that car. If you feel comfortable, get it.
Everyone should know how to drive one in my opinion. If you are ever in an emergency and the only car available is a stick you will be glad you learned, to me driving a manual is more fun, even in city traffic. Manuals tend to last longer and even with having to put in a clutch occasionally still cheaper long term. You will get better gas mileage with a 5-6 speed manual over a 4-5 speed automatic. But the newer 8-9 speed autos or CVT’s beat manuals in MPG.
As stated, driving a manual is not hard. The only issue I have with them is in long commutes with stop and go traffic. My left leg would get tired constantly working the clutch. Now that I'm retired, maybe it's time to reconsider a manual.
The best way to learn is to buy a car and force yourself to learn. Many guides on driving manual transmissions on Youtube if you need them.
It took me 10 minutes to teach myself how to drive a manual, and this was without YouTube/the internet today.
I don’t see why you have any trouble whatsoever, after watching a few YouTube tutorials & an empty parking lot.
Scotty even has a video on how to drive a manual -
Does your wife know how to? If so, get her to teach you how to. Eric The Car Guy has a really good video on how to.
If you get it, you kinda are forced to learn. Baptism by fire. Sink or swim. On the job training.
Find an empty parking lot close by, and practice. You’ll get the feel of it.
Be gentle with the clutch on lower gears.
I have always owned manual transmission vehicle, but then again, I don't drive in stop and go traffic much. I like the manual because you are directly connected to the engine, unlike an automatic where you are connected by fluid pressure. I think you always have more and better control of the vehicle with a stick. Lastly, it is easier and less expensive to repair than an automatic AND, having a manual transmission is the reason you have a left leg!
Right foot off gas, left foot on clutch, shift gear, left foot off clutch (slowly), right foot back on gas.. five steps, give yourself an afternoon in a stadium parking lot and you'll learn no problem
Ehh maybe I'm just stupid or the celica I learned on was a pain since it had a stage 2 clutch for no reason. Who knows who knowssss but before I even learned manual, I first had to learn that my left wasn't just dead weight anymore. I learned where all the gears are in junction with one another since the reverse was legit right next to first it kinda sucked as I sometimes went from second back to *grinding nosies* then first. After learning downshift and rev matching on the thing then I say I was good to go. Modern vanilla manuals shift like butter to me now. It did take me a week though and I personally didn't have someone to teach me or know what the hell a stage two clutch was.
Driving Manual is the proper way to drive
Learn to float the tranny. that is, only use the clutch in first gear, then simply shift carefully from one to the next. use the clutch only to downshift
