Is switching from an automatic to a stick worth it?

[ramrod]

I'm just curious if its worth going form a car that has an automatic to a car thats a standard. All my friends drive standards and it seems like it would be fun as hell, but then again it seems like a hassle. I can see the upsides(gas milage, performance) and the downsides(stop and go traffic, multi tasking) to it, but I guess before i started bgging for a standard id ask some people oppinions(cant spell).

[Feedman]

I agree standards are more fun.

Are you talking about buying a new car that has a manual gearbox, or switching your existing car to a manual tranny ?

If you want to change over your car, depending on the vehicle it can be really in depth and not worth the time and money, especially if you aren't doing the work yourself. On a honda for example, you could do it for prolly less than 500 bucks, including the price of the tranny.

Just depends.

My first car which was my red ex was an autotragic. I didn't know any better. For a few years I drove it and then had the chance to drive a 5 speed. I was hooked and now I have one. Well worth it IMO.... 8)

[ramrod]

Im talking about going from a car that is automatic to buy a new car that is standard

[jrchannell]

i love standards, there is nothing better than dropping from 4th to 2nd and taking off,or also grabbing 2nd and 3rd and chirping the tires, it takes a good auto to do that, i started out with an auto and got bored with it,every time i drive and auto now i lay my hand on the shifter,drives me nuts! but like you said there are downsides, jason will agree with me on this one(green civic with act clutch) if you build one for performance and upgrade your clutch it will kill you on in town driving! but its worth it at the track i guess when you drop the clutch at 5,000 rpms plus and it doesnt slip.

[C_Note]

i love standards, there is nothing better than dropping from 4th to 2nd

Don't venture too far from home...

I've been driving standards for 16 years, and yeah, once in a while they can be fun, but for daily driving it doesn't matter. These two cars I'm driving now are my first automatics, and I'm actually loving it. Just sit back and drive, with nothing else to worry about. You ever try to smoke, drink coffee, and maybe eat a sandwich all at the same time, while driving a standard through the city?

[ramrod]

I've done that while driving my automatic :-)

[ben2000formula]

Depends on what you want the car to do.

If you want to autocross, road-race, then a standard is the ideal tranny

If you are just into drag the nothing beats a high stalled automatic for consistant times.

[ramrod]

I thought as long as you could drive your car well, that a standard would be good in drag racing too because u know your car and can shit just at the right time to keep your car in the power band?

[daveb91]

Autos are great at drag racing you dont get much more consistant than that. But as said before you have to be beefed up and you have to have more power to over come the loss of the torque convertor. But as far as bracket racing goes autos own you.

[xjoewhitex]

I for one get bored driving an automatic, i like shifting all the time it keeps me on my toes 8) And now that i got a 5spd im never going back...

[ramrod]

it does get boring as hell driving an automatic lol. After awhile your eyes start to wander and you start looking at the trees and the cloouds and the BAMMMM rear end someone lol.

[xjoewhitex]

it does get boring as hell driving an automatic lol. After awhile your eyes start to wander and you start looking at the trees and the cloouds and the BAMMMM rear end someone lol. exact reason they are good to have, and also more fun to drive 8)