automatic 05 wrx or standars 05 wrx?
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 110
From: College Park, MD
Car Info: 05 Black w/ Gold STi
the first time i drove a 5 speed it took me an hour to do what was normally a 15 minute drive (lots of stop lights = lots of 1st gear time = lots of stalling out) i sure felt bad for the people stuck behind me. i tried it again a year or so later and it just clicked.
a good friend of mine wanted a new car and got a 5 speed, i gave him a few quick lessons on my car and then when he got his he was good on it after about an hour or two.
when you're forced to use something you learn quick.
a good friend of mine wanted a new car and got a 5 speed, i gave him a few quick lessons on my car and then when he got his he was good on it after about an hour or two.
when you're forced to use something you learn quick.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 257
From: Arcadia, CA
Car Info: 2003 GGA
DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND GET THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
Manual tranny puts you in control of the car. Power when you want/need it. Not when the car just happens to be in a state that will provide the power you want/need. Especially a turbocharged car. Remember, under about 3000rpm, the WRX is a dog.
My first car had a manual transmission and I didn't know how to drive it. Sure I stalled a couple of times at red lights and on hills. Its ok, the worst thing that can happen is you'll slow down the people behind you for a couple of seconds.
After driving it for a month or so, it will become so natural that you'll not even notice that you're doing it. You will be as one with the clutch in no time.
However, automatics are not without their virtues. They make talking on the phone or eating behind the wheel much easier. Not to mention bumper to bumper traffic.
If you're into fun/control or interested in motor sports at all get the manual. If you need convenience of the automatic, by all means, get it.
The WRX is a wonderful car with gobs of power, so please be careful out there and congrats.
Manual tranny puts you in control of the car. Power when you want/need it. Not when the car just happens to be in a state that will provide the power you want/need. Especially a turbocharged car. Remember, under about 3000rpm, the WRX is a dog.
My first car had a manual transmission and I didn't know how to drive it. Sure I stalled a couple of times at red lights and on hills. Its ok, the worst thing that can happen is you'll slow down the people behind you for a couple of seconds.
After driving it for a month or so, it will become so natural that you'll not even notice that you're doing it. You will be as one with the clutch in no time.
However, automatics are not without their virtues. They make talking on the phone or eating behind the wheel much easier. Not to mention bumper to bumper traffic.
If you're into fun/control or interested in motor sports at all get the manual. If you need convenience of the automatic, by all means, get it.
The WRX is a wonderful car with gobs of power, so please be careful out there and congrats.
Guest
Posts: n/a
The manual is great but I would not learn to drive a stick on a WRX, I'd get a beater (or a foolish friend's car) and learn to shift, heal & toe, and double clutch (even though it's not needed on the wrx). You will make mistakes (everyone does) it would be nice to make those mistakes in a car without so much potential for damage.
Guest
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how old are you?how long have you been driving? who's your daddy? and does he love you? the wrx is not a good first car. it is too powerfull to be learning to drive standard on. your daddy must love you if he wants you to get more seat time in a standard before moving up to the high power wrx. a auto in a wrx is like putting penny loafers on a track star, sure he can still run but not as fast as he can in a pair of track shoes. if you wait you will get the best drive train and the skills to use it.
Guest
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uhh I'm 18. I've been drivin for almost a year, and I drove my friends standard z-28. I'll take your word that the wrx is powerfull, but I'm not immature I'll take good care of it when I do get it. The reason why my dad wants me to wait a month of driving standard is to make sure that I make the right decission, and just to get the gist of driving a standard in Houston.
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 32
From: Virginia Beach, VA
Car Info: 2005 WRX Wagon
I've been driving manuals for years. Even so, driving my new WRX took some getting used to. I sometimes wondered during the break-in period whether it was me or the the car that was getting broken in. It took me about two weeks (500 mi) to get really comfortable with it. (My problem was a habit of downshifting at speed without revving the engine, which caused the car to lurch, but it was easy to correct).
I've never driven such a precise machine before. It's classified as a sub-compact in Consumer Guide but in my opinion it's a sports car. I sure drive it like one anyway, as I gather is true of most every other WRX driver.
Grinding the gears a few times while learning to drive the manual won't do any real harm to the car. It'll probably do more harm to your ego than anything else, but once you're properly broken in by the car (heh heh) you'll get much more enjoyment out of it than with an automatic.
I've never driven such a precise machine before. It's classified as a sub-compact in Consumer Guide but in my opinion it's a sports car. I sure drive it like one anyway, as I gather is true of most every other WRX driver.
Grinding the gears a few times while learning to drive the manual won't do any real harm to the car. It'll probably do more harm to your ego than anything else, but once you're properly broken in by the car (heh heh) you'll get much more enjoyment out of it than with an automatic.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree with WarreX.
I disagree with the whole "don't learn manual on a wrx" idea *unless* you are new to driving altogether. In that case, you shouldn't be in a wrx anyways! ;-)
The car indeed teaches YOU have to drive IT. You learn very quickly what's good and what's not. If you're new to stick or not, it doesn't matter. You will learn its ways. And you'll be glad you did.
I disagree with the whole "don't learn manual on a wrx" idea *unless* you are new to driving altogether. In that case, you shouldn't be in a wrx anyways! ;-)
The car indeed teaches YOU have to drive IT. You learn very quickly what's good and what's not. If you're new to stick or not, it doesn't matter. You will learn its ways. And you'll be glad you did.
Registered User
iTrader: (23)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,370
From: Livermore, Ca
Car Info: WRB STi Hatch, JSW Diesel
Originally Posted by qship
how old are you?how long have you been driving? who's your daddy? and does he love you? the wrx is not a good first car. it is too powerfull to be learning to drive standard on. your daddy must love you if he wants you to get more seat time in a standard before moving up to the high power wrx. a auto in a wrx is like putting penny loafers on a track star, sure he can still run but not as fast as he can in a pair of track shoes. if you wait you will get the best drive train and the skills to use it.
Im 16 and my WRX was my first car. =]. my daddy must love me
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,499
From: town / kaneohe
Car Info: gc w/ neons and a wrx that needs neons
MANUAL!!!!!!
i didn't know how to drive stick until the wrx came into my life. screw auto! i do miss it sometimes when i'm in traffic, but driving stick is so fun.
i didn't know how to drive stick until the wrx came into my life. screw auto! i do miss it sometimes when i'm in traffic, but driving stick is so fun.