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By all means get that Subie with a stick, if that's what you want.
The only counter-indication to a stick IMHO would be if you do a lot of in-town driving, a lot of stop and go creeping. Problem with these is you will use up the clutch relatively quickly.
I have to agree with most that a manual makes a car more engaging to drive, even if the car does not have much pretense to performance.
Then throw in a turbo engine to go with it! I would go with the "regular" car with the stickshift, from a driving satisfaction point of view, and from a reliability point of view.
you've made my car buying decision more difficult!
2015 Forester 5MT
or
2015 Forester XT (turbo) with CVT Automatic
It's actually a 6MT in the 2014+ Forester. The manual drives great. The turbo is quicker but it has that boring CVT attached to it. If you don't live in an area with much altitude, the naturally aspirated model is fine.
Heck, I got my Honda Fit with a stick and it's fun - within its limitations, of course, but still fun. Also cheaper, fewer components to break, and apparently car thieves can't drive stick.
Plus I will be prepared once the crew from "Amazing Race" finally returns my calls.
considering a new vehicle, potentially a small SUV/crossover.
i really miss manual transmission but is there really any point at all if the car isn't fast?
Vehicles are not toys to be played with, they are equipment that is heavy and can cause injury, damage and death if one decides it is just fine to go really fast because it is fun.
You drive a vehicle to get you from point to point as safely as possible, if you want to "drive fast just for fun" move to Germany and use the Autobahn or become a professional race car driver.
considering a new vehicle, potentially a small SUV/crossover.
i really miss manual transmission but is there really any point at all if the car isn't fast?
Hell Yes! You get to be part of the elite "I drive stick" club and gain the right to talk smack online about people who don't/can't do something you do every day.
I love a stick shift and owned a few manuals in my driving years. They're not practical in Houston because of our bad traffic, however. Shifting gears constantly in stop and go traffic makes for worn out legs and worn out transmissions.
I do have to agree with you about the worn out clutch. I've replaced the clutch in my Mustang about 4-5 times or so, for an average mileage of about 60K+ per clutch. Traffic is heck on it, so I try to commute after the main rush hour. But each clutch only cost me about $200-250 since I did the work myself. It only takes me about 4-5 hours in my garage to do the complete job now!
My 1985 VW Jetta with the 85 hp 8v gas engine and a 5 speed is fun to drive. So is my '91 Jetta 8v with the 3 speed automatic.
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