Stick shift in Los Angeles- Yes or no? (Nice: moving to, rated)

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by Dunbar42

Manual transmissions are fun but not in stop-and-go traffic. That's not exactly a controversial opinion.

If you have been driving stick for 20+ years like I have then it's second nature and it really doesn't matter if you are driving in stop and go traffic or not

[(901)]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

If you have been driving stick for 20+ years like I have then it's second nature and it really doesn't matter if you are driving in stop and go traffic or not

I coast a lot

[John_marts]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

I drive a 500 Abarth with modded suspension and ECU. And, I love it. I can actually scare other cars out of the way just by revving. Seriously.

It's all a matter of the car. If I drove just a grocery-getter, I may not want a manual. However, the OP stated they're interested in a Miata, which has a high fun factor. So then, for that particular car, I think it would be a huge mistake to get an automatic version.

Nice man! I love those little abarths exhaust sound. My previous car was a British racing green Mini Cooper S. The "better" supercharged one. Currently I have a 330 convertible with the zhp performance package. I have been thinking about a Miata lately since my car is getting a little old and tired.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

If you have been driving stick for 20+ years like I have then it's second nature and it really doesn't matter if you are driving in stop and go traffic or not

I drove them for about 20 years as well. I've owned twice as many stick shifts as automatics. Like I said before, Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire said he would want a 'boring' daily driver automatic and a fun weekend stick shift in LA. This after he got stuck in 3 hours of stop-and-go traffic in an old Porsche 911. Dude owns a bunch of cars too, he's no poseur.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by John_marts

Nice man! I love those little abarths exhaust sound. My previous car was a British racing green Mini Cooper S. The "better" supercharged one. Currently I have a 330 convertible with the zhp performance package. I have been thinking about a Miata lately since my car is getting a little old and tired.

Nice. BTW, how's the clutch in the 330? A friend of mine has an M3 and she says her clutch isn't bad in heavy traffic.

[huja]

As long as your chauffeur can drive a stick, you're fine.

[SeaOfGrass]

Originally Posted by K 22

I've seen so many hilarious videos of car thieves attempting to drive a car with manual transmission - a lot of them bait cars. The looks on their faces half of the time look like they were trying to answer a question in the final round of "Jeopardy!"

lol!

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by brrabbit

I agree with some previous poster - if you enjoy stick, you'll enjoy stick anywhere. If not, then you won't. I'd rather drive stickshift in stop-n-go or in a traffic jam, than I'd drive automatic under the same conditions. Stick gives a much better control for choosing appropriate gear for the terrain and LA is a perfect ground for stick, with its mountains and hills.

All of my cars have automatics. When I drive on hilly terrain or on canyon/mountain roads, I shift down (and up) so I also choose the appropriate gear for the terrain.

[GatorsZ71]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Well, many news articles have reported that potential carjackers and thieves were unable to drive the stolen cars once they got into them because they couldn't drive a stick shift!

LOL! Now that is hilarious!

[Exitus Acta Probat]

OP, what's your final decision?