Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > Los Angeles
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 07-26-2016, 02:47 PM
 
47 posts, read 61,742 times
Reputation: 69

Advertisements

Ok I'm a new driver and drove mainly automatics so I'll be learning stick shift but my question is it a bad idea in Los Angeles.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-26-2016, 02:50 PM
 
Location: TOVCCA
8,452 posts, read 15,038,253 times
Reputation: 12532
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!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 05:45 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles
8,548 posts, read 10,971,365 times
Reputation: 10798
I guarantee that there will not be many times one would hit 4th gear in this city in a manual transmission.
Stop signs at practically every intersection.
Freeway traffic is so tied up, you would hardly reach second, let alone third gear.

Stick shift = bad, bad idea.

Bob.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 05:51 PM
 
124 posts, read 129,544 times
Reputation: 88
Quote:
Originally Posted by CALGUY View Post
I guarantee that there will not be many times one would hit 4th gear in this city in a manual transmission.
Stop signs at practically every intersection.
Freeway traffic is so tied up, you would hardly reach second, let alone third gear.

Stick shift = bad, bad idea.

Bob.
My mother is 70+ years old. She's never driven anything but a stick shift. If she can do it, a young whipper snapper certainly can.

I drive stick. Pretty sure I hit 5th gear (if not it was definitely 4th) on the 5 this morning in rush hour (7:30 AM).

To the OP: It's actually quite simple. If you enjoy driving stick, then drive stick. If you don't, then don't.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 06:02 PM
 
47 posts, read 61,742 times
Reputation: 69
But how do I find out if I enjoy stick shift? I plan to buy a manual Miata as my first car so I'd be forced to drive stick.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 06:29 PM
 
329 posts, read 627,807 times
Reputation: 348
If you don't have to commute long distance for work go for it. But for me I drive cng civic for work and my manual 300zxTT stays at home for weekends but now even weekends are crowded.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 07:39 PM
 
817 posts, read 752,767 times
Reputation: 810
I did for 2 years, because I like it. It was mostly ok but I will admit that SigAlerts, and bad surface street congestion, were awful.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 07:43 PM
 
Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
13,583 posts, read 15,655,981 times
Reputation: 14049
The people who say it's a bad idea are uninformed.

There are plenty of small cars out there with light clutches, and are just fine in city traffic. One of my cars is a modded 500 Abarth by Fiat and not long ago I drove her 40 miles in stop and go traffic -- afterwards my leg wasn't the least bit sore, thanks to the light clutch.

If you want a muscle car with a lot of torque, then you probably want to avoid a manual. But if you like smaller cars, some which can be quite fast (mine only weighs 2,500 lb.s, but can make 200 lb.-ft. of torque, making it faster than most larger cars), then get a manual.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWP0TdtSYhg
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 09:44 PM
 
Location: Memphis, Tn ~ U.S.A.
2,353 posts, read 5,374,455 times
Reputation: 2187
A stick will make your commute less boring. An old Miata is a perfect LA car imo
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-26-2016, 09:48 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles
4,490 posts, read 3,927,901 times
Reputation: 14538
I've driven a stick for almost 40 years in LA, including a Miata. Other than real stop & go traffic, you'll be fine. Even when you're in slow traffic, you learn to use your throttle in 2nd or 3rd and don't have to shift that often. And for God's sake, don't get an automatic in a Miata. It's a REAL fun car to drive with a stick.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > Los Angeles
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top