Caroline wrote:
> My first seven years of driving was only on automatics, in the
> suburbs with a touch of city driving here and there.
>
> My first real boyfriend patiently taught me how to drive a manual
> (great test for "boyfriend suitability" BTW), and when I bought my
> first car, I would only go with a manual transmission. Why? Because
> it was fun, got better fuel mileage, saved a meaningful sum of money
> (approx. $500 to $1000) on the initial purchase (which was a bigger
> factor right out of college), and I liked feeling I had more control
> over the car's correct operation.
>
> But I haven't lived in a big city like DC in some time. I do know it
> is annoying driving my manual transmission 1991 Civic when I am
> driving **off-highway** in a big city's rush hour. It's not a big
> deal during non-rush hour or on the highway during rush hour.
>
> So despite your lack of experience with a manual, I think your
> intuition is correct.
>
> IIRC from my little driving in/around DC, commuting would justify a
> manual transmission. Living smack dab in the middle of a large city
> would not, comfort-wise.
>
> "Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote
>> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could
>> help me on an age old question.
>> Stickshift or Automatic?
>>
>> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much
>> appreciate any insight into this. One thing that keeps me from
>> better being able to decide my self is the plain fact that I don't
>> know how to drive stickshift (yet). So I wouldn't know if it would
>> annoy me by having to constantly shift gears from block to block.
>> Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC where there is
>> virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student, and in
>> about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver Spring,
>> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC
>> can have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush
>> Hour).
>>
>> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine
>> modifications. And if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably
>> happen about 2 years down the road (So I guess by then I could sell
>> the automatic anyway?). I guess my main question is, is the
>> immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
>> -RG

I wouldn't give you a thank you for a standard transmission in city driving.

Once had to drive a VW bug in downtown Montreal (all hills and mountain) and
almost needed a new left thigh after about 2 hours of stop and go driving.
Having driven rush hour in DC, although flat terrain, I still wouldn't enjoy
driving standard there.

Come to think of it can't see any practical use for a standard nowdays, of
course I'm 62 so creature comforts are much more important to me.

Mike