I had never driven a stick when I bought my first car. I was 19. My dad drove it home for me, though I had a couple of friends would've gladly volunteered. I figured there'd just be an awkward two or three days of me stalling all around the neighborhood before I "got it". Which is exactly what happened. I think you should really consider going for the stick! Just do it—you won't regret it! In fact, you'll kick yourself for waiting this long. Honestly, an embarrassing couple of days of stalling out is a small price to pay for the joy of shifting.

 

If you're going to get an AT and like the GTI that seems like the clear choice. Easily modded, sporty, fun, about the same in straight line as an MT RX-8, pretty practical, and the DSG tranny is the best auto tranny on the market.

If you want the best performance car for the money get an Evo and learn how to drive MT.

 

Stick, only way to go

Really it is not hard to learn a stick, some people are turned off at first cause they think it will take a lot of learning.

This is false, take a day in a parking lot just totting around and you'll be fine. It may take some time to get use to get moving while on a steep hill, but other than than learning stick is simple.

I did it in a day to the point where I could get around fine. Took maybe a few more tries and practice on steep hills.

I've even taught my mom in a day on how to drive it if she ever needed to. Thats not going to happen of course but just in case I needed her to.


Don't worry you won't ruin the clutch easily, just no 8k drops or riding the clutch.

 

Some people just aren't stick people, thats ok, but usually those people don't like harsh cars like a STI and Evo. So do you really know whats for you??

Define "performance" to yourself, for some its stats, for others its feel, for others its "do it all" performance...which is how I view the 8.

So I say if you're attracted to performance cars but want something less demanding, try the new Mustang GT auto; its way better than previous generations. The new GTI DSG is ok if you like front drivers...I don't.

As for the 8, the '06 has an interesting auto that is yet to be tested. But my previously mentioned cars suffer little in the auto conversions, whereas the 8 autos are quite different than the manuals. Maybe the new one isn't.

 

It's true that some people just aren't stick people. But most people don't even KNOW if they're a stick person, because they've never bothered to learn. Until you can drive both, you really can't say if you're a stick person or not. I say it again, the vast majority of people who can do both prefer stick. Granted, there's a certain amount of self-selection-- my mother, for instance, probably wouldn't be a stick person even if she knew how to do it. But if you love cars and driving, you'd probably be a stick person.

Again, an hour of practice in the parking lot should be enough for you to be able to get the car home. If you don't have anyone to teach you, you can probably negotiate a lesson with the dealer as part of buying the car. I bought my first manual without knowing how to drive it, the dealer gave me a lesson, and then a buddy of mine worked me some more in a parking lot, and I was then able to drive it home by myself, some 50 miles of mostly highway. Again, it won't be *natural* at that point, you'll really be thinking about every clutch and shift, but you'll be able to do it.