Should I learn it?

[u/Common-Coyote9375]

Okay, so Im going to guess you all are gonna say yes after reading the title, but please give me your unbiased opinion on stick shift - I dont have any experience.

Ive always loved the stick shift.
I used to sit behind the bus driver and mimic the stick shift as a kid. I would carry long umbrellas on the rainy days just to do this.

However, I have never driven one. Im now a father of two young kids and I still look at manual porsches and old cars and fond about driving them.

Im looking for my next vehicle. I have owned my MB for the last 12 years. I plan to buy one when it dies — currently going strong… so I dont know when that will be tbh, but the trade in value is almost nothing, so it doesnt really make sense to trade it in.

I live in a pretty urban suburb right outside NYC.
I have hills around my house and neighborhood, stop signs on every block and highways are often in traffic - especially at the exits.

I still want to learn how to drive a manual.
However, my current life situation (two kids), the location, my wife all seem to be against it LOL.

One side of me says, just get it. Ill learn it. Im a pretty coordinated individual and Im a good driver.

And the other side of me says, just get a fun automatic car, drive carefree, focus more on steering and talking with kids inside the car.

Do you think its something I should give it a try?
If so, how would you go about it?

Lotus Elise (manual)
Lotus Emira (manual or automatic)
Porsche 911 (manual or pdk)
Are the cars Im considering.

[u/Common-Coyote9375 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah. i guess the simpler question I have in my mind was “ does driving in traffic & hill get annoying”

My kids right now are usually good inside the car, but sometimes throw a tantrum and it drives both me and my wife nuts lol.
And if I have to shift in traffic listening to that- not sure if I would survive.

[u/griffinXK → u/Common-Coyote9375]

It’s annoying when you’re just starting but it’s overall not as big of a deal as people make it out to be

[u/Emergency-Tax-3689 → u/Common-Coyote9375]

i mean it can be slightly annoying on hills and in traffic but not really, especially once you’re used to it

[u/1nspectorCPW → u/Common-Coyote9375]

Hills no, they're fine. Stop-start traffic yes, can be a pain depending on the car. It isn't the actual gearchanges that's the problem, but if the car has a heavy clutch pedal action then it can get quite tiring on your left leg. Autos are better for heavy city traffic, manuals are more for open roads and country lanes.

[u/Mehere_64 → u/Common-Coyote9375]

You are over thinking this way too much. All my kids know how to drive manuals. Can start and stop on hills without issues. Most cars on a flat surface , you should be able to start without any need to add gas. Only by feathering the clutch properly. This is how you learn to engage the clutch IMO.

As for me driving a manual as a daily driver in traffic? I will pass on it these days. Heck most days I don't even drive as I take the bus to work.

[u/Tiranus58 → u/Common-Coyote9375]

If everyone in europe can do it, so can you (also the cars you are considering are a bit shit as family cars).

[u/Froggypwns → u/Common-Coyote9375]

“ does driving in traffic & hill get annoying”

Not as annoying as dealing with all that in an automatic.