We are planning on buying the car in the summer maybe. That should be enough time for me to convince him somehow. I told him I need to learn to drive a stick so I can drive any car. Didn't work. He said if I do get a standard, I would be the only one driving the car since he hasn't driven one in a long time. I want a standard so bad :( .

Tell him the MT will have a higher resale value over the AT. That could work. :)

Tell him he's not a real driver if he can't drive 'stick' and that if he's so afraid of the challenge then he's not the man you hoped he is.

Yea, my friend told me to say that but he will kick my ass if I said that. asian parents are stict. We got to respect our elders.

You might try to get him to test drive both the AT and MT RX-8s. A few miles with the MT just might sway him. Good luck.

-Dave

Don't rely on dad! Buy your own 8.

First of all are your parents buying YOU a car ? I mean buying the car just for you ?? If so then just make sure you learn how to drive a stick and learn it well and show it to your dad when you guys go test drive the car. Tell him you can handle the manual and that you really really prefer to have the stick over the automatic because you get a better power train package for the same price.

However, if your parents are buying the car not just for you, I'm afraid you have to get the auto. But still man, an 8 is an 8 dude !!!I wish my parents would get us a car like the RX-8 when we were kids, manual or not, I'll take it in a heartbeat.

People say driving a manual is like riding a bike. So tell him regardless of how much time he's been away, he'll pick it up in 2 minutes with today's smooth, triple-synchro'd-gears buttery-hydraulic-clutches wonders of engineering :)

I'd remind him that a manual is more safe because you have more precise control of the car, it generally makes you pay more attention to driving, and if you need to accelerate out quickly to avoid an incident, you won't have to wait that extra 1/2 second to downshift two gears to employ the higher-powered MT renesis' "accident-preventing" power :)

grrr....his reason for not letting get one is cause so everybody can drive it. I don't want my mom or sister driving my car. Plus, I don't think they will want to. I can't picture them driving it.

I agree the best chance is to let Dad test drive the manual. He will be surprised how quickly he remembers and will attribute it to the quality of the car :D If he really enjoys it it could sway his opinion.

Tell him there's no reason Mom or Sis can't learn to drive a manual. In fact, they should learn because you never know someday they might need to drive a manual in an emergency. It's like learning to swim -- something everyone should know. Really, it doesn't take long to learn.

Tell him that if you ever go to viist the old country (guessing Thailand) then you and your mom and sister are all going to need to be able to drive stick there since you can't rent anything but manual transmission cars in foriegn countries. I assume that this is still true. It's been a while since I have driven out of the country. It is also true for every car that I have ever driven in any other country including all of Europe. It's a valuable skill that all of you need to learn.

If that doesn't work, you can also show him all of the features that the manual transmission car has that the automatic charges you extra for, and tell him that it is a much better value than the automatic.

That's all that I can think of.

Tell him that it's easier for you to convince your friends that you cannot let them drive your car if it's stickshift because most of them are just learning how to drive themselves, so they are too incompetent to operate a shifter, clutch, gas pedal, and steering wheel all at once. Since they don't know how to drive stickshift, it'll save you face from having to appear like a stingy bastard.

My parents are asian too, and my mom used the "Pick the stick shift car, so your friends can't beg you to let them drive your car, since they are stupid and do not know how to drive stick at their age." It worked for me.

Originally posted by Bankotsu
grrr....his reason for not letting get one is cause so everybody can drive it. I don't want my mom or sister driving my car. Plus, I don't think they will want to. I can't picture them driving it.

Exactly...quote to him..."WIth the automatic, everybody would be able to drive me car...I'd be getting a lot of peer pressure by friends to let them try it. Then they'll also make me take my car on long trips because it'd be a fun car and they'd be more than happy to take some driving off my hands should I be tired...With the stickshift on the other hand, they can't use that line on me..."

Otherwise, you can try this:
"I thought you wanted me to be better than all of those other kids! Everybody can drive automatics, but inorder for me to be a better driver, it's gotta be the stick shift."

Asian parents are big about being number one and showing off.

IE: 2003 X5 + 2004 ML350 It's all about status to them.

Thanks -=Zeqs=-, I will try those reasons.

Yeah, I have to make him proud and be the best all the time and it annoys me. I can't be number 1 at everything

Originally posted by -=Zeqs=-
Asian parents are big about being number one and showing off.

How very, very sad. I didn't know that about Asian parents.

Hey Bankotsu, I was in your position before I got my RX8. Well, this was how I got off with it. First its all about money. I am sure you parents dun want to "spoil" you, so they want you to be driving somethign that is reasonable but not too flashy. Tell them that first the MT has better MPG becasue of the different drive train. Tell them that is matters the most espically on highway because of the high rpm you will be at when you are crusing around 80. Second, I wouldn't tell your dad that the RX8 MT is any faster then the auto cause he's going to think you wanna race it or soemthing. I am asian, my parents thinks the most wildest things that you can do. They think adding a wing on my car is going to make it an airplane. So careful what you tell them about performance. Tell them the MT is more reliable, that the car doesn;t need as much attension when it comes to mechanical problem. Try to find some info to say that the AT is not as reliable as the MT, anything for this car.

Its hard in terms of arguing to get a car that is driven by you whole family. haha how about saying you want to have some bonding time between you and your sister so youwanna get an 8 and teach her drive stick. Get you sister hyped about it. IF she likes the car too, you have one more ally. I bet your mom is going to ignore you once you start talking about car topics.. haha.

dood im asian too lol...and we parents arent "BIG" on showing off or anything. Or at least not my parents anyways. I told my pops that driving stick is the only way to get the true driving experience and he agrees. Then im like its faster too, and hes like, ya you should consider it then. And respecting elderly?...i dont do that...i respect em and all, but i talk to my parnets just like anyone else...this is such a misassumption....r my folks are just white washed lol

Its nice your parents are buying you such a nice car, probably fully loaded too right? Well just be grateful for the purchase if it does happen. Many happy miles!

I would agree -- stress the resale value. Also, if you haven't learned to drive a stick yet, learn how and learn well, then show Mom and Dad your skill. My folks taught me to drive on an automatic first -- I had enough to deal with just learning how to drive. Soon after, we got a manual shift Vega (ugh), but I learned to drive a stick on it. Good luck!

Tell him you need to have a stick to be a MAN :D:D:D

Originally posted by nostatic
How very, very sad. I didn't know that about Asian parents.

It happens anywhere in the world... also for some Americans too mate.

Actually now I might turn down the standard for the Navigation System.

How's about this reasoning:

With stick you will be more alert and ready for anything. If you have Auto, you will be lazy and your driving skill will be demished due to laziness, and auto might make you to be so lazy that you might loose your driving skills, hence high chance of accident :p

But hey, if you're not buying the car yourselves, what ever you say will not make any different. At least you can own an RX8 and not one of those econ box :D On the other hand, if it's your money, you make your own decision period. But if they expecting you to share your ride with the family members, then it's your responsibility and judgement to play your share. When it come to family matters, it's hard to go against your parents but that's something you have to decide. With some luck and whinning, who know, your dad might change his mind ;)