BrassMonkey06

My post is similar to a previous post in which someone bought a manual without knowing how to drive one. Luckily, my dad knows how and will drive it the hour home from the dealership. Here's a little background information:

I'm 17 and my dad told me that he would buy me my first car because he didn't want for me to pay for my own car because that would mean getting a job and that would take time away from my schoolwork (I have several AP classes and Pre-AP classes, I do homework constantly) and that to "pay for the insurance" I'd have to lose 20lbs per 6 months because I'm fat and my parents have long wanted me to get into shape for health reasons and whatnot. He gave me a very generous $25,000 price limit and told me I could get whatever I wanted as long as it wasn't ugly. Cars are important in my family... my dad has been a sports car enthusiast for many years.

Okay... so I started looking around and I decided that I could get an RX-8 because my dad can get the S-plan discounts. Then he put the notion into my head that if I got a leftover 2004 that I could get the grand touring package. I got excited, to say the least. I started searching, only to find that the only automatics left had little or no extra options. Poo. So I thought that I'd have to get a new 2005 with sports package, which is nice... but I had already gotten my hopes up. Then my friend Lisa came along and said, "Get a manual... I like mine better than an automatic because it's more fun to drive. You'll learn... you may cry for the first couple of tries, but you'll be okay." Heh heh. So, I told my dad to get the manual. He looked at me like I was stupid and then said, "Well, you'll probably think it's inconvenient... but you can learn... people have been driving cars with manual transmissions for thousands of years! (haha)". He offered to teach me... but I'm still scared. I'm wondering if I'm really brave or if I'm just stupid for blindly flinging myself into the unknown territory of manual transmissions hoping that I won't become so frustrated that I set the car ablaze. :D I just thought that I would share that with you all... oh, in case anyone was wondering... I got a velocity red with red and black interior and a spoiler. Wee. Now to learn to drive it...

Sorry for the long post, by the way.

BlueEyes

Everyone has to learn at some point in time. Don't worry, it's really not that hard.

Congrats

bmcc49er

Post in two weeks when you are driving it by yourself with confidence. It will happen.

loco-8

Brave, not stupid. 'Cause it's very true that the manual is much more fun to drive. It really is. However, you may find it inconvenient for a while--especially when learning to drive it. It can be a pain, especially in stop and go traffic, while driving in the city. It's good your dad will teach ya. Just be careful--given your age, that is. Congrats on yor new '8!

Rhawb

Congrats on the new car! Learning stick isn't really that bad, but it's going to be frustrating as all hell being forced to learn to drive your car before you can actually drive it. (It's how I learned too) Don't get discouraged if you find it difficult or confusing at first, that'll all go away and you eventually won't even think about what you're doing any more than you would in an automatic. Once you get it down, you'll be glad you got it - I'm enjoying the hell out of mine and I couldn't imagine driving this car with an auto. Anyway, what are you doing here - go practice! :D

BrassMonkey06

I can't practice right now. I don't pick the car up until Friday morning. I'm grinning from ear to ear though. I can't wait. I'm not to worried about looking like a dork in my 8 though, considering that it can't be worse than a cheerleader at my school. She curbed the tires in her brand new AT 8 because she "saw a spider."

Rhawb

Ah, that would explain it. See, when you get this car, you won't be able to stop driving it, it's a simple fact. Anyway, don't let your first few days of driving stick determine what you think of it - I thought it was the worst thing in the world for about two weeks before I warmed up to it, now I won't drive anything else. Go figure. I really doubt you'll look like a dork driving it since this car's really easy to get everything right and make it look good to the bystanders. By the time you're confident enough to drive it around town, I doubt you'll be making too many massive mistakes aside from stalling at the occasional red light. I've noticed that even if you botch a shift in this car, it's hardly noticeable from the outside, so just make sure you get it rollin and you'll be good to go. :p

micrx8

I hope wour dad pay for the gas to
because you will love this car

PPen131

learn on someone else's car so you don't hurt your 8

Air Force RX8

He said "Poo". :D

Aratinga

Geez... sometimes the obvious answer eludes everyone. If dad can afford to buy you an RX-8, he can afford to buy you some driving lessons in someone else's manual transmission car! That way you won't mangle your own gearbox, melt your own clutch or get your own car rear-ended when you inevitably stall out in the middle of an intersection.

Besides, if you've done your homework on this site (you AP kids are good at that) you'd already know that the 8 doesn't take kindly to stalling; it just may strand you by flooding in retaliation for ham-handed maltreatment from a neophyte.

How's the diet plan coming along? Are there periodic weigh-ins? If you don't lose the weight will you lose the car? I honestly think that if dad was serious about your weight loss he'd have bought you a bicycle instead of a car, but hey... that's just logic talking.

Anyway, good luck with stick-shifting. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.

truemagellen

YES YES YES...rent a wreck and learn manual...before you even touch the 8...you must resists

but yes you are BRAVE...the more sticks out there the better...and a female with a stick is even more important (my gf is a DIE HARD manual transmission owner )

Senna

What is it with all the handouts??...Here I am trying to get a few things paid off before I park one next to my 7 (also hoping for more power though) and the first two threads I read tonight are kids....awe never mind.

Take driving lessons and then do a performance driving school. And lose the weight...being fit and in shape is a great feeling!!! It goes with the car a little better...besides it'll slow you down when you're trying to outrun someone.

Senna

Do this!!

krangorx8

I pretty much learned how to drive stick on my 8 having only driven a stick 1 time before. Test Drive I killed the 8 about 6 times. After about 2 weeks got it down pretty good.

I don't know how the rest of the people learned how but I say go out and drive your car. Nothing better.

rx8group

Don't forget to post some pics of your new ride when you get it.

Rx8group

Reactionary

The RX8 has such a soft clutch and slick precise shifter that it's a great car to learn to drive a stick. It also has seats designed for wide bodies so the seats should be great for you in your current form. Finally, treadmill and jogging with a Walkman won't do jack for you. If you're going to jog, really really RUN. Get into RUNNING as a lifestyle. I'm not sure you'll be able to do it though.

BlueAdept

In england, everyone learns in a manual.... if you don't then your licence doesn't permit you to drive one...

Only people who absolutely cannot cope with a manual learn in an auto, and they will get an "Automatic Only" licence.

Almost without exception, people will have a manual as their "First Car"... and overall, more than 50% of cars on the roads are manual...

We really do find it strange the way it works in the US, and infuriating that we can't hire anything other than an Auto in the US.

I actually drive both, interchangeably... Range Rover (Auto) as a workhorse, and RX8 for fun... I'll drive both pretty much every week... somtimes switching several times in a day depending on what I am doing.

Mistersql

When I was 15 I used to 'borrow' my brother's 79 Accord to go arround the block. I never got cought by him or the cops. So I pretty much tought myself how to drive stick.

MrJynx

I noticed NOBODY drives auto in this world except North americans But, driving from the right side of the car is very challenging. When i was in london my friends cousin asked me to move his ford focus. Well, left handed shifting did not go to well for me, had to get out and let him move it heheheh


MrJynx

JOHNRX8

Dont be scared to learn stick, look forward to it. Driving my manual 8 is one of the most fun thinks i get to do. And if my wife can learn stick so can you! Congrats! Post pics when ya get it!

slinkyGirl78

i learned to drive on a stick at 16, but never actually owned one- just learned on one.
I hadn't driven one in 10 years, and the exact RX8 i wanted practically came to ME, except it was a manual. After debating a couple days, i said F it, i'll learn how to drive it. well, it came back pretty easily (even tho i really hadn't spent much time in one at ALL, even 10 years ago).

lo and behold, after about 5 days, i was completely relaxed and confident while driving it! :D

if i can do it, anyone can. have FUN! (but not too much, i'm sure the cops will *heart* you.)

Roaddemon

I think your dad is using you as an excuse so he can drive an RX-8. Don't fight over the keys. Velocity red is HOT.

Gambit

...and leave the F'n DSC ON

that CAN"T be stressed enough

Nubo

It's not a big deal. A little work in an empty parking lot, followed by some driving on un-busy side roads. Some practice getting started on a hill, and you should be fine. It really should not be a destructive event necessitating a separate trash car to learn on. You may grind a couple of shifts or slip the clutch a bit; you'll quickly learn to avoid it.

btw, am I the only person on earth not eligible for this "S-plan"? If I walk into a dealer and say "gimme the S-plan pricing", do I need some kind of documentation? A secret handshake? Speak in my Gu'a'ould voice?.....