richardcarroll2

I drive the car everyday, and usually get into quite a bit of traffic... Would it still be worth it to convert to a 6-speed?? If you have the time pros & cons from drivers of either would be Godsent, thanks!

clowe1965

When you say convert to a six speed, do you mean manual or automatic? They're both six speeds.

The only time I ever think about an automatic is when I want to use the cupholders, and that thought is usually drowned out by why the heck are the cup holders here?

danman0469

Manual.

a_lopez1975

Both have their pro's and con's, but personally I prefer manual because it's fun to bang gears. Yes it sucks when it comes to traffic, but it's worth it....

clowe1965

If you already have the car it will be easier to trade it in than swap the transmissions.
Manual Pros, more transmitted power, easier to work on and diagnose, more fun for road courses
Cons, traffic, hills, pretty much what makes it fun is also what makes it cumbersome
Automatic Pros, traffic, consistent drag launches, no missed shifts, no reported reliability issues
Cons, kickdown delay, no emergency hill starts, less control during track driving, lets the wife drive the car....

knightryder

Manual only for me and the wife. Hell, even our PT cruiser has a manual. Nothing compares with the pleasure of shifting your own gears.

Slowbra302

I would have agree with above. Manual puts the driver in full control. The con with you being in a high traffic area (I am from Houston I understand it) is going to be the wear on the clutch. I learned pretty quickly that you either have it pushed in or popped out, none of this in-between garbage. Oh a side bonus pro = Strong left leg =)

Just my .02

Enochius

I have to deal with stop and go traffic everyday on my way to work. I drive a manual and while pushing the clutch 100 times a day isn't pleasant, I wouldn't trade it for an automatic any day. Hitting second hard after a red light on the way to work is an awesome way to start the day!

tenfifteen

Car has enough torque and wide enough powerband that on most freeways with stop-and-go traffic you should just be able to remain in a given gear without having to clutch in and out so much. My M3 had very little relative torque and I could putt around in second and third easily, same with my friend's Z06, which has mountains of torque. In my wife's Focus with the 6-spd DCT, first thing I do when we hit traffic is put it in manual mode anyway. Manual all day.

MrSandman

Doesn't the 13 have a paddle shifter on the auto? Seems like best of both worlds. Get a '13