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Driving manual in heavy traffic is a pain in the ass. RIP your calves. I've driven manual in Bolivia since I learned how to drive, but when I moved back to the

Driving manual in heavy traffic is a pain in the ass. RIP your calves. I've driven manual in Bolivia since I learned how to drive, but when I moved back to the States I picked automatic because I would kill myself having to press the clutch every 40cm during heavy traffic. People have this romanticized view of manual driving, going through empty hills, warm sun beating on your raybans. In reality you'll be stuck in traffic for 30-50 minutes per day for your commute. It's a shame though, because manual transmissions are much easier to repair than automatics - according to my mechanic "Come Gato", back in Santa Cruz.

flamedoge 10y ago
It's physically weird. Manual drivers must have left leg bigger than right.
- kozak 10y ago
  Well, speaking of legs, automatic drivers don't use their left one at all...
  - jessaustin 10y ago
    Haha I've certainly gotten stuck behind left-foot-braking drivers.
lb1lf 10y ago
> It's a shame though, because manual transmissions are much easier to repair than automatics - according to my mechanic "Come Gato", back in Santa Cruz. -I believe that to be correct based on anecdotal experience. However, from what I've been told time and time again - in the long run, autos are much more reliable than manuals; flush the gearbox every now and then and it is just about ever-lasting. So - it is arguably a trade-off. Chances are it will be simpler to find a mechanic who can bring a manual gearbox back up to speed in a faraway location - but having an auto makes it less likely you'll need to find said mechanic in the first place.
- fnj 10y ago
  Then you have been "told" by clueless people.
  - lb1lf 10y ago
    Feel free to elaborate. I keep being told this by professional mechanics, it appears to be the firm conviction of more than one reputable 4x4 magazine - and an experienced overland explorer like Tom Sheppard swear by them. I am open to arguments to the contrary, but simply saying that those of a differing opinion are clueless is hardly an argument.
nappy 10y ago
I've never found driving a manual hard on my calves... even a little bit. Maybe just me? Or something you get used to if you drive a manual all of the time?
- bradlys 10y ago
  Drive a car with a very stiff and/or difficult clutch. The difference between a Honda Civic or Miata clutch and something like a Jeep is pretty wide. I've only driven a handful of manuals but I have pulled a muscle in my left leg from driving an YJ Jeep. Stop and go will wear down your leg real fast in that. Not a great feeling to be limping around a bit the rest of the next day or two. Only happened once in the 10k I drove it but my leg frequently got very tired after crawling traffic.
  - beachstartup 10y ago
    just to add: a heavy clutch can require 50+ pounds of pressure in a sports car or a jeep/truck/etc. i would be surprised if even 5% of manual-drivers have driven a vehicle like that even once in their life.
Zazezizozuzy 10y ago
I ride my bike to work three days a week. Driving my car (manual) the other two is my calf relaxation.

flamedoge 10y ago

It's physically weird. Manual drivers must have left leg bigger than right.

kozak 10y ago
Well, speaking of legs, automatic drivers don't use their left one at all...
- jessaustin 10y ago
  Haha I've certainly gotten stuck behind left-foot-braking drivers.

lb1lf 10y ago

> It's a shame though, because manual transmissions are much easier to repair than automatics - according to my mechanic "Come Gato", back in Santa Cruz. -I believe that to be correct based on anecdotal experience. However, from what I've been told time and time again - in the long run, autos are much more reliable than manuals; flush the gearbox every now and then and it is just about ever-lasting. So - it is arguably a trade-off. Chances are it will be simpler to find a mechanic who can bring a manual gearbox back up to speed in a faraway location - but having an auto makes it less likely you'll need to find said mechanic in the first place.

fnj 10y ago
Then you have been "told" by clueless people.
- lb1lf 10y ago
  Feel free to elaborate. I keep being told this by professional mechanics, it appears to be the firm conviction of more than one reputable 4x4 magazine - and an experienced overland explorer like Tom Sheppard swear by them. I am open to arguments to the contrary, but simply saying that those of a differing opinion are clueless is hardly an argument.

nappy 10y ago

I've never found driving a manual hard on my calves... even a little bit. Maybe just me? Or something you get used to if you drive a manual all of the time?

bradlys 10y ago
Drive a car with a very stiff and/or difficult clutch. The difference between a Honda Civic or Miata clutch and something like a Jeep is pretty wide. I've only driven a handful of manuals but I have pulled a muscle in my left leg from driving an YJ Jeep. Stop and go will wear down your leg real fast in that. Not a great feeling to be limping around a bit the rest of the next day or two. Only happened once in the 10k I drove it but my leg frequently got very tired after crawling traffic.
- beachstartup 10y ago
  just to add: a heavy clutch can require 50+ pounds of pressure in a sports car or a jeep/truck/etc. i would be surprised if even 5% of manual-drivers have driven a vehicle like that even once in their life.

Zazezizozuzy 10y ago

I ride my bike to work three days a week. Driving my car (manual) the other two is my calf relaxation.