I have driven a stick shift in all of my cars except for my first which wasn't my choice then either. I now drive a 96 Toyota T100 and it too is a 5 speed and it is an excellent transmission. The shifter comes right to my hand and the throws are short, the gates are precise and snickety snick sweet. Besides my Mitsubishi Ralliart, its the best transmission I have even driven.
I do not like automatics 90% of the time. I feel like an idiot in the car and feel like all I do is steer and press the gas. Hell, a monkey could do that!
I love the control, I tell the truck and car what to do and when to do it, not the other way around. I like the oneness with the car/truck a manual gives me.
True each vehcle is different. I drove many Automatic T100 and they were very good as well. I have driven a 5 speed manual Ford Ranger and you would swear there were rocks and bolts in the trans, it lurched, engaged rough and the stick had to be manhandled to go into gear. This was a new car and it also was the same with my 2004 Ranger. Crappy design.
I have problem with not knowing what is going on in my vehicle and automatics just always seem like a mystery to me. More stuff to break and now that the majority if not all of them are electronic, forget it! I KNOW my manual wont blow some electronic gizmo and strand me.
Yep, You have to think, take responsibility and pay attention when DRIVING a manual.. Imagine that in this day and age.
