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Sold the F Because I missed Manual

5276 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  GrandPap
I ended up selling the F because I felt it was missing one thing that really made it a sports car to me and that was a 6spd. Has anyone else sold or thought of selling the F because of this one reason?

Will the F ever have a manual option down the line?
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An LFA isn't a sports car?
I'm with ya GrandPap. Funny thing is many high end sports car manufacturers are going with our kind of set up, like Ferrari. It amazes me that people identify manual gear boxes with sports cars. I do understand those that like the stick, but the a sports car does not need a stick to be fun. I much prefer the setup we have now, it's faster than a person can shift and I still have control.
I for one do not miss sitting on the clutch in heavy traffic.
In my opinion, a manual shifter has no place in a Luxury sports sedan.
In my opinion, a manual shifter has no place in a Luxury sports sedan.
I had a manual ES300 back in the day. It was fun to drive, but the stick shift really hurt the resale value for the reason you mention. The IS-F is in a bit of a different category though - granny probably won't be buying one to run to the grocery store in (unless she's The Little Old Lady from Pasadena!). :)
Manual was the only reason I didn't sell my IS300 sooner... Thought I would miss it. But now that I'm in the F I wish I had done it sooner. This is I great performer even in full auto.
i'm in search of an F and i have the same thoughts about leaving a manual...i do agree with the comment above about the clutch and traffic!
I'd keep the ISF with Auto for my Lux Performance and a miata\s2000\370z\m3\spyder\gt3 for the other craving ;)
The Lotus Elise seems pretty cool but I'm too tall :-(
As an automotive journalist (and automotive enthusiast), I feel your pain - if the IS250 can be equipped with a manual, why can't an IS F? Too many of the press vehicles we receive are automatic. Nothing makes me happier than when a high-performance car with a true manual transmission is delivered to me. Especially after I get the "manual transmission itch" that comes after driving 50+ consecutive automatics.

That being said, living with a high-performance car with a manual has its drawbacks - heavy clutch in stop-and-go city traffic, relatively frequent and expensive clutch replacement, the embarrassment that comes with missing a shift on a drag strip, etc.

I would choose an automatic if the car was intended to be used as my daily driver.

For a weekend car, no question - I would go with the manual, simply for the reason that I feel more connected to the car while driving. A good car with a good manual transmission provides a 100x better driving experience, regardless of the fact that the certain automatics can outperform their manual counterparts.
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I'm actually getting a used F cause of that sweet 8spd automatic. Coming from modded cars with stage 3-4 clutches, those things were a bitch in heavy traffic. When I test drove the F I knew I could easily give up manual for this.

If I get the urge to shift manually, I get on my bike and rip through the gears
I'm actually getting a used F cause of that sweet 8spd automatic. Coming from modded cars with stage 3-4 clutches, those things were a bitch in heavy traffic. When I test drove the F I knew I could easily give up manual for this.

If I get the urge to shift manually, I get on my bike and rip through the gears
agreed! good luck with your purchase
I'm Sorry,

I can't image anyone wanting a 6speed manual transmission after driving with our transmissions. I have a Camaro SS 6speed that I drove today to work. I am old school in the sence that I do love the 6spd but not in a million years would I switch back. Especially on the race track. To each his own!!

T
I'm Sorry,

I have a Camaro SS 6speed that I drove today to work.

T
Pics of the Camaro! Sounds bada$$!
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