Daily driver
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Smalltown
Daily driver
Based on a comment by bolton blue in another thread I thought I'd ask this question. If you don't use the S to commute, what's your daily driver? A stick shift or automatic?
I had stick shifts for years, (small fun cars, i.e. Eagle Talon Turbo) but when the first grandchild was born I needed a bigger car for the car seat. My commute is short, but I was getting tired of driving a stick shift in the city. Enter the SUV/Jeep Liberty. I
my Jeep, I love being high up, it's got all the creature comforts, but really sucky gas mileage. Fortunately, I don't go far, so it's not too costly.
Rick used to have a demo, mostly Jeeps...a free car! Those were the days.
Those days are over; he needed to buy a car. The dealership he was at, at that time, sold Subarus. He had about a 20 mile commute, and we wanted something decent on gas, but not an econobox. He preferred a stick shift and "needed" a turbo. Enter the WRX. It's a fun car to drive. The turbo kicking in can give you a bit of a rush. It's a good highway car, nice and quiet and comfortable, but lacking in a few of the luxury items.
I don't mind driving the WRX, especially on back roads or the highway, but for daily driving, to work or into the city, I find the stick shift is a PIA.
So what do you prefer to drive on a daily basis?
I had stick shifts for years, (small fun cars, i.e. Eagle Talon Turbo) but when the first grandchild was born I needed a bigger car for the car seat. My commute is short, but I was getting tired of driving a stick shift in the city. Enter the SUV/Jeep Liberty. I
my Jeep, I love being high up, it's got all the creature comforts, but really sucky gas mileage. Fortunately, I don't go far, so it's not too costly. Rick used to have a demo, mostly Jeeps...a free car! Those were the days.
Those days are over; he needed to buy a car. The dealership he was at, at that time, sold Subarus. He had about a 20 mile commute, and we wanted something decent on gas, but not an econobox. He preferred a stick shift and "needed" a turbo. Enter the WRX. It's a fun car to drive. The turbo kicking in can give you a bit of a rush. It's a good highway car, nice and quiet and comfortable, but lacking in a few of the luxury items.I don't mind driving the WRX, especially on back roads or the highway, but for daily driving, to work or into the city, I find the stick shift is a PIA.
So what do you prefer to drive on a daily basis?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Because I drive a full size van all day for work it is auto. As a dd for home we have a jetrta tdi sportwagon with the dsg tranny, unfortunately it does not have any paddle shifters so sometimes I forget to "shift" it with the slap stick. When using the shifter it is fairly responsive so you can have some fun. Red line is half that of the S though so I must pay attention! Loads of tourqe just the opposite of the S. 42+MPG is hard to scoff at either.
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nashua, NH
Originally Posted by Ri.Le,Oct 13 2010, 11:38 AM
I am a a devote manual driver however when I'm in stop and go traffic, my left foot goes numb from holding down the clutch.
-Ri.Le
-Ri.Le
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Nashville, TN
Originally Posted by PsychoBen,Oct 13 2010, 08:40 AM
My GTI has DSG and I kinda regret not getting a manual instead
I'm considering an Audi when I move, and the new 8-speed paddle shift autos are brilliant. Manual transmissions made more since when autos were inefficient, slow, clunky, etc... Sitting in traffic I'll take an auto ANY day of the week.
Now in some peoples defense... if my office was only 5-10 miles away and had great roads my opinion my differ. However in my case, 25-30k miles a year, auto it is!
Fellow Subie DD here, 5-speed Impreza hatch (no turbo). 
