Yes it does matter if you're smooth with the tranny, but I don't think that's going to protect you from messing up the tranny, There are way too many cases of tranny failures to say just be smooth, I have to say that the tranny problem is case by case you either get a good one that lasts or one that will crap up on you within a short time of ownership. Best way to solve this problem make sure you get an STi or hope that Subaru will finally step up and confess that they have a design flaw and help fix the wide spread problem.

 

I traded my WRX for an S2000 and I wish I could have the WRX back. The S2000 has given me nothing but problems since I bought it with just 8000km on it. I am currently looking at having to replace the clutch and gearbox internals with only 28000km on the clock and the car has had no hard use at all. Unfortunately I'm out of warranty and Honda don't care or want to know about it. I'm looking around for another car now... not a S! If you want lots of trouble free driving stick to the WRX. I got 55,000 km out of mine from new without a single thing going wrong with her.