I’d be very careful.  There are some real nuts out there.

I’m afraid this warning is a very American thing.

If you are constantly shifting, you are doing it wrong.

And leave enough space in front of you to ride out the waves. Works a treat. Even with stupid aggressive Boston drivers, rarely does anyone jump in front of you.

G37 and Lotus manual driver here. I drive in Houston traffic. Traffic sucks but I can keep it rolling in 1st gear while everyone else accordions around me with their slushboxes. The annoying part is getting cut off because I leave a bit of room in front so I don’t *have* to accordion.

I hate traffic jams, but driving a manual in one is easy.  Wait for 5-6 car lengths, put it in 1st, and idle along.

I’m surprised nobody has said air conditioned seats yet. Even in the winter they can be handy to avoid Swamp Ass and Swamp Back.

<Why do I get the feeling that everyone saying they want a third pedal never actually drove a manual in traffic for too long and would never manage to do it if they eventually have one..?>

I've driven manuals in LA, Sacramento, and San Diego... Not a huge deal. 

...I daily drive manuals, have all my life. And I live in a dense metropolitan area. Commuting is never fun, but at least a third pedal lets you enjoy things when some space opens up. Plus saves you a small fortune in brakes during those commutes.

Europe has more manual transmission sympathy because more cars are manual. People generally just keep things moving.

I drive my stickshift LR Disco I in Boston traffic regularly. It does NOT have a light clutch, in any way, shape or form. I don’t care. Having to constantly hold the brake pedal against an automatic’s creep is FAR more irritating to me than having to occasionally push the clutch in. If you are shifting all the time,…

I don’t get that argument. Everyone in my family (and virtually everyone I know) has always bought manual cars, and they never saw a problem with driving them even in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic.

My dad bought an automatic Volvo a few years ago, and he constantly wishes he had chosen a manual instead. His next…

I drive a manual in Bay Area traffic. I actually prefer a manual in traffic because it gives me something to do. Clutches on modern cars are very light.

• Bluetooth

Nah it’s the greatest option of all time

A really expensive option for something that will be used for a few years. Also infants require different seats than toddlers and so on so its just not feasible. 

TBH I hated the rain sensing wipers on my Mazda3 (I assume that’s what SadTrombonez meant by “automatic windshield wipers”). They are the most spastic things, and the threshold at which they wipe was always quicker than I liked. Luckily, I can turn it off and use them like normal intermittent wipers. 

Yes on the leather wheel! However, I’d sub the shift knob for something silly like an 8 Ball. 

Volvo actually did the built-in child seat thing in the mid-2000s. The result was a kinda shitty child booster seat, and one of the most uncomfortable back seats I’ve ever sat in. There’s a reason this isn’t done anymore.