I find it interesting that so many of the above posts simply assume that the woman (and not the guy) will be the one having difficulty driving a manual. My 18 year old daughter would probably respond with some venomous words to this, but fortunately, she is out tearing up the streets in the 6 speed Porsche. She's probably trying to find a guy driving an automatic sports car so she can laugh at him.

Note: IMO, no one should get a driver's license without being able to demonstrate proficiency in driving a manual transmission (unless physically handycapped).

Get the stick and enjoy the car the way it was designed to be driven.

 

thanks for your advice guys

 

Your daughter is the exception to the rule. Do an informal poll at your next cocktail hour and see how many women vs. men know how to drive stick.

And what in the world does knowing stick have to do with a driver's license? Auto's are here to stay. Have you check the number of cars sold in America with manual vs automatic? Have you checked with the car rental places as to the percentage of cars with manuals?

I think 911's are the exception as well. I bet the number of Corvettes sold with manauls is much lower than automatics...

 

It's really a question of personal preference. You might as well drive both, talk with your significant other, and then come to a decision. I am partial to the challenge and involvement offered by standard transmissions, but many people are equally pleased with automatics. Different strokes for different folks.

 

I have no doubts that more men drive sticks than do woman, but it is not because of their inability to learn, but because they prefer automatics in many cases. However, they are quick to learn and once they do, many of them stick with the stick. Go to Europe and see how few woman drive automatics.

As for why should you have to learn to drive a stick in order to get your license? ANYONE who can drive can drive an automatic, but those who have never driven a stick cannot always drive one. In an emergency (and this has happened twice to my family in the last year) being able to drive any car can greatly help. Also, driving a stick helps teach the driver how a car responds and has a better feel than the average automatic. The driver also has more control of the car driving a stick than he does with an automatic.

I am not against automatics and have several of them currently. But I prefer a manual trasmission. JMO

 

Knowing how to drive the space shuttle could help one day too...Maybe we should be required to learn that before we can have our license....

 

Having a Porsche 911 with Tiptronic is retarded, literally; to have all that power wasted in a torque converter. If you're truly buying the car for driving enjoyment then the question of which transmission shouldn't even be an issue.

What other real reasons are there for buying a Porsche 911; status, drag racing, ego, commuting, pimpin'...?

 

Remember your own sig line: Who needs power, so go ahead and waste in in a torque converter...

 

out of curiousity, does anyone know the 1/4 mile diff between a stick and auto NA 996?

 

Arling's right. Go with the trick.

If you're like me, wanting to drink your latte and talk/type on the blackberry in traffic, then you gotta get the trick.

Leave the driving to your right foot only

 

collin, good answer..........unfortunately, I actually do that and have tried so be successful in the S, however shifting can be a ***** with a carmel mocchiato in one hand and a blackberry in the other

 

On second thought, stick.
My wife can't drive a stick and never asks for the car. What a bonus.

 

get one of each

 

ken, i cant afford that, im a poor shmuck

 

Verone,
what's the budget? i know a clean C2 stick. if u don't mind red.