If your planning on getting a Turbo kit or something of that sort I suggest an automatic. With that kind of power the automatic transmission will get you through the gears quicker than a manual stick.

 

Get the manual. Way more fun to drive, and once you've got a little practice there's no situation in which a manual is a pain in the ___ -- and there are a lot of situations where a manual is simply much better. I feel strongly enough about it that if a car is not available with a manual transmission (and I mean a proper manual, not one of those manually-shifted automatic things), I wouldn't even consider buying it.

--mark

 

Gearing is absolutely everything in High HP competition. You've got so much power that youarent really even driving, you're just shifting gears as fast as you can lol. With Gearing, you can set it up for accel or speed [pretty much] and with the right gearing, you're going to take out anything.

Think about this, when you're drag racing, shifting is time when you AREN'T accelerating. Now I know you'll say "Well automatics don't have to waste time on a clutch," but automatics also only have 4 gears, which means they're going to be in those gears longer, with a less acceleration based velocity at lower gears, and getting out of those lower gears is gonna help you out.

If that didnt make any sense to anyone, I understand. It was just a stream of consciousness

 

he can have the fasteset tc top speed tc with auto but that is realy it


and no the tc's top end sucks horribly it feels like it just dies up there compaired to how quick it is down low

 

Faster top speed with Automatic? Explain that to me. Even if you got around the governer that stops it at 127

 

get a manual....

but if u drive with alot of traffic just beware...lol

 

I say Manual as well, even if your in traffic if you know how to drive it shouldnt be a problem. And its alot more fun as someone said.

 

the final drive is higher on the auto so it is able to top out higher if you get around the speed limiter witch isnt hard to do i did it with my rsm back when i had that on

 

the manual is the only way to go - better gas mileage, more fun, better horsepower, it's the only way to go, and you will regret it in the future. When I first started driving, I got a manual, and that got an automatic. Now I'm back to a manual, and it's exactly all I wanted. I do get tired of it in traffic jams sometimes, but when I'm out crusing that back roads, it's much more fun to drive. I can't wait to get into my engine modding. I'm more working on the interior and exterior.

 

the automatic tC gets slightly better gas mileage

 

seriously though..just get the manual transmission... you're thinking WAYYYY TO HARD about being stuck in traffic. i used to think the same way. just borrow someones manual car for a week.. get used to it.. go get stuck in rush hour traffic... see how you like it.. then in the end GET MANUAL! haha.. really though.. do what i said. it will make or break you.. when i get stuck in traffic i don't get bored as easily...

 

It also doesnt get more horsepower.

 

well it does put more horsepower to the wheels.

 

Actually the automatic gets better gas milage. n00b.

 

A manual just makes driving so much fun but the only downside I see is being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic going uphill.

 

For someee reason, I think you're pulling this out of your ___.

 

im pulling this out of my butt??

the manual tC dynos with about 10 more wheels horsepower than the automatic.

 

The sticker might say that but if you don't go crazy with it and drive the manual properly you can squeeze out better gas mileage. A automatic is always going to have more drivetrain loss. That is just the nature of the beast.

Regards,

B

 

I dont know about Cali, but I'm glad its illegal to drive while talkin on the cell in Maine.
The exhaust on my ZX2 is incredibly loud...nothing is better than droping it a gear or two and getting my ___ end right at their driver door.

Back on topic..the manual is a blast to drive. If you're learning, dont be suprised if you forget to shift and you find yourself on the highway in 3rd or 4th gear for 20 miles...fun =D But thats all it is, just a learning process, once you get it its like riding a bike..you dont think of it, you just do it.

Go to an empty parkinglot and practice starting and stopping there. No pressure, no one honking their horns. Just you and the car.

 

This is the issue that has been in the back of my head since I got my car. Truth be told, since dad was paying for the car he decided for me that I didn't want a manual car in the city I live in, which I guess would be a hassle since I drive pretty much 100% city and stop and go. At the time I also didn't know how to drive stick and I was a pretty new driver. I took his word for it.

The transmission is the only real disappointment I find in my car. Four speeds? Come on, at least give me five. I also wish that, like the base-grade RSX, we had the tiptronic option where you can just move the shifter over and go a little clutchless. It's not the same as a stick, but it's at least a step in between. Then again, I like the auto the tC has because it'll let you get up to redline if you punch it hard enough.

I've learned stick on my friend's Mazda MP3 and last night I spent some time on another buddy's 89 RX7, and I feel like I'm missing out. If I weren't still 16 and dad hadn't bought the car, I'd probably try selling my car privately for maybe a small profit and then starting over with a stick.

If I were you, I'd go with the stick first. If it's too much, you can switch to auto.