Who else drives a manual transmission by choice...or am I the only one left???

[OttoDaFe]

@festiva76

I’m not saying it’s across the board. In fact, I would love to find another Caliber SE with the stick to compare, but of course thay’re not an easy find. As of late, I think it may be partially due to the fact that I have no tachometer, and I like my music on the loud side, so I really can’t judge engine speed for the clutch take-up. The shifter is clunky though, and sometimes finding the gate from 2 to 3 is tricky. Of course, I think this may have something to do with the shifter eminating from the bottom of the dash instead of the floor like most vehicles.

I’ve commented on this in another thread — perhaps with you? — and I agree that the odd position of the shift lever has something to do with it (if you feel under the boot, it bends something like 30° at about the point where it passes through the console).

But it grows on you, or at least it did for me. I’ve had my 2011 Express for a year and a half now, and while I’ll never equate it with the Mazda that I traded in, I’m long past the point where going through the gates is, well, automatic. If the clutch lasts anywhere near the Mazda (165.000 miles on the original, and only just beginning to show signs of slippage on hills), I’ll be well content.

[Clothahump]

I used to drive a stick, actually preferred it, until I got old and lazy.

[eddyg]

I’ve wanted to have a manual, if only so I could learn to drive one. As for whether I’d use automatic vs. manual, I would still prefer an automatic.