Who's first stick was a Speed3?

[BlueWagon]

Ok, there have been many opinions on whether or not to get a speed3 as their first manual car. I would like to hear from those who have done this and ask how they did learning wise and do they recommend the Speed3 as a first manual car. I'm in the same situation as a few members on this forum. I'm contemplating the speed3 but have only practiced a few days on my buddies Integra. Thanks!:)

[stockms3]

I drove stick since I was 13 lol......

But I think speed3 is very easy to drive.

[paylew]

The only other standard I drove before was a 98 Jeep Wrangler, in the middle of nowhere at 2AM, years ago. The hardest thing for me to get used to was letting the clutch out without dumping it, which took a few days. I was too scared to drive it home, so I made my fiance do it and caught a lot of shit from the guys at the dealership. We went to a parking lot and I just drove around in circles and scared the color guard. I see no reason not to go for it, just be easy on it until you get used to it.

[intak3_bLkMs3]

i think the clutch would be the hardest to get to i had troubles with it and i came from an 05 spec v and i also have a manual truck but once u pick up on it its cake

[essejkcamraw]

driven stick before...but on a 94 civic hatch with a race clutch an short shifter (hondas are the easiest cars to learn stick on IMO) but never owned a manual myself. so, the speed was my first stick. the clutch is a little different but give it a week and you'll have it down pat.

[PaPaSpeed]

If you don't do it now, you may never do it. Go buy it, and practice. It's a fun car to drive.
Enjoy!
My first stick was not a Mazdaspeed, it was a 48 Packard.

[Speed3ForMe]

My SPD3 is my first stick. Took a while to get use to it, but that's because I do mostly highway, so a lot of the time spent driving is in 6th gear.

[CrazyT]

Not getting the Speed3 because it's manual while you otherwise want it/can afford it is absolutely ridiculous. It's not that hard. It's just like the other thread on this topic. If you can walk and chew gum at the same time, you got it.

I know you didn't ask for opinions (mine are worth their bandwidth in gold), you wanted to hear from the people that did. So no, it wasn't my first manual transmission. But it was my first FWD and that didn't stop me.

[954_ms3]

my Speed3 was my first manual car, it's really not that hard to learn at all. CrazyT is 100% right, not getting the Speed3 based on the fact that it's manual is kinda silly. i've owned the car 6 months now and driving manual is just part of day to day life now

[scatt nasty]

I learned how to drive stick when I drove 3 hours to a concert with my friend in Atlanta and at 3am it popped into his sloshed mind that he had a tattoo apt at 8 and was too drunk to drive.. I got a slurred crash course and ended up only stalling like 6 times.

[Moultese]

Speed3 was also my first manual transmission car. My first car was a 2003 Focus ZX3 automatic. Parents wanted me to get an auto because I was 16 and inexperienced. So I made it a point to get a stick for my next car.

Ironically, the first car I drove that was a stick was a 2003 EVO, lol. I knew the logistics of driving a stick, but never actually operated a vehicle equiped with one. It was a....interesting....test drive to say the least. But I picked it up really fast. By the end of the day, I had test drove an EVO, 350Z, 01 Mustang Cobra, and S2000 and I was a manual master!

[pdqgp]

Ok, there have been many opinions on whether or not to get a speed3 as their first manual car. I would like to hear from those who have done this and ask how they did learning wise and do they recommend the Speed3 as a first manual car. I'm in the same situation as a few members on this forum. I'm contemplating the speed3 but have only practiced a few days on my buddies Integra. Thanks!:)

it's a manual.....if you've never driven one, then it won't make any difference as you'll have nothing to compare it to.

you'll jump it and stall it via letting the clutch out too fast over the first few days, but no worries. that's normal if you're a newb. my wife has driven a manual before and did it.

I simply took her to a remote parking lot 2-3 times for about 15 minutes, then out on the road and back to the lot. Three days later, she was a little rough in 1st, but stopped stalling it.

take the leap. after about 2-3 weeks you'll never go back to an auto. trust me.

[Moultese]

it's a manual.....if you've never driven one, then it won't make any difference as you'll have nothing to compare it to.

you'll jump it and stall it via letting the clutch out too fast over the first few days, but no worries. that's normal if you're a newb. my wife has driven a manual before and did it.

I simply took her to a remote parking lot 2-3 times for about 15 minutes, then out on the road and back to the lot. Three days later, she was a little rough in 1st, but stopped stalling it.

take the leap. after about 2-3 weeks you'll never go back to an auto. trust me.

You obviously don't have to drive through thick traffic every morning, lol! That's my only annoyance with a standard. If I had the cash (i.e. won the lottery) my d.d. would be an auto.

[stockms3]

You obviously don't have to drive through thick traffic every morning, lol! That's my only annoyance with a standard. If I had the cash (i.e. won the lottery) my d.d. would be an auto.

see if i won the lottery I wouldnt need a D.D., just a lambo to get to clubs lol

[Tooch]

I learned to drive on a dodge ram 50 yep you heard me ram 50. That thing had no body weight and no complexity to it. didnt have a tach and it was manual?? basically you reved until you could hear the engine lol

[pdqgp]

You obviously don't have to drive through thick traffic every morning, lol! That's my only annoyance with a standard. If I had the cash (i.e. won the lottery) my d.d. would be an auto.

I've driven a stick in Chi-town...no issues....but then sure, if I had my choice, I'd drive a tip-tronic/manu-matic like....but not in a Speed 3.

[pdqgp]

I learned to drive on a dodge ram 50 yep you heard me ram 50. That thing had no body weight and no complexity to it. didnt have a tach and it was manual?? basically you reved until you could hear the engine lol

Gotcha beat.....learned to drive in a regular stick, but then also in a 3spd on the column....Yeah...that sucked....but it was on a my dad's company vehicle....A Ford pickup. Three on the Tree Baby!

[BlueWagon]

Thanks for all your inputs! Time to go test drive one and see if I can get a decent deal this time of year.

[Moultese]

I doubt you'll get a decent deal on the price, but a lot of dealers are doing 0% for 7 Years, which is just amazing.

[H3br3w_Ham3r]

My MS3 was my first car so all I've ever known is a stick. When I drive my friends cars I constantly find myself trying to shift with their automatic transmission.

[MicaSp33d]

ms3 clutch will feel stiffer if you only driven civics or integra clutches.


my civic's clutch feels soft compared to my ms3, i can't believe its not butter ...

once your left leg gets used to being used while your driving, you will be able to control your clutch work.

[Moultese]

Also, the MS3 clutch is the most "grabby" clutch I've driven. Something that may take getting used to.

[Circle9]

My MS3 was my first car so all I've ever known is a stick. When I drive my friends cars I constantly find myself trying to shift with their automatic transmission.

Lol, how about slamming on the brake thinking its the clutch?

[Betelgeuse]

The ms3 was my first stick. I took an hour crash course at the dealer with the sales rep and was on my way. It was a Friday so I had the entire weekend to practice. I stalled it more times than I care to count and practiced on a few ramps. Stalling is just a part of learning and it will happen no matter what. The important thing is to try not to panic. It took me a couple months to get over the fear of ramps, parallel parking etc. And I'd recommend avoiding the latter till you're more comfortable. With time you'll look back and wonder what was so difficult.

As for the ms3 not being a good first car for learning, Id have to say that's BS from my experience. Everyone's not the same though, and there have been some cases of members burning through their clutches faster than you could say wtf? Here's a site with some helpful tips: www.standardshift.com.
Good luck!

[Wastegate13]

I remember my first manual car. I didn't even drive the thing when I bought it because I couldn't. Me and my father drove to Miami to pick up the car so he took it around the block for me. Got it home and it sat in the driveway for 2 days because I was too scared to drive it anywhere. Friend of mine came over and made me drive it into town, we actually ended up driving for hours that night all over the place, including the interstate. After that night I was never nervous or scared about driving the car again.

[speed3guy]

My first manual car was a 94 Hyundai Scoupe... then a 98 GST with a ACT 2600 and now my Speed3. I still get frustrated with the clutch and everything and have had the car for a lil bit over a year now. But hey.. thats just me.

[Wastegate13]

My first manual car was a 94 Hyundai Scoupe... then a 98 GST with a ACT 2600 and now my Speed3. I still get frustrated with the clutch and everything and have had the car for a lil bit over a year now. But hey.. thats just me.

Had a 2900 in my GSX. Talk about a leg killer in traffic.

[Kaidao]

The MS3 is my first car. So I guess it counts as my first manual car too.

[MPC12347]

shit i baught the car before learning how 2 drive stick, it was worth it and so were those few grinds on 3rd gear later on

[dandydaniel]

I'm 20 years old. my first car was a 2005 honda accord v6 auto. after driving that for 3 years I vowed to get a standard car. backtrack 6 months and I bought my first standard car an 08.5 mazdaspeed 3. honestly, I think this will probably be my last stick shift car. I do probably 90% city driving and I really don't find the benefits outweigh the comforts of driving an automatic.

this is coming from a TWENTY year old so I guess I'm just out of the norm because 95% of my friends who drive automatics all want to drive stick and 95% of my friends who drive standard all want to drive standards for the rest of their lives.

for me, this will be it until I have enough money where I can buy me a nice Porsche gt-2 as weekend fun besides that, its all about that PARK to DRIVE in one swift action!

[MicaSp33d]

i don't see what the fuss is all about with driving a stick in traffic. I live in LA "county" and drive 70miles a day for work and LA probably has the worst traffic in the U.S., yea it gets frustrating sometimes, but i think thats more because its taking me over an hour to drive 30 miles, but driving stick in traffic never really bother me, it has become a daily routine.

well ... but when you do this for 20 minutes it can become kinda annoying,

clutch, 1st, gas, clutch, neutral, brake, now repeat for a million times. My left leg must be buff haha.

[Kaidao]

hahaha I know what you mean. I live in West LA, driving 10 E is probably the worst thing anyone can ever ask me to do.

[DaleNixon]

The MS3 was my first stick. I found it difficult at first, but now I do it like it's second nature. The clutch is pretty grabby but don't let that dissuade you!

[MikeHTally]

First stick for me was a '57 Studebaker President TWO-DOOR wagon, and no, it wasn't a restoration -- that was 1958. Three-on-the-tree and a Bearcat Six.

[verbalink]

my first stick car was my sti; suffice to say, not the best car to learn how to daily a stick on. not having any other transportation, day to day travel became a crash course in manual driving. in fact, the day i bought the car i ended up stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on 101, then drove it promptly back to college.

driving a different manual takes a degree of "relearning". i have driven some funky manuals in my time, the strangest being a daihatsu hijet... [think micro truck with an unholy long shifter and a resistance/feedbackless LONG clutch... regardless - a hoot to drive!]

[clos561]

Ok, there have been many opinions on whether or not to get a speed3 as their first manual car. I would like to hear from those who have done this and ask how they did learning wise and do they recommend the Speed3 as a first manual car. I'm in the same situation as a few members on this forum. I'm contemplating the speed3 but have only practiced a few days on my buddies Integra. Thanks!:)

my first stick shift car was ms3, easy to learn, got used to it in 3 days. reverse was hardest for me. all around super easy. do practicing in teh parking lot before you buy or drive off with the car.

[latina4sho77]

my 1st stick shift car was a speed,... no shame in that ... i think its a bit harder to learn because it is a fast car.... but im doing just fine... ive had it since August 2007... still haven't had to change the clutch (knock on wood) :P

[Ninkumpoop]

My '09 Speed3 is my first stick-shift car. I actually bought it for exclusivity since it's a car that most don't consider but I'm actually disappointed right now because I'm up the the mountains and I saw THREE in a single day. Every single one is black like mine so I'm even MORE disappointed that it's not so original-like.

On a side note: I'm a little glad since I've been able to talk with a couple of the owners and discussed mods and what they want to do next to their cars.

[BlueWagon]

I live in San Fran and I've only seen 5 Speed3's since they first came out.

[mrjoshyman]

speed 3 was my first manual transmission car. i stalled it out the first time at like 1000k miles... i had been driving a manual transmission ATV since i was like 12 though (im 19 now), so I knew the logistics of it.

the speed 3s not the easiest manual that ive driven for sure, and when I first started driving it the ride wasnt the smoothest, but it all came with practice.

get urself an MS3...you won't regret (unless of course u need AWD...go get an STI or EVO)

[LukeP]

First manual transmission car

http://maxhedrm.montebellopark.com/Galleries/d/12560-4/IMG_0862.jpg

1982 VW Jetta. It basically drove exactly like the Rabbit GTI at the time, and it awoke the love of cars in me when I was like 14 and my dad let me drive it on some back roads. It was slow, but the chassis was alive (I can kind of guess why Alfa Romeo like their cars so much).

The next car we got was a 1986 Jetta GLI and I swear Mazda recycled the transmission from that into the MS3. Although I haven't found "Twoverse" in the MS3 yet, which is when the gear lever when into some lobby between reverse and second when trying to engage second gear. There was usually some grinding and whirring noises when this happened.

Still searching for twoverse in the MS3.

Easiest by far is any Honda. They have the most linear forgiving clutches, toggle switch gearboxes, and will take abuse like nobody's business.

MS3 not so much. The clutch is like a racing clutch in it's grabbyness, and the gearbox has mystical barriers that require deliberate movements, but the worst is that drive by wire throttle laggyness that interferes with uphill starts and cocks up rev matching and smooth changes.

However, like I would presume in an Alfa, there's something about this driver's car that makes you forgive all that when you're actually driving it. I bitch about FWD this and throttle lag that, but it always puts a smile on my face when I'm actually DRIVING it.

[GoneBabyGone]

Just "feather" everything. My first stick was a speed3 and I was very heavy-footed. Now when I drive my GFs corolla, I find myself to light on the gas coming off the lights and stop signs. (hand)

Also practice whenever you can. I took my car out late at night and drove back and forth on the same roads that had minimum traffic. Now its second nature and I enjoy every second of it.

I also had a phobia of hills and inclines for a lil bit lol