My gf is thinking of buying a 2002 Protege but she couldnt decide between stick or auto. We saw the car and she is really excited bout it, since she's also on s plan, she could get 2.0 ES premium w stick just shade over 14k after rebates. I told her that stick is fun and should prob get stick. Problem is, she never drive a stick b4 and my car is auto. So i feel kinda bad if she bought it and doesnt like it. I used to drive my dad's 1.8 familia in asia, that thing is a blast to drive. It was one of the fastest small car there, since the other "competitor" are honduhs, bmw 320s, benz c180s etc (crazy tax for larger displacement engine thats why).
IF I were to buy it, I would easily get a stick, so I just wanna know what u guys has to say on this.

 

um let me think ....................................... STICKKKKKK

 

Dude... if she gets a stick, and has never driven a stick, and can't drive the car, she's going to be absolutely miserable. It's her car/her decision. Don't force it on her. It doesn't matter if the car is fun for you or not.

Of course, help her make an educated decision by teaching her how to drive a stick *before* she buys...

-Brubeck

 

I encouraged my wife to buy a stick last time around. She hated it. Now I drive the Protege and she drives the Cherokee which she really doesn't like either. I've learned my lesson. I will let her choose next time.

 

Yeah,
Most prob I just get my friends to let her try stick for a while. The reason that I encouraged stick is that is fun and since she only drives like one mile to work so its not really a hassle.
Even if she choose stick, its gonna be a while to find es premium w it. One more thing, waddya guys think bout the color, black or silver?? Wish could get it in mp3 blue or p5 yellow tho.

 

one of my female friends bought an echo with stick about 1yr ago...she had never driven manual b4 ..so that was her learnning car....anyways first month she ahd a lot of trouble..especially on hills..in fact she was close to tears at one stage when she nearly lost the car on the hill...but she got over her nervousness after a while..as we all do when trying something different..and now she loves driving manual..and swears she will not go back to auto.

 

an automatic is a woman's stick shift(DDDOOOOOEEEE)
HER CAR HER CHOICE,OTHERWISE

 

I've never had an automatic, but i have driven my friends and they suck, get a stick. I think its funny when people with automatics try to race me they think they are doing something, just holding the wheel and mashing the foot to the floor. Lots of skill there.

 

Yes, if you're planning on racing people, get a stick. Something tells me this chick isn't interested in her 1/4 times... If she gets a stick and can't drive it properly, the dorks with the automatics are going to be blowin' her off the line while she stalls out 3 times...

 

Am i the only one here who likes auto? Thats what i have i know how to drive stick though i also test drove the manual was pretty fun seemed alot faster but i choose auto because i like having other kinds of fun in the car like putting my hand on a girls leg when i have a girl in the car also sometimes i just feel like not having to change gears i dont know auto isnt that bad though.

 

when my g/f got her old paseo before hte P5 she had an auto neon and had never driven stick and she got it within a hour or less sure she still stalled every so often but threre was no grinding or anyhting like that, and she owuld never go back, GET A manual

Brycer79

 

I can drive stick and put my hand on my girls leg, hell i can smoke eat a hamburger, change radio stations and change gears all at the same time. Just depends on the level of the stick operator. I've never had an automatic car, so it comes as second nature.

 

Not to cause any trouble here but I have an Auto(figured it would be easier since I have a newborn son)... and I am an experianced racer....I can smoke sticks just the same. Where as a stick is much more fun to drive, if you know how to properly shift an auto you can cause just as much trouble.

 

I'm with you on this.

 

I agree with Vkyolv on this. My wife can eat faster with chop-sticks than I can eat with a shovel... it really depends on what your used to, and how well you know it.

As far a manual is concerned, the Protege doesn't exactly have the best clutch in the world...