First Manual Transmission Car?

[SHAD0WxF1R3]

Just a simple question:

 

I am 17 and already own my own car. (Used of course)

 

It's a Toyota Highlander 2002, which is great and I have 0 complaints on.

 

But, I have been slowly getting into cars and see how amazing they are, and it has encouraged me to want a manual car to want to learn stick.

 

Also, I wanted a car that was cheap, yet easily modifiable so that way I can get more into doing car mods, as I don't wish to touch my current car.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated, and yes I know I am 17 and I should be saving money for college, I am, this is just something to mull over for a time.

[WMGroomAK]

8 minutes ago, SHAD0WxF1R3 said:

Also, I wanted a car that was cheap, yet easily modifiable so that way I can get more into doing car mods, as I don't wish to touch my current car.

If you're looking at modding it, maybe look into some of the older hatchbacks...  I think that things like the Ford Focus's and Fiesta's have seen quite a bit of modding.  Of course, my preference would be more towards something like a Subaru WRX or BRZ, but those might be a bit more expensive.  My last Manual Transmission vehicle was a 2007 Chevy Aveo that I was able to get new for $10k.  Nothing fancy, but definitely fun to have a small hatchback with FWD and a manual transmission.  I think the key thing to look at prior to getting the vehicle would be how good is the transmission in it followed by how easy is it to work on the engine.

[Zusafek]

For modding, and I hate saying this....but look at Honda's. They have such a massive catalog of parts it's actually scary. Another one of your willing to go a little higher in price is the Dodge Dart 1.4 turbo. I actually drive this right now and it's a really nice car with a decent after market scene. Same with the Dodge neon srt4 and the caliber srt4. 

[Timbs]

Honda. Specifically anything from 1989-2000. The manuals in those are super forgiving. So you can slamshift them everyday and they will be fine.

[Real_PhillBert]

The SVT Focus's (Foci) can be found easily under $5000 are cheap to insure, reliable, fun and have a pretty respectable aftermarket if you're into that. 

 

 

I had an 02 ZX3 Focus 5 speed for almost ten years and it was a fantastic car. 

[19_blackie_73]

mx5s are also pretty modable, and they are cheap, especially the first two series. but be aware, they tend to rust quite a bit if not looked after by previous owners

[TVwazhere]

18 minutes ago, Real_PhillBert said:

The SVT Focus's (Foci) can be found easily under $5000 are cheap to insure, reliable, fun and have a pretty respectable aftermarket if you're into that. 

 

-picsnip-

 

I had an 02 ZX3 Focus 5 speed for almost ten years and it was a fantastic car. 

My friend in college had one of these and he had an absolute blast with it. Good adjustable car

[Real_PhillBert]

2 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

My friend in college had one of these and he had an absolute blast with it. Good adjustable car

The whole time I owned the ZX3 I wished I had spent the extra money for an SVT. 

[TopDollar]

I'll be a third person to say the old Ford Focus hatchbacks are good choices. If you already have a practical daily driver though, I'd really look at getting a 1.8L Miata. They can be had for less than $3000, have huge aftermarket support, and are an absolute blast to drive.

[lonestar31]

Mazda Miata? 

[Zusafek]

41 minutes ago, lonestar31 said:

Mazda Miata? 

Little 2 seater roadster convertible. Not a good choice for a 17 year old. Yes You can get the car cheap but insurance will get you every time. 

[Zangashtu]

9 minutes ago, Zusafek said:

Little 2 seater roadster convertible. Not a good choice for a 17 year old. Yes You can get the car cheap but insurance will get you every time. 

Couldn't agree more insurance will absolutely destroy you at your age

[MEC-777]

Older Honda Civic's. Dime a dozen, awesome on gas, mountains of mods available and stupid-reliable. 

[Bouzoo]

1 minute ago, MEC-777 said:

Older Honda Civic's. Dime a dozen, awesome on gas, mountains of mods available and stupid-reliable. 

Yes, was about to say that. Look at 6th gen OP, fantastic car, can mod it to hell and back. 

[MEC-777]

2 hours ago, Bouzoo said:

Yes, was about to say that. Look at 6th gen OP, fantastic car, can mod it to hell and back. 

Anything Pre 2000.  Those B-series VTEC engines... So good.  

 

Had a 2000 SiR coupe (same as US Si model) with the B16 and A LOT of mods (mechanical, not visual). Damn, that little thing moved and raised a lot of eyebrows. hehe.. 8000rpm all day long and still got well over 30mpg easy. 

 

Edit: here she is: 

 

 

(RIP headphone users :P)

[Bouzoo]

23 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

Snip

A friend of mine had a 1999 iirc, put 2 times more money in it than it was worth. Idiot lowered it so low that if you got to a speed bump 1st gear was too fast, it broke your spine. And we only have speed bumps here. He has 11 to his work alone. 

It was still awesome. 

[Zodiark1593]

I am fond of the Mazda 3. Great gear boxes, quite rev happy as well with the 2.0 Mzr limited to 7250 rpm. Not an easy car to learn with though. 

[MEC-777]

1 hour ago, Bouzoo said:

A friend of mine had a 1999 iirc, put 2 times more money in it than it was worth. Idiot lowered it so low that if you got to a speed bump 1st gear was too fast, it broke your spine. And we only have speed bumps here. He has 11 to his work alone. 

It was still awesome. 

I actually raised mine up for 2 reasons: I live out in the country where lowered cars get destroyed and to be different (because everyone else always lowered their civics).  I modified the suspension with a set of Eibach springs and Integra Type R shocks with custom spacers. The end result was stiffer than stock suspension that was also higher than stock, but still drove nice and smooth for everyday use. Took it to a few track days and it would out-corner a lot of the lowered "junk" other people brought. hehe.  

 

 

 

 

 

[vetali]

13 minutes ago, Zodiark1593 said:

I am fond of the Mazda 3. Great gear boxes, quite rev happy as well with the 2.0 Mzr limited to 7250 rpm. Not an easy car to learn with though. 

I'd recommend the Mazda 3 manual if you are a masochist. Hondas are extremely forgiving compared to my 3. Closer ratio transmissions you can thrash with a light but communicative clutch pedal. 

 

 

[Zodiark1593]

5 minutes ago, vetali said:

I'd recommend the Mazda 3 manual if you are a masochist. Hondas are extremely forgiving compared to my 3. Closer ratio transmissions you can thrash with a light but communicative clutch pedal. 

 

 

Hmm... 

 

*looks up definition of masochist *

*finds picture of self*

 

Probably my main complaint is just how high the bite point is on the Mazda3, though at this point, I pretty much have the drive train bending before my whim. 

[vetali]

1 hour ago, Zodiark1593 said:

Hmm... 

 

*looks up definition of masochist *

*finds picture of self*

 

Probably my main complaint is just how high the bite point is on the Mazda3, though at this point, I pretty much have the drive train bending before my whim. 

Get a mazdaspeed3 slave cylinder if its too high for you. It lowers it, but makes it a bit lighter. Its a direct fit to our cars. Also swap the rear motor mount for the Ford e-focus (now focus ST) motor mount. I can link you the part # if you want. 

 

My main problem is the numb clutch, drivetrain slop, and tall 2nd gear making low speed crawling annoying. 

[Zodiark1593]

11 minutes ago, vetali said:

Get a mazdaspeed3 slave cylinder if its too high for you. It lowers it, but makes it a bit lighter. Its a direct fit to our cars. Also swap the rear motor mount for the Ford e-focus (now focus ST) motor mount. I can link you the part # if you want. 

 

My main problem is the numb clutch, drivetrain slop, and tall 2nd gear making low speed crawling annoying. 

The gearing difference between 1st and 2nd is indeed a nuisance at times with low speed and particularly getting going on Hills. However, I do like that I can get to freeway speeds by simply running 2nd to the Rev limiter. I don't do so often, but when a big rig is in the lane you need to merge into, very helpful. 

 

Is the slop where the car kind of lurches back and forth at low speeds after a bump. I figured that for the clutch dampener (the springs in the actual friction disc), though I'm probably wrong. 

[vetali]

1 minute ago, Zodiark1593 said:

The gearing difference between 1st and 2nd is indeed a nuisance at times with low speed and particularly getting going on Hills. However, I do like that I can get to freeway speeds by simply running 2nd to the Rev limiter. I don't do so often, but when a big rig is in the lane you need to merge into, very helpful. 

 

Is the slop where the car kind of lurches back and forth at low speeds after a bump. I figured that for the clutch dampener (the springs in the actual friction disc), though I'm probably wrong. 

Yeah thats the lurch, and it will cause wheel hop. The springs on the clutch are primarily to soften the "grab" of the clutch.

[terrytek]

mazda protege. i definitely guarantee it. fun car, like the miata, and cheap to maintain being a 2 liter inline 4, sedan, so you don't get hit with insurance hikes with owning a coupe, and they're cheap for a 2002-2003 model. look into those. nobody really knows about them, but they're fun cars, trust me.

[Mug]

In the UK literally everybody drives a manual. If you drive an auto, you're either a bus driver or you lack the mental capacity to use a clutch. Most people drive hatchbacks like Golfs, if I was you I'd just get a cheap hatchback, something with a 1.0-1.4 litre engine. Make sure it doesn't have an electronic clutch though, those are a pain because you won't be able to feel the bite. Having said that, electronic clutches are good because there's usually a mode that drops the clutch right before you stall so you can't stall. Once you get used to manuals though they're 1000x better than autos. You'll love them.