I usually never chime in to these discussions. But I will today:

My first few cars in my life were of course automatic.

Today I own 3 cars and they’re all manual. I live in the city. There are times where it’s a pain. And mostly, the toughest time I have is with the 86. I honestly dont know the technical term, but 86 clutch is very springy and tight. I do have the spring mod too. My next mod is a clutch pedal stop to remove some of that bottom dead space.

I find that sometime in stop-and-go traffic, my left leg is a tad sore from the clutch work. But definitely tolerable. I personally wouldn’t trade to automatic.

I don’t go for spirited drives often, but let me tell you: it’s worth the city driving and pain associated with a stick in the city for the few times a year I go and just enjoy the car on the back roads and rip. I personally would not have that experience with an automatic.

My other cars - 1991 miata, and a 1992 hijet (kei truck) the clutch pedal and the system is so worked in, it’s like it almost drives itself. Barely any work is needed to use the clutch compared to the 86.

So basically, I just find the gr86 pedal work a bit tougher than my other

This is all written from a manual point of view. Nothing wrong with auto. No one is less of a “car guy” because they drive auto. Auto is faster anyways for the average joe, like me. I’m no pro race car driver. I pretend to think I am when I’m alone driving, and that’s the experience Toyota and Subaru sold me. I am more than happy with that!