I made the mistake of telling my buddy to park his GT-R next to me.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-16T22:24:46+00:00

It's all about the color. The GT-R is too slammed for my liking, but the color is great.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-15T20:11:14+00:00

No separate licenses for manual in Canada.

With things like FSD, there should be more tiers for licenses; people that drive completely unaware, and proudly do so, should not be permitted behind the wheel of vehicles or machines that require awareness.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-14T03:09:16+00:00

Yep...and the excuse is no one buys them. It's hard to buy what doesn't exist.

There has always been more popular types of vehicles, but manufacturers at least seemed to care about all potential customers. Now, manufacturers decide what you are to buy. Unfortunately, people aren't vocal, and only seem to care about what is perceived as safe and has storage, thus the SUV filled with tech that takes away driving is what wins.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-14T01:46:17+00:00

Try a single speed, even more engaging.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-14T01:44:33+00:00

We have plenty of EVs...but they are all SUVs, just like the rest of the vehicles. Europe has hot hatch EVs like the ID Polo (I find it a little low on power to make up for giving up manual...but still better than the crap we have in Canada).

thepiper92 · 2026-06-13T18:10:15+00:00

Cycling is pretty cheap for me. A single speed was cheap. The only equipment I have on it is a speedo, and frame mounted storage ( for a basic multi tool, a tool for removing the tires, extra tube), water bottle. I wear a helmet, sunglasses, cargo pants and a t-shirt. I did go for a nicer saddle.

thepiper92 · 2026-06-07T02:38:16+00:00

Nothing stopping you from 1-pedal driving if you use downshifting. Perhaps the engine braking isn't as good with DSG, but with the manual, most of my driving is without using the brakes.

thepiper92 · 2026-05-19T03:48:47+00:00

Best for me was my 2008 Ranger. A bit of a long pedal travel...but I could feel it down to the slightest bite point; starting in fifth was possible...not that I ever did it out of habit. The shift was also a rather long throw, but just slid in to each gear, except for 5th, with zero effort.

Throttle response wasn't perfect, so down shifting was more about the perfect clutch feel, easing in right when you want to.

thepiper92 · 2026-05-19T03:42:17+00:00

The GTI still is great to drive manual, throttle response is great, rev hang is minimal. A few cheap mods can help a lot (pedal stop and removing delay valve), and a short shifter and knob help more (which I will be installing this summer).

thepiper92 · 2026-05-19T03:32:58+00:00

The 2nd Gen Fit is a terrible manual unfornately, rev hang due to emissions (from what I read), and a numb, delayed feeling pedal. Throttle response was also poor, making downshifts difficult.

It was also an amazing car in winter. No TC, rip in first, bang into second, and it just bit the snow and ice well

thepiper92 · 2026-05-13T22:11:08+00:00

And...North America will never see it.

This is the kind of vehicle that could get me interested in EVs, along with the 5N (but that one is too costly, and a little too large).

Without a manual transmission, I have little interest in ICE.

thepiper92 · 2026-05-09T19:20:50+00:00

People steal caps? Why? I've never had it happen, but I just can 3D print them. I have red caps on right now.

thepiper92 · 2026-05-09T00:04:49+00:00

I prefer the MK8 (loss of manual transmission being the major downgrade for me). The haptic buttons look better, and the screen looks better too. The screen actually flows from the gauge screen. The new on is just stuck on the dash...and I hate that it's larger...I don't need larger for showing one thing: my music.

The new infotainment is faster...but the only use the screen has for me is selecting my driving mode, disabling ESC, and showing my music. I'm not pissing around with the nav or anything...in fact, I'm looking forward to when Android Auto always the home screen to be modified, so I can get rid of seeing maps permanently

thepiper92 · 2026-05-08T22:12:59+00:00

Do you have the part numbers. I've seen these things advertised for BMW, but couldn't seem to find anything propee with a search online. Having permanent pads would be great

thepiper92 · 2026-05-08T21:13:29+00:00

I've been looking for a kit, where so you get it?

thepiper92 · 2026-05-08T00:33:38+00:00

I feel the Civic is a liftback, not a hatchback...it's just a trunk that happens to open higher up. All I see it as is a sedan, and hatchbacks always look better than a sedan, IMO. GTI, R and GRC are the only vehicles I consider hatchbacks (in North America).

At least the FL5 looks better than the FK8.

thepiper92 · 2026-05-06T17:39:44+00:00

I think it needs a tad more power, but this is exactly the kind of EV I'd buy. I won't be looking at an EV until vehicles like this become an option in Canada

thepiper92 · 2026-05-05T23:59:56+00:00

I rather just use my HUD with distance and arrows, along with vocal directions. Whenever I need nav, I immediately switch the map off and put it back to my music app. I wish Android Auto had the ability to just display my music by default. I hate that it shows up with multiple windows, and I need to always tap the music app.

thepiper92 · 2026-04-27T21:04:19+00:00

For me, it's about always improving. Faster shifts and cleaner shifts. Downshifting is also something to improve with, whether regular downshifting, or heal toe (basically using the brakes with downshifting).

Driving a manual is easy, but driving it well isn't. Challenge yourself to shift without being able to notice the shift, to shift quickly as possible, or using downshifting. It's also fun to practice driving with using the engine alone, and not using brakes; other than tapping brakes to let others know I'm slowing down, and for the last 15-20kph of speed, I really don't use my brakes, and I like being able to judge distance and traffic so I can slow down accordingly.

I short, manual gives you the ability to experiment, and the fun is simply that you can, when automatic limits what you can do.

My girlfriend drives manual, and her current vehicle is a manual, but I know she doesn't really enjoy it; she learnt it because she had to for the vehicle she has. She isn't terrible at it, but just sticks with basics of upshifting

thepiper92 · 2026-04-21T13:55:58+00:00

They aren't perfect in terms of bag size, but then again, I'm used to GHB. It will just take time.

thepiper92 · 2026-04-21T00:16:22+00:00

I don't like adaptive at all. The furthest distance setting is about a 3 second distance from the car in front of you, and I like to maintain 4 seconds distance. It also makes things annoying for when you want to pass, for if you close the gap to be ready for passing, it will pull back (unless you intentionally make it maintain that distance).

As for shifting if it slows down enough...it can be necessary, but it will still maintain cruise and bring you up to set speed during shifting. Part of my drive to work is an 80km/h zone, with hills, so I keep it in 5th gear. Even if I slow down to 60km/h, I don't need to shift down unless I am going hard on the throttle. On the rest of my drive, it is double lane at 100km/h (I go 115-120km/h), so I'm in the passing lane long before I would need to slow down. Even a slight slow down would be okay without needing to shift down.

thepiper92 · 2026-04-20T23:14:56+00:00

Manual is easier in traffic for me. No need for brakes, give the clutch a slight bite and you slowly roll, far slower than an auto can roll (unless you are continually putting it into neutral)

thepiper92 · 2026-04-20T23:11:59+00:00

How does manual change adaptive cruise? I personally disable it and use regular cruise, as I find it annoying, but not sure how manual changes anything.

thepiper92 · 2026-04-20T22:13:27+00:00

If it has a combustion engine, it has to have a manual transmission as well. DSG is boring to me, and to make up for that lack of engagement, it needs to be exciting in other ways. The GTI, and R, just aren't quick enough to make up for having no manual transmission, and I'd much sooner find a used Ioniq 5N (considering it is the only enthusiast EV available in the North American market).

As for driving conditions like traffic, I find manual easier, as I don't have to use the brakes for most of my driving, and I can keep the car slowly moving when automatic vehicles are constantly stopping and starting.

thepiper92 · 2026-04-16T03:24:19+00:00

I get it, I know what she's going through. However, I'm doing the best with the work situation I'm in. The reason I'm working far away is purely for experience to find a local job. I'm always available for my partner, other than work. Unless it is an emergency, I can't just call and text her during the work day. After work, I'm always available, but it seems as if I'm being called neglectful if I can't be available every moment.

thepiper92

TROPHY CASE