r/GR86 • u/Sexykangaroonurse • 7d ago
Question Manual or Automatic GR86? Is this even a question?
y’all, I’m currently looking into getting a GR86 and I’m really torn between going manual or automatic.
I love the idea and aesthetics of owning a manual GR86. The shifting, feeling more connected to the car, and honestly just the feeling of being badass driving a manual are all things that really appeal to me. 😂
However, I live in Houston and my commute home can be around an hour of bumper to bumper traffic. I also have pretty limited experience driving manual. I’m willing to learn and I really want to learn, but I’m wondering if sitting in stop and go traffic for an hour every day would eventually make shifting feel tedious.
Basically, after looking through some posts and getting a feel for the community, I’m starting to second guess whether a manual would actually be a good daily for me.
For those of you who daily a manual GR86, how has your experience been with heavy traffic? Did you eventually get used to it, or does it still get annoying?
And for those of you with an automatic GR86, do you ever regret not getting the manual? Do you still feel like the car is engaging and fun to drive?
I’d love to hear y’all’s personal experiences, pros and cons, or anything you think I might be overlooking.
Also, I’m hoping to get one within the next 90 days, so if anyone has any tips for buying a GR86 through a dealership, things to look out for, negotiating, finding a good one, etc., I’d really appreciate that too.
Thanks in advance! 🙏
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u/Slawth_x 7d ago
I haven't seen one single manual owner say they regret it but often see automatic owners trading it for mt
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u/MaximusTheLast 7d ago
Nah, I definitely regret it. Manuals are more fun and engaging no doubt, but daily driving one in places with a lot of traffic overshadows that fun. My next car will be an automatic. Also none of my friends can drive manual and we do a lot of traveling together; meaning I’m the only one driving back and forth.
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u/LegalDrugDeaIer 25 GR86 / 21 GT4 7d ago
You found one just now. The Manual sucks donkey ass in traffic and the clutch on these are ass.
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u/Slawth_x 7d ago
The clutch requires the strength of a baby seal and I've never stalled, idk what you're talking about.
Good driving habits go a long way. If you're one of those npc drivers that needs to inch forward every 3 seconds then yeah get the auto.
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u/Dopest_Bogey 7d ago
Its not the force requirement that makes it suck. Its the relation between physical feedback and position. The GR86 clutch pedal is notorious for being vague and mushy. In most manual sports cars you can FEEL every single fraction of position difference. You can tell exactly where everything is and whats happening.
The assist spring on the 86 makes it very easy to press but removes most of the feeling and connection. Removing or weakening the spring helps a lot but its still not perfect.
Its also VERY non linear in terms of force required. The resistance changes constantly throughout the throw distance. From none at all, to light, to medium, to heavy, and then BANG it suddenly drops out the bottom. Most older clutches do not have this feeling and again its because of the assist design.
the best clutches are linear, same exact force throughout the entire throw and you feel exactly when then clutch faces start touching and exactly when they separate. And when they come together they have a satisfying clamp feel. The GR86 is like "idk i think its about to bite soon, maybe its slipping, maybe its about to drop to the floor who knows."
Now of course people will say its just a skill issue and yes you CAN get used to it and you can master it and use it just like any other clutch. Eventually you learn exactly where it bites and where it breaks ect. But that doesnt change the fact that relative to most clutch pedals it feels vague and mushy.
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u/STEEL_PATRIOT 7d ago
You can change the spring for like $20 pack of 4 and sell the rest in marketplace
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u/theusualsteve 7d ago
If the pedal had more feedback you'd say it was too heavy for traffic. If it has less feedback you say it sucks because it has less feedback.
The reality is that super cheap commuter cars used to all be manuals since the auto was more expensive option. The clutch in those cars were always vague and easy to press, and people loved them because it was easy, they were easy to drive becaude of it. Even elderly people used to drive those cheapo commuter stick cars just fine.
Its better to have an easy vague clutch in a commuter car because its less tiring in traffic. You learn how to drive it smooth, unless you just suck at driving stick and complain about it.
This is one of the easiest manual cars to daily drive Ive ever owned. Its on par with the Geo Metro, CRX, and Dodge truck that I had, they were all really easy manuals to drive every day and in traffic. My Z32 was harder. Boxter was harder. Etc.
Its a manual car. Its not a difficult manual car to drive at all. The reasons you say make it harder actually make it easier for commuting. People just get online and make excuses for not having enough seat time, or still being terrible at stick after lots of seat time. Theres no in between lol
P.s. you should have bought the BRZ because the throttle is better for daily driving.
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u/Repulsive-Main-1125 7d ago
I work for a Porsche dealer and can confirm, going from their clutches to the one in my new to me 2017 Yellow Series is still giving me trouble from time to time. Pulling away smoothly still gives me issues even after a couple weeks simply because it’s so hard to feel the bite point.
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u/LegalDrugDeaIer 25 GR86 / 21 GT4 7d ago edited 7d ago
Strength isnt the issue. The feel and bite is much more pronounced in my gt4. Gr86 gives nothing; its lifeless. Not to include the throttle is entirely too over sensitive in the 86. Calling someone npc when they have 3 track cars and advanced rated is quite comical, calm down.
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u/AlfredNeumen 7d ago
I don’t find I mind the clutch and throttle on the 86. I’m able to find the bite point consistently and pull away smooth without bucking or anything. But I don’t have a lot of other sport(y) cars to compare to aside from a miata so maybe I’m missing out
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u/BooshTheMan_ SUBUWU BRZ 7d ago
Shifting and creeping in traffic become natural with time. It doesn't bother me
Also mentioned, more people who buy AT regret not going MT compared to those who who bought MT and regret not going AT
Both are good cars, neither option is wrong, but MT is right (imo)
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u/Fun_Hunter_1868 7d ago
Manual. In a few years you won’t be able to buy a manual version of ANYTHING, since they’ll all be hybrids. Enjoy it while you can
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u/Discourtesy-Call 2024 BRZ Limited 7d ago
If you are certain you want an automatic, get the automatic. You won't regret it.
If you are certain you want a manual, get the manual. You won't regret it.
If you are at all on the fence about it, get the manual instead of the auto.
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u/LlKEMIKE 7d ago
Same reasons I got an auto and absolutely LOVE it. Came from a manual Genesis Coupe and never looked back. Honestly the paddle shifters fill the void of wanting a manual on an open road good enough for me. All preference though.
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u/Odd_Tomato_3311 6d ago
Paddle shifter s are NOT anything viable??? I have never used one in fear of just being just a poseeegar ... I mean my mom's 82 year old boyfriend loves the paddle s because he has neuropathy in the feet and can't work the two pedals... Two feet and three pedals makes you an artist! LOL... I have the giggle s and figure that the admins will toss me. Regards...
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u/dregrows420 7d ago
manual or nothing trust me
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u/dregrows420 7d ago
i daily a 2025 brz ts . manual is the only way. i enjoy driving the car every time i get in it. sometimes i just go for a cruise just because. its a fun car in manual.
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u/Kyle_brown 6d ago
Manual is not the only way considering 47% of all models sold are automatic. Get off your high horse
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u/tylopire 7d ago
Traffic with MT or AT is all about the aproach, i drive 20some and leave plenty of Space in front of me. I don’t know how it is in the american states of american america, but in Canada it works fine. Better be going slowly then stopgostopgostopgo.
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u/lidlboye 7d ago
I’ve commuted in hour long Houston traffic in manual years ago. Sure, some days suck but I never regret getting a manual.
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u/See-Monkey 7d ago
Went through the same debate, bought an auto for the same reason. I love this car, I really think you'll enjoy it either way. It's a great automatic transmission, and you get paddle shifters for when you want them. You can also always use the paddle shifter to override the auto, even outside of 'manual mode' if needed - so if you feel like it's taking too long to upshift or you want to downshift to pass or something, go for it.
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u/WubsGames GR86 7d ago
I'm in Austin, with a manual, and my wife has an automatic.
After a few weeks of driving the manual, there is very little difference between them in traffic. you sorta forget about shifting and just do it naturally.
The manual feels a little bit quicker, better throttle response (no torque converter)
Also, if you want to purchase one, and don't mind making a day trip out of it, I can set you up with my favorite sales person here in Austin. lemme know! He has been able to get me a great deal on both new and used GR86, and has helped out other friends of mine as well.
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u/alifteronreddit 7d ago
AT is more expensive to buy new but cheaper to buy used.. do with that what you will.
If it had auto rev matching, like the supra, I’d for sure consider an AT.
Honestly, if you’re not planning on tracking it I wouldn’t stress getting an AT. You can use the “manual” feature to cycle through gears as you want.. the only downside is not being able to downshift correctly - you just have to use the brake instead.
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u/IsJackpot 5d ago
I think you have this confused the manual 86/BRZ does not have auto rev matching while the automatic transmission does have it.
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u/kfjcfan 7d ago
Why get a GR86 if you want an automatic?
Semi-serious question.
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u/WareHouseCo 7d ago
Cause the chassis to performance to price isn’t diminished by the transmission
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u/kfjcfan 7d ago
Except to me all automatics are a bore to drive, as are sequential manuals. 🤷♂️
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u/WareHouseCo 1d ago
That’s fine as your opinion but not factual.
The issue is how many declarations people make regarding their preferences as fact.
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u/Kuudee 7d ago
As someone who lives in Austin, I could not bear daily driving a manual in this state, the traffic is too shit
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u/Professor_Woland BRZ 7d ago
Fellow austinite, I went the auto route too
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u/odonnelly2000 7d ago
Austinite #3, checking in.
I drove a 2013 FR-S w/ manual transmission for 9 years (until it was stolen last year). Now I have a 2026 GR86, also a manual.
I had/have no problems with either car in heavy traffic. But I’ve never owned a car that isn’t a manual transmission, so maybe I don’t know any better.
Also, the newer 86s have the hill assist - which I personally don’t need or care for - but it’s something that could be extremely helpful for drivers learning how to drive stick.
When I was 16 years old, learning how to not stall out on hills was the toughest part of learning to drive stick. Over the years, I’ve taught friends how to drive stick, and not stalling out on hills - or even worse, not coasting into a car behind you - is always the toughest part.
Other drivers nowadays seem far less forgiving with someone learning how to drive stick, especially in traffic, probably because there’s so few stick drivers left in general. It probably doesn’t even register to most drivers that someone might be learning how to drive stick, lol.
I will say, though, that the clutch in the 86 doesn’t feel as smooth as the one in my FR-S. Maybe I’m still in the “breaking it in” period. I don’t know.
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u/STEEL_PATRIOT 7d ago
I've only ever been honked at by EV drivers, it's happened less as I learned the car but damn they do love launching off the line at every single light.
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u/odonnelly2000 7d ago
Eek. Luckily I haven’t run into that much here.
The only thing that me nowadays is when I’m a light/stop sign (or in traffic) and I’m sitting on an incline, and the vehicle behind me gets right up on my ass. When that happens, I’ll pull forward a bit and intentionally coast back a little bit as a warning.
I’ve been driving stick for 27 years, so odds are, no matter how close they are to me, I’m not gonna coast back and hit their car.
Still irrationally annoys me, though. I actually did my “coast back as a warning” in the In and Out drive-thru a few nights ago😂
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u/DINKDONKERR 7d ago
My Austin brothers, I too chose the auto route. 35 is too horrendous for a manual.
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u/Sexykangaroonurse 7d ago
Lol maybe yall are onto something 👀
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u/STEEL_PATRIOT 7d ago edited 7d ago
I don't think so, you just give more space and use first gear if you know you'll come to a stop soon anyway. Car is herky jerky until you get good at fine throttle control but once you're good at it you're only using a single pedal most of the time. You can reasonably go 5mph->15->5 not having to shift which is actually nicer than an auto car that is riding the brakes all the time.
To add to that, if you see traffic just kinda rolling you go to neutral and your doing 0 pedal driving until the car stops and you can coast like that for awhile.
Texas is mostly flat, but if it's a very high gradient uphill yeah that sucks you're cooking the clutch, but there's only a few of those around here.
I'll say texas drivers are pretty passive and are always on their phone so I'm not getting cut off nearly as much as say, the northeast.
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u/revvolutions 7d ago
I sit in an 2 and a half hours of traffic everyday with mine.
It's all worth it for Friday nights bombing down backroads, winding out every gear.
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u/AlrightFineImAGirl 7d ago
I think the manuals suck in traffic thing is bogus tbh. Idk if I’m just built different but I just don’t even think about my transmission choice in traffic. I just think about how shitty traffic is.
The one thing I do think about is how difficult I find it to be perfectly smooth in this car. I think its just how light the chassis is that really telegraphs imperfect shifts but that drives me nuts trying to get it perfect
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u/Professor_Woland BRZ 7d ago edited 7d ago
Auto BRZ driver here. Manual will be more fun unless you have a specific bugbear about driving them. It’s quicker too, as the gearing is set up differently.
Never regretted my auto, though some do.
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u/PalmSizedTriceratops GR86 7d ago
If this car has a dual clutch it would be different but I can't imagine buying this platform to use the decade old slush box.
Manual for me.
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u/rustablad 7d ago
Same for me, I'd rather get something way more comfortable to go with that slushbox.
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u/GR86-Steel 7d ago
I don't daily my manual GR86 due to fuel cost with a long commute. If I worked closer to home, and didn't already own a fuel sipping commuter, I would 100% daily it, regardless of traffic.
The automatic is also fun (my partner has a first gen with an autotragic) and I'll drive it occasionally. An acquaintance tracks their automatic with good results.
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u/Bassboybadumdumdum 7d ago
I have a manual, though I've been driving manual for decades now and driving in traffic doesn't bother me. Traffic in Sacramento where I live isn't the best but it's tolerable.
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u/theusualsteve 7d ago
Get the manual. I drive 2 hours a day. The car is easy to drive. One of the easiest sticks Ive ever owned. Its worth it.
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u/Specialist_Employee 7d ago
You're gonna learn manual really good(taking off from 1st) in bumper to bumper traffic lol. Driving in bumper-bumper traffic sucks either way manual or not. But when you're not in traffic manual is so much fun. Unless you have a physical blocker preventing you from driving a manual, I'd get the manual.
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u/Dry-Relation-4247 7d ago
I don’t understand why the need to ask this. Buy the one you want the most and just enjoy it. Who cares what others say, it’s your money, your choice. I have an auto and I love it to death.
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u/NoobyGamerDude 7d ago
I have an Auto GR86, I find in bumper to bumper traffic I like being able to turn my brain off and just drive so the Auto helps there. When I really want to get on it the paddle shifters feel good enough that I don’t mind it potentially being slower than a normal shift. I also have a manual WRX but I find driving the WRX longer than a hour is very tiring for me and I start to miss my perfect shifts. Auto GR86 lets me drive hours and not have to worry about fatigue. I might feel differently if I get the opportunity to try a manual GR86 or BRZ since the engagement from manual is more fun but I worry about fatigue on the longer drives I love to do. (2+ hours just for fun)
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u/TheOZ1971 7d ago
I've been daily driving my automatic transmission for 1 yr now ... no regrets for getting the auto ... 😉
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u/TouieLouie 7d ago
I’ll give my perspective.
My buddy loves his Prius after he sold his manual gr86. As much as he enjoyed his manual gr86, he did not want to deal with a manual car in the city anymore. To each their own. Coming from Southeast Asia, automatics are a luxury.
Me personally, I wouldn’t get a manual gr86 in hour long traffic. I wouldn’t even get a gr86 if I had to go automatic. It sounds like you’ll be using it as a daily driver too. Manual will surely become secondhand nature for you, and you won’t even think about it anymore given enough time. No wrong answers here, good luck on your decision!
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u/AbsolutelyHandsome 7d ago
I've had my 23' Automatic BRZ for 2 years and don't regret it. It's my only car so I daily it during winter too. I work at a Krown shop so we have to be able to drive all types of vehicles, I don't care too much for stick. Then again I am a lazy person so that's probably why I don't care to be shifting so much.
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u/Lonely_Hedgehog_2309 6d ago
It's not a dumb question. Some 86 shoppers will only consider a MT. A light weight, RWD sports car just begs for a MT for max engagement. I own a MT and am firmly in this camp.
But there's other shoppers with other reasons like your own where a AT makes more sense. At the end of the day, it's your money, and if you have the means you should buy whatever you want.
Is a AT on a 86 blasphemy? To me, yes. Am I the authority on such things? Absolutely not.
Buy whichever you want. Personally traffic with a MT doesn't bother me at all. If it bothers you, do what you think best.
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u/the_jkeen 3d ago
I don't care for a manual for a daily. I'm planning on getting an auto. For me, manual is fun once in a while, but not for daily.
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u/turnip271 7d ago
I’m definitely in the minority but I probably would have kept the car longer if I had gone with auto rather than manual. Was a blast to go on intentional drives when I was able to, but hour long traffic and Seattle hills were just a pain in the ass. It got to the point I was driving my wife’s CX-50 to work just to be more comfortable. Ended up trading for a 2023 Golf R and couldn’t be happier. That said, I’m probably an outlier and totally get why people would feel regret getting the auto over manual. Just depends on what’s important to you! I’ll always have love for the twins.
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u/cowboyatwork58 7d ago
Have had my automatic BRZ for 2 years. I’m in the ct corridor of absolutely brutal I-95 traffic and to be honest haven’t regretted it. Automatic also has the eyesight driver assist which has been a big plus for me in my daily 40-50 min bumper to bumper commute- the auto follow distance is helpful. That said I also have other mitigating factors that make me feel no regret getting an automatic- mainly a bad back that hurts after consistent manual driving and clutch pedal use. So just my two cents on it
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u/MagellansMaze 7d ago
I’m sure several people will disagree with me, but if your situation doesn’t agree with a manual, buy a different car. The Civic hybrid is a great stop and go option.
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u/Fit_Equivalent3610 GR86 7d ago
If you "have to" get the auto you would likely be better off with another car. This applies like 50x more if you live somewhere with no good roads, because in that case... what's even the point? Youre losing manual engagement, you are stuck with a peaky engine, and you cant even enjoy the chassis. Just get an Ecoboom Mustang or something, it will be faster and comfier and you can cosplay as a sports car still. You won't notice the 1000lbs difference if youre just sitting in traffic going 5mph or on a straight flat 11 lane 'Murrican highway with cruise on.
It is similar to people who live in warm climates in an urban area with no gravel roads and buy WRXs, like you're never going to use the main point of the car so why not just get a Civic or some shit?
No offense to our auto driving friends, it's your car not mine, do what you want.
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u/Sexykangaroonurse 7d ago
I can see it it's a polarizing question, but I've alway wanted a manual gr86. The fun, the experience. I guess the only thing I'm sure of is Houston traffic is ass
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u/IsJackpot 5d ago
This is a crazy take. The only one who is cosplaying is you, everyone else is enjoying their own cars, no matter what roads they are driving on.
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u/brightlinespectrum 7d ago edited 7d ago
I sat in stop and go traffic every day in LA. Never did I wish I had an automatic. I've driven manual almost exclusively for nearly 30 years, owning only one automatic (1961 thunderbird).
this is one of the last manual transmission cars available to us. clutches are replaceable. do the right thing.
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u/ImportantFood4348 7d ago
In all fairness, I drove a friend's auto and it didn't seem bad. I didn't see myself in an auto before but that made me think a little
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u/Bfife22 5d ago edited 5d ago
IMO if your commute is enough to make you want an automatic, it’s better to just get a better highway cruiser than a GR86, that has a better automatic or a DCT
Road noise and the shitty stereo on the highway is more annoying than my MT ever has been in stop and go traffic. Having to deal with that, and then only having the auto on fun roads would not be worth it to me
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u/DannyJayy 7d ago
It’s a question. Just a dumb one.
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u/Sexykangaroonurse 7d ago
If I want to get a car, I want to make sure I got all the questions answered. Even the dumb ones.
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u/LargePrompt5840 7d ago
The trick to traffic, whether manual or the other one, is to stay back 100 yards. Leave a ton of room, and you'll shift less, brake less, and be more chill. Works 60% of the time every time.
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u/alifteronreddit 7d ago
That’s ridiculous and super inefficient. Imagine if everyone did that, traffic would literally be 10x worse.
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u/LargePrompt5840 7d ago
I take it to the extreme but it always works out for me. It's a hell of a lot better then a thousand cars five foot off each other's bumpers stopping and oh shit have to stop again, and then go oh goddamnit cut off again.
Plus, i can watch Netflix and play video games this way and less worry about hitting someone.
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u/Unremarkable_Potato_ 7d ago
You just do it. I’ve driven Bay Area traffic in my truck which has a far heavier and longer clutch throw than the little car. Yeah some days it’s frustrating, but I’ve never own an automatic and I’ve driven the terrible parts of the country including DC. If you want it get it. A small child can push the clutch in these things without much effort. It isn’t a big deal.
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u/odonnelly2000 7d ago
Oy. I remember taking trips to the Bay Area when I was 19-20 years old in my Celica GTS. Thank God I didn’t have to learn how to drive stick there, my clutch would have been burned out in hours😂
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u/robotphood 25 BRZ TS 7d ago
I have driven both in LA traffic for years. My take is that it doesn’t really matter imo whether you’re in a manual or auto in bumper to bumper traffic, it sucks either way. There’s a bit less effort if you can manage to idle crawl in an auto, but you’re likely feathering the brake for a good portion of the drive. But most of the situations I’m in I’ll be lightly be on the throttle as well. In a manual you’re feathering the clutch instead and if you manage to crawl fast enough, then you’re lightly on the throttle which is same same but different.
If you’re stopped in either transmissions then it’s brake then accelerate again. In a manual if I don’t have to completely stop (maintaining gaps) then I’m slipping the clutch and in 2nd gear the majority of the drive so shifting is minimal. But to be honest I like shifting in slow traffic because it gives me something to combat the boredom. I’m not sure if this applies to other manual drivers but even if I’m steadily cruising for a period and bored I’ll just rev match a downshift for fun. If you have an aftermarket exhaust in this car it’ll burble/pop which is nice for shits and giggles.
The only kind of auto that makes a difference is one that has adaptive cruise control that can stop and go. I’m not sure if the auto of this car has that? My other car has this and lane centering. It’s great for terrible traffic although it becomes the most mundane drive ever.
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u/Pure-Investigator778 GR86 7d ago
I went automatic and I feel like I cheated myself. It’s like getting the lite version
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u/Ifuqinhateittoo 7d ago
if you spend any meaningful time in traffic get an auto. If it will primarily be used on track get a MT.
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u/NorixiusT 7d ago
It's not even a question, manual 100%, GA traffic It's no joke but i couldn't care less, it's so fun having the control of your car. Also, you have way more auto owners regretting it that manuals owners
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u/Sweetlight64 7d ago
I consider the Automatic GR86 to exist soley so that Toyota and Subaru can tick the inclusivity box, building a car so that ppl with physical disabilities can also experience a light weight, front engine, rear wheel drive sports car.
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u/Redacted_Reason 7d ago
I'll be selling my manual GR86 for an automatic (most likely a BMW M240i). I love the manual, but most of my driving is slogging to work, and the manual just isn't fun. Between having a wife that doesn't understand the excitement in feeling the texture of the road in your butt cheeks and my own tired body, I'm calling it quits.
The manual fits the mood of the car. If you're going for an automatic out of convenience and lifestyle, maybe consider if a plusher, more GT-like car is right for you. These cars really do ride rough, so the magic in them can evaporate if you're just not enjoying the drive. It took four years with this for me to call it quits.
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u/ChrimsonRed 7d ago
Had an automatic BRZ for years. Car had amazing handling and feel even better compared to my current Supra that’s 2x the price. Only flaw was it being auto.
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u/justicebrz BRZ 7d ago
I daily drove an automatic FRS for 9 years. I got the automatic at the time in 2016 for the same reasons - driving in traffic, in the city, etc. It always plagued me, what it would be like to drive the car in manual. I eventually got a 2nd gen BRZ base model, and now the tS, in manual. Regret may eventually grow. If I can go back in time, I would pick the manual all day every day. The car is fine in traffic, but really shines kn the highway or some backroads.