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[Venthos]

Well with things shaping up like an '08 may not be in the cards for me due to shady dealer happenings and severe lack of communication to the point it borders on refusing to take my phone calls, I'm pondering just dropping the whole '08 business and pursuing an '09 full out.

As if I had enough anxiousness and complications with my '08, the potential for the 6-speed manual has me wondering. A car enthusiast friend of mine tells me that I should get the automatic as it would be more reliable at the track (not necessarily faster, but more reliable in times) and that I would quickly hate it come Michigan winters and shifting in heavy traffic. Another friend told me that some years ago he drove a manual transmission for 1 1/2 years and had no problems with it. He never got frustrated about shifting in traffic and the like.

However, at the same time, I've never driven a manual, never even sat in a manual before really except as a kid (8ish years old). The concept of driving a manual and that it would seem like you're more in control of the car is enticing. I'd like to investigate learning on a beater before even considering it for my '09 if I end up getting an '09. Obviously I'd want to have quite a bit of practice under my belt before I even touch an '09 with a manual transmission in it.

I'm not sure if I want to go through the hassle of buying a beater and then trying to get rid of it thereafter, and none of my friends drive a manual transmission. Anyone in the SE Michigan area know of any sort of place I could go to perhaps 'learn' a manual transmission? (basically get access to a car to learn on). Whether it's some 'driving school' or not. Or any advice on pursuing this.

I'd like to have at least given a manual transmission a shot to see if I like it before I write it off as something I will not be getting on the '09 Chally.

Any advice would be appreciated.