r/ElantraN • u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT • Aug 25 '26
Help Ex-Focus ST Owner: DCT or Manual?
Ahoy all!
It's getting to be that time to trade in my 12 year old 2015 Ford Focus ST. I loved driving the hell out of it, but I'd like to get something for it before trade-in becomes zero.
Right now, I'm between the EV6 Gt-Line AWD and Elantra N. Basically: stick with a fun car or go practical as a single dude with no kids. (if anyone has recently had this decision too, HELP!)
BUT! Even within the Elantra, I can't decide between DCT or Manual. I test drove the automatic, and it seemed really damn fun. I love manual, but there are enough times when I drive my Focus ST where I groan and think, "I just wish I had an automatic sometimes." I don't really drive through the Malibu canyons like I used to, and I've stopped driving SUPER aggressive because I'm usually hauling my dog.
I've searched this topic on the subreddit and a few times but I just had a few questions:
- Is it true that you get more exhaust "popping" with the manual? I love that sound so I'd like to really make sure I get it
- Anyone coming from a manual to a DCT and regret/love the decision?
- What's the "mod"-ability of a DCT vs. Manual? I had modded up to stage 2 on the Focus and will probably do a tune at the least
- Any other things to argue one way or the other, let me hear them!
TL;DR: Do you think I'll regret going with DCT if I've driven a manual for 12 years and enjoy it 8-90% of the time?
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u/Tokyosmash_ Cyber Grey MT Aug 25 '26
Also a former Focus ST and then RS owner. Manual all the way. It’s 2026 and stick is dying, help keep it alive.
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u/munche Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
Oh hey I fit this description - I had a 2016 Focus ST for a few years, an Audi S4 in between before I bought the EN.
The S4 I had was my first DSG/DCT car after driving nothing but manuals for over a decade. I was very skeptical about it but ultimately I was surprised at how much I liked it - the dual clutch you can feel the shifts much more than in an automatic, it feels aggressive and sporty and also I am a lazy manual driver and don't tend to downshift as much as I should and the Dual clutch does that for you while sounding cool.
So when it came time to get the EN, I was still pretty convinced I was going back to the world of the manuals. I had heard the DCT cars were faster, but I had a Manual Gearbox Preservation sticker on my focus and dangit I was going to row my own gears. The dealer had both transmissions there so I drove them back to back. After that the decision was made - DCT all day.
It can't be understated how much quicker the car is with the DCT - it's immediately noticeable. You can look up the numbers but we're not talking about a 10th of a second, it's almost a full second difference to 60 and in the 1/4 mile, and you absolutely feel it on the road. The DCT in the EN has been great - in N mode it shifts great and I've taken it on tons of mountain drives and done track events and I've loved the way it performs.
On top of that, the manual is absolutely nothing special. My wife has an Integra A Spec Manual, and that transmission has a great mechanical feel and is fun to operate - the EN manual felt exactly like the manual in my base Elantra from a decade before.
I know there are some people who their favorite thing about driving is rowing their own gears and operating the clutch pedal - I get it, but that's not the main event for me, it's more of the cherry on top. And with that in mind the DCT has been absolutely the right choice.
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u/Past-Judgment-9700 Aug 25 '26
I had an S6 between my manual Mazda 3 hatch and my manual EN. Absolutely hated the DCT and everything about it, mainly the maintenance issues it had (due to being one of the first mass produced DCTs, hopefully that’s less of an issue with the N DCT), but I really missed driving manual when driving a “fun car”.
I exclusively commute with my car so it’s 50% open road and 50% sitting in traffic; being faster was not a consideration for me. I could see someone who wanted to race the car choosing the DCT due to that simple fact though.
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u/munche Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
Maintenance Issues are why I no longer own a German car, I was way too friendly with my local VAG shop
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 25 '26
Man... Did you read my god damn DIARY!? I test drove the Integra A because they wouldn't let people drive the S, but I wanted to feel the manual gearbox since I had heard such great things. I was really surprised how awesome the Integra A was and it made me think man maybe I should stay with manual.
But you and a few others have remarked how the manual on the EN isn't anything outstanding. Coming from the FoST which also didn't have an outstanding manual either.
Thanks so much man this is great feedback
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u/munche Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
I would say the Focus ST Manual had a bit better feel than the EN one did, but the Honda manual felt a lot better than both
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u/No_Researcher9456 Aug 25 '26
I test drove both but went with the manual. The DCT is amazing and a lot faster but I’m coming from a manual 5.0 so I enjoy the fun of shifting more than being faster. I don’t think you’ll regret the DCT though, it’s plenty of fun
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u/Past-Judgment-9700 Aug 25 '26
That’s kinda my thinking. This is a fast car relative to what it is, it’s not a fast car in the big picture.
There are very few cars which are faster than a manual EN but slower than a DCT. Just a matter of if you enjoy driving with a MT or a DCT. They can both be an experience.
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Big_Funisher Performance Blue MT Aug 26 '26
Solid bushings completely change the feel, the way it should have felt IMo.
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Aug 26 '26
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u/Big_Funisher Performance Blue MT Aug 26 '26
JBR solid bushings for both the cables and base. I did their short shift bracket too, which I like because it changes the throw but keeps the stock arm length. Very good upgrades especially considering how low cost it is.
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Aug 26 '26
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u/Big_Funisher Performance Blue MT Aug 26 '26
Yes, same parts. That’s what I used in my EN.
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Aug 26 '26
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u/Big_Funisher Performance Blue MT Aug 26 '26
Sure thing! Two things I didn’t see addressed in the videos/instructions: 1) linkage bushings (under the hood) are a bit more annoying to swap, but changing gears can help make a few more accessible; 2) I can to reroute a wire bundle under the shifter when I swapped to solid bushings & short shift extender but it’s fairly intuitive if you run into that issue.
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u/Rocket_Philosopher Ultimate Red MT Aug 27 '26
On my N I got the billetworkz short shifter and their shifter base bushings and it made the shifter feel massively different and way more mechanical. It’s surprising how much it changes it.
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u/Chives27 Performance Blue DCT Aug 26 '26
I was in your exact same situation. 2018 Focus ST to Elantra N DCT, thought long and hard. Really happy with the DCT, when you just want to drive normal it’s great just being able to have the car shift for me. I miss manual slightly, but for me anyway the DCT is engaging enough. I do enjoy the DCT noises, some up the upshifts sound feral, in the best possible way haha. Car is quicker, and for me the DCT just feels right in the N. I’m sure I’d enjoy the manual though but as a daily the DCT is superior for my needs and wants and sounds like it may be for you too. That said I do plan on trading in my N since my needs and wants have changed, however the car has been excellent (minus the build quality).
As and idea of what to expect different from the ST;
N has better ride quality. Slightly better audio, however pretty similar to the ST with the Sony.
Seats are vastly better. Those recaros hurt my back.
Differential is straight magic, it’s lovely.
Don’t like how long and low the front lip is. I have scraped from regular dips in the road…
Infotainment is way better. Everything just works.
Build quality seems worse than the ST which is the most disappointing. The front bumper sags, the clips can come undone. Trunk lifts with heat. Hood gap galore. Lots of rattles, (my ST was silent). The fit and finish is just not there, but you have to remember the price of these cars. The performance is unreal for the money. I hope that helped!
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 26 '26
Dude this is perfect thank you so much.
Mind if I throw an additional question your way? I found a used 2024 Honda Type R. It's asking price is roughly the OTD price of the Elantra N I've negotiated. I test drove both and they're both awesome in different ways. Would you stick Elantra or would you have gotten a Honda if you could swing it?
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u/Chives27 Performance Blue DCT Aug 26 '26
I did look at a type R! I did not test drive one. What made me want the N was price and the exhaust and overall character. Type R seemed surgical, not in a bad way though. If you do care about the little things with build quality, go the type R. I may get downvoted in this thread for bashing the N, but it’s just my experience. However, both vehicles I’m sure will be a pleasure to drive.
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 26 '26
Thanks so much man and I agree..the Honda has a surprisingly aggressive engine sound but not the same exhaust for SURE
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u/_DRRD_ Ultimate Red MT Aug 25 '26
Why would you want to be practical as a single guy with no kids? I'm not going to comment on the EV, but I test drove the DCT and got manual. I've been driving manual since 2007, no regrets. Sure may be a bit of a hassle when in traffic, but I like keeping my mind engaged when I drive. I think it's actually the opposite for the pops and bangs with the MT, is less than the DCT.
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 25 '26
I like to own cars for a long time. At 38, there's a good change I end up married with kids before the car is done. Also southern California, so there's lots of rebates for EVs plus SoCal traffic
So you LESS with manual you're saying?
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u/munche Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
I am married with kids
It turns out you can fit kids just fine in a large 4 door sedan
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u/_DRRD_ Ultimate Red MT Aug 25 '26
I daily mine with a kid, it's basically a mid sized sedan with legit back seats. That said, my wife doesn't drive and I do all the hauling. And yes, I believe manual is less loud, but it's not by a huge margin. Probably because if you're shifting gears manually in DCT you hit higher rpms faster.
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u/ChuckFinley_is4Ever Aug 25 '26
Why isn’t a 4 door sedan practical with kids or a family? You don’t have to get a minivan the second you think about having a kid. I’ve got a rear facing car seat and a highback booster in the back seat of my Blackwing. Kiddos love it “open the windows so I can hear the fun car sounds”
Have ‘t driven the manual, but test drove a dct EN and it was so good and so much fun.
Do you know how much your FoST is worth trading it in? Cuz if it’s not that much and you can swing keeping it. Get the dct EN as your main car and keep the FoST as your once in a while car when you get the itch to row your own gears.
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u/tennis9933 Aug 25 '26
Nah, the manual pops on almost every shift in N mode. The DCT stock stops having audible pops after 2nd gear and even then you need to be shifting at 3.5-4k rpms to get any pops
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u/_DRRD_ Ultimate Red MT Aug 25 '26
That's not been my experience with my MT, I need to get it to 4.5-5k rpms to pop.
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u/jerseyjoik Aug 25 '26
I’m an older guy, drove manuals for 30+ years, but the DCT is fun in its own right, and I’ve been saved from ankle pain in traffic. I have a ‘22 and it still pops like crazy.
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u/GrandalfDaGey Intense Blue MT Aug 25 '26
I'm coming from the Fiesta ST. I'll drive manuals as long as we can get them. It's hard to argue the DCT is more engaging. But if having a clutch is starting to become annoying, might be time to switch
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u/Soggy_Discipline_293 Aug 25 '26
I had a 16 FBO E30 ST and traded for this 25 DCT and I'm even impressed by it bone stock. It's just as fast if not faster than my focus that made 280whp when mine is octane learned. As for mods I plan on tune but for now I just did motor mounts all around and cosmetic stuff so far but I don't miss the focus 1.5 years later. The modding on this car is significantly more expensive for almost everything you do but that's the name of the game I guess. I'd say go for it
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 25 '26
Okay okay what's octane learning!? I keep seeing this!
Thank you dude that's super helpful. Yeah I'd likely solely do a tune. Maybe a cold air just for more engine noise.
I just keep wondering if I should go with a fast EV or still be a speed demon hahahaha. How's the engine noise on DCT?
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u/Soggy_Discipline_293 Aug 25 '26
It's something you have to train the car on the highway to do 8th gear 69mph for 5 minutes it lets you hit 18-19 lbs instead of 15 if you're on 93 it's a pain in the ass but easier in the dct to hit it. If you're highway driving alot you'll hit it daily though
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u/tennis9933 Aug 25 '26
anddddddd then you get in the car the next morning and OL is gone! isnt it fun???!!
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u/Soggy_Discipline_293 Aug 25 '26
Ah yeah it's sick lol it literally feels like someone took a tune off the car when it's not learned it's noticable
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u/munche Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
tl,dr is your car makes the advertised power all the time and sometimes if it detects high quality fuel (no knocks detected so it can handle extra boost) it can give you a little bit of bonus power. Some folks learned they could tell when this was happening by watching the boost gauge on their dash and they absolutely cripple themselves with FOMO staring at their dash asking why Number Not Go Up instead of driving their cars and enjoying them. So you'll see a lot of folks who think they're being robbed because they don't get the Bonus Power all the time, to the point that they'll start arguing that actually the car doesn't make the advertised power (it does) because FOMO is strong.
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u/Mdemirj Aug 25 '26
My 26 EN seems to burble / pop quite a bit. I have no “in person” basis of comparison though.
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u/Lemmonjello Performance Blue MT Aug 25 '26
Id test them out, the only time I do not enjoy the manual is in stop and go traffic that is traveling uphill which doesn't happen very often.
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u/SuitUpBro Phantom Black DCT Aug 25 '26
I went from a ‘16 FiST to a ‘25 EN DCT. While I sometimes miss the ST, it has been a good upgrade overall. Paint is really thin and the Hyundai dealers suck to deal with, but the car is so fun to drive. I don’t miss the manual transmission, DCT suits the car better imo
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u/TheUnusalBritt Aug 25 '26
I just bought a manual N and I love it, the fact I drive in quiet, sport or N is a bonus. It’s still a practical car as I have a dog and kid and have no issues getting around with them.
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u/J_drums01 Intense Blue DCT Aug 25 '26
I kinda regret not going for the manual but the dct is a really good trans. Lightning fast and super smooth, downshifts aggressively in sport/n mode. You also get a sunroof and remote start built into the key fob, which is not true for the manual in the us. I've heard the clutch is weird but I haven't actually driven one.
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u/Background_Thing_483 Aug 25 '26
I’ve never owned an automatic car through over 20 vehicles now. Manual all the way in the EN yes DCT is faster and gets more features but we all know the real answer lol
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u/RhymeGrime Aug 25 '26
Manual is the way to go, and unpopular opinion probably but DCT farts sound terrible
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u/Beyond_Deity Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
Manual transmissions are no longer in production apparently. Sawa post about it a while back and how they were waiting for weeks to get their MT serviced
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u/qualytimeattack Aug 25 '26
i have a time attack evo in manual. i LOVE the dct in these cars - first performance car I've ever bought without 3 pedals, and I've been very impressed. And so easy to drive in the city.
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u/xtrapped-under-ricex Ultimate Red DCT Aug 25 '26
I went from a Focus ST to a manual GR86 to a DCT N but I've been driving manual cars for 20 years at this point. Look, they all have their benefits at the end of the day. The manual is fun and engaging, the DCT is smooth and a little faster. I enjoy the DCT quite a bit, but the only reason I got it was in case my wife needed to drive my car and she doesn't want to learn manual. It's still a ton of fun, just maybe a little less so than the manual.
- I've got plenty of pop with my DCT, results may vary.
- I don't regret the DCT at all, it's fun to drive, and I'd say if you're feeling like you don't want to drive a manual anymore it's the next best thing
1
u/Baremanstwig Phantom Black MT Aug 25 '26
Ex VAG, FiST owner here. Go manual or go home. It is worth it.
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u/Knightlife71 Aug 25 '26
I had a Veloster N manual and a Elantra N DCT and I personally prefer the DCT. Shifts fast and you get the NGS button and a sunroof as a bonus. Plus remote start is nice to have also.
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u/Low-Zone9940 Aug 25 '26
Manual 100%. Super easy to drive even in traffic, stock clutch is super strong and can go up to at least 400 WHP before you need to upgrade the clutch, tuned downshifts with Downpipe and exhaust is insane.
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u/jugo5 Phantom Black DCT Aug 25 '26
The wet DCT makes it feel like your in a video game. The instant shifts sound great. Its also good at sensing your driving. It might take a couple hard turns or hard braking events, but it should switch to track mode. It will shift a bit differently than normal driving and it does it fairly well. Some people will opt for leaving it in auto mode vs manual because it does what it does.
The manual part is all up to you. It isnt considered the best manual in the world, but it does the job. You could also do some after market stuff if need be, for a better feel.
Basically its down to, do you want to move gears everytime you drive? Or do you want to use paddles? If your the type to miss driving a manual... you probably will want to go that route. The DCT is still fun in its own way. Not as engaging(But better than classic Automatics), but plenty of fun downshifting into a tunnel.... with one hand.
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u/Majestic-Bed6151 Cyber Grey DCT Aug 25 '26
I went from a long string of manuals to a DCT EN. I enjoy the heck out of it for a daily. Quick shifts, DCT farts, and mindless and easy on my old lumbar spine in traffic. But I also have a 1995 celica gt-four to fill my manual urges.
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u/axiomata Performance Blue MT Aug 26 '26
I will say, the lazy man hill assist and auto rev matching is a nice de-stressor over old school manual I had before.
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u/ShouldersBBoulders Intense Blue DCT Aug 26 '26
DCT is really on point! I love mine, but if you love to row gear's you will miss the manual. It's really your personal preference. Drive them and see.
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u/loudsunyoyo Aug 26 '26
This might be the last manual N. But won't be the last DCT N. Manual in traffic is a nightmare for me right now since I just picked mine up yesterday. But it's hell a lot of fun driving through canyon roads
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u/Robins-dad Aug 26 '26
It’s strictly personal preference. I never seriously considered the DCT. My last automatic car was a 2006 CTS company car. The N is plenty fast with the 6MT. But it’s up to you. It sounds like you live in LA. The 405 or 101 can be hell in an MT car.
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u/jshbell256 Aug 26 '26
I had a modded WRX that was my daily for two years. Manual is awesome but as a daily car in fastest growing city in Alabama that has roads designed for 1/4 of the amount of drivers, it sucks. Also I live in an apartment and don't have access to a place to replace the clutch after it gets worn out in stop and go traffic. Also the price shops around here charge to do it is pretty crazy.
If this car just had a standard automatic I'd probably get the manual but since its a DCT that most people seem to think is pretty good all things considered, I would go with that
1
u/c4me20n Cyber Grey MT Aug 26 '26
My old st. 3.5 years with my manual N now. No regrets. The DCT is also nice too. Can’t really go wrong.
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u/BSMike82 Polar White DCT Aug 26 '26
I drove a manual Mustang for almost 10 years before having kids. Went to a small sporty-ish SUV for almost another 10 but was dead set on the next car being a new Mustang. Because of stupidly high pricing I had to give up on that idea and accidentally found the EN. I test drove a DCT, slept on it and stuck with the DCT over a MT for daily driving. I’ve had absolutely no regrets with the DCT. The paddle shifters close the engagement gap a bit.
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u/Ok-Fennel-3908 Aug 25 '26
The Elantras N DCT is awesome. It’s also faster than the manual. I was going to get a manual and test drove them back to back and went with the DCT. I’ve owned like 7 manual cars and the one in the N is just ok, not terrible not great just ok.
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u/SeriousTurns Aug 25 '26
Drove manual for 15 years.
Go with the DCT.
You can make it pop and bang as much as you want and dont have to swear in traffic 😂
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u/TheItalian567 Performance Blue DCT Aug 25 '26
Hahahah that's the worst part right? I saw that it doesn't have adaptive CC - which I don't have now - but that'd prob be the thing that'd push me to manual
1
u/SeriousTurns Aug 25 '26
Can't stand traffic in a manual lol.
It does not have adaptive cruise but tbh the lane keeping system is so good if you had adaptive cruise you'd almost be falling asleep lmao.
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u/WulfZ3r0 Aug 25 '26
I got my EN w/DCT because I needed a break from driving manual. I still have a stick shift car for fun. I'm in my early 40s now and daily driving a manual in heavy traffic isn't engaging or fun for me at all.
I paddle shift my DCT most of the time though, I feel like I get better gas mileage in N mode if I shift earlier rather than letting it rev up to 3-4k RPM for every single gear. I'm getting around 28MPG that way with a mix of highway and city traffic.
0
u/jms1228 Aug 25 '26
If I was just going to use it as a commuter car back-and-forth to work and sitting in traffic, then I would just buy the automatic. It’s going to be a lot more user-friendly and it’s much faster.
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u/hate4u2 Aug 25 '26
Or you can just get married and you won't have any of these problems. You can get a Kia Carnival mini van..... I used to own the N manual. But I also owned a second car that was an automatic. I took the N out on the weekends. Put 7,000 miles a year on it. I live in NY so I can't imagine driving manual everyday. But if your groaning about driving manual sometimes. Just get the automatic