V8V Manual - How do your other halves get on with it?
Discussion
Please don't infer my question as chauvinistic, but a question for the blokes.
In your experience, have your other halves felt comfortable driving your V8V manuals? My wife to be is not a big fan of driving my Z4MC, yet felt fairly comfortable in the 911.
It won't be a deal breaker but I'd be interested to hear your first hand experience.
In your experience, have your other halves felt comfortable driving your V8V manuals? My wife to be is not a big fan of driving my Z4MC, yet felt fairly comfortable in the 911.
It won't be a deal breaker but I'd be interested to hear your first hand experience.
Mine hasn't had a go yet but citing feedback from her driving other cars over the years I expect the only complaints would be the heavy clutch, long bonnet and major adjustment to my usual "go kart" seat position settings so she can see where she's going 
To be honest I think it depends what she's used to driving every day.
To be honest I think it depends what she's used to driving every day.
She prefers sitting higher in RR and RRSOH has considerable issues with the manual, although in fairness she doesn't drive it much to practice. She prefers her Z4 tbh. She has asked why we got a manual and not one of those with the paddle things. I think if we get another, that will be a deal breaker over which one to get.
There appears to be a theme. 
Z4MC is not the easiest car to drive (clutch) but the OH could work it pretty well to be honest - I think it's just a confidence issue that she wouldn't want to take it out alone.
If she were to drive a V8V fairly frequently from the point at which it was bought, I expect she'd get used to it... which would be useful when I needed to take the bigger car (so she's not left stranded at home).
Alternatively, looks like a 911 as a third car could also work.
Z4MC is not the easiest car to drive (clutch) but the OH could work it pretty well to be honest - I think it's just a confidence issue that she wouldn't want to take it out alone.
If she were to drive a V8V fairly frequently from the point at which it was bought, I expect she'd get used to it... which would be useful when I needed to take the bigger car (so she's not left stranded at home).
Alternatively, looks like a 911 as a third car could also work.
I didn't have a problem with our manual V8V other than hill starts made me nervous as the hand-brake was a bit tricky. TBH I think Rob felt the same.
I always thought I preferred a 'proper' gearbox until we got the V8S which has an automated manual - my first experience of flappy paddles. Happy with either but have more fun with the paddles and find I am more likely to drop down a gear or two just for the hell of it!
Having the S has solved the hand-brake problem as it has hill assist so the hand-brake is only used for parking and isn't necessary for hill starts.
I always thought I preferred a 'proper' gearbox until we got the V8S which has an automated manual - my first experience of flappy paddles. Happy with either but have more fun with the paddles and find I am more likely to drop down a gear or two just for the hell of it!
Having the S has solved the hand-brake problem as it has hill assist so the hand-brake is only used for parking and isn't necessary for hill starts.
Ok, avoiding all the sexist crap, I believe the key is having a partner who has more than a passing interest in cars and driving.
I remember going to so many TVR meets where I was an oddity because I drove Tuscans.
I met my OH through a shared interest in motorbikes and cars, and this has continued.
Being of Welsh stock my Oh loves rugby. Almost zero interest to me.
I guess my rambling says if your partner is keen, encourage it. If not, don't force it as that could end badly with a performance car.
Di
I remember going to so many TVR meets where I was an oddity because I drove Tuscans.
I met my OH through a shared interest in motorbikes and cars, and this has continued.
Being of Welsh stock my Oh loves rugby. Almost zero interest to me.
I guess my rambling says if your partner is keen, encourage it. If not, don't force it as that could end badly with a performance car.
Di
lady topaz said:
I met my OH through a shared interest in motorbikes and cars, and this has continued.
Being of Welsh stock my Oh loves rugby. Almost zero interest to me.
I guess my rambling says if your partner is keen, encourage it. If not, don't force it as that could end badly with a performance car.
Di
Here, here. Except I'm more interested in the rugby than him!Being of Welsh stock my Oh loves rugby. Almost zero interest to me.
I guess my rambling says if your partner is keen, encourage it. If not, don't force it as that could end badly with a performance car.
Di
Hi Di, welcome back
no issues, here, the GF loves driving and does so often, even on track...but then she used to have TVRs as daily drivers herself and was brought up in rally cars with her dad
so as per our resident Ladys' advice ; the key is to have a wife or GF who shares a common interest...wow what a novelty that is for many
it also helps with the financial side of wasting huges sums on cars, if the other half understands your passion in life ...
I guess to the OP - some things to consider for the missus; the gearshift on a manual is quite stiff, other than that the idiosyncracies of the car apply equally to men as to women
so as per our resident Ladys' advice ; the key is to have a wife or GF who shares a common interest...wow what a novelty that is for many
it also helps with the financial side of wasting huges sums on cars, if the other half understands your passion in life ...
I guess to the OP - some things to consider for the missus; the gearshift on a manual is quite stiff, other than that the idiosyncracies of the car apply equally to men as to women
My wife hates cars, will never understand my passion for them and hence does not drive mine. Had it for 12 months and she's never accepted my offer - to drive the car that is
Is the manual V8 too difficult as a daily driver? Never in a million years. Your motor skills will very quickly ignore the fact that the clutch is heavy and you will only notice it when you get into a car that has a much lighter clutch and you put your foot through the underside of the car a la Flintstones due to your vastly over-developed left leg muscles.
HTH
Is the manual V8 too difficult as a daily driver? Never in a million years. Your motor skills will very quickly ignore the fact that the clutch is heavy and you will only notice it when you get into a car that has a much lighter clutch and you put your foot through the underside of the car a la Flintstones due to your vastly over-developed left leg muscles.
HTH
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