[c4racer]

I've been driving manual cars for so long I honestly get a little bit stressed out when I drive an AT, because I don't feel I have quite the same level of control over the car. But I started driving stick at 15 and have daily driven a manual car pretty much my entire adult life, plus spent a huge amount of time competitive driving manual cars - autox, HPDE and eventually road racing. It's completely second nature to me.

In fact, I picked up my daughter from her college for a trip home for the weekend and we were half way home (3 hour drive) before she even noticed the car was a manual. HA!

So maybe it's too late for you - don't know. I do know I tried very hard to teach my older daughter how to drive a stick in a Mini Cooper S and she just couldn't get the hang of it and she completely freaked out once she was out driving on the road with cars behind her and so forth so we both agreed to put that idea on a shelf for now. I didn't try with the younger one who is now 19 because I sold the Mini and didn't want to teach her on a 400hp V8 M5.

So I dunno what to tell you! It's a completely personal decision - everybody is different there and some people pick it up naturally and never look back, but not everybody does. My wife can drive a stick - she used to drive her HS boyfriend's mustang in college and her first car was also a manual - the cheapest new car she could find. And even through she doesn't drive one much, when she does drive one she fall back into it pretty naturally so she has always been able to drive my manual cars when necessary, which is nice. Not that she does very often - and she never tried any of my vette's. But I think she could drive this SS no problem and she probably will at some point.

But seriously - if you've driven it 7 months and still totally stresses you out - probably time to move on. Maybe you can find a left over 2016 for enough of a deal to make the swap somewhat palatable.

[John Galtman]

7 months and u still can't drive the manual with pleasure? It stresses u out?
Damn, bro. It's not about the manual. U took a wrong car... Go and buy the prius...

[davet435]

Are you driving in stop and go traffic?? I wish my left knee and back could handle driving a manual. I drove them for years. On the other hand the A8 is incredible too.

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by WhyUMad1LE

It is off by default. Do you hit the paddle every time you turn on the car? If so, it sounds like a stick just isn't for you.

Yes I do.

Originally Posted by Mojave

You mean trading it for an auto CamaroSS? I was really expecting the 1LE or ZL1 convo when I first clicked

Either an auto Camaro 2SS or another car completely.

Originally Posted by c4racer

But seriously - if you've driven it 7 months and still totally stresses you out - probably time to move on. Maybe you can find a left over 2016 for enough of a deal to make the swap somewhat palatable.

I wouldn't buy new again. I would be looking at something slightly used.

[GTIanZ28]

Sorry to hear about your issue. Really bizarre problem IMHO. But, it would be annoying not being able to enjoy such a great car.

Realistically driving a stick becomes 2nd nature. Something you shouldn't even have to think about or even concentrate on. If this is your first manual give it some time. If you can't get comfortable in a year or so then look for other used camaro's with auto that you could trade for at a dealership.

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by John Galtman

7 months and u still can't drive the manual with pleasure? It stresses u out?
Damn, bro. It's not about the manual. U took a wrong car... Go and buy the prius...

I'm going to try and not let this piss me off. Your first three sentences are correct.

Originally Posted by davet435

Are you driving in stop and go traffic?? I wish my left knee and back could handle driving a manual. I drove them for years. On the other hand the A8 is incredible too.

Some stop and go traffic. Mostly back roads. My commute is about 88 miles/day.

[JLSuperfly]

Originally Posted by Mojave

You mean trading it for an auto CamaroSS? I was really expecting the 1LE or ZL1 convo when I first clicked

That's what I thought too.

[Mojave]

Have you driven the A8 Camaro SS then to see what you think? I am in LOVE with mine

[Techn9cian805]

is it the initial throttle deadzone that makes taking off from a stop stressful?

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by Mojave

Have you driven the A8 Camaro SS then to see what you think? I am in LOVE with mine

I have not. I didn't even test drive the manual before I bought it. I just figured that I would get used to it (which I have to an extent but still stressful). It's not that I can't drive the car, it's that driving the car is stressful and therefore not enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Techn9cian805

is it the initial throttle deadzone that makes taking off from a stop stressful?

I think that may contribute to it.

[G6CamJK]

Originally Posted by c4racer

I've been driving manual cars for so long I honestly get a little bit stressed out when I drive an AT, because I don't feel I have quite the same level of control over the car.

But seriously - if you've driven it 7 months and still totally stresses you out - probably time to move on. Maybe you can find a left over 2016 for enough of a deal to make the swap somewhat palatable.

When I get in an auto transmission vehicle my left foot still instinctively searches for something to do and inevitably ends up clipping the brake pedal at the wrong time.

I have to agree with the second part. After 7 months of honest trying if it's not for you it's not for you. I trade back and forth between the Camaro 6m ( currently 1600 miles ) and a lifted Jeep Wrangler 6m with 80k+ miles. Clutch bite, torque responce, position of reverse, everything is completely different between the two. It catches me out sometimes if I haven't driven one or the other for week to 10 days.

[67Camaroto17]

How much do u want for it? I might be interested.

There's a reason sticks are hard to find. Most people go with the auto. Times have changed along with the rate of manual takes. No biggie

[RenegadeXR]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

I just can't relax in it. Always having to think about keeping it smooth. I can only wear one pair of sneakers when I drive it.

I'll put it to you this way: If you still have to think while shifting, you haven't adjusted yet. It's sort of like when you think about breathing and suddenly it becomes a deliberate and burdensome act. It might be hard to remember, but I'm sure when you first learned to drive, every little action required a lot of concentration for things you probably do very naturally now like merging onto busy highway onramps, keeping an eye on road signs and lane markers, and the dozens of other things you probably don't even realize are involved during driving because you're used to them.

I will say this though: Of all activities related to driving, manual shifting is the most deceptively easy looking. There's also a ton of peer pressure in automotive forums like this to go for a manual which really skews people expectations once they try it, which is why it's better to rent a manual car and daily drive it to see if it's for you. Manual transmissions, much like getting out to crank your own engine like in the old days, connects you to your car more but isn't necessarily better when viewed from a convenience standpoint. But just remember: Once upon a time, there were no automatics. People of all types, including mothers making a daily grocery run, had to learn stick.

Other than adjusting to it, there's nothing to do but take a $10k loss. Deep down, you know this fact and are looking for consolation I think. The only real 3rd option is a transmission swap which will be a lot more expensive if not impossible.

Personally, I would drive your other cars doing the week but take the Camaro out for a non-stop drive during a quiet period of the weekend. A 2+ hour drive with a mix of highway and city driving. Do this every weekend you can until the anxiety goes away such that it can be a daily driver again. It could and probably will take months.

[merlin803]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

I have not. I didn't even test drive the manual before I bought it. I just figured that I would get used to it (which I have to an extent but still stressful). It's not that I can't drive the car, it's that driving the car is stressful and therefore not enjoyable.



I think that may contribute to it.

I can kind of relate, I went from having a 5th Gen manual to my current 6th Gen auto.

While there were certainly times that I enjoyed the manual, I always felt like I had to make the ride 'smooth' if I had a passenger (usually my wife), which did subtract from the fun somewhat.

I love the auto in this car and have no regrets. If I get the itch for some manual driving, using the shifter in manual mode works fine.

Life is too short IMHO to keep if it you don't love it. Trade it in/sell it for an auto.