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Which Should I Go With?

  • 2.0 Premium Manual

    Votes: 10 24.4%
  • 3.8 Base Auto

    Votes: 24 58.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 7 17.1%

2.0 Premium Manual vs 3.8 Automatic Base

5K views 26 replies 12 participants last post by  Genesis1 
#1 · (Edited)
So basically when GM buy's back my car from me I will have 28.5k that I can spend on a new car, that has to include tax/license and tax is 9.75% here in California.

I have never driven a manual before and only know the basic concept with almost no practice. So to stay within the 28.5k budget I can either get a 2.0 Premium Manual or go with a 3.8 Auto Base. I really like the ZF transmission in the 3.8 which is why I wouldn't consider getting a 2.0 with the automatic. Traffic is a pain here in SoCal especially on the 101/405 freeways. Which route do you guy's think I should go?

I know benefit of the 3.8 is that I don't have to mod it right off the bat since it would already be pretty fast but on the 2.0 I would have to get a reflash once I get the hang of the 2.0 manual.
 
#6 ·
yes for a couple of simple reasons...

Push-button is a gimmick to me...when i can simply put in a key and turn it to start my car.

Sunroof is useless to me...i never used it in my last car.

Upgraded stereo I already got subs and an amp at home...wasnt really worth it to get something extra i already have.

And I knew i would also be more inclined to mod the 2.0t a lot if i got it (I hate Turbo Crack :) )

With the 3.8 I would've just threw on a cat back or axle back and called it a day.
 
#7 ·
3.8 manual

not having a sunroof hasn't bothered me in the Yaris. Actually shows me that I really don't need to spend the money on a sunroof on my next vehicle. Push button start is nice, sure, but in the end a key in the ignition works just as well. As far as the upgraded stereo, that's what aftermarket is for.

Quite honestly the only thing I'd really want from the 3.8 GT is the HID lights, but the 2.0 doesn't have those either so it's a moot point.
 
#8 ·
Quite honestly the only thing I'd really want from the 3.8 GT is the HID lights, but the 2.0 doesn't have those either so it's a moot point.
That and the "dark Chrome" Housings

Hid's were installed on my 2.0t and cutoff & Beam Spread is pretty damned perfect...The stock projectors are very HID friendly compared to other cars i've seen

The With the 3.8 GT The thing that stopped me was the Brown Interior...Ugh..i couldn't stand it.

3.8 track was more than the base 370 (Which was almost what ive would've gotten) I couldn't fathom myself going for that when a better car was a bit cheaper
 
#15 ·
Driving the 3.8 manual may actually be easier than the 2.0 manual. The 3.8 has a much broader torque curve from the factory so you won't have to shift as much to accelerate. If you're not into modding then definitely get the 3.8.

If you don't plan on modding though, then having the upgraded stereo may be a good thing since the factory stereo is pretty bad. The Infinity is only marginally better but it's good enough to not have to run out and get a new system the first 6 months.

Proximity key and push button start is definitely a handy feature too. You can leave your keys in your pocket for opening and starting so you don't have them dangling and scratching up the dash. You can never lock your keys in the car unless you really want to.

The GC probably isn't the best manual to learn on but you should be able to get it down. Just be sure to get a lot of practice in before you hit any bumper to bumper traffic.
 
#16 ·
Go to your local drivers training place and pay em $100 to take some manual transmission lessons. :)

Cheap easy way to find out if you can pick it up quick and easily, then transmission choice won't be a bit problem, just pick the one you enjoy driving the most.
 
#17 ·
this is my first manual and i commute in LA every day. the initial fear over driving stick is just that... fear... once you actually start doing it you'll learn it faster than you thought possible. sure, it's not convenient to be shifting 50 times throughout the course of a freeway commute home, but you'll learn how to stay in one gear, baby the brakes, and stay safe, while lots of automatic drivers are slamming on brakes every 5 seconds, causing accidents and just generally driving like douchebags. i strongly believe that people driving stick pay more attention to the road because they don't have the free hands to be checking their email, playing with the NAV system, drinking coffee and shuffling through the iPod at the same time ;)

i will be the first to say though that when there's an accident on a freeway out here, it does suck, there is no beating around the bush on that. it's a give and take though. you'll have more fun driving the car on twisty roads, late at night, or out of the city than you would with the manual. so you sacrifice some and you gain some.

btw i would get the 3.8 over the 2.0 if you can find one that has everything youre looking for. the 2.0 is a little on the underpowered side and it doesn't sound like you're too thrilled about boosting the psi and installing engine upgrades.
 
#18 ·
I would be fine with buying a reflash for the 2.0 to increase the psi / torque / horsepower but I doubt I would want to go bigger turbo. But I calculated so if I get the 3.8 Base in Manual for 24.5k which is like 200-300 above invoice in the end license and registration fee's it would cost me 27k total so I would have 1.5k left to play with or so unless I picked a different trim.
 
#19 ·
yeah thats a decent price and with 1500 you could get a good aftermarket stereo, or tint & wheels... not a bad option at all.
 
#20 ·
I have been driving manual sports cars since 1993 and it is more fun. Fun fact#1 I have a base 3.8 auto and I opted to go this route because it was faster in the quarter mile then the manual and the padel shifter makes it almost as much fun as the stick. Fun fact #2 is like steagle said you can get a much better after market system for the money. The sunroof was not an issue for me. I was going for a real driving experience and the sunroof will hurt the cars rigidity. Maybe not alot but some. Hope my opinion helps and remember opinions are like a**holes and everyone has one. :)
 
#22 ·
Either or...just get a Genny!!! Go with the 3.8 auto, you wont regret it, unless you have thin skin and guys that say the auto isnt a "True Sports Car" bothers you. The auto is way more convienient, it hasent had the problems with the rearend that alot of manuals have, and its quicker.

Once tras kits become available (manual valve bodies and computer reprograms) the ZF is going to be stellar.

The 2.0 is just not for me, the sound sucks, no power and you will have to dump a frig of alot more $$ into it to make it haul than guys here will lead you to believe.
Just my 2c.
 
#23 ·
you will have to dump a frig of alot more $$ into it to make it haul than guys here will lead you to believe.
Just my 2c.
Gotta love the FUD spreaders. Getting the 2.0 on par with the 3.8 has been discussed many times. A reflash/retune will get you close to 3.8 power in the 2.0T. $500-$700 and it's a done deal.
 
#24 ·
I don't see the point in having a "fun" car that can't perform a rev-matched down shift. Traditional automatics suck on twisty roads. I would go for the underpowered turbo model for that very reason. However, a 3.8 with a man-tran is where the fun is at ;).
 
#25 ·
The extra features of the Premium package aren't as fantastic as some people think.

The push button start...was cool at first, but now I don't even pay attention or notice anymore.

The unlock/lock button on the door handle is nice, I do like that alot.

Sunroof. I like it mainly because I always have the sunroof open. however, if you live in a cold climate area... you probably wont use it as much as you think.

Powered Seats. How often do you adjust your seat? There's no "memory" feature, so if other people drive the car, you still have to continually adjust it.

Premium Stereo. This i like.. It's better than I thought it would be. The whole "10 speaker setup" is a bit misleading since they treat "2-way" speakers as two seperate speakers. Plus, if you have any issues with the speakers, or you blow one.... well you got 10 yr MFG warranty to abuse.

All-in-All, the extra money I spent to go from the 2.0 Base to the 2.0 Premium.... wasn't really worth it... in my eyes.
 
#27 · (Edited)
I know that you wil really like the 3.8, the sound is incredable,and the power is there across the entire rpm range. I just put a modified cat back and SRI and you certainly can feel the power difference and it wont be that long before the reflash/tune is available.

Manual v Auto, prety much a personal choice, however there are some issues with the auto, it wont shift down till its damn good n ready to, mainly this is an engine protect feature and Im hoping that the tuners will bypass this.

I dont buy into "its not a sports car if its auto", cause the Genny isnt a sports car...its a sports coupe.

Like I said, the main thing is that you get Genny.
 
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