I pulled the trigger! - 6-spd Manual 2020 Corolla SE Sedan

[Hamster]

Alright, I got a question. I am very, very seriously considering buying a new 6-speed Corolla sometime in the next 12 months, but possibly by the end of this year. Haven't decided if I want the sedan or the hatchback, though. The thing is, I don't know how to drive stick. I plan to buy the car for no other reason than to learn to drive a manual. I have the cash, so why not. Also I want a slightly bigger car. My parents have always owned a manual car, so I grew up watching them drive stick. But I learned to drive on the automatic minivan, and never really tried to learn to drive stick. Lately, it's just been bugging me that I never learned.

So, my question is, do you feel the 2020 Corolla would be easy for a beginner? Would the iMT mode make this car easier to learn on versus a typical manual car? My mom offered to test drive the Corolla for me and teach me how to drive it. So, no worries, I won't be on entirely on my own. But I still want and need a "beginner friendly" car. Also, I'm holding onto the Yaris. That car will never be traded in or sold. The Corolla will be a second fun car. Well, if you want to call a Corolla fun.

[KALISPEL II]

Originally Posted by Hamster

Alright, I got a question. I am very, very seriously considering buying a new 6-speed Corolla sometime in the next 12 months, but possibly by the end of this year. Haven't decided if I want the sedan or the hatchback, though. The thing is, I don't know how to drive stick. I plan to buy the car for no other reason than to learn to drive a manual. I have the cash, so why not. Also I want a slightly bigger car. My parents have always owned a manual car, so I grew up watching them drive stick. But I learned to drive on the automatic minivan, and never really tried to learn to drive stick. Lately, it's just been bugging me that I never learned.

So, my question is, do you feel the 2020 Corolla would be easy for a beginner? Would the iMT mode make this car easier to learn on versus a typical manual car? My mom offered to test drive the Corolla for me and teach me how to drive it. So, no worries, I won't be on entirely on my own. But I still want and need a "beginner friendly" car. Also, I'm holding onto the Yaris. That car will never be traded in or sold. The Corolla will be a second fun car. Well, if you want to call a Corolla fun.

Well, comparing the 5-spd manual Yaris SE & 6-spd manual Corolla SE, I would say that the Corolla is a bit more refined, less prone to stalling from a dead stop due to user error, & a bit more forgiving in general, in terms of clutch/gas-pedal dynamics. I loved shifting/driving both cars (for different reasons), but the Yaris manual is a bit more "hardcore" & unforgiving in general from a dead stop (but becomes second nature with use). The iMT in the Corolla will help also if you want to use it, but the annoying thing about that system is that you have to turn it on every time you start your car, because for some reason Toyota decided that the vehicle's computer should not remember that it was on the previous driving session.