I go direct also, that's where my gear is. Driving my Subaru is like a foot message. Shifting is good for the feet.
Side note: Trying to figure out what to buy for a car when I get back. I want a nice small sports car, no American manufacturer offers anything that fits the bill. So I have narrowed it down to these few: STi, BRZ, Lancer Evo, and the Nissan 370Z. Really leaning towards the STi or BRZ as I know what I am getting. Anyone else have thoughts?