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Automatic or manual

Do you prefer manual or automatic?

  • I prefer a manual transmission

    Votes: 30 47.6%

  • I prefer an automatic transmission

    Votes: 20 31.7%

  • I don't know how to drive a car with a manual transmission

    Votes: 13 20.6%

  • I have no idea what you're talking about

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    63
I prefer a manual, without question. The only thing I hate about my car is that it's an automatic. When I bought it, the transmission was the ONLY downside to it. I decided to go ahead and get it despite the crap automatic transmission because it was a good deal on a convertible and I really wanted a convertible. (and I'd only seen a couple in the area for sale and for much more than what they wanted for mine)

But, the automatic transmission drives me ****ing nuts at times. It hesitates at times, and often I'm screaming at it, "****ing shift, goddamnit!!!!" And going down icy hills is MUCH scarier in an automatic. I use the lower gears, but still... I don't have near the control. And I don't like that.
 
Glinda said:
In high school driver's training, I drove a few times with a manual tranny, but I sucked so bad, they gave me automatics from then on.
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Where did you take drivers ed that they used a standard tranny??
 
rivrrat said:
But, the automatic transmission drives me ****ing nuts at times. It hesitates at times, and often I'm screaming at it, "****ing shift, goddamnit!!!!"
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I hate waiting on the kick-down in an automatic, especially here when merging onto the freeway. It can be just plain dangerous.
 
Goobieman said:
I prefer a manual because it saves $1k or so on the cost of the vehicle.
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Not necessarily. However, sometimes your selection of options is vastly limited with a manual. :( I won't drive an automatic. Too dang boring. I want to drive my car, not have it drive me.

I laughed at my husband when he ordered his truck with an automatic transmission. :laughat:
 
Coronado said:
I hate waiting on the kick-down in an automatic, especially here when merging onto the freeway. It can be just plain dangerous.
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Yes. It's why I don't trust it to pull out quickly in front of a vehicle in traffic or something. Whereas, with a stick, I'd pop it down in gear and dart right out. But the automatic? I never know if it's actually going to ****ing shift when it should. I've found myself having to force a shift down at times by flooring the gas pedal just to get that boost when merging or having to dart across traffic.

Plus, automatic transmissions are ****ing expensive as all get out to fix, but the manual? Hardly anything. After spending $3000 to fix the automatic transmission in my Bronco, I swore I'd never get another automatic. But I broke that promise to myself with my convertible. I swear though, if I could pay someone a couple grand to take out the automatic transmission in my car and put in a manual, I would do it in a heartbeat.
 
Coronado said:
Where did you take drivers ed that they used a standard tranny??
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They offered that when I was in high school. We could choose between standard and automatic. /shrug
 
Coronado said:
Where did you take drivers ed that they used a standard tranny??
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I took mine on a ranch. First ya learn to ride a horse then a tractor then a pick 'em up truck then a car.
 
rivrrat said:
Yes. It's why I don't trust it to pull out quickly in front of a vehicle in traffic or something. Whereas, with a stick, I'd pop it down in gear and dart right out. But the automatic? I never know if it's actually going to ****ing shift when it should. I've found myself having to force a shift down at times by flooring the gas pedal just to get that boost when merging or having to dart across traffic.

Plus, automatic transmissions are ****ing expensive as all get out to fix, but the manual? Hardly anything. After spending $3000 to fix the automatic transmission in my Bronco, I swore I'd never get another automatic. But I broke that promise to myself with my convertible. I swear though, if I could pay someone a couple grand to take out the automatic transmission in my car and put in a manual, I would do it in a heartbeat.
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I have noticed this issue with my automatic - it sometimes shifts when it would seem inadvisable...

But overall, since there's not all that much traffic congestion to deal with in my area, and most of my travel is to and from my workplace on a highway, not much issue.
 
I've owned nothing but manuals since I learned to drive. I like them much better, and unless I come up with a pressing reason to change my mind in the next couple years, my next car will be a manual too.
 
1069 said:
...
I find driving really difficult and draining. It's not an enjoyable experience to me at all, it's very stressful and frightening, so much so that public transportation often seems preferable.
Of course I live in a big city, with pretty bad traffic, and maybe small-town or country driving would be different. A lot of people here don't drive; sometimes it's faster just to bike or take a bus.
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The solution to this is to drive a little crazier than everybody else on the road. Seriously.

Most of the areas where I work, Central Florida, North Florida, sometimes the Panhandle and other southeastern states, the traffic is reasonable. There isn't very much gridlock, I can get from the hotel to work and back without stopping, usually, except for red lights.

But I had to work in Miama for two different stretches this past summer. The drivers and the road conditions there are very different. I have to completely change the way I drive.

You have to go faster there, especially on I95, have to force people to let you change lanes. Turning on your blinker and waiting for an opening is useless.

You can not leave a safe driving distance between your car and the one ahead of you because somebody will whip in there and leave you nothing. Its bumper to bumper at highway speeds (in between the traffic jams) in the areas of Miami where we worked. You literally have to drive recklessly and aggressively to get where you're going, to get to the exit you need.

The only way it works for me there is to drive as badly as everybody else. Its counterintuitive, but that's the safest way to get around. I don't like it, but if I'm going to fear their driving, they're going to fear mine too. Its kind of a badge of honor to have people honking at me there, better than doing the honking anyway.

That's bad advice, I know, but it works for me. When in Rome...
 
There are many reasons why I prefer manual-
1. Its fun
2. Better performance
3. Cheaper
4. Less maintenance
5. Better MPG

Sadly I fear manuals are becoming extinct. We had to replace both cars the last couple of years and it is very hard to find a manual in a used automobile.

If I had to drive in bumper to bumper traffic each day my answer may be different.
 
Coronado said:
Where did you take drivers ed that they used a standard tranny??
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Southern California in the 70s. All the high schools in the area had both automatics and manuals; I suppose it's because manuals were more prevalent then.

I've heard that many high schools these days don't have driver training courses at all. Is that true? And if it is, WTF? :doh
 
For an every day driving car I prefer an automatic - partly because I'm lazy and partly because traffic in my state is horrible.


For a Sunday driving car, or sports car or pick-up truck not used every day... certainly a manual is preferred. But since I had to pick one, I picked auto.
 
theangryamerican said:
It's all in learning to drive and control it properly. Trust me, with 500hp at the rear wheels, anything, including dry roads is a "slippery condition."

I can operate a manual with about the stiffest racing clutch you've ever seen quite proficiently, but had to settle down when I became a family man. Now I just putter around in an automatic Chevy Cavalier. There is just something about a manual though that makes you feel so much more in-tune with the car and is just a blast to drive.

*Sigh* Now I miss my toys. Someday... maybe when the kids are gone... I'll get another one. :mrgreen:
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Very true. I will not question, in a sports car a manual would probobly be for the best. I can't say I have ever experience 500hp before either. In my 4x4 truck though, this is much more debatable...
 
Coronado said:
Manual any day of the week. Better control, less maintenance, cheaper to buy ... why wouldn't you want one?
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2 advantages of a manual, cheaper and more control as far as gear selection. I think they have like 5% more power too since autos use a torque converter and generally get better MPG. There are disadvantages though. Auto's are generally more heavy duty and easier to use. Doesn't seem like a lot, but if you use your truck to drive through denver rush hour, tow a trailer, and go hunting/4x4ing on the weekend I got to say the auto is the way to go.
 
theangryamerican said:
How embarrassing, not being able to drive a girl car. :2razz:
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Coronado said:
No kidding. A Nissan 350ZX? If you're gonna jack something, at least jack a nicer vehicle than that ...
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Girl car!? No way! It's got 330 HP/270 lb-ft and a sweet exterior and interior for under $30K. I still prefer the original 240Z, though. Check this baby out:
892776.jpg
 
snodog said:
There are many reasons why I prefer manual-
1. Its fun
2. Better performance
3. Cheaper
4. Less maintenance
5. Better MPG

Sadly I fear manuals are becoming extinct. We had to replace both cars the last couple of years and it is very hard to find a manual in a used automobile.

If I had to drive in bumper to bumper traffic each day my answer may be different.
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I was going to post these exact reasons for liking a manual when I saw your post. I would add a few more:

6. Downshifting
7. First gear in traffic.

I downshift to slow down. If I am in fifth gear, I go 4 - 3 - 2. I don't usually downshift to 1 unless I am in heavy crawling traffic. I can drive at a very slow speed in first gear and match any traffic flow. The only sucky thing is stop and go traffic, but I back off the car in front and let them stop and go and I maintain a slow speed where I usually don't need to brake.

I have a 2007 VW Rabbit and the manual was $2K cheaper than the auto. I like being able to drive it soft or hard how I decide. Everyone should have to learn to drive stick.
 
reefedjib said:
Girl car!? No way! It's got 330 HP/270 lb-ft and a sweet exterior and interior for under $30K. I still prefer the original 240Z, though.
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330HP does not make a man's car, just a quick grocery getter. :2razz:

For reference, THIS is a man's car:
vemp_1002_10_o+vemp_1002_classic_corvettes+blown_c3_corvette.jpg


When they can make electric cars THAT fun, I might consider one.
 
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theangryamerican said:
330HP does not make a man's car, just a quick grocery getter. :2razz:

For reference, THIS is a man's car:

When they can make electric cars THAT fun, I might consider one.
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Whatever. Gotta do the price/performance. I ain't the beverly hillbillies you know. All I care about is some classic lines and a tight handling, fast sports car. The Z is the car for me.
 
drz-400 said:
Who needs a tranny anyways?

*Pic of jet-powered semi cab*
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Well, if those are jet turbines, you would - but I think they are straight jet engines - or perhaps rockets.

Which begs the question...Wtf are the flames out the exhaust stacks for? I'm guessing aesthetic value, but I still wonder...

Edit: And, what Fiddytree said. :mrgreen:
 
I started with a VW Bug (1966 model) with a manual. If a person can operate a VW manual tranny everything after that is cake. I can drive manual with or with using the clutch (except to start) but prefer and have Automatics.
 
Phoenix said:
I started with a VW Bug (1966 model) with a manual. If a person can operate a VW manual tranny everything after that is cake. I can drive manual with or with using the clutch (except to start) but prefer and have Automatics.
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I had a 64 Karmanghia. brakes went out when I was leaving Eglin AFB on the way out on leave once. drove it 325 miles home sans brakes, downshifting to slow down and stop.
 
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:prof I had to drive delivery trucks for a lumber company a few times because of being short staffed, years ago. One of the guys showed me how to do the 'no clutch' method of shifting. Wouldn't want to do that too often!
 
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