automatic or manual?

[slg47]

Do you drive an automatic transmission or standard/manual transmission?

 

[iheartscience]

My first 3 cars were manual (Volvo 240, Saturn whatever and a super old Toyota Tercel wagon) and my last car and my new car (both Camrys) are automatics. My husband's truck is manual though and I drive it sometimes if we switch cars. I do enjoy zipping around in a manual, but I live in the city and there are tons of lights and 4 way stops, so an automatic is so much more convenient.

My husband is about to buy a new car (likely a Subaru Outback) and he wants a manual but I think he'd really like the automatic better. But he takes the highway to get to work so it'll be a lot less shifting than if I had a manual shift. Oh well-his car, he can decide!

 

[kenny]

BTW, in the past manuals got better MPG, and was one reason some people opted for them.
I think today the MPG of both are closer to the same.

 

[kittybean]

Even though we live in a city, I love my manual. When I drive an automatic, I feel like something is missing, and my left foot gets antsy for something to do.

 

[Haven]

I drive an automatic. I never learned how to drive a manual car.

My Honda Civic averages 31 mpg. I know because I do the calculations every time I fill the gas tank. DH drives the exact same make, model, and year (we bought them together) and he averages 26 mpg. I win.

 

[Imdanny]

Automatic but it's fun to drive a manual (car or truck) once in awhile.

 

[Dancing Fire]

my current truck is an automatic but the one before was a manual.

 

[kenny]

My Honda Insight Hybrid has CVT (an automatic with no gears, just two funnels and a belt) but it also has paddle shifters on the steering wheel (no clutch).

I think this is the best of worth worlds.
If you want to be sporty you can paddle shift.
If you want to not be bothered just drive in automatic.

 

[VRBeauty]

Manual! Just because it's so much more fun to drive! Besides I need all the help I can get in keeping my attention on the task at hand (which is why I never use my cruise control - it makes it too easy for my mind to wander from the road). I'm sure I actually pay a fuel penalty - I'd probably get much better gas mileage with an automatic transmission.

I have to admit though that I'm fortunate enough that I can get to work without ever setting wheel on a freeway, and I rarely have to drive in serious stop-and-go freeway traffic. If my commute included congested freeways, and/or a lot of driving in San Francisco, I might consider an automatic...

 

[Dancing Fire]

Even though we live in a city, I love my manual. When I drive an automatic, I feel like something is missing, and my left foot gets antsy for something to do.

today's manual are easy to drive. i learned to drive a manual shift on a 1969 Dodge Charger with no PS,no power clutch...

 

[charbie]

Even though we live in a city, I love my manual. When I drive an automatic, I feel like something is missing, and my left foot gets antsy for something to do.

me, too! i get into DH's car and always wonder what is missing! i LOVE the control i have driving stick, especially when driving in snow.

 

[Dancing Fire]

have you guys ever seen or driven a 3 speed manual car with the shifter right below the steering wheel?...

 

[Trekkie]

have you guys ever seen or driven a 3 speed manual car with the shifter right below the steering wheel?...

Yup! I've driven several of those. Awesome fun!

 

[Dancing Fire]

have you guys ever seen or driven a 3 speed manual car with the shifter right below the steering wheel?...

Yup! I've driven several of those. Awesome fun!

WOW!! you are that old??...

 

[jaysonsmom]

I've driven both...but with kids in the car I prefer automatic. Pre-kids my preference was manual.

 

[Autumnovember]

Automatic over here!

 

[Trekkie]

have you guys ever seen or driven a 3 speed manual car with the shifter right below the steering wheel?...

Yup! I've driven several of those. Awesome fun!

WOW!! you are that old??...

A gentleman never alludes to a lady's age!

But since we all know you're too naughty to be a gentleman... I'm 26. But my dad is over 70 and really into vintage cars...

 

[mayerling]

I've driven both but I prefer manual. It just feels like I'm actually driving versus having the car drive for me. Plus, I live in the UK where most cars are manual so there are not many opportunities for driving automatic.

 

[zoebartlett]

I've driven a manual before when my dad had a sports car years ago, but I MUCH prefer to drive automatics. I get panicky when I can't change gears correctly, and I HATE the thought of being stuck on a hill with cars behind me. Since it's too nerve-racking to drive a manual, I'm planning on only driving automatics.

 

[oranges]

Automatic! I don't even know how to drive a manual

 

[ksinger]

I own the auto, hubs prefers manual. I like manuals occasionally, but I find there's too much DRIVING involved for my taste. I also have a bum left ankle, which can make clutching into something fraught with danger. I've really strained that ankle from time to time, with the constant clutching.

I have to admit though, our Miata 6-speed is a truly fun ride, although that is less from it being manual than the fact that it's a perfectly balanced little "driver's car" and is very torque-y and sticky sticky sticky... you can just fling it 'round corners. Fun stuff.

 

[Tuckins1]

My first manual was a 2001 Mustang GT V8... (Convertible, triple black, leather.... I LOVED that car!!) I now drive a 2007 Jetta, which is also a manual. Every other car i've had was an SUV, and they were all automatics. I have an Explorer that I drive in the winter, but any car that I buy will be a stick. They are so much fun to drive!

 

[elrohwen]

Manual all the way! I will drive stick shifts until they stop selling them.

I've started looking for a new car (to get a few years from now) and surprisingly, finding one with a manual transmission is becoming a stumbling block. Fewer and fewer cars are offered with manual transmissions these days - or sometimes only the cheapest model will have a stick while the nicer one, which I prefer, only comes in an automatic. Very frustrating. And paddle shifters are not the same - I need a clutch.

My family has only owned manual cars (I'll admit it was really hard to learn how to drive on a stick) and I really dislike driving automatics (my only experience has been the many rental cars I drove at my last job). I crave the control and acceleration of a stick shift!

My car is older (2001 Civic) and I firmly believe that the manual transmission increases my gas mileage. I've regularly clocked 36mpg, and since Haven says she gets 31mpg on a modern Civic, I'd say that's pretty good for my old car! (and I am not the kid of driver who drives with mpg in mind )

 

[JSM]

My first car had a six speed manual - I really, really miss it!

However, I drive an automatic now, and I have to admit I DON'T miss stop and go traffic in that thing. We decided to go automatic for this car because we intend it to be the 'family' vehicle - an easy to drive sedan with car seats in our future.

Our next car (a way off) will be a manual pickup.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I've driven a manual before when my dad had a sports car years ago, but I MUCH prefer to drive automatics. I get panicky when I can't change gears correctly, and I HATE the thought of being stuck on a hill with cars behind me. Since it's too nerve-racking to drive a manual, I'm planning on only driving automatics.

This is the only thing I hate about a manual - and it's not even about my own driving. I loooovvveee driving my manual. When I'm sitting on a hill I always give the car in front of me at least half a car lenght if not more. I can't tell you how many times that half a car length has been used so the person driving the manual in front of me could figure out how much gas to give thier car to get it up the hill

 

[CurlySue]

I'm happy with either. Drove manuals for 15+ years, but when I got a new car last year I opted for automatic due to the fact I sit in traffic a lot. It's a much better driving experience for me when I'm not stopping/going and constantly shifting.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I'll only drive a manual, I really dislike automatics.

I've had the same issue as Elrohwen in that it's hard to find a manual these days. It was easy enough to find one when we bought our sedan, but when we bought an SUV I really had to hunt for one. I'm afraid that when we need a larger SUV we're not going to be able to find one at all.

Strangely enough I find manuals in Great Britain to be easiest to drive--I'm not left handed, but like having the stick shift on my left.

 

[stone-cold11]

I drove both, prefer manual but when I am buying my present used car, can't seem to find any after a long wait.

Kenny, is that the old or new Insight?

NEL, probably because holding the steering wheel with the dominant hand is more important, more controllable, while the stick shifting seems complicated, it has a restricted motion? Always believe the Brits design makes more sense, but I am from a former Brit colony...

 

[radiantquest]

I have owned cars that were manual, but I prefer automatics for many reasons. I am also afraid of the roll back when driving a clutch on the hill. I know that a ton of people say they like it better in the snow, I do not. I want to be able to keep two hands on the wheel and concentrate on the road, not what my RPMs are. I remember a huge problem I had when I was a teenager driving a stick was that I would be behind someone that was driving at a speed that was between gears. It would whine in the lower gear and nearly drop out in the higher gear. I really hated that. The biggest reason these days is because I like remote start systems and you cannot get them on a manual.

Oh and just to be fiesty, pot stirrer, devils advocate...How am I supposed to change gears when my hands are already busy holding a cellphone and eating a cheeseburger?

 

[stone-cold11]

Why no remote started? Manual cars are mostly park in free gear position, unless you are stopping on a slope then it should be in the low or reverse gear depending on the direction of the slope w.r.t. your car heading, should not have a problem with idling engine?

Don't you have a handfree set? I can have the cheeseburger clamped with my lips and still take a bite out of it and chew without my hands, granted it is not pretty but I am a guy...