Manual vs Auto GTAHVIT vs PQ... The video wars.

[WyteMamba]

so glad i got an auto, broke my leg on fathers day. there are reasons!

[Oldrocker]

If you have a day to waste reading, just do a search as this subject has been covered over and over and over and over and over and over.............................................. .

[76z28]

I could care less if its been covered over and over...i still got my answer out of this post.

[spoone123]

Originally Posted by ZCT

I'm a Brit. This means I grew up in a land where we drove on the wrong side of the road, and for the first decade of my driving I drove a stick. Probably 80% of British cars (or cars in Britain) are manual.

I have to say, having lived for ten years in the US, I don't understand the excitement people have for manual transmission. Modern automatics are a totally different ball game to the automatics of even five years ago. We are talking six or more gears, highly intelligent computer controlled shifting. It's not your grandfather's auto.

The sad reality is that for the most part a computer in a car is now better at selecting and changing gears than you. Sorry to hurt your ego if you think you are a great driver and all. But really, a computer can kick your ass.

So for me, despite a decade of stick driving, and a decade of auto driving under my belt, I would always pick an auto. Especially here in the US, where the roads are so big and mostly straight.

The auto lets you concentrate on the road, on enjoying the vehicle, and having fun. The stick is just something you constantly have to do, and while it once gave you the best driving experience, I really believe that this is rarely the case any more.

Just my 2C. Or as we say in England; 2P. Although honestly, we don't have that expression in the UK at all...

Your comment give me motivation to keep my auto. Thanks, and I've drive manual it is fun. Never drive in city with manual tho, but my friend said its get old quick when you hit like every stop lights.

[ZCT]

Originally Posted by brantley847

It is a mental stigma most people have with manuals. I had it as well, felt my buddies would think I was a pansi if I went auto...but it reminds me way to much of what I felt when I was learning to drive and dealing with the hassle of "raking" through the gears in Orlando is not fun...it never has been. The number of manuals are in the decline.. there is a reason for it, and it isn't because people are getting any worse at driving. Drivers world wide have always sucked...

When I finally realized I can watch the road and see how fast I am going compared my buddies manual...I no longer have the feeling. Nor do I have to listen to my chick bitch about how shes going to vomit in a manual.

I think you hit the nail on the head. From what I've seen, in American culture there is some kind of 'manly' thing about driving a 'real' stick shift. Back where I am from, at least when I grew up, automatics were so rare I think there would have been genuine curiosity if someone we knew bought an automatic. I had plenty of friends, and I never knew any of them drive an automatic, ever.

Over there if you take your test in an automatic, you are not even allowed to drive a stick on the roads. Your license has a special notation on it, and if you are caught driving a stick you get a ticket.

The advantage of that system is you are properly taught to drive a manual from day one at most driving schools. I always used to laugh at my American brother in law who would always buy a stick when he was a teen and always got 'unlucky' because the clutch would be gone within three months, because he had no clue what he was doing (not that he would admit to that).

But I'm in my 30s now. I don't give a shit if some boy racer wants to call me a pansi for driving an auto, or for buying a V6. I have other priorities in life.

As a long term stick driver though, I am genuinely excited to see just how good modern autos are. I've been in the US for 10 years, and the improvements have been incredible, even in that time period. I can't see me ever buying a stick again, especially since my wife can't drive one.

Sticks have come a long way too. The first stick shift car I owned was a beat up old Ford Fiesta with four manual gears and a 1300cc engine; ironically called their 'sport' model, which is taking the piss.

I recently test drove a Nissan 370Z and they have that rev matching technology for those who don't know how to change down properly. And my BMW has a no roll back feature which prevents a manual transmission car for rolling backwards on a hill.

[ZCT]

Originally Posted by spoone123

Your comment give me motivation to keep my auto. Thanks, and I've drive manual it is fun. Never drive in city with manual tho, but my friend said its get old quick when you hit like every stop lights.

The first job I had in the UK that came with a company car involved me doing 45,000 business miles in a year. I can still remember how miserable it is being stuck in traffic with some boring ass sedan with a stick shift.

I'd say being stuck in traffic with a stick is ten times worse than in an auto. And sometimes you get stuck in a traffic jam on a hill.

[97one]

Originally Posted by ZCT

I'm a Brit. This means I grew up in a land where we drove on the wrong side of the road, and for the first decade of my driving I drove a stick. Probably 80% of British cars (or cars in Britain) are manual.

I have to say, having lived for ten years in the US, I don't understand the excitement people have for manual transmission. Modern automatics are a totally different ball game to the automatics of even five years ago. We are talking six or more gears, highly intelligent computer controlled shifting. It's not your grandfather's auto.

The sad reality is that for the most part a computer in a car is now better at selecting and changing gears than you. Sorry to hurt your ego if you think you are a great driver and all. But really, a computer can kick your ass.

So for me, despite a decade of stick driving, and a decade of auto driving under my belt, I would always pick an auto. Especially here in the US, where the roads are so big and mostly straight.

The auto lets you concentrate on the road, on enjoying the vehicle, and having fun. The stick is just something you constantly have to do, and while it once gave you the best driving experience, I really believe that this is rarely the case any more.

Just my 2C. Or as we say in England; 2P. Although honestly, we don't have that expression in the UK at all...

The ONLY reasons to get a manual imo is:
#1 you need or want to save $1,000.
#2 you are young and have not owned a stick and want the experience.
#3 you are old & you want to act young.
#4 you NEVER drive in stop & go traffic.......
#5 you want to get those 24" wagon wheels so you have to get the manual trans. like they had back around 1912 to early 1920's to go with the wheels.....

[cbr1100xx]

Another reason to get an auto: if you have a sportbike already. I'm constantly used to shifting the 6 gears on my bikes. When I drive, I'm happy to chill out and just "drive".

Plus.....I don't like manuals in big heavy muscle cars......if anything I like them in little light 4 bangers to make the most of their high revving engines.

Cars like the Camaro and Mustang already have the power and torque....who needs to shift them? Just sit back relax and hit the gas.

Manuals can be fun but I'd get an auto these days.

[Camaro68]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

"tons" of u.s drivers still prefer the manual,BECAUSE shifting is part of the "fun" experience!..regardless of the efficiency of the "slush" box!

[Huggerorange73]

Originally Posted by 97one

The ONLY reasons to get a manual imo is:
#1 you need or want to save $1,000.
#2 you are young and have not owned a stick and want the experience.
#3 you are old & you want to act young.
#4 you NEVER drive in stop & go traffic.......
#5 you want to get those 24" wagon wheels so you have to get the manual trans. like they had back around 1912 to early 1920's to go with the wheels.....

# 6 you're stuffing a nice cam in your car, and don't want to have to shell out more money for a stall converter.
#7 you don't want AFM or VVT headaches that go with the cam swap.
# 8 you don't want to spend even more money to match a gear to the stall to go with the big cam.

[Steve Dallas]

Both are great, but just remember that you are required to buy this product for the Automatic!

For Automatics Only

[WadeWilson]

Not another auto vs manual thread.

[RedJewelSS]

[timcat4843]

You know that manual transmissions are on the way out
when the worlds premier builder of sports cars Ferrari
doesn't even offer a manual transmission for it's
top-of-the line 458 Italia model.



http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sp...58-Italia.aspx