04-12-2001 20:42									#1
	Automatic or Manual (driving poll) Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

So, to the people that drive, do you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission or a manual?

Which is better? Why?

	04-12-2001 21:03									#2
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What if you can drive both? Manual is better anyway because it gets better gas milage.

	04-12-2001 21:08									#3
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Well if you have the option to drive both, which do you prefer?

My first car was an auto, but after going stick on my second, I'll never go back (until I'm an old man perhaps )

I just don't feel like I'm really driving with an auto.....not as enjoyable.

	04-12-2001 21:22									#4
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Auto. I am lazy. I drive a small enough car that it already gets kick ass mileage.

	04-12-2001 21:28									#5
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I drive a standard shift Toyota Tacoma with a V-6. It romps, but manuals are a pain in the ass.
And if I drive an automatic now, I can't keep my feet working right, especially at stops.

	04-12-2001 21:31									#6
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Why are they a pain in the ass sloww? (I also have a small pickup - ranger- only 4 cylinders tho )

I get all messed up driving auto now too

	04-12-2001 21:32									#7
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We have automatic. But I'm going to learn on manual.

	04-12-2001 21:39									#8
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My previous car was manual, and after being stuck more than once on the freeway in 2-3 hour traffic jams with my clutch leg about ready to fall off, I vowed to get an automatic on my next car.

However, my new Miata is so much fun to drive I test drove it with an automatic, and I said, nah, this car needs a manual.

	04-12-2001 21:43									#9
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quote: Originally posted by drake Why are they a pain in the ass sloww? (I also have a small pickup - ranger- only 4 cylinders tho ) I get all messed up driving auto now too

In the city, it's just a pain.
To say nothing of squirrels.
Just last week I was coming down my street and one of them ran out in front of me.
I hit the brakes with both feet, squealed to a stop and my truck died.
Neighbor lady comes running out the front door to see what was the problem.
You seen the commercial with the 2 squirrels high fiving each other? Exactly.

	04-12-2001 22:04									#10
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I like manuals because I feel more connected with the car. I can't stand having a car shift for me when I don't want it to. I'd rather shift early or late as the situation requires.

Also, I am very quick to shift to neutral and put my feet wherever. I do not think traffic is bad at all.

Sloww, if what happened to you happened to me in an automatic, I'd be panicked kicking around for a clutch.

Edit: There should also be an option for a "manumatic," which are actually making it into everything from Bentley's to Dodge Status's (IIRC). It's an automatic setup with the option to shift gears, which is horrible and should die. There are also "continuously variable transmissions," which are as easy as automatics to drive with the same or better fuel economy of manuals. These aren't bad, but still doesn't make me want to give up the stick.

Last edited by Eroberer on 04-12-2001 at 22:09

	04-12-2001 22:15									#11
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quote: Originally posted by SlowwHand In the city, it's just a pain. To say nothing of squirrels. Just last week I was coming down my street and one of them ran out in front of me. I hit the brakes with both feet, squealed to a stop and my truck died. Neighbor lady comes running out the front door to see what was the problem. You seen the commercial with the 2 squirrels high fiving each other? Exactly.

That's called stalling Sloww, try using the clutch

I am quite used to driving a manual, quite like it actually, although autos are easy enough. I don't see any real need.

	04-12-2001 22:19									#12
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Steptronic roolz, you technologically backward yanks

	04-12-2001 22:22									#13
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as for the clutch leg in traffic jams - you can always "clutch out" as in having no gear in so you don't need the clutch when standing for longer than a minute... I drive in the city myself, without a problem. manual, of course

	04-12-2001 22:23									#14
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Yes, when braking, keeping one foot on the clutch is good usually

I live in the city with stop and go traffic every day...and I still wouldnt go back

	04-12-2001 22:52									#15
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I own a manual shift car, I too feel that I have more control or "connection" with a manual shift vehicle than with one that has an automatic transmission, but most people apparently prefer the automatic. When I bought my latest car last year I had to look long and hard to find one with a manual transmission. I suspect that by the time I need a new car it will be virtually impossible to buy one with a manual transmisssion.

It is no longer true that manual transmissions offer significantly better gas mileage than automatics.

	04-12-2001 22:52									#16
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Manual.

I dunno..is it even possible to wheelspin in an automatic? How?

	04-12-2001 23:16									#17
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wheelspin in automatic? It's easy. Long as you have enough power and not too much weight on the wheels that power the vehicle.

It's super easy to do in front wheel drive saturns. And they probably have less than 100 HP

	04-12-2001 23:46									#18
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I learned on manual (so that's what I put down). Unfortunately we don't have a car, so I don't drive anything.

Anyway, automatic is preferable.

	05-12-2001 00:24									#19
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Manuals are way better, you get much better acceleration and control.

Even with an automatic I have a tendency to leave my hand on the gearstick, force of habit - if I don't have my hand there I feel out of control of the vehicle.

quote: and after being stuck more than once on the freeway in 2-3 hour traffic jams with my clutch leg about ready to fall off, I vowed to get an automatic on my next car

I tend to use the handbrake, and stick it in neutral.

	05-12-2001 00:41									#20
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handbrake??

One shouldnt need clutch at all in a traffic jam....use the clutch to regulate speed and in need of a stop, drop into neutral and use brake. Give foot rest. When ready to move again, just put back into 1st. Sounds easy enough to me!

	05-12-2001 01:06									#21
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You can also spin the wheels on an automatic by something that I think is called brake-torquing. You hold the brake in and press the accelerator until the car starts to kind of budge and twitch, then let off the brake and slam in the gas simultaneously for best affect. It works even on SUV's and minivans.

	05-12-2001 02:05									#22
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I have no problem spinning the wheels in my automatic. It's called winter, and we just got a crapload of it in the past week

	05-12-2001 04:10									#23
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Manual. I learned to drive up the Rocky Mountains, and that gives you a very good appreciation for the difference between the two.

It's also quite nice for city driving. I don't know about anyone else, but I love the extra control a manual gives, even in the city. It helps that I've got a nice little Honda Civic EX, and the red-line on them is rather high When playing dodge-traffic with the kamikaze drivers on the interstate it comes in very handy to be able to downshift and accelerate 30 mph in a couple seconds.

Wraith
WARNING! Driver only carries $20.00 in ammunition

	05-12-2001 04:27									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Wraith Manual. I learned to drive up the Rocky Mountains, and that gives you a very good appreciation for the difference between the two.

Reminds me of a story.

After much driving around in the Rockies, Yellowstone park etc... a friend of mine got into a conversation with some other tourist who had been following us for much of the way.

He said "I think your taillight is shot out, it hardly ever works".

My friends reply "No, I just use second gear as a brake".


That is one good thing about manuals, going downhill is a lot safer.

	05-12-2001 05:39									#25
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Automatic. That last thing I want to worry about coming home during rush hour on the Washington Beltway or Bay Bridge, is shifting gears.


I just want the thing to get me where I'm going, I don't want to be 'one with the car.'

Last edited by Kyle on 05-12-2001 at 06:02

	05-12-2001 05:59									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison That's called stalling Sloww, try using the clutch I am quite used to driving a manual, quite like it actually, although autos are easy enough. I don't see any real need.

No crap, Provost? Wow! Thanks for the pearls of wisdom.

	05-12-2001 06:49									#27
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I'm with Kyle. Who cares about feeling more of a connection with the car? Just get me somewhere. And I'd feel safer if some people I drove with were able to keep both hands on the steering wheel 90% of the time .

	05-12-2001 08:41									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Big Crunch Reminds me of a story. After much driving around in the Rockies, Yellowstone park etc... a friend of mine got into a conversation with some other tourist who had been following us for much of the way. He said "I think your taillight is shot out, it hardly ever works". My friends reply "No, I just use second gear as a brake". That is one good thing about manuals, going downhill is a lot safer.

*Looks at auto tranny on truck*

*Notes the '2' and the '1' next to the 'D'*

	05-12-2001 08:43									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Eroberer You can also spin the wheels on an automatic by something that I think is called brake-torquing. You hold the brake in and press the accelerator until the car starts to kind of budge and twitch, then let off the brake and slam in the gas simultaneously for best affect. It works even on SUV's and minivans.

Yep, that's a trick (preferably without wheelspin) used by drag racers with automatics to get a better jump at the start.

	05-12-2001 11:34									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui Who cares about feeling more of a connection with the car? Just get me somewhere.

That's what happens to people who don't drive German cars