Manual vs Automatic Cars

[Scheherazade]

What type of car do you drive?

I have always driven manual cars and I enjoy chainging the gear and all (feels like I am really driving!). Recently, while looking for a new car, I have been told that automatic is better.

Is it?

Any suggestions or pointers to share?

[Nossa]

I don't drive myself, but I've been told by those who do that it's better to learn driving on a manual car, cuz automatic cars aren't as hard. If you learn how to drive a manual you can drive any car. I personally don't have a preference, but automatic cars are almost all what's been sold nowadays here. And it really works better for places like Cairo. You'll never know when you'll need to suddenly slow down or speed up, traffic here is a nightmare, so letting the car do it for you is def. better.
Still, it really depends on the car you wanna buy. Do you have a certain brand in mind?

[papayahed]

I drive an automatic but I've always heard that manual is better. The best part about automatics is that your hands are free for other things like eating and applying make up.

[Emil Miller]

What type of car do you drive?

I have always driven manual cars and I enjoy chainging the gear and all (feels like I am really driving!). Recently, while looking for a new car, I have been told that automatic is better.

Is it?

Any suggestions or pointers to share?

I've driven a manual and an automatic and believe me it's no contest.
The automatic is not only much easier to drive, but gives you more control over the vehicle. The only problem is that if you are used to driving a manual, an automatic's control can cause you to take chances that you might not
otherwise take. Apart from that, it's like watching a black and white television when you can watch one in colour.
In short, manual is becoming an old-fashioned way of driving.

[motherhubbard]

Every time I drive a stick there is trouble. the world is a safer place if I drive automatic.

[Taliesin]

Why use cars when you have bicycles and public transport? There is the horror of learning to drive that I haven't still gone through. It seems too complicated.

Of course, if we were speaking of motorbikes, I would understand - there is some kind of a strange charisma that motorbike adds to the rider.
i.e

http://www.oneposter.com/UserData/Poster/Poster_27483.jpg

[Kafka's Crow]

I drive both a manual (wife's car) and an automatic and I prefer the latter. Compared to wifey's little Punto Sporting my huge E240 is like a lap of luxury. That free left hand sits on the stereo controls shifting through albums and tracks (MP3 player) and fiddling with the volume control almost all the time. Changing gears can affect the control but it keeps you more involved in driving. I like going for long drives in my car which is like just sitting back and watch the world go by as if on a television screen thanks to cruise control :cool:

And yes I rode motorcycles from the age of eleven to the age of thirty five (for almost 25 years!). Mankind is yet to invent or discover a more gorgeous, stylish and awesome means of transportation.

[Nyu001]

Taliesin. You made me remember those old cartoons! Thanks!

I have an automatic car. There is not big difference between both really. Just that the automatic you don't need to be moving the thing while driving normally. That is all.

[djy78usa]

It depends on the circumstance. If I'm driving through an urban area, or somewhere with a lot of stop-and-go traffic, I prefer driving an automatic. When I'm out on an open road (esp. a curvy one), a manual is much more fun to drive.

*Edit*

One more thing, manual transmissions generally provide better gas mileage.

[Weisinheimer]

I don't really know much about cars, but I heard that manual gets better gas mileage and that the transmission lasts longer. And also I think you have more control in a manual than an automatic. Cuz you're controlling the gears. I don't see how you could have more control in automatic. But for me personally, I prefer driving automatic just cuz i suck at stick and you can do more stuff with your hands. I don't know which I'd buy.

[JBI]

The only difference is, on an automatic car, you don't need to flip the gears, it is done automatically, therefore saving you one tedious task while you are driving. Unless you are buying a vintage car, or some sort of sports car, then really automatic is much better. After all, if something is done for you, why bother doing it yourself?

[wilbur lim]

Behold,automatic car is fecund.Stress-free and energy-free.I perceived that automatic ones are authentically prohibitive than manual one.Who wants to buy such a prohibitive car?!No one!I have no money,for my wallet is empty.

[qspeechc]

I am a terrible driver, so I much prefer an automatic. And the car I own, I have troublr finding fifth- and reverse-gear :blush:. It is definitely not true that men are better drivers and I'm living proof!:p However, automatics use slightly more petrol ("gas" (yuck) if you're American). It probably is better to learn on a manual.

[Niamh]

I have only driven about five times and have driven both.
Automatics are so easy!
Only problem is, i've known loads of people who have bought Automatics, and when they needed major work done on them, it almost worked out better to get a replacement as parts are dearer in this part of the world because Manuals are the most popular and common of the two.

[Scheherazade]

Thank you very much for your replies.

Guess, I will stick with manual. I really enjoy changing the gear and especially while on motorway, one rarely needs to keep changing it so the hands are free for eating, make-up, phone calls and what not! :D
Behold,automatic car is fecund.Stress-free and energy-free.I perceived that automatic ones are authentically prohibitive than manual one.Who wants to buy such a prohibitive car?!No one!I have no money,for my wallet is empty.Wilbur, in "How old will be you thread?", you said:
I would be 13 in next year April,and conceive that I would even come to this forum at 70 years old in my declining years.Ha ha ha!http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=616583&postcount=176

People must be starting rather early to drive where you come from.

[Annamariah]

I've mostly driven my parents' cars, and they're both manual. I've tried automatic too, and it was almost scary. My left foot felt completely useless.

Changing the gears makes me feel like I'm really driving and in control of the car.

[Scheherazade]

So, I have found out that I am a manual car girl...

I love driving and one does not get the same feeling with the automatic... It is nice to have little gadgets and such in one's car but I still want to be in charge when it comes to actual driving!

[Emil Miller]

I've mostly driven my parents' cars, and they're both manual. I've tried automatic too, and it was almost scary. My left foot felt completely useless.

Changing the gears makes me feel like I'm really driving and in control of the car.

I see where you are coming from but if you lived in London you would spend a lot of your time in first, and who needs that? At least, with automatic you can forget the continuous traffic jams and let the car take care of itself.

[Hurricane]

My car is an automatic, but I really want to get a manual. I've never learned how to use a manual, but how hard can it be?:p

Driving shouldn't just be getting from point A to point B, it should be fun, and be an experience. Driving an automatic can be kind of boring, and it's cool to know what your engine is doing (I love watching the tachometer) and control it.

[qimissung]

Yeah, when all is said and done, it is really a matter of personal preference. Frankly at this point I could easily dispense with driving altogether. I wish I lived in one of those little English villages where everything I needed was just around the corner.

[Helga]

I only drive automatic. got my license a year ago (about 5 years later than I could have) and I definitely prefer the automatic. I live in a town with many traffic lights and crossroads, and I just hate shifting gears and all that.

only automatic for me...

[Pensive]

I have just recently learnt how to drive on a pretty ancient 80s manual, and I love driving on it. Just to imagine driving an automatic seems like a boring task to me! :D

[billl]

If you're gonna encounter stop and go traffic (especially in a city with a lot of hills) then automatic would be the better choice.

However, manual becomes "automatic" once you get the hang of it, so the amount of stress quickly decreases, even in stop-and-go or entering traffic from an incline.

The most amazing thing about manual: if you're driving up a mountain, a manual transmission can make your engine seem twice as large.

[Scheherazade]

However, manual becomes "automatic" once you get the hang of it, so the amount of stress quickly decreases, even in stop-and-go or entering traffic from an incline.This is how I feel too. Most of the time, I change the gear automatically, without having to think about it.

I am really surprised that very few people have voted for "manual".

[Veho]

I've never driven an automatic and I don't want to either. Manual all the way :D

[stlukesguild]

With the exception of larger trucks and some sports cars the manual or stick shift has almost gone the way of the crank start in the US. I have driven both and will admit that the manual gives you some advantages in passing as opposed to the automatic... but these are generally offset by being an absolute pain in the butt to use for inner-city driving... especially during rush hour. As for increased fuel economy... I somewhat doubt it... unless one always shifted gears at the optimal point in terms of fuel usage. Transmission lasts longer... not when my wife was using it. 35 MPH in first gear:eek2:. Again... it might be true... but only for those who know how to actually shift the gears better than an automatic. The biggest advantage to an automatic that I can see is in terms of price. because so few American even know how to drive a stick (let alone want to) they are commonly quite a bit cheaper (especially used) than an automatic... and repairs of the transmission on an automatic will certainly run more than the same on a stick.

[applepie]

I learned to drive on a manual, and I've missed it ever since. I've been driving an automatic, not because I prefer them, but the car with the right price always seems to be one :sick: I've always liked the feel of shifting gears, and it just seems to make driving a bit more interesting. Plus you get to feel like a race car driver when you want to do something crazy :lol:

[AimusSage]

I voted for manual as I've mostly driven manual and prefer it. Also, just about all the cars sold here are manuals. You can get an automatic sure, but it's kind of considered a faux pas. That's not to say there is anything wrong with automatics these days. Especially in modern cars the automatic gearbox tends to be very efficient. Nowadays there are also a lot of cars that have semi automatic gearboxes. No clutch, but you can still decide when you'll want to switch gear. It is usually with those flappy paddles on the wheel. Very strange to drive at first, but you get used to it easy enough.

[Amundsen]

I prefer manual. (I have seen automatic only on picture :-) ) I'm going to make my own within few months. Wish me luck. Please.

[JBI]

You are all crazy - lets be honest, the less things you need to worry about when driving, the better the experience - I think people like manual only because they think it is an elite form of driving, similar to why some people like vinyl instead of CDs - but when it comes down to it, when one is seriously driving, not having to worry about the actual flipping of the gears is a blessing.

[Madame X]

If coolness be of no concern, you could always petition your local authorities to install some spiffy new tricycle lanes around town for the particularly timid commuter. :idea:

[AimusSage]

You are all crazy - lets be honest, the less things you need to worry about when driving, the better the experience - I think people like manual only because they think it is an elite form of driving, similar to why some people like vinyl instead of CDs - but when it comes down to it, when one is seriously driving, not having to worry about the actual flipping of the gears is a blessing.
Not true. There is nothing elitist about a manual shift. If you think that is it you've been talking to the wrong people. Not so long ago it was the manual gearbox that was far superior to the automatic gear box.

[B-Mental]

I used to live in the mountains, not the east coast lil' bumps, but the rockies. There the opportunity to put your vehicle into the correct gear for the situation was neccessary. You don't want to race down the mountain, downshift and, tah dah you don't. Same with going up hill, plod along in high gear, or downshift into a gear that is more aggressive.

[skib]

having not read this entire conversation, i'll just add my input. my parents decided it imperative that i learn to drive a stick, so i did. I've been driving the same truck for 4 years now, though on my various jobs i have driven both manual vehicles and automatics. I've read and agreed with nearly every plus for both sides- automatics allow you to be relatively lazy with your driving, requiring to to only pay attention to a few things at a time. for some people, like my grandmother who have a terribly short attention span, don't need the extra attention span required to have to shift. for others like myself, if i am not constantly required to pay attention to my vehicle, i have a tendency to get rather sleepy.
all that aside, i also end up hauling a few trailers around. i prefer the manual to the automatic when towing things, seeing as i can choose the proper gear ratio for the terrain. i also live in the Rocky Mountains, and automatics generally do not choose the proper gear for the job. Also, manual transmissions tend to last longer if driven properly. that's my shpiel.

[bigben]

I live in a crowded urban area. For me, an automatic is hugely better. If i lived in the country and didn't drive to city or suburb often, stick is fun and gives good control.

Since I live with a great crowd of loony drivers, I'll stick with automatic.

[Emil Miller]

I live in a crowded urban area. For me, an automatic is hugely better. If i lived in the country and didn't drive to city or suburb often, stick is fun and gives good control.

Since I live with a great crowd of loony drivers, I'll stick with automatic.

True, it's great to take bends in third and then up the ante on the next stretch of open road but, as you say, that option is a rarity in urban areas where driving in first is almost obligatory for much of the time. Therefore the issue comes down to the kind of conditions one needs to drive in.

[Scheherazade]

You are all crazy - lets be honest, the less things you need to worry about when driving, the better the experience - I think people like manual only because they think it is an elite form of driving, similar to why some people like vinyl instead of CDs - but when it comes down to it, when one is seriously driving, not having to worry about the actual flipping of the gears is a blessing.Overlooking your views on elitisim and gear... because it is interesting coming from someone who buys "hardcover, mint condition, first edition books for $34CAD". :p

Changing gear is part of the driving experience... What is driving otherwise? Just swinging the wheel?

This is like saying having to turn pages ruins the reading experience.

[MarkBastable]

You are all crazy - lets be honest, the less things you need to worry about when driving, the better the experience - I think people like manual only because they think it is an elite form of driving, similar to why some people like vinyl instead of CDs - but when it comes down to it, when one is seriously driving, not having to worry about the actual flipping of the gears is a blessing.


Well, I prefer a manual because driving is very dull, and it's only having to change gears that makes the experience even a little involving.

[Virgil]

What type of car do you drive?

I have always driven manual cars and I enjoy chainging the gear and all (feels like I am really driving!). Recently, while looking for a new car, I have been told that automatic is better.

Is it?

Any suggestions or pointers to share?

I have always gone with an automatic. Living in the city it's a pain in the butt to constantly keep shifting. But those who love the shifting, then it's probably for you. Automatics use a little more gas and the acceleration is a bit less. I just prefer not doing all that work.

[DanielBenoit]

I don't really mind either, prefer automatic though. My Dad is terrified of automatic and will never drive one :lol:

[Sancho]

My little 4X4 Japanese pickup has a standard transmission because, well, I got a good deal on it. Also I can work on a standard, sort of. If you’ve ever taken apart an automatic transmission, it looks like the inside of an extra-terrestrials’ brain or something. A standard tranny, by contrast, has gears and stuff in it – things I understand.
Anyhow, I said “I can sort of work on it” because the last time I changed the clutch-plate on my Toyota I dropped the transmission off of the jack. It took a fist-sized chuck of concrete out of my garage floor. You see, the transmission on a 4X4 is attached to the transfer-case and that sucker is heavy. Luckily I didn’t drop it on one of my foot.

[Janine]

It all depends. I learned on an automatic and then in my mid 30's, I had this crazy desire to to learn to drive a manual; it wasn't easy at first, I can assure you; but I was proud that I finally learned it and I was able to own and operate a manual 5 speed transmission with four wheel drive. For going to the mountains for skiing, that was a great little car and lots of fun to drive. Now, at my age and much lazier, I think driving should be more relaxing and I prefer to drive an automatic...so really I came full circle. If I were to recommend a car for someone over 30, I would not recommend manual anymore, especially if you have never driven one. I felt it was novel and fun at the time, and also, one had great control over the car; but given all the advances now, in the new automatics and the fact, that most of us live in high traffic areas, I think one is actually safer choicing an automatic transmission car. It is too much work in traffic jams to keep on shifting gears and using the clutch - your leg gets really fatiqued.

[Sancho]

Awe shucks, I bet you could shift, text, watch out for the cops, and eat a cheeseburger all at the same time. Oh yes, and also steer. One good thing about a manual is when you’re waiting at a stoplight on an uphill slope and someone pulls up a little too close to you rear bumper- that’s when I just love letting the car roll backwards and then catching the clutch just in the nick of time. Big eyes behind me and all that.

[magzarelli]

i love manual sticks! :)

[soundofmusic]

Well, it's much harder to fall in love with your automatic car. There is something about you and your manual pumping up together, leaving other drivers in the dust...you feel a connection you don't feel when all the shifting is done for you. I've had a manual for 10 years; I love the thing so much I don't want to move on...
I'm wondering about the cars that are manual/automatic option...they have both.

Then again, just once, I'd love to drink a cup of coffee while it's hot...

[Scheherazade]

Awe shucks, I bet you could shift, text, watch out for the cops, and eat a cheeseburger all at the same time. Oh yes, and also steer. :hurray:

:driving: