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Automatic vs. manual

rpayne88

By rpayne88
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Manual vs. automatic  

  1. 1. Manual vs. automatic

    • Automatic
      2
    • Manual (i.e. has a clutch pedal)
      30
    • Other (anything else)
      3
    • Can drive a stick but prefer an automatic
      8

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rpayne88

rpayne88

Posted
Posted (edited)

For those that are old enough to drive and own a car, which do you drive?

I'd have to go with a manual. I learned to drive in one and personally enjoy actually being able to shift gears. Not only that, but bump starting has helped me get home more than once. (I drive a '97 Mazda in need of a new clutch and starter. Currently saving for a "newer" car.) My truck is a hand-me-down, hence why I got it in such poor condition. I also don't like the fact that automatics will creep up if you slightly release pressure on the brake (I've rear ended a few cars because of that without any major damage, fortunately.)

Edit: I live in the U.S., so I'm kinda against the status quo.

Edited by rpayne88
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Vanamonde

Vanamonde

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Posted

Automatics are boring. One hand is underutilized and one foot is entirely wasted. Besides, with a manual you can change gears just before you need it, instead of waiting for the automation to get around to it after you need it. This helps for things like passing.

On the other hand, a manual can be miserable in stop-and-go traffic.

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ZedNova

ZedNova

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It would be useful if people would inform others about their current place of residence. Not everyone lives in USA, where automatic is used by default.

Umm... automatic is not used by default here. despite what you've heard. Most of my friends have a manual... :P

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air805ronin

air805ronin

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Umm... automatic is not used by default here. despite what you've heard. Most of my friends have a manual... :P

Funny story about that. I moved to Iowa after getting out of the Air Force about 4 years ago and I went to buy a truck. (got off the plane with two bags and a start date for a new job). I knew I wanted a pickup for some of my activities and wrongly assumed that most of the trucks on the lot would be manual.

I wound up going for a toyota tacoma and they had to order me a manual transmission vehicle from 3 states away because thats the closest one they could find that matched my simple specs. The dealer told me that only 8% of the vehicles they sell there are manuals, and that everyone wants automatics for the convenience.

There is a common joke that in America the best security device for your car is a manual transmission and I've seen news story proving it to have a grain of truth.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/09/10/the-daily-writing-sample-lessons-in-carjacking/

http://jalopnik.com/5940410/once-again-car-thieves-thwarted-by-manual-transmission

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katateochi

katateochi

Posted
Posted

Haha that's funny about thieves getting thwarted by gears! I drive manual, I love having the control of gears. I've driven automatics but it always feels weird, my left leg gets twitchy. I'm in uk btw and drive a 1.6 golf with racing suspension, I love that car!

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lajoswinkler

lajoswinkler

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Umm... automatic is not used by default here. despite what you've heard. Most of my friends have a manual... :P

I meant "culturally default". And of course it is. Rather large majority of USA citizens can't use manual, and even more of them can, but use automatic. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but manual is generally more likeable.

For some weird reasons USA is different in so many standards. I never understood why. It's like a different planet. :huh:

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LiquidKameleon

LiquidKameleon

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Manual only. Over here you'll find some AT in cars but only in the most expensive ones - the Mercs and Beamers, newer Audi's and so on. In our part of the world it's reserved only for the richer elite, no middle class citizen that would buy a Renault or a Å koda would pay more to have automatic transmission in it.

Therefore, I've never tried any form of AT myself, but I'd never buy one. The only pro for the auto in my book is dense traffic and city driving where all the excess shifting and footwork becomes a nuisance. Besides, I'd never have a car just for getting around the city. If you live in an urban center, public transport is always a better option.

Automatics also take away all the joy in driving. Having to know when to shift and how to best use the engine power is the name of the game. Granted, the majority of folks that drive would be better off with an automatic because I know a lot of people who seem to lack some feeling for the car handling and constantly overuse the brakes or upshift too early.

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BostLabs

BostLabs

Posted
Posted

It depends!

My wife's car is an auto. She cannot drive a manual (it isn't pretty when she tries. WOOO!). So when I drive her car...

Now, my Harley is manual, of course. I wouldn't have an auto motorcycle.

As far as my cars. I have had both. I learned to drive with a manual and owned several. I've also owned several automatics.

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TwoHedWlf

TwoHedWlf

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Manual only. Over here you'll find some AT in cars but only in the most expensive ones - the Mercs and Beamers, newer Audi's and so on.

Hah, here and in the US it's almost the reverse. Autos unavailable or very rare in cheap cars, and manuals only becoming more common(But still rarer than autos) in more expensive and sportier models.

My old car, a Nissan Silvia, which is a fairly sporty car even 12 years ago 90% sold were automatics according to stats I saw once.

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