Automatic or Manual?

**SmaartAasSaabr** · 07-25-2005, 11:55 AM

Do you prefer an automatic transmission or a standard shift? Personally I can't stand driving automatics, always trying to shift and stuff :x and love the feel of a good stickshift. I will still take a 900 with bad synchros, a worn pinion bearing and a ropey shifter before I'll touch a slushbox! All my cars have been manual transmission... Nothing can beat the feeling of ripping through the gears on a country road in the morning...

So do you prefer an automatic or a real transmission?

**kpatz** · 07-25-2005, 12:00 PM

Real tranny for me. Although it can be a PITA in city driving, the car feels faster with a manual.

And when you're stuck driving an econobox, manual's the only way to go. It at least makes the car seem a little sporty.

There's nothing worse than a 4 banger with a slushbox.

**brick** · 07-25-2005, 01:18 PM

I refuse to buy a car with an automatic...ever. I always panic when I can't find the clutch as I come to a stop. My first car was extroardinarily underpowered but the manual transmission made up for it. I would have gone insane driving a 3400lb, 114hp car with an automatic transmission. On top of all that, I think that a manual transmission makes you a better driver since you have to be more aware of the car and what you are doing.

Now that I have a smaller, ligher, more powerful (but still 4-cylinder) car with a good manual box I'm having a lot of fun. As long as I have a left foot I'll never go back.

**edweird** · 07-25-2005, 01:31 PM

If I were one of the poor souls who speed an hour or more a day in stop and go traffic, I would probably want an auto in a commuter car. Since I work from home most days, all of my cars are manuals.

The rentals I get from Hertz when I travel are autos. Something about an auto gets me out of any sporty driving mood I might have had. (except for the Jag S type, which is nice and sporty even with an auto)

Ed

**The Walt** · 07-25-2005, 01:45 PM

Auto for me. Sometimes I smoke in the car, sometimes I eat. I used to eat a lot in the car. When I was in the army, it was nothing to put on 20k per year just from driving around around town. You figure you go to PT (Physical Training) in the morning, go back home to shower and shave. Then drive back to work, and home again for lunch. Back to work at 1PM, and then back home at the end of the day. Then there are the countless runs between where you physically work to where your company headquarters are located, battalion headquarters, the classes you have to attend, the several motor pools you have to drive between (*see note*). At one point, I was putting on 150 miles per day (88 of which were just from the going from home to work that many times a day). Much of your time is in lines waiting to get on post in stop and go 5MPH traffic for half an hour at a time. You catch food when you can and eat when you can. getting rid of my stick made it much easier. After that, I just never changed because I liked it so much.

That was what prompted me to buy an automatic. Pure laziness.

*Note* In case anyone asks why I had to use my own vehicle for much of these runs, think on this. We had places we had to be, deadlines to meet, etc. You wouldn't believe the hassle it is to get a government vehicle (which would be a Hummer for us) to use. In order to get a vehicle, you must first do a PMCS on it (a full check of the vehicle, which when done according to the manual can take half an hour or longer), fill out the paperwork to dispatch it, fill out a Risk Assessment worksheet (see http://basilweb.net/blog/?page_id=28 for more info about the risk assessment, about halfway down, the last of the bullets), hunt down your company commander (who may or not may be in his office) to get him to sign off on the dispatch request and risk assessment - and there better be some good risks written down, take all that back to your motorpool and turn it in to get your dispatch (which is only good for that day) and the keys. All that can take 2-3 hours.

When all is said and done, it is much easier to use your own vehicle.

**microsuck** · 07-25-2005, 01:54 PM

Stock street driving, I perfer an auto. Most of my cars have been auto. Ive had a '85 911 targa and a 99 Chev SS Camaro. Then I bought the Lightning. I was sold on auto's from then. Adding a valve body, 3200 stall converter, and programming the shift firmness and it could shift faster than ANY DRIVER. It would even shift faster than my bike. Bark like you wouldn't believe. People will e-thrash auto's cause most have never driven a "built" automatic tranny. Only crappy stock ones. And I agree with them in that aspect. But its amazing the difference it can make. Esp for bracket racing. NEVER miss a shift. Always consistent times. And if you are "roll-on" drag racing, the computer ALWAYS knows what gear to drop to

Andrew
PS,
But manual trannies also tend to last a little longer....

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 07-25-2005, 02:55 PM

I love stick shifts but driving in long island, ny an Automatic is required due to the heavy traffic

**A 2000 SS in Jersey** · 07-25-2005, 10:33 PM

I love Automatic Toasters, Cameras, Door Openers, Pistols, Coffee Makers.....................But I drive my car.............

have fun.....

**ZO6Vette** · 07-26-2005, 11:22 AM

Automatic for Street Racing. Manual for having fun with.

**Radarboy12312** · 07-26-2005, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by SmaartAasSaabr

Do you prefer an automatic transmission or a standard shift? Personally I can't stand driving automatics, always trying to shift and stuff :x and love the feel of a good stickshift. I will still take a 900 with bad synchros, a worn pinion bearing and a ropey shifter before I'll touch a slushbox! All my cars have been manual transmission... Nothing can beat the feeling of ripping through the gears on a country road in the morning...

So do you prefer an automatic or a real transmission?

I have beat sticks before with my automatic.