Pramana Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 In light of some recent car threads on AVEN, I thought I'd start a poll dedicated to the topic of manual versus automatic transmissions. Like many fans of the stick shift, I spend much of my time extolling its virtues while bemoaning its demise. Link to post Share on other sites
ThaHoward Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Automatic: Cost more and wieght more. Hell of easier and more relaxing to drive. Manual: Cost less and weight less. More difficult to drive, but you can also have more fun driving if you're into that. For daily use: automatic all the way. Link to post Share on other sites
Philip027 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I can't drive, but if I did, driving is so extremely stressful for me that I would want as few things to be concerned about as possible. Automatic is a no-brainer. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I only know how to drive auto, but manual seems a lot more complicated/involved... Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy Alien Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 It is impossible to convince me automatics are not the best thing since sliced bread. Because they are. Fact. Link to post Share on other sites
darkstreamers252 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I can drive both but I prefer the automatic. Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy Alien Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I have a semi-automatic but have no clue how to drive manual despite some of @Splatacus's attempts to explain. I have no plans of ever learning. There's no way I could drive like that. Link to post Share on other sites
Naali Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 My first car was a manual, but learned on automatic. Now unfortunately I have an semi-automatic cause I had so little time get the one I wanted after a wreck a couple years ago. I pretty much always use the manual/tiptronic whatever cause I like being more in control of the revs. Link to post Share on other sites
that._.irish._.guy Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I prefer automatic for an everyday car and manual for the more special cars. However, all the cars I own are manual... Link to post Share on other sites
deltaX Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I prefer an automatic, since it's all I know how to drive. Manual cars are extra uncommon where I live, so no one really drives them unless they're the type of person who seeks them out. Link to post Share on other sites
Yatogami Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I prefer manual for driving. Depending on where you live, and what kind of things you do, both have their perks. Automatics are better for city driving, and manuals are better for multi-terrain and all weather driving. Also tend to be better on gas (for older cars) Link to post Share on other sites
RoseGoesToYale Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I would prefer a manual because they're cheaper and sometimes easier to service, but I don't know how to drive one and all the people I know who know how got rid of their manuals years ago. Drove a Prius for four years (transmissionless). Love, loved the gas savings, but the planetary gear mimicked a transmission as such: 1. depress the gas pedal while the car is on battery only, 2. pray to the heavens the engine kicks in before you're turned into road meat. The one I have now is semi-automatic, which I'm convinced is actually just an LSD squirrel pedaling a unicycle in the engine compartment. Link to post Share on other sites
gner0 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 My manual was the best thing but terrible for stop-and-go traffic. Left leg pain game was strong. But the delay in acceleration in automatics was almost unbearable for me. I got really lucky with my automatic '89 Volvo with turbo because the TURBO IS AMAZING. And the handling is butter. When this car dies, I'll cry as I know it will be unlikely I can find another as perfect! (the car is totally a piece of junk but I love it) Link to post Share on other sites
SorryNotSorry Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 EVs don't have transmissions, only a couple of reduction gears. No clutch to wear out like a manual, no internal seals to wear out like an automatic. One notable exception is the Brammo electric motorcycle. Though it has an electric motor, it's a mystery why the engineers chose to give it a conventional manual transmission. Electric motors are not made to accommodate the abrupt changes in RPMs that automatics and manuals demand when they're in operation... electric motors tend to grind gears when they're shoehorned into doing this. In fact, when EVs were strictly home-modified things, DIYers would typically find Chevy S-10 pickups with manual transmissions and blown engines, swap out the clutch and the ruined engine for an airplane starter motor or an industrial Baldor motor, and just leave the trans in 1st gear wherever they went. Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 I'm surprised that so far it's close to an even split. I was expecting that the results would be more skewed towards automatics. Link to post Share on other sites
Anthracite_Impreza Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Manual all the way, automatics are boring and slow. Link to post Share on other sites
Horse Ham Radio Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I once knew a retired bus driver. He told me a story of how once his company changed all their buses from manual to automatic. They then became pretty much undrivable according to him. Apparently automatics aren't very good with dealing with corners while going uphill. The town they were being used in was very hilly. The company had to switch back to manuals. But this was a long time ago and I'm sure automatics are better these days. Link to post Share on other sites
SamwiseLovesLife Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 In the UK it's pretty uncommon to have an automatic car, we really mainly have manual cars. I've never driven an automatic Link to post Share on other sites
Busrider Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 FTR: I hate cars. I have a license and am somewhat able to drive stick shifts. To be precise; their modern watered down constant mesh / synchronized gear variant. The real thing, as found in Volvo's good looking SUV TP 21 or still seen in popular RV bases like multi fuel MANs & short bonnet Mercedes (911D, 711D) because bosses loved to order it, believing cars would see less abuse from drivers struggling with it, is beyond my skills set. - I am also not on the level of professional chauffeurs who operate the clutches of oversized engines without passengers noticing that fact. FTR some gearboxes like Opel's 6 speed are complicated / confusing for spontaneous users. IMHO underpowered & manual transmission make a great match. Waiting for a less than 3hp 50ccm to accelerate to 40km/h feels better when you are occupied shifting gears. I'd love to experience power combined with a smart automatic transmission that gasps or takes hints what you are intending to do. Let's say something like Kawasaki 900ccm 115hp ready to get "kicked" down from 6th to 2nd or 3rd gear at 80km/h on a country road. I'm currently riding a semi automatic Honda gearbox and am absolutely fine with it. While it might cost me a second at the traffic lights, I am sure it contributes to my great gas mileage. Link to post Share on other sites
Ennis Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 As far as I know most people in Germany learn to drive manual (unless they really don't want to or can't for whatever reason). At first I thought I was never going to learn it, it was just too much to deal with at the same time. I learned it just fine and now it's no big deal. I prefer manual cars mainly because they save petrol. Besides driving manual cars is more fun. It feels more like handling an actual machine and not just pressing buttons. Somehow more - down to the earth, you know? Link to post Share on other sites
Homer Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I can't drive to save my life, no matter which one. Never got the part that was supposed to be "fun"; I always found it utterly boring. Might be related to my general indifference towards cars. They're just items of daily use, just like an iron or a washing machine. Link to post Share on other sites
warrigan Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 i loooooove driving manual. definitely prefer it over automatic. Link to post Share on other sites
daveb Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Apparently people who love driving cars tend to prefer manual transmission. I'm not one of those people. For me driving is not fun, it's utility. I do it because I want to get places. I prefer an automatic transmission. I don't know how to drive manual and have zero interest in learning. In fact, the more automatic driving is for me the better I like. I like it when I can set the cruise control on a long drive. The auto-parallel parking thing appeals to me. My ideal would be a self-driving car. Forget about your flying cars! As far as things like speed, cornering on hills, and other reported drawbacks to automatic transmissions, I never noticed any issues with my car. Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 I'm impressed that manual is ahead. Of course, there may be some selection bias, as people who prefer manuals are likely to be more enthusiastic about driving and thus more enthusiastic about answering a driving-related poll. I'm surprised that there're no fans of the semi-auto so far. Link to post Share on other sites
Larkaloke Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I really wanted to learn to drive a manual, but they don't teach it any longer around here, and I couldn't find anybody willing to teach me outside of driver's ed either... so all I know how to do is drive an automatic. It still annoys me, and I still plan to learn, but I haven't managed to yet to an extent I'd feel comfortable trying it on the road. Knowing the theory is one thing, but putting it in practice is another. So, never having actually driven a manual, I had to vote automatic. My ideal would probably be paddle shifters, though; at least theoretically the best of both worlds. Link to post Share on other sites
Busrider Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 11 hours ago, Pramana said: I'm surprised that there're no fans of the semi-auto so far. ? I thought I outed myself. - It is surely not ideal. - AFAIK the Smart car takes too long to change gears and tiny Honda's suffer from their long 1st gear and can't do wheelies like bikes with manual clutches but semi auto combines the positive sides of both concepts: You can decelerate by gearing down. Your clutching knee or wrist doesn't hurt, no matter how excessive a traffic jam becomes. You make at least as great mileage as with a fully manual transmission. Semi-auto is also very beginner friendly. It must have looked like a rodeo when I got used to the manual clutches on 80ccm Yamaha and finally 50ccm Zündapp. Also your ride doesn't sound like a rabid lawn mower like those variomatic toys, average scooters or DAF Marathon. Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 @Busrider I was going by the number of votes (semi-auto still has zero). I've never ridden a motorcycle but they sound like fun and good value for money. Link to post Share on other sites
Gloomy Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I prefer automatic. My dad has two manual transmition vehicles and he's explained to me how you operate a manual, but I think I'd probably screw it up somehow if I tried. Link to post Share on other sites
swirl_of_blue Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Manual aaaalllll the way. Where would be the fun in driving automatic? Even semiautomatic sounds boring and too easy, it has even taken down my respect for racing and rally drivers that they nowadays use semiautomatic. Though in my country if you get your driving license using an automatic transmission car you will have a comment in your license card that you're not allowed to drive manual transmission car, so pretty much everyone who has a license can drive manual. Link to post Share on other sites
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