SorryNotSorry Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 On June 29, 2017 at 1:41 AM, nameinagame said: 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. I learned something about the newer Maseratis... other than the Trident on the grill, one thing that makes them so damned expensive is this computerized dual-gate shifter transmission. I hate to tell the folks at Maserati, but I can't get excited over any of their cars since I've been behind the wheel of an EV. Link to post Share on other sites
Tofer Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Automatics are a lot better now than they used to be, but I still enjoy driving a car with a good manual transmission. Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I'm split here. As a cab driver, when you're spending 6-8 hours a day driving in traffic an auto is much less tiring. Modern ones have paddleshift override, so you can hold a lower gear, if overtaking, or for engine braking on a hill. However, if driving for enjoyment then I prefer the extra tactility and interaction with a manual. Link to post Share on other sites
Ortac Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I didn't know that there were any Americans who are able to drive manual transmission! As for me, I have owned both at various times and I don't really care. A car's a car! Link to post Share on other sites
Xavy Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Manual, so much more involved driving, better experience all the way, more feeling of control over the vehicle. Plus, weirdly, I do not like the sound of an automatic transmission especially when building speed, it just irritates me, but that is another issue. OP - consider adding CVT to the option list ? I would say, if I HAD to drive an automatic, I would prefer a CVT rather than a conventional automatic. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jetsun Milarepa Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I like the semi automatics the Smart cars have, Link to post Share on other sites
cavalier080854 Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I think this is an American issue. Most Europeans learn to drive on manual cars. The advantage in the UK, if you learn to drive a manual you can drive an automatic. But if you learn to drive an automatic you cannot drive a manual. But in the UK you can only start to drive after you reach the age of 17 (don't even ask what the insurance will be for a 17 yo driver will be). Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 The stick shift is in the lead! I'm kind of surprised, but I'm told that manuals are more popular in Europe. Sadly, often manufacturers won't even offer manual versions in North America due to low demand. Link to post Share on other sites
everywhere and nowhere Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Wow. I'm such an anti-motorist that I didn't even understand at first what the title means. I definitely don't drive, don't have a car, identify as a pedestrian and public transportation passenger. And I'm scared to death of possibly harming someone - that's the primary reason why I don't drive. Link to post Share on other sites
MiraMeyneth Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I learned how to drive on an automatic, and at this moment I'm learning how to drive stick, in an old 1999 Volkswagen Beetle. It's fun to drive, but scary as i'm nervous about stop signs and traffic lights. I never thought i'd see the day where i'd shiver at the thought of a stop sign, but when I started learning manual I did. Although I regard it as needed, as my sister fully intends to move to Germany when she gets older. Knowing how to drive manual would be a massive help if I ever went to visit, as apparently manuals in Europe are far more common. At least my car gets great gas mileage. That's an upside i'm pretty happy with as I somewhat enjoy driving. Link to post Share on other sites
Yatogami Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 On 7/10/2017 at 8:21 AM, Ortac said: I didn't know that there were any Americans who are able to drive manual transmission! As for me, I have owned both at various times and I don't really care. A car's a car! Only 11% of the population of USA can if I recall correctly. I think the people who do are 1 of 2 things. Its essential in their job, or like cars. I learned on manual, because our car was a sports car. (Scion tc). Once you know manual. All other non-car vehicles are easy. Manual driving is part of my job, since I work with all kinds of cars. Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy Alien Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 On 7/10/2017 at 1:56 PM, chandrakirti said: I like the semi automatics the Smart cars have, I have a semi-automatic Smart car. It's fine I guess. I would prefer a fully automatic. It still drives like a manual and it's not a nice. Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 On 10/07/2017 at 11:21 PM, Pramana said: The stick shift is in the lead! I'm kind of surprised, but I'm told that manuals are more popular in Europe. Sadly, often manufacturers won't even offer manual versions in North America due to low demand. Yet the weird thing is BMW only sold the last M5 as a manual in the USA, in Europe it was an auto Link to post Share on other sites
cavalier080854 Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 On 10/07/2017 at 11:56 PM, Nowhere Girl said: Wow. I'm such an anti-motorist that I didn't even understand at first what the title means. I definitely don't drive, don't have a car, identify as a pedestrian and public transportation passenger. And I'm scared to death of possibly harming someone - that's the primary reason why I don't drive. Remember Death Race 2000 ? Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 For anyone from elsewhere visiting Europe, transmission is a minor detail. Hire a car and you can specify an auto. The main points you need to remember are that speed limits are a starting point for negotiation, and using a mobile (cellphone) whilst driving makes you as popular with the law as DUI. In Britain two using phone offences within three years carries a mandatory 6-12month driving ban @cavalier080854, that, Convoy and Dukes of Hazard taught me how to drive, along with Group B rallying Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 Group B rallying is sorely missed: Link to post Share on other sites
butterflydreams Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 1 hour ago, Pramana said: Group B rallying is sorely missed: Fucking, LOVE. I'm a proud American with two stick shift cars. My parents never owned an automatic, and the only reason I ever did is because they wouldn't teach me. Eventually I got my own and taught myself. In America, a manual is basically an anti theft device. I just got a brand new Mazda with a manual. Good on Mazda for not forcing me into a crappy base model just to have the stick either. Link to post Share on other sites
Pramana Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 26 minutes ago, Hadley167 said: I just got a brand new Mazda with a manual. Good on Mazda for not forcing me into a crappy base model just to have the stick either. Mazda seems to be doing quite well in the automotive press these days, for retaining some enthusiast credibility. Link to post Share on other sites
butterflydreams Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 3 minutes ago, Pramana said: Mazda seems to be doing quite well in the automotive press these days, for retaining some enthusiast credibility. For a FWD car, it handles ridiculously well. Very balanced and neutral. I really wanted to get another Subaru, but they just made it so difficult to get what I wanted. And you can't get a leather interior with a manual. Unless you spring for the WRX, and pay a ton of insurance :/ Link to post Share on other sites
Xavy Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Manual seems to be holding on to thee lead in this poll Link to post Share on other sites
Bloc Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I've only driven cars with manual transmission or electric cars. My experience with the electric car, was that I was constantly trying to figure out what to do with my left leg as it did not had a pedal to rest. I Germany almost everybody learns driving with manual transmission. If you learn with automatic transmission you are not allowed to drive a car with manual transmission. As most people own a car with manual transmission, you can not borrow the car of your friend/neighbour/family. Link to post Share on other sites
Digs_Dead_People Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I know how to drive a manual, but it's physically very hard for me because I lack the ability to lift my feet up and down so I would have to move both entire legs instead of just one to drive. Link to post Share on other sites
Zendalis Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 I chose the 'Don't drive' option, though I did actually start driving (yes, an automatic transmission) when I moved to my present city in the southwestern United States, because public transport here generally was at below third-world country standards. Grrr. I became an ardent activist, and along with a growing number of people, watched our transit system improve enough to actually be viable. It has continued to improve, both in times of operation, and frequency of the same, yet I still kept the hated car until a couple of years ago, to use for grocery shopping (I was already commuting via bus to and from work). When a major grocery chain began to deliver, I donated the damned car and have not looked back. Since then, I have either used my local "Uber-like" service (called Fluxride) on the rare occasions I could not/decided not to use public transport or my bike, or I have rented a car, when heading out of town (since we also do not have any kind of real train system here). Link to post Share on other sites
Anomaly Q3Xr Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 I don't drive a car, but I did my CBT to ride a 125 cc motorcycle, and rode an automatic, as I don't want to have to deal with all the gears. I think if I ever get around to doing my full motorcycle test, I will still do it on an automatic. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 In Europe, almost everyone drives manual, and learns how to drive in a manual. I've driven both and absolutely hated driving automatic, I was constantly grasping for my missing stick. It's like you have no control when driving automatic, or maybe that's just how I feel being used to manual. Link to post Share on other sites
JessiBird Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 I'm kind of weird, because I've driven both, and there's not one that I prefer more. Manual is more fun, but automatic is more relaxing. I guess that doesn't really answer the poll lol. Link to post Share on other sites
Perkins Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Manual all the way. I like having that sense of control with the car. Call it irrational if you want, but I just don't trust automatics. Can't do it. Link to post Share on other sites
Ortac Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Someone once told me that if you live in the USA, you can pretty much guarantee that your car will never be stolen if you have a manual. That would never work on this side of the Atlantic. Pretty much everyone can drive manual including the criminal low life's who steal cars! Link to post Share on other sites
To Each Their Own Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 32 minutes ago, Ortac said: Someone once told me that if you live in the USA, you can pretty much guarantee that your car will never be stolen if you have a manual. That would never work on this side of the Atlantic. Pretty much everyone can drive manual including the criminal low life's who steal cars! Funnily enough...this is ONE of the reasons why I have always had a maunual transmission vehicle. The other reason is because they are just way more fun to drive!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Apathetic Echidna Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 aww I'm the only vote for Semi-automatic. I love my floppy paddles. Manuals are too much work and I wouldn't trust a full auto on some of the mountain roads I have had to drive. am I the only vote because they aren't that common or is everyone else just a purist? Link to post Share on other sites
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