Stick or automatic?

[jpmittins]

Which do you drive? Which do you prefer? I'm learning stick and I'm starting to like it more than automatic.

P.S. 10 awesome points for the first person to tell me where this quote is from:

"I've got a hole in me pocket!"

[robbieduncan]

You know what's even better than stick or auto? Polls. Which let you track the popularity of the answers...

[EricNau]

Automatic for me, thank you.

I drove a stick... once. :D Never trying that again.

[Gray-Wolf]

I can drive a stick, but prefer auto. Traffic is ruff on a clutch and constant shifting down. :rolleyes:

"Paul: I've got a hole in me pocket." from the movie "Yellow Submarine" Paul McCartney

[dmr727]

My CL is stick.

It's fun to drive, but with all the traffic around here, I must admit that my next ride will likely be automatic. Unless I suddenly fall into some money and buy a sports car. :)

[ucfgrad93]

While I can drive a manual transmission (actually learned how to drive on a stick shift), I prefer an automatic transmission.

[yoppie]

Auto. Sticks suck in bumper to bumper traffic.

[iDAG]

My car is automatic...

[Sun Baked]

The stick shift is generally cheaper to buy, since it usually doesn't cost $500-1500 more.

Cheaper to maintain, since the fluid is generally 100k, and unlike some automatics doesn't need to be changed every 30k miles.

And about the same cost when they need repair -- if you get one with the expensive dual mass flywheel.

---

Generally if you get in the habit of popping the vehicle into Neutral at stops, the stick is generally only a pain when the stop and go traffic is moving slow -- but not fast enough to let you rest of hobble along in 1st.

[Mr Kram]

in general, i prefer a stick if it's a sports car.

auto's are nice if you drive in a lot of traffic.

[wakka092]

Manual is fun for non-urban driving (it really sucks when you're in gridlock,) but automatic is easier for just hopping in the car and going across the street.

[bigandy]

I hate automatics. I always feel like I'm not very in control.

Manual any day.

[jpmittins]

I can drive a stick, but prefer auto. Traffic is ruff on a clutch and constant shifting down. :rolleyes:

"Paul: I've got a hole in me pocket." from the movie "Yellow Submarine" Paul McCartney

Right movie, wrong character. Ringo said it, you only get five awesome points. You should feel happy though; that's the first time I've ever given anyone that many! Yeah, I know, not very good logic. But hey, whatever...

You know what's even better than stick or auto? Polls. Which let you track the popularity of the answers...

Dude, I can't create a poll that fast. You need to learn how to wait and not be a jerk about it.

[GSMiller]

Automatic, it's just one less thing you have to worry about while driving.

[Me1000]

I life in a rural area so there isn't a lot of stop and go traffic. I drive a 2000 Toyota Celica, with a 6-speed manual.

I think I would prefer a stick in any car of mine right now, at least with the current traffic conditions anyway. I can see how places like New York, San Francisco, etc. might drive (no pun intended) someone to an automatic though.

[tremulant14]

I'd say stick even though I drive an automatic. When I worked valet parking for a couple months, I didn't want to drive anything but stick, even though people don't usually bring their manual cars to valet them.

But Stick is generally faster, with exception to paddle shifters, save more gas and are more fun... but really suck in traffic and when you are stopped on hills.

Automatic can be fun too though.. look ma no hands!

[lwood1]

Stick FTW!

I live in LA and I still love it! Nothing like blowing through the canyons shifting through the gears!

Autos are boring :)

[JML42691]

I currently drive an automatic, but would like to drive a shift, but as a high school student, I'll take whatever I can get for a car.

[Frisco]

I love sticks, but in the city traffic they suck. You are in Philly get an automatic.

[dukebound85]

stick......loads more fun and gives you a huge advantage if you ever want a motorcycle

[yetanotherdave]

It's still confusing to me that this is even a question. In the UK it's assumed that a car is manual transmission. If you want automatic you have to go searching for it. Everyone learns in a manual, if you learn in an automatic, you are restricted to automatic cars only.
I hate auto's. They don't know to change down when I want to really turn on the speed, they lag a second or two when you put your foot down, and I never know what to do with my left foot!

[LumbermanSVO]

Stick.

I find it humorous when people complain about using a stick in heavy traffic. If you learn to not actually stop then you won't be using the clutch so much.

Also, the clutch in most cars these is is so light it's almost funny. The heavy-duty clutch in my Mustang feels like I'm stepping on a plum after I get out of my work truck. If your leg is tired after holding in the clutch through one red light then you'd probably be crying if you had to do the same in my KW :D

[dukebound85]

It's still confusing to me that this is even a question. In the UK it's assumed that a car is manual transmission. If you want automatic you have to go searching for it. Everyone learns in a manual, if you learn in an automatic, you are restricted to automatic cars only.
I hate auto's. They don't know to change down when I want to really turn on the speed, they lag a second or two when you put your foot down, and I never know what to do with my left foot!

majority of cars in us are autos. if you learn with an auto, you are not restricted to autos either

haha ive made the mistake driving an auto and using my left foot to slam the brakes thinking it was the clutch...

[Frisco]

It's still confusing to me that this is even a question. In the UK it's assumed that a car is manual transmission. If you want automatic you have to go searching for it. Everyone learns in a manual, if you learn in an automatic, you are restricted to automatic cars only.
I hate auto's. They don't know to change down when I want to really turn on the speed, they lag a second or two when you put your foot down, and I never know what to do with my left foot!

Yeah but us Americans are lazy.

[Frisco]

Stick.

I find it humorous when people complain about using a stick in heavy traffic. If you learn to not actually stop then you won't be using the clutch so much.

You don't realize what traffic is like in this area. You have to stop! Many times.

[dukebound85]

You don't realize what traffic is like in this area. You have to stop! Many times.

oh yea no kidding! like try 2hrs+ of stop and go traffic

i hate I-25....

[JML42691]

...i hate I-25....
I-93 is worse

[yetanotherdave]

majority of cars in us are autos. if you learn with an auto, you are not restricted to autos either

haha ive made the mistake driving an auto and using my left foot to slam the brakes thinking it was the clutch...

I've done exactly that! I was on a motorway, behind a lorry, moved out to the middle lane to overtake the lorry, went to change down gears, hit the brake, did an emergency stop in the middle lane doing 80mph!
Whenever I have to drive auto's now I tuck my left foot underneath me well away from the pedals.

[LumbermanSVO]

I think I've seen a traffic jam or two. L.A., Sacramento, Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis. Do I need to go on? These are places I go to on a fairly regular basis, traffic is just a part of life when you log 41706 miles in 4 months (odometer reading from 6/17 to today)

For one week just try not stopping in heavy traffic. You'll have less wear on your clutch, brakes, get better fuel milage and even better, you'll be less stressed when you get where you are going!

[lwood1]

Stick.

I find it humorous when people complain about using a stick in heavy traffic. If you learn to not actually stop then you won't be using the clutch so much.

Also, the clutch in most cars these is is so light it's almost funny. The heavy-duty clutch in my Mustang feels like I'm stepping on a plum after I get out of my work truck. If your leg is tired after holding in the clutch through one red light then you'd probably be crying if you had to do the same in my KW :D

I was about to say the same thing...
I just drop back 2-3 car lengths on the freeway and I never have to hit the brakes or clutch... Amateurs :)

Also, who holds the clutch at a red light? ;)

[LumbermanSVO]

Also, who holds the clutch at a red light? ;)

Professional drivers ;)

[dukebound85]

Also, who holds the clutch at a red light? ;)

i do. plus ive heard its safer as you are ready to move if you see a car behind you not slowing down, etc

[Tilpots]

Automatic. All you stick-heads are just control freaks!:p

[sangosimo]

I drive an auto but I perfer a stick. I still shift my car into neutral at lights though lol

[yg17]

Stick. And I'm usually in traffic at least once a day too. My mind doesn't even think about shifting, I just do it....

[lwood1]

Professional drivers ;)

Professional drivers don't miss the light ;)

[lwood1]

i do. plus ive heard its safer as you are ready to move if you see a car behind you not slowing down, etc

No sense in wasting your clutch or making your foot tired...
Where do you plan on going? Oncoming traffic in front of you? :-!

[Sun Baked]

i do. plus ive heard its safer as you are ready to move if you see a car behind you not slowing down, etc

Got nailed in a stick like this, as I was slowing down, didn't have time to speed up so I just let the vehicle roll instead of coming to a full stop.

Anyhow, at this point, you either pull into cross traffic and risk getting hit in the driver door or get rear ended.

[yg17]

No sense in wasting your clutch or making your foot tired...
Where do you plan on going? Oncoming traffic in front of you? :-!

As long as the clutch pedal is completely in, you're not wasting your clutch.

That said, I keep it in neutral, clutch out, and when I see that we're about to get going (oncoming traffic light turns yellow) I clutch in and put it in first. I wish we had the yellow+red before green like Europe has.

[tremulant14]

As long as the clutch pedal is completely in, you're not wasting your clutch.

That said, I keep it in neutral, clutch out, and when I see that we're about to get going (oncoming traffic light turns yellow) I clutch in and put it in first. I wish we had the yellow+red before green like Europe has.

Damn I didn't know Europe gets a yellow/red before green, thats a great idea.

[da2005pizimp]

every one of my 9 cars have been automatics, i never learned how to drive a stick.

[Danger! Will]

It depends on the traffic...for long road trips or windy mountain roads I like manual...although my SAAB is a 3 speed automatic. In phoenix traffic it's nice having an auto.

[juanster]

I started driving when i was 13. now im 24, i drove stick until i was about 20, now I have an auto tranny, i like them both i think it depends more in teh car than anything.

[Scarlet Fever]

My olds have two auto cars, so I don't get any time to drive manual. I'm not particularly fussed either way. If I was buying a new car, I'd get a manual.

Automatic. All you stick-heads are just control freaks!:p

When I'm in control of ~1,600 kg of car, i don't mind being a control freak.

[iJohnHenry]

I can drive both.

Currently have a 5-speed automatic, but with Selectronic shifting, if I feel "challenged".

I also use neutral at long lights.

[costabunny]

6 Sp Manual all the way :)

I love to 'ride the stick' makes me feel in 'control' ;)

[SactoGuy18]

I used to like manuals but a lot of recent cars have horrible manual shifters with really "rubbery" feel, which makes it difficult to find the right gear. :mad: It seems only Honda and BMW seem to have a clue about doing a manual shifter that actually works correctly.

Besides, a new transmission technology called dual-clutch sequential transmission is making manuals obsolete. I've tried the DSG gearbox on the VW GTI and the shift quality is excellent. Ford recently started to build this type of transmission (in a co-operative effort with Getrag) and we may see this transmission on the new Fiesta and next-generation Focus models in the USA by 2010.

[SactoGuy18]

I wish we had the yellow+red before green like Europe has.

I would LOVE to see US traffic lights have the yellow/red signal just before green, too! This right there could cut down on a lot of intersection traffic collisions from "jackrabbit" starts from startled drivers going from red to green light.

[robbieduncan]

I love to 'ride the stick' makes me feel in 'control' ;)

Are we still talking about cars here? :eek::p

[bembol]

Where's the Triptronic and/or CVT option?

I have both on '08 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5SE.


I hate Automatic. I've driven Standard, I prefer Triptronic but if it's not available then I'd take Standard.

[neiltc13]

Where's the Triptronic and/or CVT option?

I have both on '08 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5SE.


I hate Automatic. I've driven Standard, I prefer Triptronic but if it's not available then I'd take Standard.

Tiptronic (not "triptronic") is still automatic transmission. You don't actually engage the clutch yourself so how can it possibly be manual?

[sammich]

First of all...what exactly is the entomology of this 'stick' you people seem to otherwise refer to as 'manual'? Sure a manual lever is longer and the auto-shifter but 'stick'? It sounds a little too primitive to say 'I drive stick'.

Anywho, manual all the way. Although having driven a manual in heavy traffic for a while, having an automatic is absolute BLISS compared to the gradual cramping of my left foot from doing 1-2 meter crawls.

I would LOVE to see US traffic lights have the yellow/red signal just before green, too! This right there could cut down on a lot of intersection traffic collisions from "jackrabbit" starts from startled drivers going from red to green light.

So, the sequence is: 'Green, yellow, red, yellow, green'? That would be a nice indicator, but I always peek at the other lights so I know when my light is about to turn green. Keeps me on my toes and makes driving that little less boring :D

[Stepper]

Manual FTW :cool:



So, the sequence is: 'Green, yellow, red, yellow, green'?

And no, the order is Green, Amber, Red, Red & Amber, Green ;):p

[robbieduncan]

So, the sequence is: 'Green, yellow, red, yellow, green'?

And no, the order is Green, Amber, Red, Red & Amber, Green ;):p

And importantly it'd amber (as noted by Stepper) not yellow or orange. I think you might well be marked as wrong on the UK tests if you refer to it as anything other than amber :p

[Melrose]

I've only used a stick twice - once in my brother's old Chevy suburban (that he put in himself) and another in a Freightliner FLD120, which I only put in like first or second and moseyed around the parking lot.

I'd like to know how to drive a stick, but meh..

[yrsonicdeath]

I drive stick, and while I love my car, my next car will definitely be an automatic. I am in stop and go traffic to and from work and it's really getting old.

[edge540]

I think it really depends on what car you are driving. The only cars IMO that are far better to drive manual are sports cars. The feeling of having complete control is more satisfying. When I was looking for a car, I compared the automatic G37 to the 6MT version, and the auto kinda felt lame. The manual really brought out all the potential in the car.

[SactoGuy18]

So, the sequence is: 'Green, yellow, red, yellow, green'? That would be a nice indicator, but I always peek at the other lights so I know when my light is about to turn green. Keeps me on my toes and makes driving that little less boring :D

In Europe, the traffic signal indicators are:

Green--proceed with caution for cross-traffic
Yellow--be ready to stop
Red--stop
Red combined with Yellow--be ready to proceed

I would love to see the USA adopt the Red combined with Yellow signal indicator. That way, drivers at stop lights won't be startled about needing to proceed, which avoids the type of "jackrabbit" starts that can often cause accidents at intersections. In Hong Kong, where they adopted the European style signals, I don't see that many cross-traffic intersection accidents from sudden starts of drivers when the Green light signal is shown.

By the way, while CVT automatics are a good idea, the only downside is that you can't use them to handle higher-powered engines. Also, the way CVT works results in a somewhat "slipping clutch" feel, which some American drivers don't like.

[Roger1]

My wife and I both prefer a manual. We bought her a new car 2 years ago (Focus) and had to settle for a base model, because they only made about 20% of the Focuses (Focii?) with a 5 speed.

[dmr727]

I was about to say the same thing...
I just drop back 2-3 car lengths on the freeway and I never have to hit the brakes or clutch... Amateurs :)


Bah! I scoff at your wussy traffic! I understand that in stop and go, I can avoid some of the stops by giving myself more distance between me and the guy in front. But in L.A. there gets to be a point where it's mainly stop, and if you give much more than 1.000001 car lengths in front of you, the person in the lane over will move in. :) :)

[dmr727]

Speaking of traffic signals - what do the flashing greens mean up in Canada?

[iJohnHenry]

Advanced left turn.

[dmr727]

Advanced left turn.

I guess I just do remedial left turns down here in the states. What's an advanced left turn?

[Raid]

I've got a 6 speed manual gearbox in my car and my only wish is for more gears to shift into! I'm slowly working on getting my wife to love manual transmissions too, but that's one of those multi-year projects.

Automatics (well at least the ones I can afford) are too laggy, heavy and unresponsive compared to the manual counterparts. Stop and go traffic is no problem for me, I don't really know what all the fuss is about (I have to use my left foot now too! Oh Noes!! :p ) honestly I'm so used to it I don't even think about it.

Then again when I use automatics now I'm constantly searching for the clutch at traffic lights. :o

I guess I just do remedial left turns down here in the states. What's an advanced left turn? :) It means that you can turn left before oncoming traffic is allowed to proceed into the intersetion.

[Tilpots]

:) It means that you can turn left before oncoming traffic is allowed to proceed into the intersetion.

Down here we use a "Left Turn Green Arrow." What's so "Advanced" about turning left?

[iJohnHenry]

It was a short-term solution.

We are slowly converting to the green, then amber, arrow, to avoid confusion by "visitors".

[hexonxonx]

I have one of each. After 2.5 years however, I still am not perfect at shifting and maybe once every few months, it will take a second or two to shift into third. It's just me and not the car. I don't drive it enough to be perfect at it, mostly weekends a few times a month.

I drive the automatic more because I use it for my job. Not sure which one I prefer the most.

[OutThere]

I almost exclusively drive stick, my car is stick and almost all of my friends' cars are stick, meaning that even on road trips and stuff I get to drive a manual.

The downside (tough in traffic) is completely outdone by the benefits: I heel & toe downshift and smoothly slip in and out of every turn in the windy mountain roads near my house, I can drop a gear on the highway and blow past slow people, I can easily rev a little too much and show off the high-flow exhaust (;)), the transmission never hunts for the right gear on hills, when passing I never put my foot to the floor and wait what feels like forever for the box to realize that it's in too high of a gear, I can hold a gear all the way to 7500rpm to take advantage of the performance cam....the list goes on. :D

[mark!]

Manual...automatics feel weird.

I hate when people refer to manual transmission as sticks. :mad:

[yg17]

Manual...automatics feel weird.

I hate when people refer to manual transmission as sticks. :mad:

It's just what they're called over here. Just like they call it a bonnet in the UK and a hood over here.

[mark!]

It's just what they're called over here. Just like they call it a bonnet in the UK and a hood over here.

I'm from America...

I grew up on the West Coast and didn't hear 'stick' until I moved to the Midwest. I hear 'manual' more often than 'stick', still. It's just a pet peeve of mine.

[crazytom]

Love driving manual. Yes, traffic jams are a pain, but with the right techniques (previously mentioned) it isn't bad except for the fact of going about 3 mph. I wish my commuter had cruise control, though. A four hour drive with my foot constantly on the pedal gets pretty painful.

To toot my own horn: Once I drove my sister's (manual) SUV and after 15 minutes of stop and go traffic, she said, "I can hardly feel you shift." I know only a few people that can shift through gears and you can't feel the give and go....I like to call it 'shifting smoother than an automatic'. Those with the talent are definitely proud of it, others just don't care (and later wonder why their clutch burns up so fast).

[iToaster]

Automatic here. It pretty much comes down to me not wanting to fuss with the gears... though I'm fine on a manual if I need to be.

[yg17]

I'm from America...

I grew up on the West Coast and didn't hear 'stick' until I moved to the Midwest. I hear 'manual' more often than 'stick', still. It's just a pet peeve of mine.


Ohhh....well then I guess it's the difference between soda and pop :D

[jpmittins]

I love sticks, but in the city traffic they suck. You are in Philly get an automatic.

Are you talking to me? I have to drive stick, that's the only thing my parents drive. I don't mind.

Ohhh....well then I guess it's the difference between soda and pop :D

True. My sister was talking about the different phrases people used when she went only as far as Pittsburgh. It's weird how language changes as you go around the country.

[Rodimus Prime]

Stick.

I find it humorous when people complain about using a stick in heavy traffic. If you learn to not actually stop then you won't be using the clutch so much.

Also, the clutch in most cars these is is so light it's almost funny. The heavy-duty clutch in my Mustang feels like I'm stepping on a plum after I get out of my work truck. If your leg is tired after holding in the clutch through one red light then you'd probably be crying if you had to do the same in my KW :D

hey hey there I am one of those people who currently drive a stick since I learned how to drive 10 years ago and am more than likely go auto when I replace my car next year and one of them is the traffic I put up with daily.

It not that my leg is getting tired but more it just getting to the point that it is annoying. I do quite a few of the trick like using my gears to set my idle speed near that of traffic. But it is just dealing with the constant shifting. It more of the annoyance and inconveniences of it.
Will I miss it hell yeah I will. I love driving a stick shift and I will miss the connection with the car but I will have paddle shifters to help make up for it.

Also do not forget stick shift suck for dates because both hands are counstately tied up with the car. One to shift one to drive.

Lastly autos have gotten to the point where they remove most if not all the adatages manuals had on them. They can match to beat them in gas mileage. Faster off the line. A computer will time the shift perfectly and have less lag time in the shift. No human can match a computer.

[InvalidUserID]

Weekend/fun car = manual
Daily driver = auto

[jpmittins]

hey hey there I am one of those people who currently drive a stick since I learned how to drive 10 years ago and am more than likely go auto when I replace my car next year and one of them is the traffic I put up with daily.

It not that my leg is getting tired but more it just getting to the point that it is annoying. I do quite a few of the trick like using my gears to set my idle speed near that of traffic. But it is just dealing with the constant shifting. It more of the annoyance and inconveniences of it.
Will I miss it hell yeah I will. I love driving a stick shift and I will miss the connection with the car but I will have paddle shifters to help make up for it.

Also do not forget stick shift suck for dates because both hands are counstately tied up with the car. One to shift one to drive.

Lastly autos have gotten to the point where they remove most if not all the adatages manuals had on them. They can match to beat them in gas mileage. Faster off the line. A computer will time the shift perfectly and have less lag time in the shift. No human can match a computer.

You've never been in a car with my parents, then. I swear to god, I can never feel them shift, they crawl along in traffic without a problem, and they start just as fast as anyone else without over revving it unnecessarily. I still think that humans can beat the machines, it just takes practice.

[Rodimus Prime]

You've never been in a car with my parents, then. I swear to god, I can never feel them shift, they crawl along in traffic without a problem, and they start just as fast as anyone else without over revving it unnecessarily. I still think that humans can beat the machines, it just takes practice.

again humans are not as good as a computer since it will do it at the optimal point mix with how much power is being ask and gas mileage so it will match it exactly.

Like your parents I can and do shift where you are not going to feel it. It is not hard to do but still autos are getting to a point they are beating humans. Humans are not as fast or exact as computers. The techology for autos is getting cheaper, better and faster and like I said starting to get beyond what humans can match.

[twoodcc]

i have never owned an automatic

[Rhosfelt]

Stick, but like everyone says in traffic they suck. Also I live in a town with a bunch of 25mph and the older folks always liked to drive at like 22 which was right in between the gears of my car. :mad:

I'd so get a car that you can switch from auto to stick with ease.

[jpmittins]

Stick, but like everyone says in traffic they suck. Also I live in a town with a bunch of 25mph and the older folks always liked to drive at like 22 which was right in between the gears of my car. :mad:

I'd so get a car that you can switch from auto to stick with ease.

Well, you could just get a semi-automatic, but I know it's just not the same.

[benflick]

Since I don't drive yet I didn't answer the poll. This is my first car and it's a stick (3 speed to be exact) 351 Crate motor, my summer project :D
http://i35.tinypic.com/105quz6.jpg

[Le Big Mac]

Automatic, it's just one less thing you have to worry about while driving.

+1. It leaves a hand free for surfing on my iPhone!
:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[jpmittins]

Since I don't drive yet I didn't answer the poll. This is my first car and it's a stick (3 speed to be exact) 351 Crate motor, my summer project :D
<gigantic effing picture>

Might want to put some tIMG tags on that, boyo. Cool car, vintage! Must be weird to drive a 3 speed transmission though if you're used to anything else.

[roisin and mac]

Like most people in Europe, I learned stick (on a hideous toyota Yaris car, fitted-would you believe it?!!-with standard cup holders on _both_ sides of the dash _and_ in the door frames. What sort of self-respecting car comes with standard cup holders? VISIBLE ones? and more than one of them??! lol

But, the family car is an automatic, which I hardly ever use so my driving skills haven't progressed much after I finished the lessons and got the permit (the wonders of great public transportation, lol). But my grandpa's big peugeot 403 monster (a 1964 car, _if_ you please ;)) is sitting in my gran's garage, and sometimes I wish I could have a go there--in spite of being barely able to drive as it is. Then again, I do regularly use a 1946 Leica rangefinder, so I guess I just like solid metal technology with pleasing mechanical noises :clunk:
:)

[ChrisA]

I have a stick shift, five speed Ford pick up truck. But the truck works on "automatic". I don't really have to think about shifting. After 30+ years of driving every day with a stick shift I just don't notice it. In traffic, hills and whatever, it is just not something I think about much. When driving my wife's automatic I find myself going for the clutch now and then by habit, feel dumb when the left foot hits the floor.

[Kane.Elson]

I couldn't read this whole thread because after seeing "stick" mentioned a few times I felt like my eyes were about to bleed.
I think the terms you yanks are looking for is Manual Vs. CVT Vs. Automatic gearbox. (No it's not a shifter either)

Cheers

[ErikCLDR]

Stick for driving for fun.

Auto when stuck in traffic.

My car is an Auto. They only make the standards in Europe

[jpmittins]

I couldn't read this whole thread because after seeing "stick" mentioned a few times I felt like my eyes were about to bleed.
I think the terms you yanks are looking for is Manual Vs. CVT Vs. Automatic gearbox. (No it's not a shifter either)

Cheers

What's with people getting all weird about other people calling it stick? It's just a nickname, I call it clutch half the time (though rarely manual). It's like by calling it stick, you're destroying the integrity the manual transmission. I don't get it.

[Cassie]

Stick. I don't have my license yet (or permit for that matter) But I've driven enough to know that I don't really care for automatics too much. I always find myself bored if it's not a manual.

Here's hoping I can find a car with a manual for my first one...

[valdore]

I will only purchase stick shifts. Automatics FTL!

[sushi]

I love to drive stick shifts.

Driven many vehicles with stick shifts including tandem dual farm trucks where you had to double clutch. Fun as hell with a heavy load on an old gravel road.

Having said this, automatics are convenient.

And for this kid, when I was in a leg cast for about 6 months, allowed me to drive where as with a stick I could not have driven. :)

[miamiracing]

i prefer auto coz i can do more than if i would drive stick

like drinking my protein/bcaa shakes while driving to gym, or eating my breakfast while sitting in stop and go traffic on my way to work :rolleyes:

[FrankieTDouglas]

Automatic in my car...

...but all manual on my bicycle, which is what I am most frequently found on.

[yojitani]

I drive an automatic because the wife insisted. I hate it. It's cliche, but manual allows for so much more control. They are especially good for parking.

[garybUK]

i prefer auto coz i can do more than if i would drive stick

like drinking my protein/bcaa shakes while driving to gym, or eating my breakfast while sitting in stop and go traffic on my way to work :rolleyes:

Isn't that Illegal ? Driving without Due care and attention? well it is here anyway.

[Rodimus Prime]

i prefer auto coz i can do more than if i would drive stick

like drinking my protein/bcaa shakes while driving to gym, or eating my breakfast while sitting in stop and go traffic on my way to work :rolleyes:

Tell you the truth driving a manual really does not effect me in that way and I think any experienced manual drive would agree. I still can and do eat breakfast some times while driving to work in stop and go traffic hell I have driving to work with a coffee cup in my hand the entire time.

You need to remeber the car is set up for the gears to go 1-2-3-4... so all I do is push or pull the stick up and down and it slides into the correct gear. On the few times that I need a better grip I just switch hands real quickly and even then I can get to the correct gear with just my wrist.

Sum it up. your "excuse" is not really an excuse at all.

[TheReef]

It's just what they're called over here. Just like they call it a bonnet in the UK and a hood over here.

I've learnt a lot today…

I've never heard the term "stick" before in my life :)
Also didn't know the US doesn't have amber lights :eek:

Is it illegal to use mobile phones in the US whilst driving? It is here.

[apearlman]

Traffic, hills -- doesn't matter. I'd always rather choose the gears myself.

My first drive in a manual car was because I went to a party with my roommates, and they both drank. So I had to drive their manual transmission car (a 1970s Celica) home, despite my total lack of inexperience. Somehow with their guidance, I made the trip without stalling.

My car is a Civic. 202,000 miles and 16 years on the original clutch. So far.

[dmr727]

Is it illegal to use mobile phones in the US whilst driving? It is here.

It depends on where you live. In California, you need to use a hands free device like a bluetooth headset to talk on the phone and drive.

[iGav]

It seems only Honda and BMW seem to have a clue about doing a manual shifter that actually works correctly.

BMW... you're jesting right?

Tiptronic (not "triptronic") is still automatic transmission.

It is. In the truest sense of the word.

You don't actually engage the clutch yourself so how can it possibly be manual?

Tiptronic's don't actually having a clutch, but I digress, the manual action of changing gear is not mutually exclusive to the action of engaging and disengaging the clutch is it?

Perhaps the most obvious reason why DCG's aren't considered automatics is because the driver still has the overriding authority to decide as and when to change gear, it's simply that part of the process is assisted, albeit electronically, much like how syncromesh assisted the changing action on a conventional manual gearbox, but no one considers a synchromesh box to be any less of a manual than a dog clutch, even though it is. Massively so.

My car is a Civic. 202,000 miles and 16 years on the original clutch. So far.

Someone who can drive properly. I applaud you sir. :)

If driven properly, a clutch should have a life comparable to that of the engine (before any extensive overhaul work is required of course), if a driver's struggling to exceed 100,000 miles on a clutch, I recommend they take a refresher course... or buy an automatic. :p

My personal preference if for DCG boxes... completely and utterly magical they are. :D

[NightFlight]

Until I have my left leg amputated, or I am 50 years old I will not buy an automatic as my daily driver.

I have three vehicles and only one is automatic!

[timmyb]

I love driving a manual. Fun and gives you lots of control. A lot of people drive manual cars very badly though, (wrong gears so reduced control etc.) and could do with either a refresher driving lesson or an automatic. Would make them more fuel-efficient too.

[flyinmac]

For the last 14 or 15 years or more, I've always had one of each.

My wife had a manual when we got married, and I had an automatic.

Then, we both had automatics for a few years after selling her car (and getting her a new one).

Then, I got a truck with a manual, and she had an automatic.

Then, in 2006 she got a car with a manual, and we still had the truck with a manual.

Then, we sold the truck in 2007, and got a newer truck with an automatic. So, we had the car with a manual and the newer truck with a manual.

Then, last week we sold that truck, and got a new car with an automatic. So, we've got two cars now. One manual, one automatic.

So, I guess you could say both. I don't mind the manual. And, I don't mind the automatic.

But, I'll tell you what messes with you... Getting into the car (or previously the truck) with the automatic and trying to find that missing clutch pedal.

I've tried to hit the clutch more than a few times in vehicles that don't have one.

Something else that's fun is having a fast locking competition clutch in a truck with too much power and driving it on roads with glazed ice and standing water. You don't gain traction until you hit at least 3rd gear (and no I don't drive with studs in the tires - haven't since my first year of driving many years ago).

As for the missing clutch, we'll see what fun I have in the new car. It's automatic stick is on the floor. So, we'll see if I try and clutch and shift that :D

As long as I don't try and shift without the clutch (which you can quite easily do with most manual transmissions if you shift at the right engine speeds). Doing that with an automatic might result in a rather abrupt PARK :eek:

if a driver's struggling to exceed 100,000 miles on a clutch, I recommend they take a refresher course... or buy an automatic. :p



My mother-in-law went through a few automatics on her way to 100,000 miles. So, perhaps some people just shouldn't drive :D

The problem is that many people still don't understand that you should stop a car before moving from reverse to drive.

And, then there's the ones who think you should just leave it in 4-wheel drive anytime you have something other than dry pavement. So, naturally they kill their tranny's a bit quicker.

I think my mother-in-law fell into both camps there.

[blitzkrieg79]

There should be a third option in the poll, SST transmission as Mitsubishi calls it in their new Evolution MR which basically shifts faster then any human could with a manual transmission while not having to deal with the clutch pedal. Thats what all the big boys drive these days anyway, F1/WRC...

Anyway, I love my Evo, I get the best of two worlds, extremely fast upshifts/downshifts and livable bumper to bumper daily traffic. And before anyone compares SST to BMWs Tiptronic please read up on SST:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Clutch_SST

It's probably the direction all transmission technology will eventually lead to as it is simply more efficient in every aspect of automotive technology, from performance to gas mileage.

[iGav]

There should be a third option in the poll,

I agree with you on that, it needs a SMG/DCG option. Technology has moved on, and with it has ushered forth a whole new era of driver involvement. :D

SST to BMWs Tiptronic please read up on SST:

BMW's equivalent is M-DCT, same principle as Mitsubishi's SST.

[RITZFit]

stick 4 life!! its just not as much fun redlining an automatic...

[skyrider007]

I'm lazy and satisfied with my E-class' Auto.

[dilbert4life]

I voted stick, because that is what I prefer, but I usually drive an automatic.

[northy124]

Manual any day, Auto's are bad.

[mlemonds]

ive owned a manual transmission car ever since i first got my license. i am awkward when driving an automatic because i am accustomed to being able to depress the accelerator as far as i like without the gears changing. but in an automatic it jumps down a gear, and then i let off the gas so it jumps back up.