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Manual or Automatic?
- Thread starter Shacklebolt
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That's why if you're getting a VW with an auto, get a DSG. 8ms shift time
But still as boring as any other auto.
This is an interesting thread. Many people seem to be almost as determined/defensive about their car's transmission as they are about their choice of computer platform. Must be a male hormone thing.see my previos post
They cost more not only in original purpose price, but also repairs and even to the environment.
Also no fun to drive whatsoever.
A (The?) main reason seems to be people's ideas of driving enjoyment. I've been driving for some 25 years, so by now my idea of fun is getting to my destination as pleasantly as possible (i.e. without using any more energy than necessary, as well as in comfortable seats, etc.) Of course I expect to pay for that, but then I'm not a college student scraping money together from part-time gigs. It's a long time since I drove just for the pleasure of it.
Of course, if I won a Roller tomorrow I would drive it just for the pleasure of it. I'd have a well-stocked bar in the back...and automatic transmission...
Those rules still apply...
As for the macho/shame thing - For a lot of people, perhaps even the majority, yeah. It's a macho/chest beating/"size of penis" issue, without a doubt. For some it's done consciously, for some it's not, but it's easy to detect...
I was raised not to care about What Other People Think so I don't go in for all the "if you don't do xyz you must have a small penis" stuff, so it doesn't bother me
If people think they probably have a bigger one than me then great! Congrats! (FWIW I can drive manual but choose not to. I'll leave sizes to the imagination but it's pretty much what you'd expect!)Of course there are now other ways around the "manliness" issue, for instance it's acceptable to drive an automatic or flappy-paddle if it's a supercar or a big honking manly 4x4.
Those rules still apply...
As for the macho/shame thing - For a lot of people, perhaps even the majority, yeah. It's a macho/chest beating/"size of penis" issue, without a doubt. For some it's done consciously, for some it's not, but it's easy to detect...
I was raised not to care about What Other People Think so I don't go in for all the "if you don't do xyz you must have a small penis" stuff, so it doesn't bother me
Of course there are now other ways around the "manliness" issue, for instance it's acceptable to drive an automatic or flappy-paddle if it's a supercar or a big honking manly 4x4.
Wow, Try the Macho/chest beating thing on a manual on why people drive them is more for the minority of those drivers. Of everyone I know who drives manuals none of them do it for a macho thing. As for people who I also now have considered drive manuals again same reason.
This might blow your mind but most people who drive manuals drive them because they enjoy driving them. Heck most of the people who drive them are not going to brag about it. If ask yeah they will tell you but beyond that it just they prefer.
Now add bonuses of my car being a manual means when I go home I now my mom nor my sister will drive my car (rather annoying going outside to go some where at ones car is missing) Now people know better than to ask to borrow my car not because I will not let them but because most of them can not drive it. It is annoying when I need some one other than me to drive my car because so few people can drive manual.
I personally think everyone should learn how to drive a manual because it means in a pinch they can drive any car. Example of these times. You are out with some friends and the driver gets hurt, sick ,or is 2 drunk to drive.
Based on how you keep insulting people who choose to drive manual some one is feeling a little insecure in themselves and have to beat down those who believe other wise. Seems like you have more of an issue with you lower parts than the manual drivers. If you have not noticed most of us have not insulted the auto drivers until we get attacked. We are not bragging about how we drive them. We point out it is what we enjoy. Now some of the auto drivers seem to feel insulting those who choose them. Seems to me the auto drivers are the ones with insecurities.
Yes I say manual all the way because I enjoy driving a manual tranny.
I'm not trying to insult anyone! For god sake WHO CARES, the way some people in this thread are jumping down each other's throats (and mine) you'd think it was some sort of religious or political debate. It's a type of transmission FFS! I really don't care who drives what. Hell I see the pros and cons of both sides. I came in here to share a view, and the parallels between my *personal* reasons for preferring autos and Macs, and get treated as if I'd just insulted everyone's mothers. Is it any wonder that I choose to defend myself?
If the macho thing doesn't apply to you then fair enough. It's not an insult, it's just how things are sometimes. Here in England, it most certainly does apply, or at least it did back in school when most people were learning. Note that I was actually very careful saying the macho thing, I didn't say it applies to everyone.
Insecure? Lower parts? Not at all. Size of reproductive organs is meaningless to me.
If the macho thing doesn't apply to you then fair enough. It's not an insult, it's just how things are sometimes. Here in England, it most certainly does apply, or at least it did back in school when most people were learning. Note that I was actually very careful saying the macho thing, I didn't say it applies to everyone.
Insecure? Lower parts? Not at all. Size of reproductive organs is meaningless to me.
The only transmission I'd ever get over a proper manual, would be VW's DSG or BMW's SMG (from a realistic standpoint, Ferrari has an even better system in the 599 but I'm not that rich) which are just a manual with double clutches, and a computer that controls it, no clutch pedal (much better than that tiptronic garbage, which is just an automatic) So you get all the benefits of the power a manual can put down, but the convenience of an automatic if you want it.
BMW are switching to a GETRAG dual-clutch system, dubbed M-DCT so I believe.
About time too, manuals had it's day in the sun, technology and techniques have moved on I'm afraid.
I beg to differ. Your statement clearly imply that almost all manual drivers have the macho thing going.
I'm a stick shift guy. Like many others, I just like the feel of driving a stick. I also like the better mechanical efficiency. But, I do not hate automatics. They have their place and uses. If I had to drive in gridlock traffic every day, I would get an automatic. They're highly desirable in those situations, as others have noted.
Cop cars come with heavy-duty automatic transmissions, as well they should.
And some folks simply can't drive a stick, due to some physical limitations.
A side note: At some point in the early 80's, Massachusetts dropped the "automatic transmission only" restriction. Reason? unknown.
Cop cars come with heavy-duty automatic transmissions, as well they should.
And some folks simply can't drive a stick, due to some physical limitations.
A side note: At some point in the early 80's, Massachusetts dropped the "automatic transmission only" restriction. Reason? unknown.
It depends for city driving i prefer Automatic, but for long driving I prefer Manual, because I easily sleep when driving.
Manual is a lot more fun. Automatic is a lot easier.
I drove manuals for the first six years or so of my driving "career". In April last year, I got my first automatic, a VW Golf with the DSG gearbox. It's absolutely brilliant, especially with the torquey 2.0 TDi engine.
I miss manual a bit, but for commuting, I much prefer the automatic gearbox.
I drove manuals for the first six years or so of my driving "career". In April last year, I got my first automatic, a VW Golf with the DSG gearbox. It's absolutely brilliant, especially with the torquey 2.0 TDi engine.
I miss manual a bit, but for commuting, I much prefer the automatic gearbox.
I drive stick, and at least for cars, I can't stand autos. Large vans and pickups - auto is fine. Bigger things - back to the stick.
Why no auto cars? I tend to injure my neck when driving an auto. That whole left-foot-going-for-the-clutch thing when slowing down. (only to find a double-wide brake pedal instead) Plus, I dislike the relatively unpredictable shift points on most autos.
So my Golf TDI - stick.
But on my Scooty Puff Jr. (Honda Aero 125) - That's a CVT auto - and it's a blast to ride. Nothing like riding something that you out-weigh 2:1.
Why no auto cars? I tend to injure my neck when driving an auto. That whole left-foot-going-for-the-clutch thing when slowing down. (only to find a double-wide brake pedal instead) Plus, I dislike the relatively unpredictable shift points on most autos.
So my Golf TDI - stick.
But on my Scooty Puff Jr. (Honda Aero 125) - That's a CVT auto - and it's a blast to ride. Nothing like riding something that you out-weigh 2:1.
I drive stick, and at least for cars, I can't stand autos. Large vans and pickups - auto is fine. Bigger things - back to the stick.
Why no auto cars? I tend to injure my neck when driving an auto. That whole left-foot-going-for-the-clutch thing when slowing down. (only to find a double-wide brake pedal instead) Plus, I dislike the relatively unpredictable shift points on most autos.
So my Golf TDI - stick.
But on my Scooty Puff Jr. (Honda Aero 125) - That's a CVT auto - and it's a blast to ride. Nothing like riding something that you out-weigh 2:1.
lol I done the slamming the brakes things when I whet from the clutch to find the lovely double wide pedal. It is possible to make the switch back and forth it just takes time to do it. Something I will do when I have to drive an Auto car is I will put my left foot as far to the left as possible on the floor board. That way when I stomp for a shift I will not hit the brake. Now when I hope into a SUV/Truck it easy for me to make that switch just because the seat is so different.
How do you go from "For a lot of people, perhaps even the majority" to almost all?
Amen to that. Clutch pedal + less than 5MPH = no fun.FrankBlack said:
While this never happened to me while I drove only auto (unless I tried to left foot brake intentionally), I've done it more than a few times when working three pedals. That's what I get for having wide feet.
Although, I don't think I've done it since I started heel and toeing all the time.