Manual or Automatic transmission?
The Most Important Automobile Question
- Thread starter launderess
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Depends
Depends on how you plan to use it.
Also depends on the model of the car and quality of the automatic.
Overall I'd say I prefer a manual. Lasts longer, easier/cheaper to repair, and with a skilled driver can get better mileage than most autos - even the modern ones.
But if you plan to do a lot of stop and go, gridlock commuting, or are physically challenged (like broken or nonfunctional leg/arm/etc), then an automatic is more practical.
Depends on how you plan to use it.
Also depends on the model of the car and quality of the automatic.
Overall I'd say I prefer a manual. Lasts longer, easier/cheaper to repair, and with a skilled driver can get better mileage than most autos - even the modern ones.
But if you plan to do a lot of stop and go, gridlock commuting, or are physically challenged (like broken or nonfunctional leg/arm/etc), then an automatic is more practical.
Manual.
My Saab is rated at about 32 mpg on the highway. Thanks in part to the 5-speed, my personal best average on a tank is 43.8 mpg. When I do that, I think somebody from the EPA should meet me in my driveway when I get home to give me a cookie because I'm doing my part, darnit!
Manual shift Saabs also must be put in reverse to remove the key. Without the key, the transmission is locked in reverse. If a thief could even start it, it would be jammed in reverse.
A friend of mine from when I lived in Savannah was quasi-carjacked. The thief pulled open the door, pointed a gun at him, and then pulled him out of the car. The thief then got in the car and then got out again and ran off. Note, if your career involves stealing cars, it would be a wise business decision to learn how to drive a stick.
Can anyone other than me double clutch?
Dave
My Saab is rated at about 32 mpg on the highway. Thanks in part to the 5-speed, my personal best average on a tank is 43.8 mpg. When I do that, I think somebody from the EPA should meet me in my driveway when I get home to give me a cookie because I'm doing my part, darnit!
Manual shift Saabs also must be put in reverse to remove the key. Without the key, the transmission is locked in reverse. If a thief could even start it, it would be jammed in reverse.
A friend of mine from when I lived in Savannah was quasi-carjacked. The thief pulled open the door, pointed a gun at him, and then pulled him out of the car. The thief then got in the car and then got out again and ran off. Note, if your career involves stealing cars, it would be a wise business decision to learn how to drive a stick.
Can anyone other than me double clutch?
Dave
dj-gabriele
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
- Messages
- 1,685
Manual. Too bad they aren't more widely available.
Really?!?!
Around here automatic is almost non existent! And when you get it, it's a costly optional!
Anyway, manual, I like to "play" when I drive!
Really?!?!
Around here automatic is almost non existent! And when you get it, it's a costly optional!
Anyway, manual, I like to "play" when I drive!
Launderess---I have well over 225,000 miles on my 1994 Geo Prizm (which is a rebadged Toyota Corolla) and it has a manual transmission. However, I live in a rural area, where most driving happens on long, open stretches of highway.
When I've had the car in a large city (NYC, Seattle, Chicago) I've wished to god it was an automatic. It's a pain-in-the-ass in stop'n'go traffic.
I've also had my right arm in a sling for a month, and trouble with my left knee, which made driving the car almost impossible. This was a scary issue, as I live alone.
Few of my friends can drive a stick, which has been inconvenient at times.
I'm glad I know how to drive a stick, but my next car will have an automatic transmission!
When I've had the car in a large city (NYC, Seattle, Chicago) I've wished to god it was an automatic. It's a pain-in-the-ass in stop'n'go traffic.
I've also had my right arm in a sling for a month, and trouble with my left knee, which made driving the car almost impossible. This was a scary issue, as I live alone.
Few of my friends can drive a stick, which has been inconvenient at times.
I'm glad I know how to drive a stick, but my next car will have an automatic transmission!
When I
drove, all my cars had automatics. When I learned to drive, manual classes were optional, and expensive.
With advances like 5 to 7 speed automatics, and CVTs, shifting is increasingly more optional.
I was one of those "transportation" drivers.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
drove, all my cars had automatics. When I learned to drive, manual classes were optional, and expensive.
With advances like 5 to 7 speed automatics, and CVTs, shifting is increasingly more optional.
I was one of those "transportation" drivers.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
xraytech
Well-known member
I prefer Automatic,
but then again any of the large full sized luxury land yahts I would even consider come with automatic and there is no manual avaliable.
Depending on the car and the care it recieves the automatic can last, the 1990 Buick LeSabre I used to have had 188,000 miles on the original transmission, and never had any transmission issues.
Anymore it depends mainly on what kind of car you want, for the most part unlsee you are looking at certain trucks and small or sporty cars manual often times isnt avaliable
but then again any of the large full sized luxury land yahts I would even consider come with automatic and there is no manual avaliable.
Depending on the car and the care it recieves the automatic can last, the 1990 Buick LeSabre I used to have had 188,000 miles on the original transmission, and never had any transmission issues.
Anymore it depends mainly on what kind of car you want, for the most part unlsee you are looking at certain trucks and small or sporty cars manual often times isnt avaliable
I prefer manual because: (1) cars with manual transmissions are usually a bit less expensive than their automatic counterparts; (2) manuals overall give better fuel economy (although the difference has diminshed in recent years); and (3) cars with manual transmissions are less likely to be stolen. I had a car with an automatic that was broken into five times in theft attempts. The ignition cylinder was ripped out four times. One police officer advised me to get a manual, which is what I have done ever since. No more problems.
For big city traffic an automatic for sure, just too much shifting with a manual that it takes the pleasure out of driving imho. Small city and/or mainly highway (uncongested) driving then a manual. I ended up having trouble driving my Volvo GL manual after I developed a bad back and sciatica. It was downright painful to press on the clutch after awhile in traffic.
Other thing is that todays automatics get better gas mileage than their manual versions in some cases, not sure if all, and some are even faster off the line than their manual counterpoarts.
Other thing is that todays automatics get better gas mileage than their manual versions in some cases, not sure if all, and some are even faster off the line than their manual counterpoarts.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
M vs. A
I dunno, but if you do a lot of "living" in your car (i.e. long trips with some mealtimes spent in the car, etc.) auto is the way to go.
That said, I wish they'd make getting manuals obligatory for some of these people who try to do TOO much while driving their automatics. That'd keep them busy!
Chuck
I dunno, but if you do a lot of "living" in your car (i.e. long trips with some mealtimes spent in the car, etc.) auto is the way to go.
That said, I wish they'd make getting manuals obligatory for some of these people who try to do TOO much while driving their automatics. That'd keep them busy!
Chuck
xraytech
Well-known member
Chuck,
do you mean those people who are drinking coffee, reading the paper, putting on makeup, and texting at the same time while sitting in traffic?
if so I agree with you that they need to drive a manual to keep them occupied
do you mean those people who are drinking coffee, reading the paper, putting on makeup, and texting at the same time while sitting in traffic?
if so I agree with you that they need to drive a manual to keep them occupied
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
Some have no choice...
Jeri, my 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with the Duramax Diesel comes with the Allison automatic trans. I cannot rave enough about this workrig. The Allison is the most smooth shifting transmission I've ever encountered. Even when I'm really getting in it for accelleration, I usually have to watch my tach to see it shift.
RCD
Jeri, my 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with the Duramax Diesel comes with the Allison automatic trans. I cannot rave enough about this workrig. The Allison is the most smooth shifting transmission I've ever encountered. Even when I'm really getting in it for accelleration, I usually have to watch my tach to see it shift.
RCD
I prefer automatic too. My Smart doesn't have a traditional automatic transmission but it has the techniques of a manual transmission with an extra mechanism that does the shifting. It drives more or less like an automatic but shifts less smooth (unfortunately).
Overhere in the Netherlands manual is standard but some car come with auto standard. And overhere there are also people who do a lot behind the wheel that they shouldn't be doing, driving auto or manual!! Some people must have four arms!
Overhere in the Netherlands manual is standard but some car come with auto standard. And overhere there are also people who do a lot behind the wheel that they shouldn't be doing, driving auto or manual!! Some people must have four arms!
Manual is fun on open roads and in changing terrain, but automatic is better for urban and frequent long-distance driving (love my cruise control). Here in Australia manuals are widely available, but most people nowadays seem to opt for automatics. Very few kids get a manual license, automatic is just easier.
rapunzel
rapunzel
Regarding Smart cars and hybrids...not highjacking the topic
I noticed that they've all but disappeared and the same applies to the hybrids. I recently bought a Toyota and the dealer told me that people are trading in their hybrids for petrol cars. The apparent reasons for this: no actual fuel savings in city traffic, delayed response and not anough power during accelleration, limited utility value and big price tag.
rapunzel
I noticed that they've all but disappeared and the same applies to the hybrids. I recently bought a Toyota and the dealer told me that people are trading in their hybrids for petrol cars. The apparent reasons for this: no actual fuel savings in city traffic, delayed response and not anough power during accelleration, limited utility value and big price tag.
rapunzel
rinso
Well-known member
Very few people are really skilled at using a manual transmission correctly. (Though I'm sure that most of those folks, think they are.)
Manual transmissions do usually have the fuel economy edge, mostly due to the fact that there is a solid drive line connection through all gears, and not a fluid coupled torque converter with inherent "slippage" that locks only at higher speeds.
But, for most of us average drivers, an automatic will usually do a better job of correctly selecting the proper gear (and in some cases, torque converter stator pitch) for driving conditions.
Manual transmissions do usually have the fuel economy edge, mostly due to the fact that there is a solid drive line connection through all gears, and not a fluid coupled torque converter with inherent "slippage" that locks only at higher speeds.
But, for most of us average drivers, an automatic will usually do a better job of correctly selecting the proper gear (and in some cases, torque converter stator pitch) for driving conditions.
i always prefered a stick when I was younger....real fun to drive since I always had a turbo...love to hear that whirling sound....after stmach surgery had to give them up for the automatic...but I now prefer the automatic....also like the auto-stick feature...but every now and then i rent one with a 5 speed just for a day of fun....
Buy what you want . . .
That said, I much prefer manuals. I drive between 15,000 and 20,000 miles yearly, most of it in city traffic, and still wouldn't have an automatic. I find that merging in fast moving freeway traffic is much easier and safer with a manual because you can downshift when you see a gap up ahead and then be in the proper gear when you're ready to slip into the gap. With an automatic, you'll only get a downshift when you floor the accelerator, and if you let up for even an instant it will shift back up and you'll lose power. I frequently transition from the eastbound Ventura Freeway to the southbound 405: lanes 1-4 continue east, no. 5 transitions to the northbound 405, and no. 6 and 7 go to the southbound 405. Depending on traffic, each set of lanes can be going different speeds and it's really good to be able to depend on the car staying in whateve gear I choose. I've done this in an automatic and it's just one hugely annoying purgatory of upshift-downshift-upshift-downshift-upshift when moving from the no. 1 lane to the no. 6.
Manuals are usually more reliable than automatics, although this does vary. My mother prefers automatics, and drives very conservatively. Her old Peugeot 505 automatic was slow as nails, but the transmission lasted the life of the car, nearly 200,000 miles. She replaced that with an Eagle, which failed after a little over 60,000 miles at significant cost. Her current Camry V-6 has over 100,000 miles in it and still shifts fine. Same driver, same location, all cars dealer maintained, go figure. One caveat: if you're not comfortable with a manual, it is easy to abuse the clutch and that can be expensive to replace.
Manuals can be difficult hard to find because dealers don't like them. When I bought my VW TDI a few years ago it was really hard to find a manual, and countless salesmen tried to convince me to buy an automatic. So far I've owned 11 cars - five Citroens, three Fiats, one each Alfa, Saab, and VW, and all have been manual. I'm not looking to change that!
That said, I much prefer manuals. I drive between 15,000 and 20,000 miles yearly, most of it in city traffic, and still wouldn't have an automatic. I find that merging in fast moving freeway traffic is much easier and safer with a manual because you can downshift when you see a gap up ahead and then be in the proper gear when you're ready to slip into the gap. With an automatic, you'll only get a downshift when you floor the accelerator, and if you let up for even an instant it will shift back up and you'll lose power. I frequently transition from the eastbound Ventura Freeway to the southbound 405: lanes 1-4 continue east, no. 5 transitions to the northbound 405, and no. 6 and 7 go to the southbound 405. Depending on traffic, each set of lanes can be going different speeds and it's really good to be able to depend on the car staying in whateve gear I choose. I've done this in an automatic and it's just one hugely annoying purgatory of upshift-downshift-upshift-downshift-upshift when moving from the no. 1 lane to the no. 6.
Manuals are usually more reliable than automatics, although this does vary. My mother prefers automatics, and drives very conservatively. Her old Peugeot 505 automatic was slow as nails, but the transmission lasted the life of the car, nearly 200,000 miles. She replaced that with an Eagle, which failed after a little over 60,000 miles at significant cost. Her current Camry V-6 has over 100,000 miles in it and still shifts fine. Same driver, same location, all cars dealer maintained, go figure. One caveat: if you're not comfortable with a manual, it is easy to abuse the clutch and that can be expensive to replace.
Manuals can be difficult hard to find because dealers don't like them. When I bought my VW TDI a few years ago it was really hard to find a manual, and countless salesmen tried to convince me to buy an automatic. So far I've owned 11 cars - five Citroens, three Fiats, one each Alfa, Saab, and VW, and all have been manual. I'm not looking to change that!
