Manuals > Automatic

[Mirage]

Uh, what's hard about manual transmission?

And I don't think it's a luxury outside of the US, there's just not a huge demand for it.

[sockmonkey]

Im a poor ignorant american who can only drive a manual.

One could always get a steam car; no gears at all.

(steamers have buttloads of torque and don't need em')

[bipper]

Manual - cause anything with MAN, is just better. Except Manis, he is a penus.

[Nominus Experse]

A manual allows me to better concentrate on the road, whereas an automatic seems to commonly give rise to me becoming lost in a uncomfortable state of boredom and inactivity.

[Croyles]

Automatic is a luxury outside the U.S.

No it isnt. Its a waste of money imo. Also what Mirage said.
No one here wants to drive an automatic.

[Tallulah]

My friend has an automatic Merc.

In the UK, if you learn to drive in an automatic/ pass the test in an automatic, you are only licensed to drive an automatic transmission car. However, if you learn in a manual, you are okay to drive either.

Christopher Eccleston (ex of Doctor Who... I think it was him anyway... ) was once ridiculed by TV presenter/columnist Jeremy Clarkson (who presents car show Top Gear) for having to drive an automatic version of the Reasonably Priced Car he had to test drive for the show.

[Rocket Edge]

Manuals are great if your out rallying a car. Automatics are just easier.

[Croyles]

My friend has an automatic Merc.

In the UK, if you learn to drive in an automatic/ pass the test in an automatic, you are only licensed to drive an automatic transmission car. However, if you learn in a manual, you are okay to drive either.

Christopher Eccleston (ex of Doctor Who... I think it was him anyway... ) was once ridiculed by TV presenter/columnist Jeremy Clarkson (who presents car show Top Gear) for having to drive an automatic version of the Reasonably Priced Car he had to test drive for the show.

Same thing with Daniel Craig. Except not in Top Gear.

[Bunny]

I enjoy automatics more because that way I can concentrate more on the idiotic drives around me. I do enjoy manual as well though.

I hate driving either though.

[Croyles]

Its not just for *rallying cars'. You have much more control. Its not hard, and it doesnt get boring (sometimes it can get a little irritating in packed traffic but I think an automatic would annoy me even more in those situations). You just change gears, thats all.
Its also a matter of preference though.

[fire_of_avalon]

The only real thing manuals are better than automatics for is racing or hauling, period the end. If you know how to treat a car and a you have a tachometer, you can get just as much mileage out of an automatic as you can a manual. Manuals are more fun for some people, automatics are more fun for some people. It isn't like manuals transmissions make your car an awesome rollercoaster ride or anything.

I don't understand what you mean by more control. The gears shift in the exact same way, fuel goes to the engine the exact same way, and it'll all happen at about the exact same speeds. What does that give the driver of manual control over? The ability to blow his or her engine because they left it in neutral. That's about all I see.

And I have no idea at all what makes you think manual transmissions are safer than automatics, at all.

Really, it all comes down to preference. I don't have a preference, I can drive either. I think this is all about "I'm better than you, because I have a common but in the long run not so much worthwhile skill that you don't." Well I can talk like a chipmunk! My virtually useless skill is more entertaining.

[edczxcvbnm]

Automatic. I could drive manual if I ever so cared. It doesn't look hard and would take a bit of practice. I am just lazy and see no benefit to driving stick.

Answer me this. You have more control in a manual....Control over what? What gear you are in? How does that benefit me to have that sort of control?

EDIT: Damn...FOA beat edalalalala to the question XD

[escobert]

The only real thing manuals are better than automatics for is racing or hauling, period the end. If you know how to treat a car and a you have a tachometer, you can get just as much mileage out of an automatic as you can a manual. Manuals are more fun for some people, automatics are more fun for some people. It isn't like manuals transmissions make your car an awesome rollercoaster ride or anything.

I don't understand what you mean by more control. The gears shift in the exact same way, fuel goes to the engine the exact same way, and it'll all happen at about the exact same speeds. What does that give the driver of manual control over? The ability to blow his or her engine because they left it in neutral. That's about all I see.

And I have no idea at all what makes you think manual transmissions are safer than automatics, at all.

Really, it all comes down to preference. I don't have a preference, I can drive either. I think this is all about "I'm better than you, because I have a common but in the long run not so much worthwhile skill that you don't." Well I can talk like a chipmunk! My virtually useless skill is more entertaining.

Reality is I live in the northeast and I'd much rather say "HEY CAR STAY IN 2nd GEAR ON THIS HILL!" instead of wasting my breaks and sliding and dying. Manulas aren't good just for racing a towing. There are areas like Vermont were manuals are wonderful in winter.


and to Ed's question, you have more control with a manual since you control the gears, the car can only go so fast in certain gears, so when you have a automatic it kicks it up a gear even if you don't want to. They're set to at a certain RPM I believe so you have no choice. Also manuals allow you to use less breaks making your brakes last longer. Also shifting at I think 6500 RPM gets the most horsepower out of your vehicle and so you can do that in a manual if needed where as you can't in a auto.

[Croyles]

The only real thing manuals are better than automatics for is racing or hauling, period the end. If you know how to treat a car and a you have a tachometer, you can get just as much mileage out of an automatic as you can a manual. Manuals are more fun for some people, automatics are more fun for some people. It isn't like manuals transmissions make your car an awesome rollercoaster ride or anything.

I dont explain things or my opinion very well but I'll try.
You can STILL get better mileage out of a manual. And no one said anything about it being like rollercoaster, if you have a really fast car then yeah, sure. If your driving 100km/h and then slow down to 50km/h because you are in a town, you can leave the car in the highest gear (5th or 6th) and it will use nearly half of the petrol youd use if you were in the 3rd or 4th gear. Automatics will automatically switch your gear down. If you are driving uphill or downhill, its much better being able to switch your gear down. If you are going up something very steep, you still have a chance if you switch even lower (without going further than your trusty redline of course). Even semi-automatics (tiptronics) will change the gear for you if your RPM is very high. Sometimes though, you just need your RPM very high.

But imagine driving through a long open road in a town in the 5th or 6th gear for 30 minutes and you already saved quite a bit of cash.

I don't understand what you mean by more control. The gears shift in the exact same way, fuel goes to the engine the exact same way, and it'll all happen at about the exact same speeds. What does that give the driver of manual control over? The ability to blow his or her engine because they left it in neutral. That's about all I see.

Like I said, going uphill, downhill or around corners. You can regulate your speed and g-force in more ways than acceleration or brake in a manual.
A little neat extra in this department is that you can brake using the engine, so your brakes dont wear out quite so fast (if your bothered about that sort of thing).

And I have no idea at all what makes you think manual transmissions are safer than automatics, at all.

If you are overtaking someone you can switch your gear down and your car will gain much more momentum. You therefore avoid oncoming traffic as soon as possible. You can escape general risks quicker this way too.

Also, faulty brakes are a problem, and a very bad one if your in the middle of driving. So your driving, and your brakes dont work. In a manual you just switch to the lowest possible gear and the engine brakes for you. Of course, its got nothing on your normal brakes, but it definitely does still give you a chance at not rolling off a cliff if you have a reasonable amount of space.
Maybe theres something like this in automatics? I dont actually know..

And like Bert stated, winter is a bummer, and manuals (tend to) handle it better.

Really, it all comes down to preference. I don't have a preference, I can drive either. I think this is all about "I'm better than you, because I have a common but in the long run not so much worthwhile skill that you don't." Well I can talk like a chipmunk! My virtually useless skill is more entertaining.

Yeah theres some friendly competition in this, thats all. Actually, I have a really underdeveloped ego and this is the only way for me to feel great. Im not even talking about driving skill, I think all of you who drive automatics are capable of driving manuals. Of course its about preference, but im still gonna try and prove that manuals are better.

[Madame Adequate]

Manual seems great if you actually enjoy driving. If it's just to get from A to B, I see little sense in not having automatic during most circumstances.

Edit; Actually no, that's illogical. If that logic held, then ANYTHING that made driving more complicated would be good for people who "enjoy it".