automatic OR manual?

[Denzil]

Originally Posted by rjstaaf

I think you are thinking of an underpowered car with an auto. That I agree would not be fun to drive.

Regardless of traffic conditions I can either drop it out of OD or punch the throttle and the tranny will downshift itself and I have all the power I need.

While I agree that most manufacturer's post higher epa ratings for their manual cars vs auto cars I seriously doubt that happens in the real world unless you drive the manual like Grandma.

Well, the power is definitely something to consider but to me it seems that downshifting in a manual transmission is quicker (varies by driver) than an automatic (keep in mind I'm regarding to stock vehicles since that's what the majority of the public drives). I think it's just that I fear that split-second lag in an automatic transmission compared to a manual transmission where you feel like you truly have "control."

[tabinha]

stick is better because it keeps you from coffee and the phone. Learned to drive three on the floor in 32 Ford. My dad had one all the way into the 50's
The only way to go.

[Quickstrike]

Stick all the way!

Oh, it isn't very difficult to talk on the cell-phone or eat/drink while driving manual. My car doesn't have cupholders so I have learned to shift with the drink in my hand or turn the wheel with it in my hand.

Also, like everyone else said, if you get used to manual tranny it comes so naturally. Hours and hours of bumper to bumper traffic isn't a problem at all (I guess if you had a race clutch it could be like someone mentioned, I am just used to common car and truck clutches that are fairly easy to push in and out).

[Accumulator]

As I consider buying yet another car I've been thinking about this question again.

My wife and I both find the stick a) offers much more control, espeically in bad weather, b) is *MUCH* better for track work, c) is a lot more fun, and d) is even good for the ole ego (e.g., smooooth heel & toe double clutching ) . Wouldn't want the RX-7 with an automatic, that's for sure!

But I gotta admit that with a large, heavy car in stop and go traffic, an automatic can be OK. My wife and I both thought we'd miss the manual when we traded from our S4/S6 pair to A8/S8 but most of the time we don't. All my automatic cars *go* when you get on them, probably faster than I can downshift (and I'm not slow at it ).

Automatics offer other advantages for street-driven cars, especially in certain rare, uhm, emergent situations. Learned about this at the Security Driver's Training course- there's a reason why law enforcement/security/executive protection vehicles are automatics. Just as a stick keeps you from doing [nonsense] while you oughta be driving, a stick can *prevent* you from doing certain types of multi-tasking while driving and can be hard to operate if you're injured. And while it's possible to drive an automatic from the passenger's seat, you just can't do that with a stick. Admittedly this sort of thing might not be relevant to most people, but if/when it *does* become relevant, you have to work with what you have.

[blkZ28Conv]

It all depnds on what "you" prefer to drive every day. Our opinions should mean nothing. Plain and simple. You must live with the vehicle and slap down the cash to purchase it.

I have both and would much rather drive one of the automatics (C5 or Escalade) the majority of the time and still not sacrifice any performance or joy of driving at the same time drink my coffee without acrobatics or endangering other drivers on the road.
Nothing like having big hp and torque under the right foot no matter what the left foot may or may not be doing.

When the mood hits me to manually shift I just pull out the '67 Z28, Chevy II 327 SS or '67 Chevelle 396.
But...... when I was younger (16-35 y.o) and had 2 good hips, I would drive (own) nothing but a manual (automatics in the 60/70/80's were not as refind as the ECU controlled units made today ).

[skuz]

I don't really care for the transmission type, as long as the auto has more than 3 gears. I have driven a 3 cylinders, 3 speed auto Suzuki Forsa once, 0-100 KM/H in like 45 seconds...

Some cars I think are preferable with automatic. While shopping, I tried a few cars and I can honestly say I didn't like the Nissan Sentra manual tranny, the shifter didn't feel right or move smoothly. If I had chosen that car, I would have opted for an automatic.

I realized I wouldn't want to pay a thousand bucks more to have an auto, so I eliminated Nissan. Finally found another car with a "just right" shifter.

I enjoy it no matter the conditions. I like small efficient engines, so I'm better off shifting by myself.

[ceiol]

6 speed manual -- and I live in Los Angeles where the traffic sucks. And still, it's gotta be a stick.

[klnyc]

7 SMG > all of yous
Joke aside, I live in NYC and trust me the traffic its worst than anywhere else. I drive from Brooklny to Midtown Manattan its only 13 miles. It take me avg 90min from door to door Yup, I down with AUTO yo. All my last 8 rides I owned was a STICK

[eddieg]

My V6 is an auto; to be frank, I'm a car enthusiast and a Autopian when it comes to care (at 9500 miles my car still looks brand new), but my life doesnt allow much other than a commute to work and back during the weekdays (and its only 7 miles). I also live in Boston, effectively, so I love my 5-gear tiptronic.

I think if you get a "fast" sport tuned new car, I think you will find that its tiptronic mode will give you what you want *unless* you plan to autocross. My tiptronic works fantastic for planned "here I'm going to gun it" and for "ok, lets downshift and keep the revs high ready for gunning it and merging with traffic" or even "keep it in first gear to impress my friends with torque". I can do almost anything a manual driver can do short of harming the car (like I can't downshift from 4 to 1, but would a manual driver be doing the right thing??).

I can't see myself autocrossing very well, obviously since I wouldn't know perfectly what gear I'm in; but for drag, I think an auto has the upper hand in consistency. The computer (again assuming a decent new automatic car tuned for sport shifts) can't mess up the shifting!

Now, nevertheless, here's my story if I didn't need to worry about money: my daily driver, no matter how fun (my car is a blast right now! but still, auto it is.), would likely be an automatic. However, if I were to buy a second car, as a fun car like a miata, cooper, or other sports car, I would very likely make that a manual.

Finally....
research if the car you are interested in is known to have "issues" with its manual transmissions (or auto for that matter!). In my case, 05 Nissan Altima's have known issues with their manuals, but their automatics rule!!!

edit: rewrite some sentences as I wrote this while I was on the phone...

[jchetty]

Originally Posted by eddieg

My V6 is an auto; to be frank, I'm a car enthusiast and a Autopian when it comes to care (at 9500 miles my car still looks brand new), but my life doesnt allow much other than a commute to work and back during the weekdays (and its only 7 miles). I also live in Boston, effectively, so I love my 5-gear tiptronic.

I think if you get a "fast" sport tuned new car, I think you will find that its tiptronic mode will give you what you want *unless* you plan to autocross. My tiptronic works fantastic for planned "here I'm going to gun it" and for "ok, lets downshift and keep the revs high ready for gunning it and merging with traffic" or even "keep it in first gear to impress my friends with torque". I can do almost anything a manual driver can do short of harming the car (like I can't downshift from 4 to 1, but would a manual driver be doing the right thing??).

I can't see myself autocrossing very well, obviously since I wouldn't know perfectly what gear I'm in; but for drag, I think an auto has the upper hand in consistency. The computer (again assuming a decent new automatic car tuned for sport shifts) can't mess up the shifting!

Now, nevertheless, here's my story if I didn't need to worry about money: my daily driver, no matter how fun (my car is a blast right now! but still, auto it is.), would likely be an automatic. However, if I were to buy a second car, as a fun car like a miata, cooper, or other sports car, I would very likely make that a manual.

Finally....
research if the car you are interested in is known to have "issues" with its manual transmissions (or auto for that matter!). In my case, 05 Nissan Altima's have known issues with their manuals, but their automatics rule!!!

edit: rewrite some sentences as I wrote this while I was on the phone...

if i were getting an auto for a daily driver it would have to be tiptronic/dsg/or whatever they are called im not sure i've driven the new 3 series with one and its cool, but in now way is comparable to a manual...yeah u can downshift and gun, i dont know if u can do more than a 1 gear drop (i wouldnt try as it wasnt my car)...downshifting to 1st gear in any car is just a bad habit ...but manual rule in snow/slippery surfaces because u can slow the car down without the brakes and if done properly it wont damage the car..and one thing that an automatic/tiptronic will never allow me to do, heel to toe downshifting...i do this often i actually stop thinking, its just happens on its own and i truely miss it when driving an automatic coming around turns

[Quickstrike]

Originally Posted by klnyc

7 SMG > all of yous

DSG > SMG

[klnyc]

Originally Posted by Quickstrike

DSG > SMG

Word that!
its like Enzo > all their rides.