Driving stick shift vs. automatic

[Raisin Bran]

I drive an Automatic car My Gf did not want to learn to drive manual.

I really prefer driving stick! ... much more fun. You can really make the car drive the way you want it to.

also

Driving in the snow with a stick shift is the coolest thing ever!

 

[Syntherio]

Automatic is boring

 

[De Lorimier]

Manual by a mile!
All my cars were manual but the one I own now is automatic. It's going to be the first and possibly last automatic car I will ever own. I need to feel the motor and the mechanic of the car. Plus automatic bores me.

@Raisin: ditto on the driving in the snow with a manual car!

 

[Turner]

@Raisin: ditto on the driving in the snow with a manual car!

Disagree with that one...the *only* car I got stuck in the snow was the manual. Of course, that car was the lightest one I have driven in the snow by far. I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

 

[Raisin Bran]

Disagree with that one...the *only* car I got stuck in the snow was the manual. Of course, that car was the lightest one I have driven in the snow by far. I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

From my experience the lighter the car the funnier it gets! Do you have experience in snow driving? The more experience you have the better it becomes! Usually heavy cars will have a tendency to get stuck in snow while lighter cars flow over snow!

Edit: IMO its just that you dont know how to drive in snow

 

[EdwardTking]

I learnt on a manual, but prefer a good auto.

Some autos have a manual over-ride stick
that can be useful for hills (over-ride to
lower gear) or snow (over-ride to higher).

In general, I want my brain free to watch
what other vehicles and pedestrians are doing
rather than changing the gear all the time.

 

[Godwynn]

Automatic. Shifting gears manually gets really old.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I would love to drive stick, but as for right now none of my family's cars have stick for me to learn on. I'm not going to go out and buy another car, when there is an unused one here that I can drive as long as I pay the expenses.

 

[PaperBeetle]

Other.
My derailleur uses a thumb-shifter, not a stick

 

[IglooDame]

From my experience the lighter the car the funnier it gets! Do you have experience in snow driving? The more experience you have the better it becomes! Usually heavy cars will have a tendency to get stuck in snow while lighter cars flow over snow!

Edit: IMO its just that you dont know how to drive in snow

One of the less wonderful cars I've driven in snow was my old Toyota Corolla hatchback - thing was so light I probably could have tipped it over myself. Had an annoying tendency of being pushed around by the wind, very skittish, and was tougher to drive in slippery conditions than my nearly-double-the-weight-on-similar-tires Honda Prelude.

 

[Masquerouge]

I wish speed limits and driving behaviours would require a manual shift, but alas except if you are driving in a closed circuit, actually racing against other cars, I don't see why you should be bothered with a manual.
Unless, of course, you have something to prove by passing that granny in her Fiat500 right in front of the elementary school.

 

[IglooDame]

I wish speed limits and driving behaviours would require a manual shift, but alas except if you are driving in a closed circuit, actually racing against other cars, I don't see why you should be bothered with a manual.
Unless, of course, you have something to prove by passing that granny in her Fiat500 right in front of the elementary school.

I've always thought that such drivers were simply making it easy for one to identify them as morons and be extra cautious around them in the future, very nice of them wouldn't you say?

 

[Shadylookin]

I prefer manual. You get a lot more control over the vehicle and they are considerably cheaper, but i wish I had an automatic when i get stuck in traffic

 

[Paradigne]

I prefer stick when I drive, unfortunately I live in a city where driving is not the norm, sitting in traffic is. Sitting in traffic with a manual transmission is a pita.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Well I've only ever driven a manual. As there is greater control and better milage I am assuming it's better. Shifting gears isn't that difficult. I couldn't really imagine doing a hill start or reversing without a clutch

 

[.Shane.]

Sticks get better gas mileage and are funner to drive while automatics are far more convenient and relaxing, particularly in busy traffic. I've had 6 cars in my life and it's been an even split, 3 sticks and 3 automatics.

Yup. I answered "stick", but if I did a lot of commuting, my answer would definitely change.

The difference in MPG is pretty negligible, though.

 

[amadeus]

Automatic. I just want to get from point A to point B.

 

[Masquerouge]

Well I've only ever driven a manual. As there is greater control and better milage I am assuming it's better. Shifting gears isn't that difficult. I couldn't really imagine doing a hill start or reversing without a clutch

Allright, in what kind of conditions are you driving that requires better control? Because I would hate to kill the aspiring Fangio in you, but for a normal daily use, there is no difference between an automatic and a manual.
Plus doing a hill start is actually easier on an automatic: you will not go in reverse when you release the brake pedal to press on the accelerator. With a manual, you have to release the brake pedal to press the clutch, and until you have shifted in first gear your car has a tendency to roll back down the hill.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I'll never be able to drive a car. The only time changing gears will affect me is if I choose it in a racing game.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Manuel though on long trips it dose get a bit tiring.
Plus With skill and pratice you can get even more milage from each liter of fuel.