Do you drive stick or auto?

[Vetterin]

No kidding. I cry every time I get in a Corvette that has been cursed with an auto. Every time.

Well, if you know anything about the early C4's you know that the manual was the Doug Nash designed "4+3" transmission which was a total POS and added almost .5 sec to the auto's 5.6 0-60 and 13.9 1/4 mile times.......so keep crying.

 

[kalrith]

I prefer sticks, but most of my vehicle choices weren't made by me and are thus all autos:

'01 Mazda Tribute
'92 Mercury Cougar
'79 Chevy Monte Carlo
​

In the near future I plan to sell the Tribute and get an econobox with a stick.

 

[Spungo]

Oh and just because someone doesn't drive a manual transmission doesn't mean they're not a good driver. I drive an automatic because I'm not on the fucking track with a performance car. Even then, I'd rather have a paddle-shifter car because they're quicker.

Those are awesome. It's nice to be able to lock the gears so the car doesn't get confused in traffic. Pushed the gas a little too hard, it drops a gear, let off, it changes again, little more gas, drops a gear. It seems like every car has trouble with this around 35mph. It wants to use the highest gear for cruising but it will drop to the second highest gear if the gas is touched a little too hard.

 

[kalrith]

Those are awesome. It's nice to be able to lock the gears so the car doesn't get confused in traffic. Pushed the gas a little too hard, it drops a gear, let off, it changes again, little more gas, drops a gear. It seems like every car has trouble with this around 35mph. It wants to use the highest gear for cruising but it will drop to the second highest gear if the gas is touched a little too hard.

AFAIK paddle shifters don't completely lock the gears. For example, if you have the paddle shifter in 3rd gear, it won't go into 4th, but it will go into 2nd. You can test this by coming to a complete stop with the paddle shifter in 3rd. AFAIK, all cars with paddle shifters would shift down into 1st gear.

Now, it might keep it in 3rd longer than if you didn't have paddle shifters, but the word "lock" would be untrue in this situation (if I'm wrong, someone please correct me ).

 

[NutBucket]

Your example of coming to a stop doesn't count. Typically w/ paddle shifters as long as you're not coming to a complete stop the trans won't shift unless you pull a paddle.

 

[Jinny]

all my cars have been manual (i also live in san francisco)
current:
93 miata
04 mazda 3
past:
06 tsx
04 civic

 

[rumpleforeskin]

Im in the UK so it's probably no surprise I drive a manual (or stick as they say in the states)
I've not owned an automatic in over 15 years and usually only drive them as hire cars in the USA.

Now I think about it I can't even remember the last time I was in an automatic outside the USA.

 

[alevasseur14]

Yes it is. I'm tired of driving manual transmission all the time for everywhere I go. I don't need to have fun driving tired home from work. My next car will definitely be auto.

In The Dude's words, "That's just, like, your opinion, man." If you want to drive an auto, do it. It's all good with me. I drive home from work tired everyday too. For me, right now, I like driving a manual. I look forward to the drive home if I stayed late and know traffic is going to be light! if traffic sucks, whatever. I'm going to be driving anyways.

I'm not going to lie and say there aren't times I've wished I was driving an auto. But if I were buying a car tomorrow, it'd be a manual without a doubt.