Do you like driving a manual car?

[Rock Hydra]

I love my auto. I'd rather have the transmission shift for me. Just put it in drive and go.

 

[John]

All of the autos that I have owned in my life had manual trannies except for my current vehicle. I drove in Houston traffic for several years, and occasionally I wondered what it would be like not having to shift all the time. The only reason my current vehicle is automatic is because that is the only way you could have purchased a Lightning.

 

[miri]

Im on my 4th manual car but prefer automatics. I usually just get manuals because they are cheaper. It was about $1000 cheaper with my car to get the manual.

 

[Chrono]

I love MT.
ROCKS baby.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I like mine, but it all depends on the car. I see no reason for a family sedan or wagon to be a manual, and I know that on trucks an automatic has a higher towing capacity.

ZV

My Taurus SHO is a family sedan and I would not have it any other way than the 5 speed manual in it right now.

A SHO isn't exactly what I had in mind when I said "family sedan", but I think you knew that.

ZV

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I like mine, but it all depends on the car. I see no reason for a family sedan or wagon to be a manual, and I know that on trucks an automatic has a higher towing capacity.

ZV

My Taurus SHO is a family sedan and I would not have it any other way than the 5 speed manual in it right now.

A SHO isn't exactly what I had in mind when I said "family sedan", but I think you knew that.

ZV

No, why would I think that. A Taurus SHO is most definitely a family sedan. It has room for 5 adults and a HUGE trunk. It just happens to be on the sporty side of family sedans.

 

[MajinWade]

I like it except for stop and go traffic.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: MajinWade
I like it except for stop and go traffic.

I drove a manual transmission vehicle daily for 20 years even in stop and go traffic and it never bothered me. I am going back to a manual very soon too as I hate driving an automatic transmission car.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I own a BMW and it is a crime to put anything but a manual transmission in a BMW. I absolutely love my car and its six speed. My previous car was a 1989 Isuzu Trooper, 100 hp and 5 speed, so much fun to drive even though it sucked.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: kmrivers
love it. would drive an auto if it was free though.

The price difference between manual and auto on a new car is almost negligible. And on a used car, I don't think it matters at all. There is no reason to buy a transmission you like less (unless it's all that is available). I miss driving a manual now that I have an auto, but I still select the appropriate gear for engine braking. And at least an auto is better offroad.

Edit: My favorite part of driving a manual is not downshifting for acceleration, but giving a lot of throttle, then upshifting at low RPM. I did that ever since I found out that BMW recommends that method for optimal gas mileage.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Anyone ever driven one of those old 80s trucks where you can barely feel whether it's in gear or not? I drove an old busted government Dodge (not law enforcement ranger division in the NPS means you get shafted) like that and it was awesome. No tachometer even. For some reason everyone that had been using that truck thought that you weren't supposed to use first gear. I ignored them and started in first-- huge torque multiplication! Some wacko at Dodge probably figured it was as good as putting in a low range transfer case.

What's amazing is one girl learned how to drive stick on that thing.

 

[Shawn]

Yes. I have never owned an automatic.

 

[HiTek21]

Learned to drive on a manual and drove one for 5 years before getting an auto. I miss my 5 speed . Everytime I drive up a hill I have to stomp the gas pedal to get it down shift so I can accelerate, it likes to teeter totter between 3rd and 4th going up a hill. I know I can force it to third but I usually forget to put it back in D4.

I do like not having to shift back and forth in traffic

 

[Kelvrick]

I love my manual but I miss my auto in traffic conditions. Light traffic is still fine, but when I have to come to a stop, go into first, maybe second, then go back to first, I hate.

 

[George P Burdell]

<-- Drives a manual.

 

[Aftermath]

Manual driver here as well. I also tought my wife. I gave her a quick tutorial in her car in the parking lot of the dealership we got it from (it was a used '00 Neon) and she got it home. Stalled out a few times, but it wasn't too bad. Now we're both very insistant about driving standard only.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Meh, for a daily driver I would probably want a auto. After having to drive a manual with a stiff clutch and a notchy shifter in stop and go traffic gets old after a while.

 

[Calin]

Originally posted by: raildogg
I am looking for some driving school classes online to see if I would like it. I like the idea of having a cheaper car, saving a little more fuel and have more control. But the downsides are to actually get used to it.

How do you like manual cars?

I have a 5-speed manual. Next one will probably be an automatic.
Having a manual gearbox helps a bit with fuel efficiency - especially compared to the old 3-speed automatics. Compared to the newer (newer than some 10 years) 4-speed or 5-speed automatics, you have little advantages in everything but price (sporty driving not included).

So, strike the "saving fuel". More control? Yes, but this in not always good (see crawling forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic). Cheaper? Certainly so.
Would you like it? Maybe, maybe not. Should you try it? Certainly.

 

[Stumps]

yep, i love manauls....much more fun to drive than a boring ass auto.

and besides automatic Ford Falcons are nothing more than over glorified taxis.

 

[j00fek]

after starting out drinving a auto for 5yrs, i got a stick when i was 20. been driving them since. probably never go back to autos till i get like 75

 

[spaceman]

no.im sick of manual but i deal.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: raildogg


How do you like manual cars?

Not really.

You pay a little more for an automatic, and your gas mileage suffers a tiny, almost inconsequential bit, but thats it. Autos have a much quicker learning curve, there's fewer distractions on the road because you're not shifting gears, and they are great for right or left handed people.

Not so good to be a left handed person driving a manual, steep learning curve there.

 

[Stuxnet]

I absolutely LOVE driving a standard transmission. I had a little Tacoma 2x4 that was fun, and my Wranger was a BLAST. I really miss the Wrangler, but I needed something far more practical once I started reproducing. I now drive a 2005 Nissan Maxima, which is the next best thing for me. It's a lot of fun, too, but I miss the control of a stick.

 

[chairbornrangerx]

I wish my honda accord was a manual... man I miss driving a manual... good thing I just bought a ducati lol

 

[otispunkmeyer]

love it

though its not really anything special here...... you learn to drive manual and you buy manual transmissions by default.

so if your learning to drive, unless you specifically say " i wanna learn in an auto" it will presumed that your gonna be like everyone else and learn driving a manual.

same in the car dealers, unless you specifically ask, it will be assumed your buying a manual (unless your rich in which case most expensive cars dont come strictly with manuals....more some sort of semi-auto or clutchless manual or something)

is being able to drive a manual in america seen as a kind of status symbol? not sure how to word it but i hope you know what i mean..... like some kinda braggin rights to show off or impress people?