Your current car... manual or auto?

[Griffinhart]

My first two cars were Automatic. But when I was 18 I started buying Manual. (I learned on a manual) The 5 vehicles I owned between 1985 and 2012 were all manual. In 2012 I purchased an automatic. I wanted a car with all the bells and whistles and that forced me to an automatic. Last year I went back to manual. I missed it too much. I simply enjoy driving a stick more than an automatic. If I had a commute that was mostly stop and go all the way I, maybe, would consider auto again, but I really LOVE manuals.

 

[Griffinhart]

Auto. I don't even know how to drive manual.

You're not the only one. Google carjacking manual transmission fail. There are a ton of stories where carjackers were foiled because they jumped in a car they couldn't drive.

 

[Raizinman]

I prefer an automatic as I'm into sports and will occasionally sprain a right or left knee, ankle, foot, toe, etc. With an automatic I can still drive, but not so with a manual.

 

[CZroe]

I learned on a manual '81 Toyota Celica and drove a second manual '81 Toyota Celica until buying an off-lease manual '97 Mitsubishi Mirage DE Coupe and a new manual 2000 Hyundai Elantra. I also regularly drove a manual Honda Sprint and a manual Honda Civic from the '80s before buying a 2008 Ninja 250 (manual, of course). I rode that and drove a '90s manual Ford Escort for a few years until I bought a manual 2011 Toyota Corolla. Now shopping for a Ford Fiesta ST (only available in manual). I've also made significant use of my brother's manual 2009 Aveo 5.

Yeah. I know: long list of crap cars, but all I have ever owned were manuals. I can't imagine wanting an automatic. All my experience with automatics is mostly driving my mother's or roommate's or sister's car for various reasons.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Back in June, it was a 1997 Mercury Tracer with a 5 speed manual, and a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue with 4 speed Auto. After the frame cracked in the tracer it was replaced with a 2015 Subaru Impreza with CVT. I'm still well in the financial range in the US where having the money to throw at a fun manual car is a no go, and may never happen in today's world. Having a usable all-rounder, when you have to use your car for everything, was more important to me.

I feel like the world of manual will likely pass me by. It was useful when I worked with heavy equipment as a teen, and it was useful to allow me to drive a very cheap car. By the time, if ever, that I'm able to afford a fun car for dedicated use, they will likely be electric assisted or entirely electric, where the use of a Shifter is simply obsolete.

 

[ControlD]

Manual here as well (2006 Mazda 3).

The poll results here are interesting because they in no way reflect the real world breakdown of manual vs. automatic numbers. Part of the reason I am still driving my almost 10 year old car (except for the fact that is still runs like a champ) is that it is hard to find cars with manual transmissions these days (Ford Fusion for example). Or, if you can find a manual it is only for the absolute base model (Mazda CX5 for example). When I go browsing car lots it is a rare thing indeed to see more than a couple of vehicles with sticks in them.

 

[Yuriman]

Some of the considerations that consistently put me in a manual over an automatic:

-Towing in a small car
-Longevity/reliability
-Fun factor
-Hypermiling


I regularly tow 1/2 a ton behind my 1800lb 3 cylinder car, and I would probably have destroyed an automatic transmission the first time I tried this. With a manual, there's no concern with overheating or damaging CVT belts/destroying torque converters.

I'm also up to nearly 200,000 miles, and my 5MT still shifts like it's new. Considering I'm not burning oil yet and compression is still what it was the day it rolled off the assembly line, it wouldn't surprise me if I could put another 200,000 on it. With an automatic, you're almost certainly looking at major repairs at some point if you intend to keep a vehicle that long.

Given similar gear ratios, manuals will nearly always return better fuel economy than an automatic. Gearbox losses are smaller, and you can choose your gears. Yes, you can pick your gears in manumatics, and they have dual clutch manual automatics now, but they aren't cheap.

 

[PricklyPete]

Auto. Miss driving manuals, but my wife and I share a vehicle and a manual is a no go with her. I don't care enough anymore to make an issue of it.

 

[Kenmitch]

Auto. Last manual was a 69 Dodge Dart 340 4 speed.

 

[skyking]

Auto. Miss driving manuals, but my wife and I share a vehicle and a manual is a no go with her. I don't care enough anymore to make an issue of it.

I feel your pain.
I was so pumped when I brought home the new used truck.
I got the diesel beetle a few years ago, and though it had been a while since she had a clutch she took it to work when I was ride sharing. She loved it and I quickly got another used one before she found a new convertible to buy.
Fast forward to this spring. I get a new used truck with a 6 speed.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2424968&highlight=3500
I get it home and she wants to take it to the store. Off we go.
She's running through the gears and saying "this isn't bad at all" and she's smiling.
I'm about busting up in the passenger seat with a silent fist pump
If we had not gotten the manual car, it would have intimidated her.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Both of my two cars are manual.

 

[hanoverphist]

theres no option for both. i have a 5mt dodge truck, a 5mt subaru, a 5mt civic, a 4eat civic, two 4eat subarus and a 4eat ford truck

 

[natto fire]

I feel your pain.
I was so pumped when I brought home the new used truck.
I got the diesel beetle a few years ago, and though it had been a while since she had a clutch she took it to work when I was ride sharing. She loved it and I quickly got another used one before she found a new convertible to buy.
Fast forward to this spring. I get a new used truck with a 6 speed.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2424968&highlight=3500
I get it home and she wants to take it to the store. Off we go.
She's running through the gears and saying "this isn't bad at all" and she's smiling.
I'm about busting up in the passenger seat with a silent fist pump
If we had not gotten the manual car, it would have intimidated her.

I "taught" someone how to drive a manual on a truck older than that, but still a diesel, Ram 250. I did give her the caveat that stalling that beastly motor means you should probably never drive stick. I'm pretty sure you can dump the clutch in top gear and it will still move forward, never tested it.

 

[skyking]

Something will give. Something expensive

 

[natto fire]

Something will give. Something expensive

The mantra of my friend's uncle, who graciously let us use his garage to mod cars: "Horsepower breaks shit"

 

[kitatech]

Including two Honda bikes, 14 of 15 vehicles I've owned since 1969 have been sticks.

 

[mgttr]

Auto. CVT actually - 2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited. It's a pretty good CVT. Last manual was a 1999 Mazda Miata sport model. Daily commuting with the Miata aggravated the crap out of an old wrist injury from all the shifting in traffic. Had to dump the Miata for something with an auto tranny for commuting.

 

[trenchfoot]

My Corvette and Toyota 4wd truck is manual. My G35 grocery getter is auto. My previous street race/drag race cars were all manual.

 

[vo]

Manual and love it!

 

[mafia]

Got an 02 Accord with Manual and a 07 S2000, manual by default. Dad has a manual golf TDLie.