Standard Or Automatic

[skoker]

Standard Or Automatic?

[Boikat]

I can drive both, but it depends on the vehicle and engine.  I find the small cars with four cylinder engines equiped with standard transmissions ammusing.  They sound like mice with intestinal gas when someone tries to get down with them.  On the other hand, a large 6 or 8 cylinder and a standard is a blast.

[U4EA]

I drive a 2000 Chevy Blazer equipped with a 5-speed manual tranny.

[patchz]

As stated, it depends on the veh/engine. My Z28 is a six speed manual, by choice.

Dave, I have to disagree. Having hunted for years in a 4wd Chevy with a four speed, I found when you got 'slightly' stuck and needed to rock it to get out, an auto would have been better. It is much easier to shift quickly from drive to reverse and vice versa with an auto, than from first or second to reverse and vice versa with a manual. Of course the main purpose of a four wheel drive, is to get you deep enough in the woods to need a winch to get unstuck. Mine had an 8k Warn and I always carried two snatch blocks and chain to attach to trees. You can't always winch straight, hence two blocks. And yes, I have been stuck with the frame on the ground. Without the snatch blocks, I would still be there.

Another factor to consider, is repair cost. Generally speaking, automatics are much more expensive to repair.

[expat]

You missed an option out, Steptronic. I use it all the time, saves the brakes on my Bavarian Panzer. Automatic is good for the increasing traffic jams though.

Matt

[Hagar]

Automatic every time. It takes all the stress & exertion out of driving for me. Surprising how much physical effort is involved in continually changing gear, especially in town or heavy traffic. I got my first auto about 15 years ago & had one ever since. Sheer bliss. 8-)

I would never willingly go back to manual. All that gear changing might suit the boy racers among us but I

[machineman9]

I drive manual. I don't think I'd particularly enjoy driving an automatic.

Well, maybe today it would be alright, my shoulders absolutely kill and shifting gears is going to prove rather painful later.

[eno]

I prefer a manual box ......... However it depends on the vehicle.
Buses and coaches are nicer to drive and ride on with either an automatic or pre select gearbox..... much smoother for the passengers ...... and not so much work for the driver.

As for trucks Manual or EPS (electronic power shift)or its more modern equivilent. Loads more flexibility in the ratios in a nice split 16 gear box also loads more potential for getting the wrong gear and making an ass of yourself

[Steve M]

Automatic for me. It allows for more multitasking at the wheel. Donut in one hand, coffee in the other, cellphone on the dash and girlfriend next to my side, all while fiddling with the cd player and GPS.
                                       8-)

[Sir_Crashalot]

Manual in both cars. Because I decide when it's time to shift gears and not some dumb gizmo. My father has a Citroen C4 Grande Picasso. With an automatic gearbox. He loves it, I would rip it out and burn it. Luckily the thing also provides the option to drive it with a semi automatic (Formula 1 style flippers behind the steering wheel), so when I drive (which is rare) I can still change gears myself.

Carlo

[DaveSims]

I am in the both category.  For my daily driver (truck), I prefer automatic, can't beat it in traffic.  For the fun car (lacking right now, hoping to get a newer Mustang eventually), definitely a standard, it wouldn't be right with an automatic.

[Craig.]

If I were tearing round welsh mountain roads often I'd have a manual. For the driving I do in town, I stick with auto. I have to say the tiptronic gearboxes i have tried have been dire. You end up flicking the paddles like its an f1 car downshifting through 6 gears, only to get 1 gear. they are to picky.

[Apex]

Drove a stick for 12 years long ago, it was kinda neat and sporty at the time, but after about 11 years I got tired of shifting and clutching.  Automatic since, and OK with it.  I guess these days with city traffic I'd rather keep both hands on the wheel.

[Triple_7]

For daily driving I keep to automatics only for my trucks, don't like constantly shifting in traffic   Have no problems driving most manuals though be it trucks, tractors, etc.  Only thing I will never buy in an automatic is an ATV.

[Hagar]

I find it interesting to see that many Americans claim to prefer manual. I was always led to believe that the majority of cars in the US are automatics. Statistics seem to bear that out. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=758867

I know from experience that it's virtually impossible to hire a car in the US with a manual transmission. (That's what converted me to Auto during my first visit.) I suppose you could get one if you really wanted one.

PS. Manual transmission is still the most popular in the UK by a large percentage.