Stick or auto?

[ChrisFL]

I can guess what "other" could mean...like CVT, continuously variable transmission, or "other" could be sequential manual transmission with paddle shifting (Ferraris and Porsches have them)

Anyway, for me it's ONLY Manual. I've owned 5 cars, one of them was automatic and I HATED it.

Manual gives you much more control over your driving, it can save gas if driven conservatively. It can also help you to avoid accidents if you need to downshift to get out of a bad situation quickly.

I've almost never felt like it was too much work as some people claim. Even in traffic I dont see much of a problem.

Anyway, the experience is so much more fun and involving with a manual.

 

[HonestAbe]

Depends on the vehicle. Both of our mustangs are stick while the explorer is auto and I wouldnt change it.

 

[MushyMushy]

Depends on the car. A compact or sports car needs a stick to zip around in. Sedan, family car, mini van -- automatic.

Have any of you ever drive a manual transmission with the stick on the steering column? Now that's an experience. It's like an upside down Y. Down towards you is 1st gear, up is 2nd gear, down towards the dash is 3rd. Up past 2nd is reverse.

 

[gallaj0]

Another vote for Other.
My current car (a VW Passat wagon) has an automatic with a manual mode; no clutch, but you can shift up and down as you like, or leave it in drive, or leave it in "sport" mode drive which shifts at higher RPM.

I wanted a regular stick, but the wagons don't come with one; it's just as well, cause I tried teaching DW to drive a stick on my old Passat sedan 10 years ago, and she just couldn't do it.

 

[disney1990]

Another vote for a stick. I feel I have much more control over the car with a stick.

I drive 20+ miles back and forth to work each day. When I can find an automatic that gets almost 40 miles to the gallon, I'll reconsider.

Actually, I love driving my stick shift.

 

[Honu]

I've never known anyone that had a manual transmission for me to learn how to drive a stick. The hills of SF scare most of us into buying automatics I think.

I've driven a Porshe with tiptronic though.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I only own sticks, never owned an automatic. I currently have 2 stick shift Hondas, and I love 'em! I like having control and power! I also love that a stick can slow down the car by down-shifting instead of braking, which can be wonderful asset on icy or snowy roads. I also like the fact that no one can borrow my car, since hardly anyone I know can drive stick!

 

[Claire L]

A proper manual car with gear stick and clutch Must have the gear stick to my left and by the hand brake which is inbetween the two front seats.

Claire

 

[KyDerbyMan]

Stick shift!!

My first stick was a real heavy clutch and I delivered pizzas around town in it. Got quite a workout for my left leg anyway.

My new(er) car has such a light clutch I can't imagine never having a manual transmission again.

 

[T1130]

I only know how to drive an automatic. That is why I can never go on The Amazing Race. I would never be able to drive the car in the European Countries.