Transmissions: Automatic vs Standard

[Amberle3]

So my DFi is desperately trying to teach me to drive a stick shift. I'm not exactly the best student. I just can't get the hang of this thing. This is actually my second time attempting to learn to drive a stick.

I much prefer an automatic transmission. DFi much prefers a standard transmission. So it has me wondering - is this a gender difference! Cast your vote - never mind what kind of car you have now, what do you prefer driving?

 

[Beth76]

Well, I chose automatic, but I do like driving a stick shift. That's what I learned on. For faster, zippier cars it's a lot better. But, I guess for my main driving, it's a lot easier to drive an automatic.

 

[Cindy B]

I've driven both.. and I don't mind either.

Both of our cars are automatic, but I have had cars in the past with manual transmission.

And its not a gender thing, because I'm a woman!

 

[Grog]

I have to drive through a lot of "stop and go" city traffic, so I prefer an automatic. I enjoy driving a stick, just not around here.

 

[jrydberg]

Stick... more control, better gas mileage.

 

[helenabear]

Standard transmission all the way for me... all I will buy if I can ever help it.

Just as an FYI, I read somewhere while doing car resarching that about 2/3-3/4 of those who buy standards are female.

 

[auntpolly]

I've never owned anything but standard -- taught DD to drive on it. I learned on automatic. It took some time to get used to but now I'd never go back. I just like feeling like I have more control of the car.

 

[browneyes]

I don't like automatics. I prefer straight shifts, and I'm a female. I have a 5 speed 4x4 (I have 2 stick shifts in the same vehicle).

 

[Dan Murphy]

I enjoyed my 3-on-the-column stick shifts and 4-on-the-floor 4-speeds in my younger cruisin' days of the 60's, but Chicago traffic makes me very much appreciate an automatic. Could not imagine doing a 90-120 minute expressway to DT with a stick.

I will say that once you get the hang of it, letting that clutch out as you give it the gas, it is like riding a bike, you wonder why it was so hard, LOL. Good luck.

 

[ShuisFan584]

I definitely prefer automatic and I'm female. I have no desire to learn stick shift. Why have to worry about shifting gears every 2 seconds if you don't have to?

 

[NMAmy]

I prefer a stick although 2 of our cars are automatic. I wanted a stick for our new car but they didn't have any on the lot and I didn't want to have to wait for it.

When DD drives in a couple of years (god help me), I'll teach her first on an automatic but once she masters the basic skills, I'll teach her to drive a standard transmission vehicle. I think everyone should learn--otherwise what happens if you're somewhere and the only car around is a standard? It takes a bit of getting used to but once you know how, it's second nature.

That said, sometimes in the automatic I find myself looking for the stick shift!

 

[Magix]

Stick stick stick!!! I'm female. I learned on a stick, drove it until I destroyed it. I always swore that when I got a new car, it would be an automatic. But, when the time came, I never even considered anything but stick. Much more control over how your vehicle drives. Good fun, too, once you get the hang of it. Only thing that still worries me with a stick is when I stop on a really steep hill. Still, that's much easier with my Saturn than it was with my old Datsun 210, that would roll backward on a hill, even with the parking brake on!

Stick rules! But then, I am a racing fan, so that certainly figures into it. Just wish I had sequential shift, like a Champ Car. Oooo, that would be cool.

 

[snoopy]

I prefer a standard transmission in snowy or icy conditions, otherwise I prefer an automatic. City driving + stick shift = tired feet by the end of the day.

We have both.

I learned to drive on a stick shift. My father was not known for his patience while driving, or teaching someone else to drive. It was either learn or get screamed at, so I learned pretty quick.

 

[LindaG4458]

Haven't driven a standard in a while but I did enjoy my two in the past. Heavy traffic commuting made them impractical - that left leg was awfully tired at the end of the trip. I was rather proud of my hill starts at one time. Now, after driving a standard,I catch myself going for the clutch in the automatic.

Standard transmission is a valuable skill that I think everyone should master.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Originally posted by ShuisFan584
I definitely prefer automatic and I'm female. I have no desire to learn stick shift. Why have to worry about shifting gears every 2 seconds if you don't have to?

I've had my license less than 2 years. I want to be able to worry about what's going on around me, not when I need to be shifting. My dad loves his standard, but it'll be awhile before I let him teach me to drive it. I only drive automatic right now.

 

[Lisa F]

I learned how to drive a stick shift about 10 years ago and there has been no looking back... we are stick shift people all the way. I prefer the finer control and I also prefer having a stick for moving yet congested city driving (it's not that much fun really in total stop and go traffic but it IS nice to just be able to drop it into second and zip around someone who is driving like granny).

If someone is willing to teach you, it's a good skill to have even if you normally drive an automatic. If you ever find yourself outside of the US and needing to drive a car, chances are high it will be a stick shift as automatics are pretty rare even in Europe. On the other hand, it's kind of bad to have a stick in a family of automatic drivers... when you are at the end of the driveway you can't just toss your keys at someone else to move it. Still, like anything else, it's just practice... once you find that sweet spot on the clutch you will wonder what the big deal was all about.

 

[acepepper]

I thought the vast majority in the US drove auto's. I'm surprised at the number who've said they drive stick shifts. In the UK I'd say 90% drive sticks. I don't know why that is. Probably the amount we pay for gas, they tend to be more thirsty, so I'm told. I've never owned an auto so it's a pleasure for me to have one when I come to the States. I much prefer them.

 

[CyranoJones]

I much prefer a standard over automatic. My knees no longer go along with me on that, sad to say. But I still like driving my husband's Jeep once in a while.

 

[fanofmickey]

We have both, and are making sure that both our kids learn to drive the stick. I think that, given the opportunity, it is a good skill to have. DD (18) has taken over the stick shift, but none of her friends know how to drive it (boys or girls).

This happens to be the car that I drove for several years, and I have to say that in stop and go traffic it is the worse kind of car to have. I have sciatica which flares up from time to time, and clutching the car every 2 or 3 car lengths is no fun!