Auto or Manual?

[Warrior4Christ]

So what do the CAA driving population prefer?

I luv teh manual.
Actually, I don't have much choice now, as we have three cars in our family, and they're all 4 cylinder manual FWD sedans .

[Scribs]

Automatic. I just never could understand the clutch

[shooraijin]

Manual. You can drive a smaller engine, meaning better gas mileage, and you have more control over how much power you want to generate. I don't like automatics as I can't really make the engine do what I want in a given situation (yes, there's Overdrive and 3-2-1 but this is not the same as a shift and clutch).

[bigsleepj]

Manual. I prefer manual. Gives you full control.

[dragonshimmer]

I drive automatic because I have NO idea how to drive manual. Someone tried teaching me once, but I stalled out entirely too much.

[termyt]

I've always driven an automatic. Although, I would consider driving a manual. I'm not convinced there's a major difference, but manual drivers sure seem to like their manuals. Maybe I'll make my next car a manual.

[Mithrandir]

Manual, for the reasons shooby mentioned. Although, I've moved farther away from where I work, and I get caught in traffic a bit more now. shifting all the time in rush hour is just a pain. Maybe I'll make my next car an automatic - but not for a few years, at the earliest.

[uc pseudonym]

I drive both, but I prefer automatic. Manual gives me greater control over the engine, but I feel that I lose a lot of control over the car itself. For example, the ability to start on a hill without falling back slightly or remain stationary without using the brakes. I enjoy coasting, which I can do in either, but I also like the ability to creep essentially without engaging the engine.

[Kisa]

I have an automatic, but I know I need to learn manual....

[Artist4Jesus89]

my sister drove an auto until i think it got wrecked into or something like that... oh yeah someone busted into it and stole her cd player by my house when she was living with us but then she got a truck that was manual and im never gonna drive a manual because the whole time i was in the car with her for the first few weeks we couldnt talk because she would loose her consentration (right spelling?)

[Nate]

Automatic. I don't understand manual.

[Fsiphskilm]

kjh

[agasfas]

Both. I learned on a manual, but I currently drive a automatic. Manuals are cool because like the others have stated, better gas mileage and more control over the gears. On the other hand, I like automatics because I can use my free hand to drink, eat or switch cd's while driving. If I wanted...

[mechana2015]

I luv my manual. The area I live in has VERY windy roads (the local street map looks like a plate of spaghetti)and a rediculous amount of altitude changes no matter what route you take. I've driven up here with an auto before and I felt out of control. I shift like crazy when I drive (ask ST2M or MSPilot... they know) to engine brake and would probably have driving issues if I couldnt XD. Oh and as to the hill things...some manual cars come with a device called a hill hold that keeps the car in place while stopping and starting, though I've learned to drive without it, since mine is blown out (several thousand consecutive holds getting out of my driveway will do that eventually (yay for having a house on a street like a bobsled run!)).

[shooraijin]

I drive both, but I prefer automatic. Manual gives me greater control over the engine, but I feel that I lose a lot of control over the car itself. For example, the ability to start on a hill without falling back slightly or remain stationary without using the brakes. I enjoy coasting, which I can do in either, but I also like the ability to creep essentially without engaging the engine.

I just have my right hand pull the handbrake up (but ready to drop it immediately) when I need to take off up a hill. I rev the engine and come off the clutch slightly before I drop the brake so that the engine is already pulling me forward, and thus I don't roll back.

I do a lot of coasting with the clutch down, especially on hills. A gentle touch on the brakes ensures you won't wear out your pads by hurtling speediferously on a downgrade. Also good for saving gas.

My old Civic got around 34mpg on the average. My Saturn SL2 doesn't do quite that well, but while it's no powerhouse, it's a somewhat larger engine to be sure (124hp 1.9L DOHC). Even so, it still averages around 30 and that's nice with all the driving and roadgeeking I do.

[Ingemar]

With manual you can down-shift. Which uses the natural friction in your engine to slow down. Thus I only have to change my break pads once every 3-4 years. Because I rarely use them.

Yes, but engine-braking is hard on your clutch/engine. And it's cheaper to replace brakes, anyway.

Saving Gas is very awesome, if you're going down hill, you can simply put it in neutral and gravity will keep you going, instead of wasting gas.

Bad idea unless you're absolutely destitute (as I'm sure many of us who drive will be, soon). Neutral downhill saves gas, yes, but you lose control of the car. What if you need to power out of a curve or suddenly find you need to get away from something?

People forget that the clutch is pressure sensetive, So if UC wanted to start his car on an upward hill, he can do so easily, just time it right. The same goes for wanting to stand still in place on a hill without using the brake. Don't push the clutch down all the way.

This is another bad idea. Yes, once you gain finesse with the clutch, you can do this kind of thing. But just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. It is safer and better for the engine if you use the "handbrake trick": that is, keep the hand brake up so you can clutch and rev up without sliding downhill. The handbrake keeps you in place while freeing your left foot.

They're faster at accelerating. Real Sports cars, not those wussy fake ones, are all manual. A manual can beat an automatic at the traffic light any day. Given that they have the same amount of cylinders. - Bosnian Street Racers

All things said and done, I drive a six-speed manual. Not quite a ten speed, but I'll live with it

[shooraijin]

Yes, engine braking is a bad idea. I'd rather be replacing my pads than my engine block.

Ingemar, what type of car do you drive?

[mechana2015]

This is another bad idea. Yes, once you gain finesse with the clutch, you can do this kind of thing. But just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. It is safer and better for the engine if you use the "handbrake trick": that is, keep the hand brake up so you can clutch and rev up without sliding downhill. The handbrake keeps you in place while freeing your left foot.

This is a better idea...unless you're in a situation where you need to get moving quickly... then having finesse is very handy because you don't have to coordinate handbrake gas and clutch and tick all the people off who are waiting behind you, or make it through an intersection in time.

[TheMelodyMaker]

My very first experience in learning how to drive was manual, and I hated it because it got very confusing. Learning automatic was much, much easier.

[shooraijin]

This is a better idea...unless you're in a situation where you need to get moving quickly... then having finesse is very handy because you don't have to coordinate handbrake gas and clutch and tick all the people off who are waiting behind you, or make it through an intersection in time.

Well, that's true, but honestly handbraking it doesn't cost me more than a couple seconds off the light (admittedly I've only driven manuals as my primary cars, and so I've had plenty of time to practise this manoeuvre).

[the_lizardqueen]

Manual, I think, I dunno why but I've always called it Standard. I've always driven with a clutch and manual gear shifting, I think it would weird me out to switch to automatic. Plus I get a kick out of seeing how fast I can shift from 0 to 50 km/h at lights, though I swear I'm typically a really cautious and safe driver..

Uphill starts are evil though, especially when your at a light and the guy behind is crowding ya. Rolling isn't really an option at that point.

[mechana2015]

Well, that's true, but honestly handbraking it doesn't cost me more than a couple seconds off the light (admittedly I've only driven manuals as my primary cars, and so I've had plenty of time to practise this manoeuvre).

I've actually been in a situation where the timing mattered so much that a couple seconds was enough. O.o

I drive in a wieerd place though.

[shooraijin]

I imagine hoofing it up the 330 counts as one of those times?

... or do you usually go up via the 38 or 18?

[Espoir]

dude, automatic all the way. one day, when i have absoutly nothing else to do, i'll learn manual. lol.

no, i actualy admire thoes who are paitent enough to do manual.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I my car is foot-powered.... ya know... pedals!

[mechana2015]

[quote="shooraijin"]I imagine hoofing it up the 330 counts as one of those times? ]
I live on the 18 side of the mountain... so 18. I avoid the 330 like the plauge... I have had to take 138 out before... thats a freaking rediculous road though... all narrow and turney. I can drive 18 like a bat out of hell though... I've hit over 75 going down it.

[Icarus]

I can drive 18 like a bat out of hell though... I've hit over 75 going down it.

Did you know your car starts to shake at 85 mph?

I had to learn how to drive a stick back in May when Ha-chan finally died. It's not bad.

[Ssjjvash]

hum, I can't vote because I don't know what it's like driving a manual.

[Syaoran]

I have more controll with a manual.

[Maledicte]

I drive both, but I prefer automatic. Manual gives me greater control over the engine, but I feel that I lose a lot of control over the car itself. For example, the ability to start on a hill without falling back slightly or remain stationary without using the brakes. I enjoy coasting, which I can do in either, but I also like the ability to creep essentially without engaging the engine.

Yeah, I don't like the sliding back of the manual either. I learned to drive with a manual, and consequently hated it, but now that I drive an automatic my left foot feels a bit lost.

As for the manual being more fuel-efficient than automatics, that's beginning to change. Automatics are steadily becoming as fuel-efficient as their clutch counterparts.

What I'd really like is an auto-manual. Best of both worlds.

However, the other day when I saw a sticker on the back of a truck--"Real Girls Drive Sticks"--I couldn't help but cheer.