[itwasTuesday]

I have paddle shifters in my car... and, personally, I think they're only for people who want to feel like they're driving a race car without driving a race car. I have never used them, never will, and the only time I do it's by accident when drumming out a solo on my steering wheel. And it causes my car to downshift or upshift unnecessarily. Random Q... does cruise control exist for manual? That's the reason. It's can be a pain in the ass. At least, it can be an unnecessary pain in the ass.

Yes Cruise control exist for manual, same concept. And Paddle shiffters on any normal car are not a clutch based system. They are just like the + and - symbols that any recent car has on the gear shift, to electronically select what gear you want. "sport mode" as it is called on some. It is still an automatic transmission.

[Sobriquet]

Just don't give me an excuse like "have you seen the traffic where I live, If you had the commute I do you'd feel the same way"

Two hours in stop-and-start traffic with a manual is no fun, especially before being on my feet for 14 hours at work.

I drove a manual for 13 years, then finally got an automatic in 2004. I would've gone back to a manual if anything about my situation was different.

[CliqWriter]

You can absolutely still get stick shift cars. I drive new one's everyday as a valet. I have driven a stick shift car for the past five years and it was awesome while I lived in the suburbs, but now that I live in the city it is much less of a hassle to drive automatics.

[Suite Pee]

I stalled my manual all the time when I was first learning, and I hated it and thought it was the worst thing. Now I'm pretty good and it's somewhat enjoyable driving, but I'm switching to walking/biking/busing so I don't get that much use out of it. Urban driving isn't very hard at all anymore for me, but I hate when people ride my ass on a hill. Happens all too often.

I love coasting in neutral, and shifting is second-nature now.

[srst]

Manual can make any shit econo box fun to drive.

[chickdigger802]

can someone paint me a word picture why manual sucks for traffic?

[lunarworks]

I live in a big city with stop and go traffic, and highly impatient drivers.

Manual transmission is a fucking nightmare. I hate it.

[Fisticuffs]

I have a Manual Transmission, but it's a fucking truck. bleh

[FLEABttn]

When you get to a corner changing down a gear will slow the cars engine down.. without the need to touch the brake.

Manuals are far better for driving around hills, change down gear to corner. no braking required.

I can do this in my automatic, but you're wording can be turned around on you and still boils down to preference. Look:

When you get to a corner breaking will slow the car down.. without the need to touch a clutch or shifter.

--//--

I like the ability to switch over to a manual-like mode in my Mazda 3 so I can keep it in 1 longer if I need to, but I generally like driving an automatic. I think a larger difference to me would be rear wheel drive. Torque steering is balls.

[Captain Tuttle]

After car has been parked and you are now departing.

All right, when you're parked.

Huh? Of course you do. How else would you drive in a city like SF?

I've never driven a stick in San Francisco but growing up we had a stop light going into town that, if you were unlucky, had you stop on a pretty steep hill (Red Bank NJ btw). With a stick you just had to be quick...right foot on the brake, left on the clutch and let her out before you rolled backwards while giving just enough gas to get you going. Nerve racking at first but after a couple of times I could do it perfectly every time. Never used the handbrake.

[black_13]

Manuals generally come in more sporty cars nowadays. Subies, Mitsu's, Honda's, the new Toyota FRS as well. In those cars, manual helps with resale as well.
Most luxury cars come with Automatics though.

As for traffic, yea its a god damn bitch. Just horrible. You end up shifting gears every few seconds.

[EviLore]

I've only ever owned manual transmission cars. Mazda MX-6 LS, Acura RSX Type-S, and Porsche 911 Carrera S. When I was a teen it was a matter of pride and skill to drive stick, since only the enthusiast car people even learned how to. Now it's just what I use, and it's much more engaging and exciting to drive a manual transmission car, especially after coming back from traveling and driving automatic transmission rental cars of various shapes and sizes. I guess I will move to dual clutch + paddles eventually, but for now I'm content.

[balddemon]

I've only ever owned manual transmission cars. Mazda MX-6 LS, Acura RSX Type-S, and Porsche 911 Carrera S. When I was a teen it was a matter of pride and skill to drive stick, since only the enthusiast car people even learned how to. Now it's just what I use, and it's much more engaging and exciting to drive a manual transmission car, especially after coming back from traveling and driving automatic transmission rental cars of various shapes and sizes. I guess I will move to dual clutch + paddles eventually, but for now I'm content.

wow. what do you drive now?

[RukusProvider]

Been driving a manual for many years now. However, I'd happily dump it for a well designed sequential gearbox. Too bad, most of those are only reserved for high end exotics.

[EviLore]

wow. what do you drive now?

Just moved from the RSX to the 911 a couple weeks ago. Very pleasant transition ;b

[Rocket Scientist]

Never driven automatic and manual sucks. I imagine automatic is like a videogame. Manual is just stupid. The less things you have to worry about in the car the more you can focus on what's happening outside. Too bad that advantage is negated in the US by the almost non-existent requirements to pass the drivers exams of many states.

[itwasTuesday]

Just moved from the RSX to the 911 a couple weeks ago. Very pleasant transition ;b

If you ever feel like you miss your rsx-s too much, we can work out a trade with my rsx-s for your 911. I would be fine with this. It's nbp btw.

[balddemon]

Just moved from the RSX to the 911 a couple weeks ago. Very pleasant transition ;b

so. how do you feel about organizing a meetup in the midwest? specifically KC?

lol im only half joking

So a silly follow up... how/where do you even learn stick shift these days? Do they have classes? Don't know anyone with a m/t car.

my dad has made sure all his kids know how to drive a manual.

i had to learn since the car i took my date to prom in my jr yr was a stick. so i learned 2 weeks before.

[FelixOrion]

So a silly follow up... how/where do you even learn stick shift these days? Do they have classes? Don't know anyone with a m/t car.

I don't know if there are specific classes on them. My first/high school car was a little subcompact with a manual and my parents (originally being farm kids familiar with machinery like tractors and large trucks) taught me how to drive a stick. So I learn how to drive on a manual, more or less. For a 15 year old learning to drive and already having the basics down on an automatic, it took me about a month of just late night, dirt road practice to work on starting off, gear changes, etc.

In my opinion, its not really necessary in everyday usage. But it is more fun, more engaging, and people who learn to drive sticks tend to be better drivers (from may anecdotal observations). Also, it makes you put down all that crap people deal with in their cars (food, phones, makeup, etc.) because you don't have spare limbs to use on them.

[Enron]

Manual fans will all tell you that a MT is always faster, but that's only if you know how to shift and even then it might not be true. Fact of the matter is, modern automatics can shift faster and better than humans. From a pure performance standpoint, the MT is obsolete. They only thing it's got going for it is the fun of feeling connected to the car's operation.

Personally, living in the middle of a major city, I'd hate having to deal with an MT. A lot of my friends who in college swore they would never drive an unmanly automatic have made the switch because constantly changing gears in the city is an exercise in annoyance.

[Johnny Cage In The Shower]

This may have been mentioned in this thread, but if you are that guy who texts, plays too much with smart phone, eats, drinks and does other things while driving, (let's be honest, we do these more than we like to admit) then I'll stay away from a manual.

It does require you to be more attentive and occupy both of your hands (*insert fap joke here) while driving.

[chickdigger802]

This may have been mentioned in this thread, but if you are that guy who texts, plays too much with smart phone, eats, drinks and does other things while driving, (let's be honest, we do these more than we like to admit) then I'll stay away from a manual. It does require you to be more attentive and occupy both of your hands (*insert fap joke here) while driving.

wouldn't manual actually be beneficial? Being forced to be more attentive is better for you and everyone else on the road i think.

[EviLore]

wouldn't manual actually be beneficial? Being forced to be more attentive is better for you and everyone else on the road i think.

Yep, when I was in LA for E3, perpetually stuck in traffic with an automatic transmission rental car, I was tempted to type up GAF posts while eating meals and exfoliating my pores while driving, just because it was so tedious and slow and required so little attention or input. At home on a manual tranny car I never feel this way; both of my hands are always engaged.

Since most accidents are the result of distracted driving...

[Enron]

Your car isn't doppelkoenigkunglungsigkunglug or whatever? I figured they were all dual clutch by now.

[I Push Fat Kids]

Manual should be mandatory. Get people off their damn cell phones.

[ClassyPenguin]

Manual should be mandatory. Get people off their damn cell phones.

And the bullshit runaway Toyota's would not be a problem since people would know to pull the clutch in and shift to neutral.

I'm making my sister get a manual for her first car.

[EviLore]

Your car isn't doppelkoenigkunglungsigkunglug or whatever? I figured they were all dual clutch by now.

Nah, everything has manual available except for the Turbo S I think.

[I Push Fat Kids]

And the bullshit runaway Toyota's would not be a problem since people would know to pull the clutch in and shift to neutral. I'm making my sister get a manual for her first car.

Good call.


Manual is more fun too.

[magenta]

What? I was unaware of any such innovation. What cars is this on?

Practically all of them.

[PumpkinPie]

I've only ever owned manual transmission cars. Mazda MX-6 LS, Acura RSX Type-S, and Porsche 911 Carrera S. When I was a teen it was a matter of pride and skill to drive stick, since only the enthusiast car people even learned how to. Now it's just what I use, and it's much more engaging and exciting to drive a manual transmission car, especially after coming back from traveling and driving automatic transmission rental cars of various shapes and sizes. I guess I will move to dual clutch + paddles eventually, but for now I'm content.

Damn, those forum ads are paying well!









(Please don't ban me)

[CiSTM]

Manual is still the norm here, automatic costs extra :(

[CiSTM]

Manual should be mandatory. Get people off their damn cell phones.

Huh? Everyone drives manual here and yet people are talking and driving, you really don't need constantly change your gear.

[I Push Fat Kids]

Huh? Everyone drives manual here and yet people are talking and driving, you really don't need constantly change your gear.

True, but it's another deterrent. Manual or bust.

[Ty4on]

For those who are afraid of stalling a manual, it is hard to do so with new cars today. Letting go of the clutch when in first gear will let the car creep forward anyway. It is not scary at all.

Noticed that in the Volvo XC60 I'm getting my licence in. If you let the revs get down to below idle it will automatically accelerate. It also holds the revs in place for you when you shift up. It's still possible to stall it, but smooth driving is pretty easy.

Even being helped you still find yourself being much more in control with a manual. Getting a smooth and quick shift is really rewarding and stop and go traffic is rare here :D

[systemfehler]

Majority here is manual transmission aswell. I never drove a automatic so I can't really compare what is best. I guess automatic is one thin less to care about and focus on the road instead of shifting. Especially stop and go traffic in the city is annoying because I am constantly shifting between 1, 2 and 3.

[ShipTheCheese]

Moved to Australia where automatic is the norm.

It's a goddamn tragedy.

[Johnny Cage In The Shower]

wouldn't manual actually be beneficial? Being forced to be more attentive is better for you and everyone else on the road i think.

Well in theory yes! but in reality, no. If you have bad habits of multitasking while driving, switching to a manual car isn't going to drastically change your behavior, you obviously wont be able to do as much with one hand on a manual car, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything at all at any time.

If you text too much for example, you still going to find yourself in a situation where you are behind the wheel of a manual car and in need of sending a text. I would actually recommend you get a manual OP, but like many have already said, take eventing in consideration, the roads you will be driving on, the flow of traffic on your average daily drive, how much will you be driving, just take all your driving behaivor into account before you make a purchase.

[NZer]

Part of the reason I like manual is because it means each different car you drive has a different character and you have to learn to drive it well. If can drive automatic, no car has any learning curve. It sounds stupid, but I can drive my car more smoothly than someone unfamiliar with it, and that somehow makes it more mine.

[chickdigger802]

Well in theory yes! but in reality, no. If you have bad habits of multitasking while driving, switching to a manual car isn't going to drastically change your behavior, you obviously wont be able to do as much with one hand on a manual car, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything at all at any time. If you text too much for example, you still going to find yourself in a situation where you are behind the wheel of a manual car and in need of sending a text. I would actually recommend you get a manual OP, but like many have already said, take eventing in consideration, the roads you will be driving on, the flow of traffic on your average daily drive, how much will you be driving, just take all your driving behaivor into account before you make a purchase.

haha, i'll probably give it a try. A quick google got me a link to a manual transmission school near where I live.

[golem]

Manual is just more fun to drive for me. I'm sure a fancy DCT tranny in my M3 would be faster, but I enjoy the manual experience enough that I specifically ordered one from Germany. My S4 is also manual and my next car will most likely be as well.

[OnkelC]

Having driven only maual cars from 1992 to 2008, the switch to DSG was worth it for frequent drivers IMHO.

Doing around 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers per month with lots of traffic jams, DSG just shifts faster and better than thou. MPG also gets better / more predictable with a DSG. Only used the paddles for experimental reasons, the ciruitry does a better shifting job than 99% of all drivers.

Driving gets a little boring with DSG, though, especially with more capable/sporty cars.

[Korey]

If you have a daily commute where you're constantly in bumper to bumper traffic, DO NOT get a manual car.

I love driving stick but in bumper to bumper traffic it's hell. Your feet and ankles start to ache from the constant pressure being exerted on them.

[littlerat]

My left knee isn't appreciating mine lately.

[shorty_symd]

I passed my driving test back in 2006 with a manual transmission car (which gave me the legal right to drive both transmissions) and I decided to drive an automatic car (1999 Renault Megane) out of personal choice until I purchased my dream car (2nd generation Mazda MX-5) only 2 months ago. I gotta say, I absolutely HATED going back to manual transmission because I didn't have to worry about car stalling and the handbrake ((car rolling backwards) when I drove the automatic but now I am having so much fun zooming around, accelarating and changing gears. It really is an enjoyable experience once you get the hang of clutch control and knowing when to change down etc. so much fun!

Here's one thing I don't understand, people insist that a manual transmission is safer than an automatic. Apart from the fact that you need to pay more attention with a manual car (and more attention = being safer), from my experience, I still think automatic is safer than manual in terms of control.


EDIT: Yeah, Manual cars do suck hard when in traffic jams. Especially traffic jams going up a steep hill. It isn't even funny.

[ShdwDrake]

Yeah I only own manuals. I dont feel like I have enough control of the car with an automatic and I can't control my speed as well...

[Korey]

Here's one thing I don't understand, people insist that a manual transmission is safer than an automatic. Apart from the fact that you need to pay more attention with a manual car (and more attention = being safer), from my experience, I still think automatic is safer than manual in terms of control.

More control + more attention = safer, all things equal. That's all it is.

[MoGamesXNA]

If you enjoy driving, definitely investigate learning to drive a manual. It's great fun when it all clicks. If you have a 'sporty' car it can be really involving and rewarding managing the clutch and gears.

That said, if you're just driving the 9-to-5 commute in peak hour traffic and have no interest in having a more involved driving experience, just stick with an auto.

My weekend car is a manual and my vehicle for work is an automatic.

[FyreWulff]

Know how to drive manual, but technology has allowed us to let the car do the shifting for us. Automatic all the way.

People who think manual transmission brings you closer to the car: turn off power steering. Now you're actually driving your car.

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Manual cars are still quite popular in Australia. I understand they are extremely rare in the United States though.

[satriales]

This thread has blown my mind! I always thought automatics were just for people who needed a car but hated driving.

It does help explain why there is so much support here for the self-driving car.