Automatic or manual transmission

[pomtzu]

I LOVE driving a manual! My favorite car was a manual Mazda Protege, very zippy and fun!

That's what I drive now - 5 speed Protege 5. I don't drive much, but this little car gets me where I need to go without a problem. And the best part - it's paid for!!!

[NicoleLJ]

Richard - make it easy for the poor girl!!

Nicole - are there 2 or 3 floor pedals?

2 = automatic / gas and brake
3 = manual / gas, clutch and brake

Fiance woke up. He says it is an automatic.

[Randi]

I don't think you're even allowed to learn in an automatic here - if you can't drive a manuel, you don't get a licence. I have to say I agree with that, like if someone can't drive in rush hour traffic in a city, they should not be allowed to drive.

Good luck with your license, Chris!

[Sonia59]

I don't think you're even allowed to learn in an automatic here - if you can't drive a manuel, you don't get a licence. I have to say I agree with that, like if someone can't drive in rush hour traffic in a city, they should not be allowed to drive.

Good luck with your license, Chris!

The same goes for France. Perhaps some people with a specific handicap are allowed to learn on an automatic car, but that's it.

You can buy an automatic car in France of course, but it's very rare. I don't know about someone around me having an automatic.

[ChrisH]

I don't think you're even allowed to learn in an automatic here - if you can't drive a manuel, you don't get a licence. I have to say I agree with that, like if someone can't drive in rush hour traffic in a city, they should not be allowed to drive.

Good luck with your license, Chris!

Thanks Randi.
Over here you can learn to drive and take the tests in an automatic but of course that is all you are allowed to drive afterwards. You have to take and pass the manual test to be able to drive both types.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...-1791077320013

LOLOLOLOL,

First lesson?

Chris,
I just have to tease you about this!

Indulge me?

Thanks!

Tease away, Richard, tease away.

Manual!

Chris, how did the lesson go? I've been on tenderhooks all day!

It went ok, Karen, thanks for asking. Much to my surprise I may add. I got to driving in 4th gear down some straight roads and around a number of corners, did smooth starts and stops & didn't stall at any point so I felt quite pleased. Looong way to go though.
The instructor and I were talking about manual versus automatic that's why I asked the question. As there is so much to learn beside the control of the car I am tinkering with the idea of going with an automatic, but I'll give it a few more lessons before I make that decision.

[Alysser]

Definitely Automatic, my car is an automatic and I think my future cars will all be that way. Manuals seem like a pain to drive.

[lvpets2002]

Oh when I grew up on the farm it was always Manual Trans.. Now that I am older & wiser its only Automatic Trans..

[Grace]

Both our cars are automatic, but we drove manual until 2000.

I learned how to drive back in the Dark Ages, when it was manual or walk. In Rhode Island, when you had your driver's test to get your license - if you drove an automatic, the License was stamped Automatic Only.

So if you wanted to switch to manual, you had to take the test over again - in a manual vehicle.

[lizbud]

I learned to drive on manual trans, but now drive with automatic. I also
taught both my kids to drive manual before they were able to chose their
favorite.

I heard of more failed carjacking of a stick shift cars by young punks
who can only drive automatic.

[Barbara]

Manual- what else?

[davidpizzica]

When I had a car (I turned it in to go into assisted living), it was an automatic with a console shift (2007 cobalt). When I worked on the golf course, some of the equipment had manual transmissions and I learned to use those.

[fritz03]

Always been automatic,for 25 years,gear changing too complicated with Manual.

[Asiel]

Learned on a manual but have had automatics for yrs. Wouldn't want to go back to a clutch with a bum leg, bad enough hoping it won't fail me when I need to brake. Have a six speed tranny and we can hardly feel it changing gears .

[Marigold2]

We all learned on a stick here because we had VW cars being German.
Now I have a Camry which I love love love love.

[Vette]

We have both.

think i would prefer automatic though,, no worry of missing a gear or being in the wrong gear etc.