Automatic or manual transmission

[Cookiebaker]

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

But, my current car is an automatic. I only buy used cars, and that's generally what is for sale.

[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!!!

[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?

[Vette]

We have both.

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

[Cataholic]

Manual, the only way to drive! It isn't even a thought anymore....the foot and the hand on the shift work by themselves.

[sirrahbed]

I learned on an automatic 40 years ago Ten years ago my hubby went on a one year remote and so I finally HAD to learn to drive a manual and found it such fun!! I wish I had learned it originally. But since then we have gone back to automatics and probably will stick with them. Less to think about!! A few years back, daughter Sirrahsim also faced a six month hubby remote and I taught her to drive a stick so she could borrow her brother's car to use and now that is all she really likes!!

[Taz_Zoee]

I have tried several times to learn to drive a manual. No luck. I WANT to know how just in case of an emergency type situation. My car and Bruce's truck are both automatic, so no learning here. But my SIL has a manual. Maybe some day I'll learn.

Although, years ago my friend got a used VW Cabriolet. I drove it once and didn't stall AT ALL. I was so pleased. She was not happy because when she first got it she stalled ALL the time. LOL

[k9krazee]

Automatic! I've driven a manual before in our yard, but I think I'd be afraid to drive it on the road. I'm in the process of looking for a car and my dad keeps finding/suggesting manuals, they just seem like a lot of work and I'd rather just relax and not have to think about shifting!

[chocolatepuppy]

Manual here.

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

Ha ha! Maybe my truck will never get stolen!

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.

Not a pain, fun!

[DJFyrewolf36]

I learned to drive an automatic first and then learned manual when I got the Festiva. I felt a lot more confident on the road when I learned how to drive a manual trans, and its also gotten me a couple of really good temp jobs. I can drive just about anything on the road

I do agree it takes a lot of practice though, and some people just aren't wired to do it. It does make you a LOT more attentive to the road however. I find that if I drive automatics long distances my attention tends to drift.

[pomtzu]

Manual, the only way to drive! It isn't even a thought anymore....the foot and the hand on the shift work by themselves.

Agreed - it's just second nature once you do it for a while. On rare occasions if I have to drive an automatic, I find myself using both feet instead of just one. Feeling for that invisible clutch is pretty funny too!!! Old habits die hard

[wombat2u2004]

I have both, so it's not even an issue for me. I do find the stick shift more controllable tho, and yes, manuals are better fuel wise.
AND, if for some reason you get a flat battery, you can clutch start a manual, and that will at least get you to a workshop or home....with an automatic yer stuck.