Automatic or manual transmission

**pomtzu** · 04-21-2010, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 04-21-2010, 10:54 AM

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.

**Killearn Kitties** · 04-21-2010, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

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

Reminds me of the time I foolishly hired a car in San Francisco and spent a fair amount of time groping for my gear stick in the door pocket.

**pomtzu** · 04-21-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Killearn Kitties

Reminds me of the time I foolishly hired a car in San Francisco and spent a fair amount of time groping for my gear stick in the door pocket.

LOL - I forgot that you build cars backwards in Europe!!!

It must be strange indeed for Americans to try to drive from the passenger seat and on the opposite side of the road - and vise versa. I'd probably wreck within the first mile......

I know - Europeans say that Americans are backward, and Americans say that Europeans are backward. That's like saying "what came first - the chicken or the egg"?

**3Catcondo** · 04-21-2010, 05:32 PM

I've owned several manual (stick shift is what I call it) and It's fun to drive but a pain in the arse in traffic and on steep hills. LOL!!
I prefer an automatic these days.

Amy

**kokopup** · 04-21-2010, 11:31 PM

pomtzu

LOL - I forgot that you build cars backwards in Europe!!! It must be strange indeed for Americans to try to drive from the passenger seat and on the opposite side of the road - and vise versa. I'd probably wreck within the first mile......

I know - Europeans say that Americans are backward, and Americans say that Europeans are backward. That's like saying "what came first - the chicken or the egg"?
__________________

The only part of Europe that drives on the WRONG side of the road is the UK,
which includes England, Scotland ,Ireland and Wales.

**binka_nugget** · 04-22-2010, 05:55 PM

I learned on automatic but currently drive manual. I LOVE manual transmission! I feel much safer driving manual. The only downside is that I end up driving for the entire duration of roadtrips cause no one else knows manual (or has a reliable car :P).