Automatic Transmission or Manual?

[crawdiddy]

Given that some of us (many?) prefer manual photographic processes (no auto exposure, no auto focus, etc.) and also tend to appreciate vintage technology, I wonder what percentage regularly drive an automobile with manual transmission?

I suspect a higher percentage than the population at large. In the US, most vehicles are automatics, but I realize there are fewer of them percentage-wise in the rest of the world.

And, by the way, let's not count "sport shift" automatics as manuals. If there's no clutch pedal, it's an automatic.

 

[foto_fool]

When I was in grad school I didn't own a car, but I had three very fast motorcycles (manual). For nearly 20 years after I got married every car we owned was manual, from the Mazda GLC to the Toyota pickup (that I put 350,000 miles on and changed the clutch just once, at 250,000), to a couple of Hondas, a SAAB 900 Turbo, and an Acura Legend.

And then we had kids. Today we have a BMW 528 wagon, a SAABaru 9-2x, a Nissan Titan pickup and a Vespa - all automatic. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that my interest in rangefinders and developing my own film re-blossomed about the same time as we traded in the manual for the auto.

 

[dazedgonebye]

9 years ago, when I bought my last car, I actually had a hard time finding a stick shift on the new car lots.
On a cheap car, the auto added $900 and subtracted a good deal of economy. Not to mention "performance," with the small 4 cyl engine.

 

[Teus]

Manual, just like my photography and operating system, it's me who's in control of the system. Never driven an automatic before (since they are rare around here), the whole idea of an automatic seems pretty awkward to me.

 

[maggieo]

5-speed. Coupled to 252HP. Ohhhhhh yeah.

 

[dlove5]

Older cars with manual transmissions preferred here. I think I have almost always had at least one manual transmission.

Currently:
'95 Toyota Tercel - still gets around 40 miles to the gallon. I'll drive it until it falls apart.
'88 BMW 535 - my 17 year old daughter currently drives this one and loves it.

I think I do have an affinity for manual over automatic in several areas. Maybe its to get away from my job which involves computer automation.

 

[Cale Arthur]

'Three on the tree' for me!

--c--

 

[SergioGuerra]

Manual Sweedish Brick in here

 

[haagen_dazs]

more control
can hit the red line more often

 

[dmr]

The main reason I drive a standard shift car is that's what the car I liked had on it when I got it. Fortunately I did know how to drive one, and I really don't have any difficulty doing it.

 

[micromontenegro]

In fact, I cannot drive well an automatic. Once had to sell a new (for me), well loved car because it had an automatic. Kept hitting the humonguos brake pedal when looking for the clutch!

 

[ebolton]

My 81 Jeep had a 4sp manual in it; I've since put in a 5 speed manual. I prefer driving a manual transmission, especially when the weather is bad making the roads slippery.

 

[AzzA]

When im on an open road i prefer manual, its brilliant.
But when im stuck in traffic (90% of the time), the novelty of manual transmission wears off. Hence why im looking to buy an automatic now.

 

[pvdhaar]

Over here in Europe, vehicles with automatic transmission are more expensive than their manual counterparts. Consequently, I've only had manual cars..

But I did once upon a time long ago have a (long since expired) drivers licence for this 3 speed automatic transmission vehicle: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIFV

 

[lorelie]

Manual is better than automatic.
Manual is more fun when you are driving for a long time because in automatic you only get to press the gas or brake which is boring.

 

[otaku]

I drive an auto due to the fact that as much as I like shifting for myself I wouldn't want to do it as much as I'd need to in this awful traffic I have to deal with. Wish I could afford one of those cool cars that have automanual transmissions

 

[gb hill]

I learned to drive a straight gear in my first car. 55 Ford Customline. Three speed in the column. Newer cars, I tend to stay away from manual transmissions because I'm getting to old to drop the trans to replace worn out pressure plate & clutch disc. 70 & 80 model Japanese cars were the worse to wear out. Besides I drive a tanker truck 5 days a week & that 10 speed Fuller trans. works me enough.

 

[crawdiddy]

Over here in Europe, vehicles with automatic transmission are more expensive than their manual counterparts. Consequently, I've only had manual cars..

But I did once upon a time long ago have a (long since expired) drivers licence for this 3 speed automatic transmission vehicle: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIFV

Seems bizarre that a tank would have an automatic transmission. But I never thought about it until now.

 

[merlin]

My wife – a life-long stick-shift nut – badly broke her left leg two months ago. She's not particularly upset over all that but is really pissed she can't drive her five-speed Golf until mid fall.

 

[350D_user]

Driving my "other half"s Ford, with its automatic 'tiptronic' contraption, I'm more than eager to say I prefer a manual gearbox. With the Honda Civic I drive to work, there's a definite feeling of going, purely from the acceleration you can get only with a manual gearbox.

Kick-down? Forget it.