Manual VsAutomatic Transmission

[nickpc]

give me the pros and cons

 

[werto165]

Learn to drive a stick shift, it just makes everything easier down the line. You're not shoehorned into cars that only have automatic transmissions. 

[Nup]

Learn to drive a stick shift, it just makes everything easier down the line. You're not shoehorned into cars that only have automatic transmissions. 

 

I think that about sums it up ha.  

 

Always nicer to have both and its really not that hard once you get used to it, especially if you're just starting off. 

[Real_PhillBert]

Manual transmissions are more involving, autos are easier.

 

Both of my cars are manuals, as that is what I much prefer. 

[Guest Philosophy]

Learn to drive a stick shift, it just makes everything easier down the line. You're not shoehorned into cars that only have automatic transmissions. 

This is a good idea. I learned on stick and had a manual transmission care until my current one. 

[Aurazas]

In my opinion the car with manual transmission is the best, because if you get stuck into the snow or mud it will give bigger chance to get out of it (because you can change gears very quickly- from first gear to reverse and so on, while car with automatic transmission could break the gears). Secondly the car with manual transmission can be pulled or pushed to start the engine if the battery is low, while with automatic you couldnt do that and  you could break it easily. Thirdly manual transmission can reduce fuel consumption, because you can drive at lower RPM's

[Trik'Stari]

Automatic: easy and convenient, slightly slower, more expensive to service.

Manual: Tedious, slower shifting, and annoying.

[ttam]

Automatic

1. Put into drive

2. Press the gas

 

Manual

1. Push in clutch

2. Select gear

3. Release clutch, give it some gas

4. Repeat into 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

5. Press clutch, shift into neutral at stop

6. Repeat 1-5

 

Just a lot more work. You get more control of the gears, but it's a pain in the ass when in traffic. 

[TheMcSame]

*insert obligatory comment about liking control of my car* /s

 

Seriously though, manual would be your best bet imo... It's also a good anti theft device if you do live in the US as your profile suggests. That and if you ever end up driving a manual in the future, well, you'll already know how to do it. Although manuals are a bit of an ass to drive in traffic (more so for petrol/gas cars than diesels, still a pain in both though).

[Yoinkerman]

I like automatic because I'm lazy when driving. Push button arrive at destination please.

[techswede]

Depends on what you want out of the car

If you want a commuter you can't beat an auto

If you want a bit more involvement then the manual is nicer.

 

Learn to drive stick though. Its a good skill to have.

I used to me one of those "manual or nothing" guys.. But i'm leaning towards trading my car in for an auto.

 

Pros - Manual.

More fun (subjective)

Possible better fuel economy
Easy to maintain and repair

 

Pros - Automatic

Hill starts are not as annoying (Sure its easy in a manual car. But still. Much easier in an auto)

Double clutch gearboxes can shift faster than you

Its comfortable for city driving

 

Cons - Manual

Shifting gets dull after a while.

Used cars may have hidden problems

Trying to get an old car into reverse

 

Cons - Automatic

Limp mode.. 

Slightly worse fuel economy

Possible to get a really bad automatic gearbox that shifts poorly

Higher maintenance

A bitch to repair. (Takes aaaaages)

Less involved

[KamiKatze]

manual is more involving if you know what i mean. If you have a nice car and you bang those gears in and press the pedal to the metal its mroe exciting imo. 

 

For relaxed driving and comutes automatic would be my choice.

[roastduck]

Learn stick. It's a pretty handy skill.

[as96]

I've always driven manual so I can't compare the two.

[KirbyTech]

While manual is nice it also is not something I would recommend if you are mostly doing city driving, I drive both often and I much rather auto in the city, manual is nice for when I need it (read towing). Otherwise it is just more work to drive, sure it can be more fun but rarely do you get open road to enjoy it fully.

[Zenedge]

my car is manual, i would really prefer an automatic.

after driving for awhile, my left leg begins to hurt abit.

clutching and shifting gear is okay, but when the traffic is sooo slow, it starts to wear out your leg

[ShadowCaptain]

I do prefer manual however there are some fantastic auto boxes like the SMG2 in the BMW M3, that thing is ferocious! it also just makes driving easier, less tiring and less irritating, especially when commuting for work or cruising on the motorway - stick on radar cruise control and you dont have to do any work

 

Most fast high end cars now have auto/semi auto gearboxes with the ability to do manual gears electronically, they are very fast at changing, so very little drawback compared to manual (besides weight)

 

Manual is the go to for "the driving experience" and if you like to feel and learn what the car is doing. If you want to get the most out of the car and have fun doing it, manual is the way to go

[Wind]

get manual if you're on a road where's there no traffic, and get auto if you're on a road there is traffic. trust me. manual is annoying on heavy traffic.

[Misanthrope]

Stick:

 

1) More responsive and better to control

2) Easier to fix simple stuff: you can even drive off on a depleted battery if your alternator works ok

3) Cheaper to repair: a busted automatic transmission is as expensive or more expensive to fix than a busted engine. A busted manual transmission is usually not that big of a deal

4) Unlike automatic, you're not ready to drive a wide variety of vehicles: The reality is that if it's an emergency you should be able to drive it.

 

Automatic:

 

1) Beginner friendly: a true test to one's patience as a new driver is being stuck in traffic uphill with a stick car. Automatics are just easier to learn

2) Ends up being a hair cheaper on gas: At least for me I actually want responsiveness on a stick but end up revving it up far too much and too often so I end up spending more on gas.

3) It's not a living hell on your knees and feet: The worst feeling in the world is being stucked in traffic on a stick since if you have far from perfect health and injury record on your leg (usually left except for you weird british people) it just wears it down and what seems to no force at all it ends up hurting like a mofo.

 

I honestly would normally pick Automatic entirely because of 3: if I was younger and/or knew I wouldn't get into traffic jams that often, then I'd choose a stick.

[as96]

I don't get why people say it hurts your knees, I've been stuck in traffic a lot of times and never felt any kind of pain.

[vetali]

Depends what you want. If you want something to start and get to point b from point a, then an automatic is probably best for you. If you want a more involved driving experience then a manual, obviously.

Modern (2012+) automatics are getting pretty good. They have more gears to keep you in your power band. Quicker at shifting than the past autos. They also can reach a steeper overdrive for better fuel economy than a manual. Avoid CVT and ford's dual clutch automatic though.

[TheMcSame]

(usually left except for you weird british people) 

Except for Brits? Not sure what planet you're living on but the clutch is still the leftmost pedal here in the UK....

[Shoob]

I enjoy driving manuals more and afaik they have better fuel economy (it depends on the driving style though). The only time I wish I had an auto is when I'm stuck in traffic.

[The Knome]

Well, I might screw things up a bit by saying now we have more than just Auto and Manual, but some variants in-between.

My basic instinct, is that if you are doing a lot of start stop in town work, buy an Auto, as its less frustrating not having to constantly dip/feather the clutch, in gear and out and you can creep on the brake pedal in older models (sorry, newer ones seem to have abandoned this which makes them more of a pain than full blown manuals).

if you are doing more long range or rural winding road type driving, or for that matter anything outside ideal driving conditions get a manual. Because autos are stupid, cannot read the road, and are always in the wrong gear and slow to respond when you need to power out of a bend, and offer no engine breaking. 

Some autos, have a manual overide (as in tap the gear level and it changes up or down gear, I don't mean D-3-2-1), like a flappy padel gear box, but have the same restrictions, poor economy but at least they bridge the gap where if you are approaching a bit of road, a bend or dip and you think you need to be in say,, 3rd gear to pull out of the corner smoothly or keep the most control, you can influence it.