Cars - Do you drive a manual or automatic?

[LastPoet]

I am used to the 'H' layout of manual and it feels strange the change of gears automatic. It is usefull, specially on trucks, to use the the engine to sustain a descent down a hill. In cars, one also have more control of the car, by deciding when to reduce a gear to get more engine response, therefore more traction. In automatics, I keep pressing the inexistent pedal.

[brewer]

Have owned both. Manuals today are a lot easier than back in the day because the clutch/transmission is synced. Used to have to double clutch to get through the gears. You old farts will know what I'm talking about.

In old age, with a bum left knee, manual is much more pleasant, but definitely less responsive.

[Edit] Correction, auto is much more pleasant.

[Alex K]

I always drove manual. Getting older I set my eyes on automatic. But there are several advantages to driving manual. Especially with critical road conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or ice. Just hit the clutch and allow the wheels to turn freely and you get back control, even when you're already sliding.

Exactly - so much more control, especially compared to mediocre automatic. But as Skeleteur says, in stop n go traffic, I'm happy to have automatic.

[brewer]

I always drove manual. Getting older I set my eyes on automatic. But there are several advantages to driving manual. Especially with critical road conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or ice. Just hit the clutch and allow the wheels to turn freely and you get back control, even when you're already sliding.

Automatic will do the same. Change the shift lever from "D" to "N".

[LastPoet]

I learnt to drive at 11, I putted a battery on an old car my dad had parked rusting and we had alot of fun in coutry dirt roads

Suffice to say that I went to the driving school, driving lol.

[Cyberman]

I'm also dreaming of trying the old "don't mind me stroking your thigh; I'm just shifting gears" ploy on lady passengers.

[robvalue]

"But this is an automatic."

"Shut up bitch."

[brewer]

I have a couple of trucks with a 10 speed, the SUV, pickup and van are automatic.

The ATV has a different kind of system, you can select (when stopped) hi forward, lo forward, lo reverse, and then 4WD, and 2 forms of 2WD; locked rear differential or unlocked differential.  Differential keeps the rig from tearing up the lawn.  The 4WD is a little odd, until the front wheels slip 1/2 a turn or so, it's actually 2WD with locked differential.  On dirt or pavement, you don't notice, on snow, the effect of it is unsettling enough I generally don't drive in snow.

Used to drive some 16 speed air shift Diamond REO's in my youth. Kind of fun.

[Lemonvariable72]

People still drive manual? We're coming into the age of cars that can drive themselves, and people are still making cars where you need to change gears manually?

Because manual transmissions have more gears to switch for and are mechanically simpler. So while the most a automatic can have to date is 6 I think ( most consumer cars have 4) its possible to get a manual up like 9 I think ( most consumer cars have 5-6). Also while some companies have made great automatic transmissions, due to their inherent nature and when manuals do wear, the most common wear is much easier to fix. So the advantages of manuals are better gear ratios, leading better performance and fuel economy as well as the ability to select gear, and generally better mechanical reliability. But with automatics there is the fact its easier to use and won't let you destroy your motor by downshifting into the wrong gear.

[SteelCurtain]

I prefer a manual. I couldn't find one when I bought the Suby, so it is an auto. Suby does manual transmissions well, not so much on the automatic. Grabbing power in 4th gear is horrendous, and the downshift is nearly violent.

I like to drive the car. I like to feel in control (go figure) and I like the extra bit of American security measure that comes with a manual.