Manual versus automatic transmission

Automatics are overall better in just about every way now. More efficient, Faster, better on Gas, they are the future manuals are becoming obsolete no matter how much you MT fans want to admit it. Saying that driving an At is lazy, not real driving, gay ect.... is as ignorant as me saying shaving with an electric razor is lazy, not real shaving, gay and you should use an old strait razor because you feel more \"In control\" of the razor; if I mess up I could cut my neck open but hey that makes it fun right? WRONG!! If you want to live in the past that badly to be more in \"control of your ride\" then why dont you go back to rideing horses or hop on a donkey.

I really enjoyed reading your webpage, first of all. thanks. and on to business. I myself own an Auto and have found that what you say about them arnt always true. I have had my car for just over 3 years and the only trouble ive had is i had to replace the battery once, thats it. also its the only auto out of all my friends and i'd have to say its more efficient on fuel than most of the others which are of similar design. and its more powerful too. i wouldnt say im Biased toward my car, i enjoy driving manuals as well, but if you dont let the continuous attempted downputs of owning an auto get to you its a much better car to own.

The manual is goin by the wayside. I've driven them all my life, but the trickle down effect from high end super cars and racing such as F1 are making autos much better. The reality is manuals are being offered/ sold less, and the myth of less power/milage is getting debunked. Cvt's have really licked autos into high gear. Manuals one day will be the same as the carburator. I was a die hard 5speed guy till these new autos have came about. As for downshifting, most autos do a fairly good job( take it outta over drive down a hill). It's like the new smart phones, one day they will all be the same

If you do a lot of driving then an AT is the best. Changing gears manually is tiresome and tedious.

Manual because it is easier for the learnerst and easier to control where hill or sloopy road or where there is an obstacle like thievies blocked mainroad

manuals all the way, they give you more control and are cheaper/lighter. especially if you have a car with a v8 or larger manual transmission is definately the way to go, i am not a fan of v8 cars having automatic transmission. it is also not hard at all to learn to drive a manual, took me a couple hours to learn and about a week to get used to it. and if you do not know how to drive manual and you want to buy a car with a v8 automatic transmission, honestly you shouldnt be driving a car that is out of your league.

I've driven manual on roads most people in developed countries might not recognise as roads. Traffic in this country is not bumper to bumper, it is bumper to bumper, side to side, pavements/sidewalks... you get the picture. With all that, I think manual is still the way to go

I am so frustrated trying to find a powerful yet practical (like my 204 bmw x3) car to drive and refuse to fold on this. I cannot understand why everyone in the UK and Europe are driving manuals and we cannot find anything that is not a sports car, a100,000 sedan or bottom of the line yuck vehicle.

I rented an automatic Nissan Altima recently that had like another part to the gear shift with a plus/ minus where you could shift manually. What's that called?? Searching for the proper terminology..

you gotta be retarded to slowly rear end someone at the lights in a auto because the break was too uncomfortable. how about the clutch for being uncomfortable it has a lot more resistance than the break especially when you have to hold it in all the way.

My entire driving years have been with manuals, I do own a automatic but for my wife. I love the control, decision making when I drive it. (Mustang GT) Plus its a hell of a lot cheaper than the automatic repairs, $2876.56 in repairs for the automatic, but only $945.49 for my manual, or as I like to call it the \"Do-It-Yourself transmission\". Overall Manuals are worth the driving experience.

I am from UK, to be honest 90% of the cars are manual here. I have passed my test on a manual car, so I can drive both manuals and automatics. In my experience if you are going for a sports car get an automatic car with flappy pedal gearbox, normal cars I would stick with manual. In my opinion if you can\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t drive a manual then you must be a women. even the women here drive manual, only some girls breaks the manual gearbox at their first driving lesson and they choose to go for automatics. If you know how to drive both then I really apreciate it. Even for cities I think manual is not tiring asa you think.

I have recently gotten my new car a stick. I would not settle for an automatic ever again. My last car, "the automatic" kept falling apart on me and letting me down where ever I went, but now my stick is my best friends. Some days I just love to drive my car to feel the power that I have under my finger tips. I will never go back. My stick shift is not penis envy

Automatics are part of our f***ing drive-through lifestyle. Put down the cheeseburger and put that hand on the gear-selector.

I own a 2005 Ford Mustang GT Premium and it only has 20,000 miles and in great condition... plus its a STICK (Manual)! I love it because I can control the speed much better and the MPG I use. It makes the drive so much better but I wouldn\'t like it in the city with stop and go traffic.

Why pull the "North Americans/Canadians" card? I'm pretty sure that most people today use Automatic. Not just certain countries. You even made a whole section on it in the comparison. The stereotype is really tired. That being said, I love driving manual. I started off learning how to drive with manual, then didn't get to touch it for 5 or 6 years. It feels so much better and involved. Cheaper, lighter, and more reliable if you know what you're doing.

Learning to drive standard. I love it! I drive a motorcycle and transitioning to a car is hard for me. I have to learn to have control with my feet rather than my hands! I can do it, I just need more practice driving in traffic. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. :D

I started of with automatics when I got my permit. Since it is easy to learn automatic and it does teach good control with the accelerator. During that time we had a 2001 Nissan Frontier and it was a five speed manual. Learning that was a pain and I did end up being scared to learn. However I did learn it in matters of like a total of three hours but it took me a couple of days since I was scared. After I got my license, I drove that truck and now am truly a big fan of MANUALS.

I have recently started driving standard and let me just tell you, I have been missing out on all the fun!! If you are a "road enthusiast" then you owe it to yourself to start learning to drive a manual now!!!

Man I am driving my first manual , it\'s an STI. been wanting to learn for years . Will never go back yo automatic. They are truly lame. Also, I did suck ass at first . Stalling all the time and rolling downhill. After a month of just driving , the feet know what to so now. Don\'t give up man keep driving . U get points for trying .

@2011-10-15 - n/a n/a "After driving 6 years an automatic car in Canada, i tried a manual in India.I was about to make a serious accident. From stop sign I had to enter a fast running high way. when i release the clutch the suv was rolling backward because the road is little steep.i hit the brake. i tried twice and failed. third time i press more gas. the suv jumped into the highway and went off in the middle of the road. I was about to hit by a truck. I can say manuals are not at all safe." Lets break down what you did wrong: "suv was rolling backward because the road is little steep": There is this wonderful invention called the "E-brake" or "Hand Brake". You pull it up to keep the car from rolling backwards and release it as you pull away. It's not that hard a concept. So lets review, yes if you don't know how to drive a vehicle it CAN be dangerous.

I just got my first stick shift car. And I have been driving it for one day. I am getting really discouraged because I feel like I haven\\\'t gotten any better. And so far I am missing my automatic car. Are all stick shift beginners bad or should I just give up completely?

After driving 6 years an automatic car in Canada, i tried a manual in India.I was about to make a serious accident. From stop sign I had to enter a fast running high way. when i release the clutch the suv was rolling backward because the road is little steep.i hit the brake. i tried twice and failed. third time i press more gas. the suv jumped into the highway and went off in the middle of the road. I was about to hit by a truck. I can say manuals are not at all safe.

@2011-10-10 poster: Not true anymore. Continuous Variable Transmissions (CVT) are sometimes rated at higher than manual MPG. For example, the new Subaru Impreza CVT is rated a couple MPG higher than the manual transmission.

the thing to remember with automatic transmission is that of hybrid cars (ie cars that consume less fuel) are auto, not manual. hence, it is possible for auto cars to be more fuel efficient than manuals.

No auto has better mileage than a manual in the same car, some people are incorrectly saying they do and even trying to site make believe studies but no that's not the case. The auto takes engine power to run it's hydraulic pump all the time so it always uses more fuel than a manual. It's like trying to say driving with the air conditioner on is more fuel efficient than not having it on. That's just total rubbish. Auto's are never really in the right gear with the right revs for intermediate throttle openings. Eg. you want to use your engine between 2000-4000 rpm with medium throttle, well an auto will change up gears so you end up putting your foot flat to make it not change up, and then you over rev the engine to 6000. So you need to click the tiptronic into manual shift mode to hold the gear as you would a manual. That's how you should drive your auto to match how you would drive your manual. Same sort of thing with engine braking, just click it down a gear or so and so on. I test drove a 6 speed auto last week and walked away thinking I really didn't like that one bit. It's just sooo restrictive to your driving freedom. I've owned cars like a Charger with a 318cid (5.2ltr) V8 from the 1970's and it was an auto. The difference was it would wheel spin top gear if the road was a little slippery. The car I drove had 1.6ltr 140hp and the auto just killed the power of the engine. My manual 1.5ltr 100hp car is much more crisp to accelerate etc. So I just couldn't buy a new auto but I still considered it as an option being 6 speed tiptronic as they are. As for traffic, peak hour is a matter of being a calm person inside. There is a zen peacefulness to the act of driving a manual that stems from treating the clutch with great gentleness in those traffic jam times. One thing I think is that while manual vehicles exist in the world, that all drivers should really take there licence test on a manual car. If they are not proficient on a manual they shouldn't be driving.

Here's an international perspective for you guys: In China, virtually all cars have manual transmission; automatic transmissions are rare. You'd think that in a country where most drivers have little experience (usually <10 years, few drivers have more experience than this), they'd opt for automatic, which is easier to learn, but nope, for some reason, the car industry here in China churns out mostly manual (standard) transmission vehicles. In Thailand, where drivers are more experienced, you'll still find more manuals than automatics, but it depends on the vehicle type. Taxis in Thailand are almost always manuals, even though they're used in heavy city traffic (notably Bangkok, one of the most congested traffic cities on Earth). Most pickup trucks (the most popular vehicle type in Thailand) feature manual transmission, while larger sedans such as camrys usually feature only automatic transmissions; with small to medium sized cars such as corollas, you get a choice of either. Obviously the manual transmission option being the cheaper one.

One time I was driving an automatic transmission car. I was going down a small hill and brakes went out and so I drove on someone property which had high ground to stop the car which it did.

I like a manual transmission because they have better control over the car easier shifting gears. True if stopping on a hill at a red light and it change to green then car would go back two feet than would have to put more gas an let clutch out slowly to drive again. We know that automatic transmission that you don't have to do that.

I prefer manuals now because they're simply more fun to drive! And even when I'm driving an automatic, I sometimes put my foot down for the clutch out of habit!

I prefer manual over automatic because its cheap and easy to fix.i can fix it alone

I live in the netherlands, and when you get your license here ( after spending thousands of euro's in lessons most cases )you may drive both manual and automatic. However : If you take lessons in an automatic and pass later on, your drivers license allows you to only drive an automatic ! A police officer may confiscate your license if you are being pulled over while driving a manual ! Driving from only automatic to manual meens you will have to take a new driving test ( which will cost you around 240 euro, if you pass the first time ). So our law basically says : automatic driving is limited driving !

my question is. which is better on gas mileage? automatic transmissions or manuals?

Through the years, I have owned and raced many sport cars which have been automatics and manuals, like many, I have have always prefered manual transmissions, for the exact reasons, which have been stated by so many others,faster 1/4 mile times, shifting at higher RMP for higher torque & Horsepower,better control of the vehicle, etc, etc. In recent years as technology has taken a drastic leap forward, so has the automatic transmission, At the race track automatics have been showing up and just dominating, where as on paper the advantage should be with the car with the manual trans. With all being equal the advantage goes to the manual, but this is the real world and rarely is all equal. with the manual theres too much of a chance that the driver may shift a second too soon (not reaching peak power) or a second too late (over extending the power band)in both cases a time costing mistake (not to mention the possiblity of missing a gear.) Todays performance automatic transmissions, are a force to be reconed with, The computer controled shift timing is the great equalizer. And on the streets many less than professional drivers actually do not get the maxium potential out of their manual vehicle when driving/racing, although they believe that the possess the skills to acheive such a feat, in these settings the computer controlled timing of todays performance automatic transmission is far superior to the skills of an amatuer throughout the entire power band. Weather we like them or hate them, the times are changing and auto trans are meeting if not exceeding the human abilities.

Im 19 yrs old and learned how to drive a stick for the first time two days ago. Today I perfected it. Im not going to say whether AT or MT are better. I belive everyone should broaden their spectrum and learn how to drive both. In my country Manuals are kinda rare, however, I feel connected and one with my car. I control it. Going from an automatict a Manual transmission was quite a change. But I\\\'ve learned how using a clutch and a stick can provide a whole different experience from the car. I <3 my 02 Dodge Neon! I wont be going back to an automatic for awhile. :)

Once you know how to drive a manual you will discover the benefits and never turn back. In an automatic you are relying on a machine to predict what you are doing a make a decision based on its prediction. Too many times has an automatic spun out on me because its suddenly decided to drop a gear in the wet. Manual gives you far more control and precision driving. Not too mention the joy of holding the revs and quick succession gear changes (btw tiptronic is not manual). If you think otherwise you just haven\'t learnt how to drive properly.

When you are stopped at an intersection in a manual and don't keep your foot on the brake, if you get hit from behind you will be pushed out into cross traffic and likely be killed. use the brake when stopped, even in a manual. this is what i was always taught, and it makes sense. i do it.

i still drive stick thru rush hour traffic everyday. there is an added trick to it that is naturally picked up. if everyone drove manual, there would be less traffic, because ppl would be less inclined to ride the breaks anyway.

Hello, I like your website but some fo your information is a bit out of date. I driven 2 cars that were sticks and 2 that were automatics, so I have experience with both. I think some of your information is outdated - today's automatics don't suffer the same problems of reliability and reduced fuel economy that past ones did. I never had repair problems with either transmission, although one stick shift was already on its second clutch plate before I got it. As for fuel economy, most made since 1990 use a locking mechanism to reduce slippage during highway driving, thus preventing much of the fuel economy loss. When accelerating slowly or maintaining steady speed at lower speeds, the torque converter allows a higher gear to be used than with a stick shift - thus offsetting much of fuel economy drain inherent in the torque converter. Fuel economy depends alot on driver behavior, and there is no guarantee that a person will do a better job choosing when to shift than a modern computer controlled transmission. As for the environment, the clutch lining on a manual transmission car uses asbestos. One man who worked in asbestos abatement told me that he measured asbestos air concentrations at typical road intersections that were higher than in poorly renovated old buildings where asbestos had been disturbed. Which to drive depends on driver preference. In today's congested environment, an automatic is usually more practical and possibly more fuel efficient.

This isn't a unbiased review, in Australia Auto rules and stick can suck it.I went for a driving lesson today in a manual, and it sucked, i jumped aroud and stalled continuasly.

i learnt to drive an autonmatic recently and obviously passed first time after 2 and a half months of lessons because it was so EASY! don't let anyone put you off if they try and say manual is better, everyone told me to do manual but i was so terrified at the thought of driving i needed to take the most comfortable option. i will never learn manual, i do not need to! best decision i have made!

Another thing that wasn't mentioned is that certain sports or tuner cars come only in manual, or they need to be in manual to properly handle performance modifications that many stock transmissions would not be engineered for. A downside to manual transmission not mentioned is resale value. More than 90% of cars for sale in NA are automatics. It can be difficult, in private party situations, where many potential buyers will either write-off or cannot drive a manual transmission. I believe the future is a scenario where all benefits of manual and automatics come in as one. This has already been the case with certain BMW M series cars and automated manual dual-clutch systems like in the Nissan GT-R.

I am in the market for a new or used car, have driven a manual for over 30 years so thought I'd go auto and take it easy. Is this a mistake? Costs a factor so maybe I need to stick with the manual option.

Just to mention for your comparison page. I drive a car with a VW 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox and VW reckon that this 'box uses about 6% LESS fuel than an equivalent 6 speed manual and has lower CO2 emissions. It is also faster from 0-60mph than the manual because it uses two automatic clutches to reduce shift time. Times are changing for automatics!

I am a 16 year old driver (North America), so I don't have much experience, but I love using the clutch and stick. When I drive an automatic I don't feel as if I am really driving, more as if I\'m just along for the ride (Manuals feel more under your control) I have found that in an automatic, there is often a noticeable lag between pushing the pedal down and feeling the power increase (Computer doing calculations based on current speed, current RPM, and input from pedal). In a manual though, it is instantaneous and feels much more precise. My automatic is a 2004 Ford Expedition and my manual is a 1996 Geo Prizm. Despite its lack of luxuries, I would rather drive the little Geo. (Btw, the spam stopper for me was Days in the third month times one hundred. Sadly I had to Google it. American schools have failed me.)

I just turned 16 and my truck is a manual. I had driven automatic vehicles, ATV's etc since I was about ten. So I had to learn to drive a manual. I will admit that ATs are easier, but I have to agree with the Europeans when I say that my country(America) has gotten into the whole ease of travel too much. I was terrible for the first hour of driving, I had ALOT of trouble timing the clutch release on takeoff, but in about a day I could drive it competently. I just got my license so I'm biased by my first truck, but I think that everyone should atleast know how to drive a manual, because it proves that u are atleast competent enough to do more than just push a peddle, and I believe it makes mr a safer driver in that I'm always paying more attention as opposed to the mindless start and stop of a manual. I have one problem, but I'm sure it will come from experience(I've onlybeen driving a manual for five days). I start from lights like my grandmother, that is my first gear is 0- about 15, and 15mph is about 3,000rpms. Shifting to second smoothly, and quickly while turning across an intersection, or pulling onto a road is still difficult. But my final word is that manual are more fun and if you drive one you are a better driver in my book, but ATs are easier if u can get over the insecurity of what and when u are in a gear, and the overall cost increase.

Had a manual for 21 years, now switched to automatic. So much more fun driving in the UK, less aching legs and only having one hand on the steering wheel due to other on the gear stick. Safer and easier, wish I had swapped years ago.

I have an advise for comment written on 2011-05-15. If clutch ages (it can happen after many kilometers) you should not change it. Nobody change it until it is completely wearied out. You have just to adjust it. It is done with 1 nut screw. It has to do somebody who has experience. I do it by myself. In spite of the fact that I am not a mechanic I do it very well. However, do not do if you do not know how. Otherwise, you can ruin clutch. Mechanic has just to turn 1 nut screw and it takes no more than 2 minutes. So, do not change clutch and do not change car because of this.

Manuals satisfy my needs and wants. I don't care how fast your double clutch automatic shifts. You can never feel the perfect downshifts and it gets boring because you get the same shift all the time. With manual I can choose exactly when and how I want the shifts to be. Do I feel like driving smoothly? Put the clutch in and wait until the rev downs to match next gear. Feel like driving fast? Rev it up and shift it as quickly as you can and feel the jolt from clutch and transmission engaging. Also with an automatic anybody can be fast just jamming down on the gas pedal. Manual is more fun for me in a sense because you have more room for error with a manual. It is like riding a mountain bike through a rough terrain - you have fun because you are trying to ride something upright that would otherwise easily fall. Where is the fun in riding something that would never fall? Even with traffic I get irritated sitting in a stop and go traffic with an automatic, because I'm doing the same thing over and over with my right foot (release brake and engage brakes). With manual, although it is more chore, I'm required to use both my hands and feet and somehow it just feels better. It also makes me a safer driver because I would coast more than riding someone's rear bumper, which minimizes use of brakes and gas, which also saves brake pads. I drove my parent's automatic and I instantly found my driving habits such as that changing so quickly. However I can see that if all that is asked from car is go from point a to point b, then there is no point driving a manual. If you want the car to provide enjoyment as well, I highly suggest you try learning a manual, then decide if you like it or not.

I am thinking about changing to a automatic after 15 years and thank you for all the useful posts. As the clutch ages on the manual the clutch pedal become increasingly difficult to depress, and driving in traffic becomes a pain. You could replace the clutch assembly early but is not practical when you consider clutch still has plenty of mileage.

I have had AT and MT transmissions cars and I prefer the manual transmission. I choose this one because I love being able to control my shift points, more power is transferred to the wheels, and they are easier and cheaper to operate on. Manual transmissions also last longer than automatics. For a car enthusiast or someone who just loves to drive aggressive I think a manual is better but that is based on opinion and everyone has there own driving styles. Deciding what type of transmission u want is based on your driving style and driving patterns. The things I like about the manual transmissions are you can become one with the car, they get better gas mileage, and give you an edge on the takeoffs and controlling the rpms. So many people are scared to learn to drive a standard because they think it will be hard. After a month or 2, it becomes second nature and you really won\'t pay it much mind while driving. I love cars and love driving and don\'t like having to put the pedal to the floor just to my automatic transmission car to down shift. Being in complete control of my car puts me at peace.

re: previous comment - Interesting that you comment on what an automatic does that a manual doesn't without actual experience of driving a manual. A manual transmission is a different connection to the car. Can you drive vigorously and dynamically in an auto car? Absolutely - much of that depends on the rest of the car besides the transmission. I am currently my first manual car after learning and driving autos for my first 17 years of licensed driving. It has been almost a year since starting, and I have no regrets. It gets easier all the time and I periodically surprise myself with how comfortable I've become doing it. Admittedly, I live in a place where I can choose not to drive if I wish. I was able to take more time learning myself than someone else trying to learn to use it as a daily driver, but there's probably something to be said about being able to take time learning to drive either transmission for the first time. I have a bit of a wondering attention span and enjoy physical activity - I find driving the manual stimulates me mentally/physically in a way that driving an automatic does not. One DOES have to concentrate more while driving a manual. This concetration, however, is something you get used to. If I am in a bad mood, I can "drive" myself out of it, because I have to dedicate more IQ points to driving. The effect is a bit like exercising before work - you're more prepared, awake and focused after driving a manual. I can very much enjoy scenery while driving a manual. Particularly after living with it for a while. Frankly, you may notice that it's easier to look at things while not driving - which may suggest to you TO JUST STOP AND LOOK AT THEM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO IT WHILE DRIVING ;). You'll appreciate the scenery more that way. Automatics make better city cars given the constant gear changes and such. If I was buying a car specifically for urban duty, I would get an auto. Then again, an electric is even better than that! There's no need for gears at all and you're not wasting any power idling while in stop-and-go and at the many lights. If I was training a person, particularly a youth, to drive for the first time, I would absolutely start them off in a manual, BECAUSE it requires engenders greater concentration on what the car is doing - not what the stereo/TV/text messaging/friend-in-the-back-seat is doing. Don't go fearfully into learning a manual. Embrace as learning anything else that might be new to you. The hand-eye-foot coordination development is valuable and the sense of accomplishment will get a couple of endorphins flowing as well. Now it WILL probably hard at times....but the but stuff always is for a while. peace, cWj

I too prefer automatic due to the ease of use and comfort AND agree that: 1. Automatics have come a long way: modern day automatics have excellent fuel efficiency; you can in fact have a lot of control over the vehicle by way of driving, and many of them have gear-shifting options 2. Saying that you can\'t drive if you can\'t (or don\'t) drive a manual is STUPID!!! Good drivers are good because of their driving style, and awareness of conditions and NOT about what kind of engine or transmission their car has. Also, driving itself is fun, regardless of the transmission - it\'s just personal taste. 3. Automatics release driver from being a part of the engine, and make one a driver who can enjoy the drive, the scenery, and the good company and conversation with people aboard - one \'feels\' the car just as much, but does not need to BE the car. Nevertheless, I have to learn how to drive a car with a manual transmission.....and i feel that it is going to be like going through HELL!!!

It\'s so stupid how people run down something simply because it is different. Automatics and manuals both have their merits, and their disadvantages, and much of the claims made by people are simply based on opinion and preference anyway. It\'s like the front-wheel-drive vs. rear-wheel-drive debate. It\'s pointless - it\'s just what ever you prefer. I prefer automatic due to the ease of use and comfort, as well as the fact my specific model of car only uses 0.3 of a litre more fuel per 100kms (combined) than the equivalent in a manual - and it uses less on highways than the manual version!. Also, the claims of women preferring their men to drive manuals is stupid - most girl\'s I\'ve been with like to hold my left hand sometimes (I\'m in a commonwealth country and we drive on the left) when we travel together - not convenient in a manual vehicle. Automatics have come a long way since the primitive automatics of the early 20th century, which lacked the robustness needed for a vehicle to change gears in that fashion. Good case and point = modern day aircraft do not need the pilot to manually control everything - it\'s all electronically controlled. And, modern day automatics have excellent fuel efficiency, and you can in fact have a lot of control over the vehicle by way of driving (watching engine revs and pedal pressure etc), and many of them having gear-shifting options (even my every-man\'s car basically has that function). Saying that you can\'t drive if you can\'t (or don\'t) drive a manual is so stupid. Good drivers are good because of their driving style, and awareness of conditions and NOT about what kind of engine or transmission their car has. For example, does it mean that a manual trans. driver who runs into a nursing home and injures a bunch of people is still a better driver than an automatic trans. driver who drives safely (or vice versa)? STUPID!!! Also, driving itself is fun, regardless of the transmission - it\'s just personal taste. I prefer automatics as they release me from being a part of the engine, and make me a driver who can enjoy the drive, the scenery, and the good company and conversation with people aboard - i \'feel\' my car just as much, but I just don\'t need to BE the car. I would discuss the benefits of manuals more as well, but I\'ve chosen not to as this website is very biased against automatics, and half the people on here seem to make all sorts of baseless claims about how \'evil\' automatics are. So stupid. They\'re just a different kind of transmission, both with equal benefits and varying suitability for different people - live with it!

For anyone wondering, the only time you absolutly have to use the clutch is starting and stopping. You can power shift (basicly revving the engine and forcing the rpms to synchronize) to change gears. That being said, I only know two people who can do this, and I\\\'ve admittedly been afraid to try for fear of shredding the transmission. Manuals are generally better, but in America\\\'s defense, populations can be severely decentralized, with many people where I live making 100 mile round trips daily. I these situations, an automatic can be very helpful.

I'm 15 and American and ONLY drive a manual. I think that I am the only one in my school, and only one I know, who can heel and toe downshift.

people who say automatic is simpler, it is a more complex system... maybe not to driving it, but manual is alot simpler, so to make life simple as an automatic fan falsely said, you have to get a manual!

I drive both types of transmissions on a daily basis frequently changing one car for another, so perhaps that puts me in an ideal position to compare. Here are my thoughts: Automatic pros 1. Do not require constant shifting, especially in traffic; 2. Hill starts are easy. Automatic cons 1. It is very seldom that the car's revs are what the driver would choose, with the car being frequently over-revved; 2. Forward creep at traffic lights and in traffic is annoying; 3. Consumption is SIGNIFICANTLY worse than manual transmission especially for petrol engines; 4. With a flat battery you cannot start the car on the clutch. With MT the pros and cons are virtually the reverse of the above. To a large extent I disagree with the idea that AT is more convenient. Once you get the hang of MT, it becomes second nature and you tend to shift instinctively. Interestingly, Americans favour automatics while Europeans prefer manuals although there is a growing trend in Europe towards automatics especially when buying big-engined cars.

some automatics with lock up torque converter can be fun, but nothing beats the shift sick because it stays locked in gear 100% with engine and the wheels!

I own both. Let me tell you that its a real pain to be in a traffic jam with a stickshift. That being said, I still prefer manual. More fun, esp. with a 5.0 gt mustang. However, if you plan on sharing a car with your spouse and eventually having kids, auto is the way to go.

Having recently learnt to drive manuel, i was driving automatic for 5 years. Let me tell u this, I will never go back to automatic. Driving stick is so fun, esp if u have a car that goes. I still own both manual & auto cars and have to alternate between the two every so often but manual is just more fun and u really feel like your in control of everything. In traffic thats the only time I miss auto. Apart from that, manual all the way.

People claiming that people who drive automatics can't drive properly is just ridiculous. I have driven a manual for about 8 years. I have now gone automatic and would never go back. The fuel consumption is a little worse which is why I went diesel and with a good box and powerful engine they are more than quick enough. I do enjoy driving and still drive manual occasionally and it is a good feeling. 90% of the time I just want to get from A to B and not have the hassle of changing gear. I do have tiptronic but it does feel weird without the clutch.

I will be biased because I have only driven vehicles with Automatic Transmission. Although I would like to learn how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, I don't think I would be in the market for one unless I was buying a sports cars for occasional use. I think the point that come out over and over in everyone comments is that the issue is comfort with the drive train of the vehicle. For instance, my car has a CVT. I love the way the CVT works, and with practice and many kilometers put on my car I have learned to drive my car to optimize the power from the engine and how the CVT works. Others who drive my car complain about this or that. My mothers complaints being that the car slows down faster when you release the gas peddle than her AT because the belt changes ratio and naturally slows down the vehicle, where her vehicle would just coast. I think that no matter AT or MT, its a matter of preference and comfort. I just want to add that a few months ago I was looking at trading in my car for a pickup truck, and the first thing the dealer asked when I talked trade in was whether the car had a MT or AT. I told him AT, and he was happy with that, I guess MT are much more difficult to sell around here. Never traded the car in, but learn something from that experience. At the end of the day, drive what makes you happy. But Just because my vehicle has an AT doesn't mean that I can't drive. Driving is about safely maneuvering through difficult condition and being aware of your surroundings. Its about being safe and following traffic regulations. And those apply whether you drive a MT or AT.

I want to buy a new car. I have always driven just manual cars. Now, I am thinking about an automatic. Driving a manual and using clutch and gas pedal I can control the car perfectly. I am afraid that using just brake and gas pedal I would need much more time to park a car and I cannot imagine how I would do it in a very narrow space where with manual I do it very easily. Also, I can change the gear exactly when I feel that I need it and I can have perfect control, which makes me feel well and confident that I can do exactly what I want, even in the most difficult situations on the road. To be afraid that car will go backward on a hill at a start up is a nonsense. It is possible just if somebody has never learn how to do it on a hill. It happened to me just when I was learning how to do it. Once you learn it, it will never happened. Also, once you learn it, you do shifting exactly when it is the best moment to have perfect control of the car without thinking, and you can speak with a friend and think about something else. Also, expensive maintenance is not a pretty good news. Cost is not only problem in maintenance of automatic transmission. In some cases it is very hard to find the problem, and I know some people who were looking for help at many mechanics and some specific problems none of them was able to solve. All this attracts me to buy a manual, but sometimes I am really tired to shift gears in a traffic jam. It is not a problem in a regular driving where shifting can be even a fun, but in a jam it is boring. Perhaps, it is the best to try if it is better filling to have good control of the car or to have less to do in a traffic jam. I am thinking about a DSG automatic transmission which is more advanced than regular automatic. Is there antibody who has experience with this kind of transmission and can compare it with regular automatic? Does it provide better control of the car than regular automatic? I know it does, but is difference in practice really big? I now that DSG is more expensive and complex than regular automatic, but if it provides better control it could be worth.

After viewing this discussion, I had to jump in. I have driven both automatic and manual cars over the years, and I have to say that the manual is always going to be the better choice. Automatics are dangerous, and show how lazy America has become. Most of the major driving dangers(texting, talking on the phone, eating, ect.) are because of slush box cars. Try to text and drive on a manual, it\'s more trouble than it\'s worth and most manual drivers DON\'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY CANT! Automatic cars also require no skill whatsoever to operate, therefor drivers with no skill are on the road. A 5 year old could drive an automatic car. Automatics give the driver no control of their vehicle, all you can do is steer and break, which is dangerous if you take a turn too fast or are driving in slippery road conditions. Automatic cars are also significantly more expensive to fix than manual, and also are far less reliable. I use to drive a 2002 Nissan Maxima(a known reliable car) and at 120,000 miles the transmission started slipping(around the mileage that most automatics fail) It cost $2,500 to have the thing rebuilt, as opposed to my 1997 Passat, which had no transmission issue until 140,000 miles when the clutch went(it was on it\'s origional clutch!)....it cost $300 for the part and my and a buddy installed it as it was a simple repair. That\'s a HUGE difference. Automatic transmissions also have far less power than a manual of the same car(except for DSG which is basically a manual without a clutch pedal) Automatics have a torque converter which essentially reduces the power generated by the engine to transmit the power to the wheels. Manuals have a direct connection and therefor no power is lost. In general, most people will agree that manual is much more fun to drive as well. If you disagree with this, you most likely don\'t know how to drive standard, or you suck at it. Also in regards to the comment where manual transmissions are more dangerous because the cars roll back when not in gear.....if you know how to drive a manual, you would know that a good driver will prevent this from happening. It also wouldn\'t hurt to not drive up everyone\'s ass too. I do see some practicality in an automatic. There good for someone who commutes in traffic/ city driving often, but that\'s about it. Automatics with tiptronic, steptronic, paddleshifters, simply try to recreate the fun and advantages of a manual without a clutch pedal. To a degree they succeed, but most will agree that nothing is better than driving a car with a three pedaled cog-swapper.

I am from Maine, USA and I think that driving a standard is easy. However it may not be easier than an automatic, but it is much more fun.

From the UK I have driven manual cars for 29 years so I will probably bias towards manual. My wife (from Canada) could not operate the clutch on a manual so she obviously ended up with an automatic. I drove both cars and both have there advantages. In slow, stop and start traffic autos are easier to drive and you can sip coffee at will. That’s all. With a manual you have more control, more feel for the car and the road. With an auto I particularly feel lack of control and more attention is required when reversing over the lip of a hill up against a wall. We have now moved to Canada and my wife has an auto but manual cars tend to be in the minority and lack some UK basic features such as central locking and electric windows and mirrors. I have yet to get my car so do I go with, auto or manual? Well, manual but seeking a decent one out has my work cut out. But manual it will be.

Just had to choose between a manual Audi A3 and an automatic. It really was 50/50 but in the end I decided to opt for a manual - better the devil you know. If you are going to pot for an automatic then the sensible thing to do is to trial a car for 2 or 3 days. As I do not have time to do this and need to order a new one now (company car) I thought the best thing to do this time round is to go with what I know best. Also, I drive round central London regularly and although automatics are meant to make life much easier for this I can honestly say that I have never had any problems with a manual car. I have never had any left leg ache nor suffered inconvenience from having to move my left hand onto the gearstick - if anything, it is my right leg that may get tired but an auto would not remedy this. Therefore, if there isn’t a problem then why change?

Thanks! I had to do a compare and contrast paper for school and this site really helped.

To answer your question, Steve, I live in the US (Oregon, specifically) and when I took my driving test it was in an automatic. They just make you drive your own car, or the one you will drive when you get your license. As I recall, though, you have to know at least a little about manual transmission driving to pass the written portion of the test.

well to add to the mix here, i'm from manila, philippines where traffic is as bad as bad can get - possibly worse. and i drive by stick, on a twenty three year old mitsubishi lancer. i've only been driving a few months with this car, but i think i've got it all down - engine braking, creeping along in traffic with only the clutch working. i don't hate people who drive automatics, but it gives me the impression that they're all for convenience and us stick folks are after the driving experience. driving an automatic doesn't get me excited as much as driving a manual. it maybe more convenient but i don't like the idea of a car controlling my driving, i want to have total control of my vehicle. it may be true that the tiptronics, dsgs, whatever they are, can shift faster than a man can move his left foot, but then i personally feel that the driving experience is not there. and also, people who get their licenses should display if they can only drive automatics. manuals, well, take some practice and skill to learn and use correctly. again, no love lost for automatics, it might very well be the way to the future. but manuals just won't die out anytime soon.

Hi guys, my name is Steve and I live in England. Whilst I'm aware that people in the U.S. prefer the auto are you guys not made to drive a manual when you take your test? If someone in England only wanted to drive an auto they'd be a bit weird lol. buuuuuuuuut i can drive both and I personally prefer autos. i think the autos you guys are talking about are 'everyday' normal cars. i would like to point out that the fastest cars in the world (supercars) are all automatic. yes they do have a paddleshift but ive contacted porsche, ferrari, aston martin and jaguar (im a geek i know) and they've all confirmed that the performance of the car in auto mode with the race/sport button ON would give exactly the same performance as the paddleshift. so there you have it. autos ARE the fastest in the world!!!! ; )

Hi there, While I completely appreciate that most people prefer to drive a manual with a gear stick there is something I would like to point out about some info on here. One of the comments says 'Want to race, again it's got to be a manual'. I'd like to point out that although true with the majority of normal 'everyday' cars, the fastest cars in the world never have a gear stick. They are all semi auto (with paddle shift AKA flappy paddles) but I can assure you as I've contacted the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferarri that switch them in to automatic mode WITH sports/race mode ON they are the fastest cars in the world and equal the performance of the paddleshift mode. Would be great if you could point this out on your site :) many thanks. my e mail address is steve.webb983@hotmail.co.uk. would love to hear your thoughts :)

most cars these days are getting into more car accidents because of the person is either TEXTING AND DRIVING or TALKING ON THE PHONE most likely they are driving an AUTOMATIC and if your driving a manual while using your phone than you must be an idiot!

i would choose manual because you have more control and experience the excitement of driving especially when it comes down to sport cars, the automatics suck gas and adds to much weight to cars even todays new auto transmission i wouldnt even bother getting, even the cvt tranny is not a good it jus increases the gas mileage by 2 WOW! like thats gonna make any difference its funny how automotives tend make autos get ahead of manuals and make not a big difference at all

Make life simple. Get an automatic. I don't see the point in the manual? Just like most humans.. want to make things complex and complain about it later.

Is this guy smoking something cheap? Automatic? expancive? high maintianance? what has he been driving?? Automatics have come a LONG way and yes thay now do give better milage and power then a Manual Ever will. Get with the times people!

If you visit a web site like http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Complaint/2002/Ford/Explorer (which I'm purchasing) you'll notice that there are many, many more complaints about problems with automatic transmissions than with manual. So even given the fact that there are many more out there, I think a factor of several hundred is pretty definitive. Maybe the newer automatic transmissions are more reliable, but if you're buying used you can just look at the service record.

cat061@gmail.com Hi! my name is clare. I am about to buy a car on thurs and i would like your opinion. I drive on a very hilly windy roads where i have to dodge amish buggies and other things throughout my drive. is it a bad idea to buy a manual car? Thanks! Clare

I disagree with this article. The AT have come along way and their costs in maintenance and up-keep are significantly lower than before. True they may be cheaper to buy when buying a new car, at the start, but I will always put computer- guided systems above human operated ones, any day, any time! In Urban areas MT are a menace. Especially for people who do not know how to properly drive one. They roll back when not in gear (like at a stop sign or stop light). A auto coalition has studied AT and MT and proves that since 2006, AT can match or lower fuel consumption versus MT (in a 200 Km test trial). And to put a finishing touch on your cost accent, a lot of people do not know how to properly drive AT. The do not come to a full stop before changing gears which increases the "wear and tear" of the AT function. This is a one view point article.

hey that info was really like eye opener for me, one of friends said AT do not have maintainance problem at all, and that they give a good mileage, thank u for the right stuff, u are doing a great job. regards-pravin, goa.

after reading all of this things and having a 10 years experience in driving i find it that having a manual transmission is better less cost in a lot of ways especially repairing.. the only good thing about automatic transmission is its a user friendly but you know whats the bad part of having this automatic type of car is everybody can drive it. so you will have less objections of not letting somebody drive ur car hehehe... Manual for me is good what do you think? Am i correct? im planning to buy avanza is it a good car?

I agree with the arguments against the old step auto 4-AT but you have missed a fundamental type of gearbox here. the CVT. That's the gearbox that's going to become dominant for economy driven cars since they're more economical than a 6-MT manual. It's already prevalent in all hybrid vehicles and petrol cars on the Japanese market. And for sports, I'd recommend the double-clutch 6-sp or 7-sp like all the supercars. You simply cannot switch as fast with a manual gearbox, that you'd end up accelerating slower than a DC-6 on a 500hp+ car. And about 4x4 SUV's, just check out all the luxury brands over there, they're mostly on 6-AT. Times change...

manual transmissions are alot better for 4x4ing. i used to own a 1986 Subaru gl wagon with a 4 inch lift, and some big mud tires, and i could easily outclimb v6 and v8 powered jeeps and trucks that had automatic transmissions, even though i only had a 60 HP 1.8 liter. having a manual tranny gives your engine more torque, because it has more speeds to choose from, and therefore can distribute power more evenly among the gears. my current car, a Subaru xt6, is also greatly aided by having a manual transmission. i get 5 mpg better then the EPA ratings for automatics, and my 0-60 time is over 1 second faster. furthermore, dealing with stop and go traffic really doesn't bother me. if your really so lazy that you cant move the gearshift a few times when you come to a stop, ride the bus. and for people who say that that learning to drive stick is too "hard", be realistic. once you overcome your fear of stalling the car, the driving becomes easy. start by just practicing shifting between 1'st and second, preferably in an empty parking lot (that way you don't block traffic if you stall). i learned this way, and after a few hours practice, i was comfortably driving on the freeway.

I\'m nearing 50 , my Dad taught me to drive a manual transmission my husband and I always owned one until our most recent cars 8 & 13 years old. Our children are now 14(male)and 16 (female) and I\'m needing a new car. I\'ve test driven several but LOVED the feel of Subaru Outback manual transmission. Now my problem is should I actually go for it. I think it would be great for my kids to learn to drive I\'m just overly concerned with safety.

I like to 4x4, and stoping on a steep incline and starting again is easyer with auto trany. But I do beleve you can get lower gears for pulling with a manual trany. Mater of prefrance

Hello, I am a reporter in South Florida and I was wondering if I can quote some of your information in one of my stories? My email address is mariarreaza@aol.com Thank you, Maria Arreaza, el Sentinel - Sun Sentinel

Anyone that thinks auto is better, is just jealous because secretly they can't drive manual. Manual outperforms auto on every level, apart from convenience.

kaelm87@gmail.com I am considering a subaru-vanagon conversion. I was wondering if there is more technical information on what steps need to be taken and requirements for the conversion. Also I was wondering if the engine you put in the the vanagon is compatible with either manual or automatic transmission. For example if you take an engine out of an automatic subaru can you put it into a manual vanagon. Thank you for your time

Every "fact" here is an opinion. No research, and certainly not peer reviewed (Fred's opinion from the trailer on the corner doesn't count). I actually did some research and if any of you would do the same you will find that todays autos in fact outperform sticks in every aspect. 15 years ago these BS opinions on here would be true; why doesn't the milatary use muzzle loaders? Because technology has made them antiquated, but if you like the feel of loading the powder than enjoy.

Only around ten percent of all new cars sold in the US have manual transmissions. The numbers are slightly better for sports cars, but automatics still dominate. So many people would rather let a computer drive their car than take control themselves. I will never be one of them.

I'm curious about the safety aspects of manual vs. automatic. I got my driver's education in Northern Europe and a quick "rescue" for when the car started to slide in snow was to press down the clutch so that the wheels could roll freely and get traction again. If you were experienced you could overpower steering with a little extra gas. I know ABS brakes and electronic traction control may eliminate this need, but how does a automatic vehicle manage when it becomes extra slippery? If the driver is experience will he/she be on the mercy of the automatic gearbox or not?

Even though the above vote is clearly for MT nevertheless what percentage of new car buyers will opt for an automatic transmission. Hence will it be easier to sell a car sometime in the future if it has an automatic transmission?

not to mention that in a manual controlled vehicle you can accelerate at a much faster pace than an automatic because in a manual you can run your rps as high as you want.

hi i hope you can help me here at the moment iam driving a little renault clio manual 5 speed gear box but with NO clutch pedal not sure what this is called tho? i was woundering if i bought a manual car or campervan could it be convert with 5 speed gear box with no clutch pedal hope you understand what i mean my e-mail address is davemcauley2009@yahoo.com

100% MT... i wouldn\'t buy a AT car, even though are easier to handle they aren\'t as pleasurable as MT thats for sure!

Autos go through more brake pads as the engine braking performed is not equal to that of manual and therefore user intervention is required. Manuals will have to get the clutch replaced at some point. This involves gearbox removal and on small cars this can be expensive. On the upside, engine braking slows the car down. Even more so than an auto

When people drive autos, they hold the brake, this can be blinding for the driver behind. When I drove my bosses auto, I just used the handbrake (e-brake, whatever)

Yes ATs are more fuel efficient these days, but beyond that, I don\'t really see any other benefit. The $1k off the sticker price for the MT is going to be more than you would save in gas anyway. It seems the biggest argument against MTs is driving in traffic. Am I alone here when I say that I would prefer a MT in traffic? That\'s the time when you need the most control and response. My biggest pet peeve against ATs are the lag time between when you hit the gas and the car moves the way you want it to. It seems there is a good half second where the car has to decide what gear to get into, and then do an awful job shifting to said gear, followed by down shifting way too soon because it has too few gears. Friends/family tell me that eventually I\'ll see \"the light\" and switch to AT, but I find that hard to believe when I wouldn\'t even consider taking an AT for a test drive.

Manuals all the way. I drive stick and always have, and I would never want to drive an auto. You just can\'t match the control of a manual, even with the super fast shifting \"paddle shift\" gearboxes. Many of those semi-autos have come close to, or even beaten, the traditional fuel economy and performance benefits of driving stick, but so what if they can go to 60 mph one tenth of a second faster than the manual. So what if they have amazing launch control that makes the driver seem like a dragstrip superstar. I would much rather drive and control my car than ride in it. After all, nothing compares to the satisfaction of a perfectly executed heel-toe downshift on your favorite back road.

I live in the Third World where 90% of cars are manual. I\'ve just had to get rid of my old auto and switch perforce to manual. I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would voluntarily drag a manual around if they could afford an auto.

You state: With ATs, at stop lights you have to keep your foot on the brake pedal otherwise the start keeps rolling forward. Just how uncomfortable is that? Come on now. A decent AT you can put into Neutral just as easy as a stick... you just don't because this is not a valid argument that holding the brake is inconvenient. Also, a good car starts to roll in neutral if the road is not leveled. So you have to step on the brake anyway. Not to mention when the road is not leveled, a good auto holds the car stand still uphill. Also, starting such a car uphill is way easier and much faster than a manual. Just compare how vehicles start at a green light in North America: wooompph! In Europe you even have to have an amber before green to get ready to start! (I know how to drive manual, I am European)

Is it easy to convert from a automatic transmission to a manual transmission by yourself?

For me manual gear is always advantage except for convenience.On the terrain you can choose gears to reduce engine revolution to avoid overheating.During decent you can use low gears to slow down the vehicle.And on rapid acceleration M/T engage mechanically which result in quick accel A/T engages by oil so take time to propell.-Herman of UAE

If you have only driven an AT a couple of times then you have no idea what its actually like. One must also "learn" to drive an automatic. The claim that an AT will "hunt" for the right gear is completely wrong. The AT behavior is actually quite predictable and with a little practice you can keep it in the gear you want by the way you interact with the accelerator. The AT responds not only to the position of the gas pedal, but also to how quickly you are moving it. For example to downshift quickly, push down on the gas pedal quickly--then you can back off a bit if you don't need all that power right away. I have never, never been surprised by the AT making a shift and usually I can predict when it will occur a few seconds in advance by listening to the engine sound and watching road conditions. Traffic isn't the only problem for the MT. There is also hills. ATs don't roll backwards on hills. ATs are much easier to parallel park on any sort of incline. The claim that fuel economy is worse with cruise control is completely false (by an earlier poster). Fuel economy of an AT improves about 10% with cruise-control (I have one and I've measured it). Keeping the same speed is more efficient than keeping the same RPM (which is what most drivers do without cruise control). The principle is the conservation of momentum, basic physics. Unlike a manual, the AT on cruise control can go up hills because it can shift as needed. Some people on here seem to think that first and second gear are not available on an AT. Also incorrect, they are labeled "L1" and "L2" on the shifter. This mode keeps the car in that gear only. Finally, engine braking is not universally accepted as a good idea. Engine braking puts stress on the engine. New brake pads are cheap, but new engines are not. However, engine braking is a good idea for long descents where brake pad heat might be an issue, in which case you can do this on an AT by selecting overdrive-disable, L2 or L1.

I'll tell you my story. When i was 17 I visited family in Greece and everyone was driving stick. My cousin taught me the basics on his car and i promised myself that when i get back to NYC my first car would be stick so that when I visit Greece again I could rent a car and drive a manual. I get back I buy a 1988 mazda MX-6 Turbo. For the first month i was cursing myself for getting it. I hated it to no end. After awhile I got used to it and I learned to love it. You have so much control over ur car. Nothing feels better than zippin around a turn in low gear as the engine inertia keeps your drive wheels in constant motion. In auto the road controls your wheels in stick your engine controls your drive wheels. That makes a huge difference in control.. Especially in bad weather conditions. If you're stuck in snow for example, you can ease off the clutch really slow applying just enough pressure to prevent the wheels from slipping and then use the clutch to remove power when necessary. If your battery dies you can push start the car. Mountainous terrain, stick shift is essential for power in the upgrade and engine breaking in the downgrades. Automatic scares me, it feels like the car is just floating when you let go of the gas. Traffic? I dont even feel it. I just leave plenty of room in front of me and let the car roll in first gear at 2mph just like the truckers do. I owned one automatic and i destroyed the tranny because i was constantly manually shifting the car. I just couldnt help myself. Launching off a start with stick is the best, rev to 6k pop the clutch. The power is there when you want, just downshift to the gear that would put the revs in the power range you want and there you go. I too hate to hold my foot on the brake at a light or in traffic, to me thats more annoying than anything. I also believe learning stick makes you a better driver all around and a safer driver because you acutally learn how to drive a car. The list goes on and on and honestly this post would be 10 pages long if i listed all the benefits of stick. As far as automatic is concerned, I'd only buy one if I was getting a range rover, cadi or something like that. But a sports car,.. hell no!!! Guys drivin a 350Z with tiptronic is soo gay man.. come on. I have a bit of a pet with with this whole issue because i recently was in the market for a new car and i had to pass up on so many cars because they are no longer offered in manual. I finally ended up with a G37S and even that was so hard to find with a manual. If your a real man and you are buying car that is not a luxury sedan do yourself a favor and buy a stick... please!! At this rate there wont be any sticks left to buy at all!!! PS girls think its hot when a guy drives stick.. peace.

I'm 23 and just learned to drive stick. MAN! I will never drive an automatic again, not for cost or fuel efficiency, but just for the plain fun and experience that comes with it. Long car rides are no longer dreaded, I find myself driving around for no reason other than to perfect my shifting and clutch release. Driving manual IS driving as opposed to moving around fast. And you can do many things while driving stick, it just takes coordination which comes naturally after a week or two.

I would like a statistic of how many folks drive manual vs. automatic in the US, Canada and Japan. I know in most European countries it is majority standard, but here in Canada I couldn\'t say, although I drive stick as do most of my mates, and most of anybody I encounter has had extensive experience, or drives regularly with a stick.

Your point on not being able to cruise on a manual is false there are many manuals today and many years back that have cruise control i have a 97 bmw and it has cruise control.

As i've noticed before people have already corrected the mistake (Manuals can have cruise control) My first car was a 5-speed saab turbo and now i'm driving an automatic firebird i hate driving the automatic. There is no control. I love acceleration and you just can't control an automatic the way you control a manual.

to the comment before me, it depends on the car, for my truck, a 1997 ford ranger 5 speed the clutch costs U.S. $125, to have it put in would run up the cost but if you have the resources and the time to read, you can do it yourself with a little help. =]

please somebody answer me... i am deciding right now to buy standard or automatic. the only thing that worries me is how much money will i have to spend to replace a worn out clutch? yes, manual is $1000 less, but isn\'t a new clutch that much money? what should I do? I am actually buying a used honda prelude standard transmission

I am a manual fan, the idea of driving a slushbox disgust me. My current transport, a 2003 dodge ram w/ 4x4, is only bearable because it is large enough for my family and it has a bed attached for hauling things. Not to mention the 4x4, which is very nice with the heavy snows were getting. But, for the money, I would take a manual. I loved my 86\' BMW 3 series, and my 92 Saturn SL2, both of them manuals. Both had excellent performance for their age, and both bested 30mpg on the highway, and the BMW did that with a performance chiped 2.7L 6cyl. Oh, and both cars had slush box options, which killed any idea of performance, or good gas mileage. Learning to drive a manual just isn\'t that hard. I\'ve personally taught 4 people how to do so, and once they learned, they preferred a manual tranny also. So, learn how to drive a manual, and then only buy manual. The auto manufactures will start providing them in more models if the sales of new cars with automatics falls through the floor.

My 2008 Dodge 1500 has cruise control, gets average 20 mpg, power to spare pulling trailers(as much as 10,000 lbs is what I\'ve pulled on bumper)and I love my 6 speed manual. Traded in a 2003 Dodge just like the 08\' except it had an automatic. Both have 4.7 V8. Standard is awesome by comparison!

Manuals can have cruise control, my 5speed manual Toyota Tacoma has cruise control

I live in the USA and I drove manual trans cars for over 12 years. After I bought my new automatic car I will never go back to manual trans again. Driving manuals in heavy traffic is a killer. Modern automatics are very reliable, efficient, fast, and more popular. It is not uncommon for auto trans to last a 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. The only maintenance is to change trans oil every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. I enjoy eating and drinking while driving instead of playing with a stick like a mad monkey. I think the old rigid mentality should change and adapt to the modern new technology that made manual absolete. I see no advantages of using manuals at all.

I live in Brasilia, Brazil and here 98% of the cars are standard. Most people don\'t even know that automatics exist, and when asked about their driving preferences you can notice great prejudice towards automatic transmissions. I\'ve had a standard for two years and recently bought an automatic. I certainly will never have a standard again despite more fuel consumption, less efficieny, and whatever other quirks people say that automatics have. It\'s a lot more comfortable and I believe it\'s worth.

I have a manual transmission car and it has cruise control (BMW 330i). The cruise control disables if I disengage the clutch, but at highway speeds my car has more than enough torque to stay in 6th without problems.

The article is completely biased!! Gone are the days when automatic cars were sluggish and less fuel efficient!! The author seems to live in the past!! Modern day automatics are equally efficient or even better than manuals! Whats the sense of using a manual stick shifter when everything else in your modern day car is automatic ha? seems pretty lame to me!! Go ahead and buy your manuals if you find pleasure in pain and like to change gears 1 million times in the traffic.good for you!! LOL

The author is misinformed about cruise control not being available with manual transmissions. I have a manual and cruise control in my car. The author is correct about the long distances that are driven in the US. I am from the West. It takes some long hours at 85 mph to get anywhere.

I agree with you: a 16 year old is not old enough to drive a car in public roads. Just think of all the stupid things people do (we've all done them) when they are in their teens and to give a license to these young people is pure insanity. I also agree with your comment about power cars. It is very, very different to drive daddy's '98 Chevy than driving a '08 Ford F-650 huge pickup truck, yet they require the same license. Personally, I wouldn't give a license to anyone under 20. (Admin)

This is an all American/Canadian debate, In Europe, automatics are very scarce, and often the only reason one would pick an automatic is if your disabled. There should definately be the divide in licenses to drive them. If you can only drive an automatic, you cant drive. Simple!. Turning the wheel and pressing a pedal is not driving. Manuals are superior to automatics 9/10 times. The only automatics worth any salt are the ones that come in 100k Ferrari's etc. Manual for the win everytime. I also think America and Canada need to rethink the driving age and test. 16 to drive a car is a joke, let alone the powerful weapons they get let loose in. The driving test is ridiculously simple too. Minimum age should be 18, and insurance for high powered cars at low ages should be impossible, 23+ I think for a powerful car.

Is there a way to start an automatic transmission car that won\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t completely turn over because it needs a tune-up? Battery is good. Engine cranks good. Timing is off, however...

Acutally some automatics have a second gear start option, such as Honda, for the snow reason!

If you are planning on buying a used 3000GT with a manual transmission, then you\\\'d better be ready to lose the use of 5th gear at around 95k or soon after. Other than that; the car is a beast and a great decision!

I love driving cars with manual transmissions. I more or less taught myself to do that so, when time came to go to a driving school in order to get my permit thru the right channels, I greatly resisted. After all, I already knew all there was to know, right? Well, not exactly. The 5 days I spent at that school taught me one of the best skills I\'ve ever learnt- I learnt how to keep the car running WITHOUT having to constantly depress the clutch. That\'s right, I have found a way to simply vary the car\'s acceleration and that will keep the car going- even creeping. Nowadays I only depress the clutch to change gears or just before the car comes to a complete stop. With this skill, I keep wondering why people say driving a stick is hard! The trick is to cleverly vary the acceleration and be sure to choose the right gear for your situation- that takes practice.

Thanks for posting comments about manuals having cruise control - maybe you could send a list of cars that do so I can post it in the main articles so other people would know about their options: Admin

Ever been stuck in the snow or mud wheels spinning ! Well, one positive advantage of a MT is getting out of a sticky situation. Chances are in 1st gear the wheels will keep spinning,however by changing to 2nd gear you will more than likely get out.The reason being,2nd gear puts less horsepower onto to driving wheels ------ Just not possible with an Automatic !

In the UK most people are taught in a manual so it would not enter there head to drive an automatic. Mostly the only people who drive automatic cars are disabled. As for manual cars being harder to drive changing gear becomes second nature after a while.

Speaking of fuel economy - AT uses a lot more fuel when in cruise control mode trying to keep within the pre-set speed range or at a given speed no matter what. Some mass produced MTs only use about 5.5-6 Liters per 100km while the same AT will use 7-8 Liters.

For your convenience here's how to convert liters/100kms (L/100) to miles per gallon (MPG) Liters per 100 to MPG

I want to buy an Audi A6 FSI with tiptronic - anybody has some advice for / against this?

I am from Europe. Lived there for over 30 years and travelled all over the world. It's not true how you generalize "North Americans" versus "Euroepeans". The market is more diverse than you make it look like. And what about the rest of the world? Maybe somebody can reveal some info about transmissions who lives elsewhere?

Been a racer since i was 16 and i never drove an automatc. Not that i didn't have a chance just because i do believe that manuals are simply superior any every way. It's not true that it requires extra attention to drive them. Maybe for the first little while but it becomes such a strong instinct that you will forget about shifting gears and it will come just as natuarally as breathing. I talk on the phone with the pit boss all the time during the race and shift many many many many times in the meantime and i have no problems. So the police is not right about bannning cellphone usage while driving. Maybe you shouln't issue liceces to people who can't parallel park? Duh?

Actually, you can get cruise control with a manual. It's just not *common*. The early Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Neons were available with cruise control and a manual 5-speed gearbox. Like anything with a manual, you just had to pay a bit more attention to it. And of course you (the driver) were responsible for putting the car in the right gear for the speed you wanted to cruise at.

Thanks Leonardo for your comment, I didn't know that automatics are so much more expensive in Europe. That must be another reason why folks drive manuals; its not just personal preference but also a lot to do with the price tag.

You are wrong for point 1 and 3. You can use cruise control with manual. Many cars in Europe can be bought with manual and cruise control. Automatics are much more expensive than 1000$, at least in Europe. It's more like a 4000$. I've been driving both type and I definitely prefer manual. Automatic is very cool in the beginning, and it's very suitable for slowly cruising around. It also gives the luxury feeling. But if you want to drive more intense, you are quickly disappointed. There is always a lag in responce, TCU can't see what you can so it often changes gears in the wrong time. It can be dangerous in the dense traffic because you never know if the TCU will change the gear when you are doing a pop in. Automatic always do what you want after you want it, and with manual you can get it in advance. Keeping my foot on the brake pedal on stop is a real pain to me, so I offten use a hand break instead. For me the choise is obvious: why to give more money to have slower car which consume more fuel? Besides, automatic is never realy automatic because you always have to control your gears yourself in the end. Thats why you have kick down, those 3-2-1 position or +/-. I spend so much effort fighting with automatic that I change the gears myself afterall.

Great article, always wondered why the Americans prefer their automatics. I drove an automatic for the first time last month when I visited the USA after 25 years of manual driving. Did i like it? Well, it was more of a novelty to me, something different. I didn't like the foot on the brake pedal at stop signs and traffic lights, and also the fact that I had less control over the car as compared to a manual. Bobby S.

I live in the middle east and stick is the king here. Yes people here still drive big american junk suvs but the rest of the common man here loves the stick. Heck even if you sell your car, it should be a stick or you will not get many buyers. People ask you if your car is manual or not before bargaining the price. People here are taught driving on manual trans and most of the auto mechanics know manual trans servicing while auto trans mechanics are rare and quite expensive. I myself learned driving manuals and have driven autos too. Lemme tell you autos suck big time. Theyre slow, they search for the gear wasting valuable time, make strange noises when shifting automatically and are booooring to drive. Only good point is using them in heavy traffic. And thats all. Manual is king in many asian countries too. No one has the financial power to maintain and service an auto trans, especially in developing countries.

I actually am writing a paper about just how much better manuals are than automatics. I applaud you for this site, and thank you as well -- it was very helpful. I learned on a manual, and have only driven an automatic once. And I hated it. I even try to convert all of my automatic-driving friends to manual. Long live the stick shift!

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