Manual or Automatic?

I can drive both a stick and an automatic. I think that my preference depends on what i am driving and what conditions I am driving under. I like driving performance vehicles with manual transmissions. I like the feeling of really driving the car. But if I'm headed to the grocery store in the SUV or stuck in traffic, an automatic is the only way to go. My kids will both learn how to drive a stick, even if they never want to drive a manual by choice. You never know when that skill will come in handy.

 

I could not agree more. That was the logic my father used when he taught me to drive. At the time we had two cars. One was a manual tranny and the other automatic. before I could go for my license I had to learn both. When it came time to take the test he made me use the manual transmission car. To this day I still thank him for that because over the years the knowledge has really come in handy when I needed it.

 

I agree wholeheartedly, al. This is just a skill you simply can't do without. There's no excuse for not learning how. And to be honest, I think that when they figure it out, they'll have as much fun as I did driving one. It just makes you feel as though you are really driving...so much fun.

 

We did this way back on our MB 300SD trying to save money on mechanics (where I live Benz mechanics are worth a fortune).

After a couple of weeks the transmission broke down, cost us about $2,000, far more expensive than having it checked by a mechanic.

not really sure if it is an isolated case, but I put the blame on the drag..

 

Was your MB300 SD an automatic transmission vehicle? Another thing to consider is you are correct in thinking the act of starting an automatic trans. vehicle by pushing it can damage the vehicle's transmission. It is not some- thing you want to do if you can prevent it. What happens to the tranny is the seals are blown out and all sorts of thing happen then like the car won't move because the seals are blown for example.

 

Yes it was automatic. Because the way I see it, the one responsible in shifting gears is the hydraulic system, which relies on revolution speed to apply the gears. To protect this system, there is a small little shaft within the stick that won't let you shift from neutral to drive without stepping on the brakes. I guess something went wrong when we tried to force it, dislodging the first gear without proper application of the hydraulics. or something to that effect..

 

I have no idea how to drive manual. My husband has shown me, but I've never actually done it. I learned on automatic.

 

I've always driven manual. I just couldn't picture myself ever driving an automatic. I need to have as much control as possible and I think it takes some of the pleasure out of driving if you are not in control of transmission. It helps with fuel consumption also. But each to their own

 

Years ago when I learnt to drive I did so with a manual, now I drive an automatic. I think I manage the automatic much easier than when I drove the manual plus I had such a hard time catching on to the manual. I was told that if I should go back to the manual I wouldn't have that much trouble as I did before,hopefully that is correct.

 

The car that I own right now is an automatic, but I can drive both automatic and manual. This car was a gift to me, so I didn't have a choice. You can't beat a free car, though! My next car will have a manual transmission.

 

Manual... now and forever. I will never like automatic, no offense, but when I think of automatic cars I think of lazy people. Most people here fear manual cars, lol, and yeah, this country is known for having lazy drivers and readers...

 

Manual for me and always will be. I love having full control if everything while I drive and cant stand automatic.

 

manual all the way!! i just love feeling in control of my car not just sitting there like i'm in a restaurant or something haha. automatic is easier because you do less work but that's just lazy in my opinion. my sister has an automatic sedan and cant drive a manual.

 

I totally agree with that and besides when you are in traffic with a manual vehicle it is a lot of work shifting gears and having to balance as well.

 

I am yet to go for my driving refresher course and obviously renew my license but that aside, when i started out my driving course, i used manual and i didn't like it at all, there is a lot of co-ordination and math involved, i wish this time i get to train on auto

 

Manual all the way! Of course I have to get used to every car's manual transmission, how to work the clutch and so on, but that usually takes just a couple of minutes. Driving automatic just feels uncomfortable, like a video game. And what do I do with my left leg LOL?

 

I prefer automatic, I am too old to be shifting gears lol. But back in the day I use to have two manual shift Mustangs. They were great for doing burnouts. When I was 19 I went through 22 sets of back tires in one summer lol.

Greg

 

I drive automatic because that is the only thing I know how to drive. I've never learned how to drive a manual. However, I am open to learning.

 

I am not too crazy about the stick shift. I can drive one but barely. I rather just have the automatic who wants to sit there fooling around with gears all day.