Stick Shifts

[Laura]

It used to be that automobiles equipped with a standard transmission were cheaper than their counterparts with an automatic. Now it is almost as if you cannot find them anywhere, and if you do, they are often more expensive! :mellow: Why have we, as a society (or at least in the U.S. -- I really cannot speak for the rest of the world here), moved away from standard transmissions? Is it that it is cheaper to design a vehicle with an automatic? Or just because automatics are 'easier' to drive?

 

What do you prefer? I am more partial towards a stick shift, as it allows the driver to get more power when it is needed. I just thought that I would ask everyone else their opinions. |^_^|

[Pepsiguy]

eh.

alot of us americans are getting lazier

they just dont want to be faced with challenge that requires thinking hard

i mean we have mcdonalds and all that fast food places

alot of people would rather drive then walk or ride a bike to a place thats only a couple miles away

and they dont care about he enviroment most of he time

and that will probably be our downfall

 

2 other thing

i like having more power in my car

 

and personally i think our golden years were wen america was made till the 90s

Edited June 5, 2010 by ihavedinner247

[Star.]

I live in England and I've been taught to drive stick shift so I prefer that. In fact, it's kinda rare (well, for me) to see a car with automatic.

[Danqazmlp]

In the UK the majority of people drive manual and automatic's are much rarer. I think it may be to do with the side of the car we drive on. I find it much easier to control the car with my right arm while changing gear with the left as I'm right handed. I would assume this is true for many people. However, i feel much less confident controlling the car with just my left hand, which I would have to do if the car were American.

[Lenticular_J]

eh.

alot of us americans are getting lazier

they just dont want to be faced with challenge that requires thinking hard

i mean we have mcdonalds and all that fast food places

alot of people would rather drive then walk or ride a bike to a place thats only a couple miles away

and they dont care about he enviroment most of he time

and that will probably be our downfall

 

2 other thing

i like having more power in my car

 

and personally i think our golden years were wen america was made till the 90s

What?

 

Mine's a 5-speed. I like it. Not really a huge deal or anything, although I laugh at my friends that can't drive one. Every man (women too of course) needs to know how to drive standard.

[Skull]

I haven't really learned to drive a standard yet, but it's on my list of things to do. I'll probably get an automatic though.

[Faux]

auto. i live in a fairly busy city

 

no point in pretending to be a ricer... ahem racer

[Pkmastachaos]

Neither of my parents owned a manual car when I was learning, so I just drive an automatic. City life isn't the greatest place for an manual car anyway.

 

Dad knows how to drive a stick shift though so I could learn it off of him if needbe, since it doesn't seem too hard to learn.

[Riku3220]

Auto. Since they both do the exact same thing and auto lets me have both hands on the wheel.

[fastortoise]

I get way too bored driving an automatic and start doing stupid things, so in my eyes manual is much better. They're cheaper here in Canada too, about 1,000$ less than automatics for any car.

[OldJoe]

Manual.

Even if we drive on the right side and i'm left handed.

[Laura]

Neither of my parents owned a manual car when I was learning, so I just drive an automatic. City life isn't the greatest place for an manual car anyway.

 

Dad knows how to drive a stick shift though so I could learn it off of him if needbe, since it doesn't seem too hard to learn.

Eh, it's not that hard to learn but it does take a little practice; you just stall the engine a few times. I remember pulling out into an intersection and I suppose that I didn't give it enough gas, so it stalled out. I sat there for about five minutes just bawling my eyes out because people were flipping me off and yelling at me. :unsure:

[Dexek]

Three on the tree or bust!

 

Personally, my car is an automatic. On the farm we have auto, manual, 3 on the tree. I'd say my least favourite is automatic, just because it has a gutless nature when you're in need of power. Also, with a manual you can almost never get stuck provided you can still rock the vehicle. Rocking an automatic will damage your transmission pretty fast. However, if you just stick to highways and city driving you're going to be better off with an automatic.

 

EDIT: To answer your question, my opinion would be simplicity. If people think there's problems with texting/cellphones and driving in a society that is dominantly automatic transmissions, just try that with a manual. Hell even throw intoxication in there and it kinda shows me why things have been simplified. Everyone wants to be on the road and travel from place to place, but not everyone has the attention span to do so with an automatic. Hell, with some people they barely come close enough only having to focus on a few things.

[Uldric]

Manual.

 

I do a lot of 4WD'ing so a manual transmission will trump an automatic every time. I can understand not having to ride the clutch while in traffic but in all other cases, I'd still prefer to have a manual.

[mcneilp]

Manual.

The only way i can see myself possibly driving an automatic is if i ever have a job that requires a massive commute in stop-start rush hour traffic, even then i'd probably stick with a manual.

[Sam]

In the UK the majority of people drive manual and automatic's are much rarer. I think it may be to do with the side of the car we drive on. I find it much easier to control the car with my right arm while changing gear with the left as I'm right handed. I would assume this is true for many people. However, i feel much less confident controlling the car with just my left hand, which I would have to do if the car were American.

 

This just sums up everything I would of posted.

 

Cheers, Danq :thumbup:

[Furah]

I was taught how to drive in an auto, but when I was given the opportunity to try driving a manual I decided to give it ago. Now I love driving manual and won't be buying an auto car.

[das]

automatic. Sticks are too much hassle.

[Giordano]

I would pick an automatic. I want to get to my destination not play some arcade game.

[Stilev]

automatics are more efficient then manual's the majority of the time by shifting at the optimal time and quicker then humans can. in the past they were more expensive because they weren't as reliable and until very recently you would do more damage to the transition with an automatic then a manual leading to more times in the shop therefor humans at the time were better then the automatics. Advancements in automatics, and the fact that they are easier then manual's have lead to an increase in America, and over in the future i expect a rise in most other countries. I personally prefer manuals because i feel more in one with my car but that's just me

[champion]

I'd want to go with an automatic, although I haven't even driven either one yet. Just seems like less of a hassle. My dad drives a stick though, so if I get his car (he goes through cars fast), I'd probably learn manual.

[Jeffwilson99]

Stick shifts...who calls them that?

 

Anyway, as someone said, automatics are becoming far more "intelligent" and effecient, so I can see them slowly taking over. I do prefer driving manual, except for when I'm driving in very busy traffic, cos constant changing can be a pain.

[gago]

From my experiences, manual shifting is much more efficient and also more fun. I'd always choose manual over auto.

 

Automatic might be better in big cities where you have to stop a lot. 1-2-3-redlight-brake-1-wait-go-2-3-brake-2-turn-3... :) Local buses in a town near me have also had automatic for a few years now.

[Verminox]

I drive manual, and prefer it as you have more direct control over the car.

[Tim]

I prefer the manual, but I drive automatic. (for now), mostly cause Im left handed, but Auto is handy for traffic.