Manual Stick Shift is Vanishing in America: Do you prefer Manual or Automatic Transmission?

Manual. They give you more power and control of your vehicle. Also are more fuel efficent and really connect you with driving

I've only owned cars with manual transmissions. Every automatic I have ever driven just seemed to be in the wrong gear for performance (i,e. trying to pass in the interstate).

That's all I've driven for the last 10 years or so. When I bought my new car 3 years ago and told them I wanted a manual, the man tried to talk me out of it...lol...he thought since I was a female I couldn't drive one! Shoot, the car I was trading in was a manual!

I have never driven a stick shift, but I am considering buying one now.

To make sure in everything better than manual is easily movable while parking or waiting on uphill.

I love power shifting my Mustang and fish tailing all over the road. When I slam third I hit the NOS, Its like somebody picked you up and slammed you into the seat. Yeah, the only thing better then a five speed is a six speed!

Or a 'Vette...

(Just kiddin')

Yes, A vette is cool too but I sold mine.

What do you think of those people (when you ask them if they have stick or auto) who try to tell you how THEIRS is BOTH! As in, "OOOOOoooh, it's an auto, but I can hit a button on the shifter and you can move it JUST LIKE A STICK..."

No you can't. I think they're talking about the little "overdrive" button... LOL

Do they REALLY make anything LIKE what these people are talking about... or did they get outwitted by a slick salesman, who sold'em on the false idea that they'd be grindin' gears like Mario Andretti?

They don't have a clue. " What is that other peddle on the floor for?"

you nitwit on many performence( 90's and ) cars they have a transmission called tiptronic while they're shifter has all the regular automatic features up and down (P,R,N,D,L1,L2 for mine) they can then push the stick to the right into whats called "sports mode" and you work the rpm's yourself and your gear is controled by pushing up to switch up a gear and down to downshift, on a friend of mines car he had paddle shifters on the wheel left paddle to downshift and right to upshift, so you can work your car up to redline if you want before you switch gears in these cars they have 2 built in automatic clutches so clutching and switching gears is more efficient then manual shifting (so there is no grinding gears but they could blow they're engine if they didnt switch gears) while still controling the car to whatever rpm and gear you decide this isnt even that new a feature its not even on very expensive cars maybe
you should've listened to these people a little more closely so, yes they can.
-'76 Chevy Monte Carlo

NITWIT? LOL

Hmmm... you do make a good case for the sport mode transmissions... I really should test them out some day here... who knows! I might be a believer...

hehe a favorite insult of mine, sorry though lol, tiptronic are cool and all but my buddy let me drive his little tuner stick shift the other day and i was drifting sideways all over this staples parking lot in 2nd around light post and cement barriers im about to convert to manual myself

I saw one like that on Top Gear :)

Manual gives the driver more control over the car.

I love manual, but have you ever driven a stick shift up to the window at Dairy Queen and ordered two soft-serve cones? (One was for my dog.) Getting parked was quite an adventure.

stick shift for sure. bring them back

I miss my stick-shift car.

Idc really i can use both.

Except in a performance car. The favorite of mine is my 2004 GTO 6speed. It's fun to drive, loud, pretty fast (some performance mods) and gets 28mpg on the highway, and will smoke the tires in 1st, 2nd, and3rd gear with ease.

Driving a sports car with the top down, you bet. Just feel the power.

It's easier to eat my hamburger, play with my radio, do texting while talking on my cellphone!!!! heh,heh.

Kinda hard to do just one of those while driving a clutch car, for me anyway.

I like the idea that I'm controlling my car, not it deciding what to do.

Autotragics are boring.

ALWAYS THE STICK

Like I need another distraction in the car.

Its not a distraction, its controlling your vehicle. If you cant drive a stick, you shouldn't be able to drive period.

Id be curious to see how many accidents involve people driving automatics compared to manuals.

I have always liked to drive a "stick" shift. Everything I ever drove when I was learning to drive had a standard transmission. Driving with an automatic just seems so terribly boring...no fun what so ever !

When drivers learn how to use a manual transmission - and often, even if they don't - they improve vehicle mpg. I find it curious that more incentives for manual transmissions have not been incorporated into "green" legislation.

It's hard to drift with an automatic.

not with a muscle car, but i hear you its just a lot more fun

I use both, but I prefer a manual. I learned how to drive with a manual.

there's nothing like being in full control!

I have to say I prefer manual transmission, but I wish everyone knew how to drive one because I hate it when people ride my bumper when I'm stopped at a red light that happens to be at the top of a hill. People don't realize that it can be tricky to keep the car from rolling back if you are new at it or a little rusty. You really should be able to see the rear tires of the car in front of you at a stop.

I learned on a stick shift and always had a car with a stick until I had to drive the 5 freeway in L.A. I swear I never had my foot off the clutch. During rush hours I never even made it into 3rd gear. Too bad because my last stick shift car was a beautiful 280Z. I had a Hurst shifter installed also. I would go back to a stick if I lived out in the country someplace but while living in Orange County, Ca. - no way will I buy a manual transmission car.

I can't do anything while driving except drive. I can't even talk, so I can't drive a stick shift either.

That's pretty scary.

Just getting into a car suppresses all of my emotions. Cars even have an anti-aphrodisiac effect on me. I get turned off by them.

Automatics are all controlled by electronics. I have a truck that is on it's 2nd automatic transmission due to a failure in electrical system. I also have a manuel truck. It's about due for a clutch but keeps on ticking.