Driving manual or automatic

[Thomas More]

I must say, I hate tiptronic type shifters. Nowadays most automatics have the ability to shift gears with the hand controller, as a pathetic, fake, imitation of manual shifting. Sad!

Real manual transmissions with a driver operated clutch are the only acceptable type for manual gear shifting.

 

[ilostabet]

When I was a kid learning stick, going into San Francisco to see how you did on the hills was a cross between a quest and a rite of passage. You had to take that foot off the brake fast, and then be really gentle with the clutch and the gas. Parking brakes were for sissies. Stop signs at the top of the hills were the ultimate test.

This is why the Portuguese are the best drivers. Our whole country is like this. :icon_biggrin:

And by that I mean, Portuguese males of course.

 

[Aurini]

When it comes to winter driving, I'd rather a manual with bald summer tires than an automatic with AWD. People are morons for driving autos.

 

[VNvet]

When I was a kid learning stick, going into San Francisco to see how you did on the hills was a cross between a quest and a rite of passage. You had to take that foot off the brake fast, and then be really gentle with the clutch and the gas. Parking brakes were for sissies. Stop signs at the top of the hills were the ultimate test.

I always wondered how people could drive manuals in SF. Parallel parking must suck.

 

[RexImperator]

I drove one there for a time. If worried about your parking brake, just angle your wheels into the curb when you park. Put the car into first after the engine is off.

 

[Leonard D Neubache]

The handbrake wire snapped on my runabout a few months ago, predictably on a Friday leading into a long weekend full of errands. You never realise how much you miss a thing until it's gone.

Anyone else ever get bored and practice shifting without the clutch? Easy going up. A little more tricky going down. Especially on a downward slope. :whip:

 

[Teedub]

I must say, I hate tiptronic type shifters. Nowadays most automatics have the ability to shift gears with the hand controller, as a pathetic, fake, imitation of manual shifting. Sad!

Real manual transmissions with a driver operated clutch are the only acceptable type for manual gear shifting.

It's to emulate formula 1 cars (though they have a clutch on the steering wheel I think) so that boomers like my Dad can paddle shift their midlife crises away.

 

[JohnQThomas]

Lots of talk here about manual being better because it’s more of a “challenge”. Hey, if you want a challenge why not just go back to a horse and buggy?

 

[VNvet]

Lots of talk here about manual being better because it’s more of a “challenge”. Hey, if you want a challenge why not just go back to a horse and buggy?

Horse and buggies are cool. I doubt they're particularly challenging to drive with a well-trained horse though. Probably easier than a manual in SF if we're being honest.

You can even do donuts in them:

 

[The Stronger Sex]

So that's how the Amish go wild...

 

[Leonard D Neubache]

Lots of talk here about manual being better because it’s more of a “challenge”. Hey, if you want a challenge why not just go back to a horse and buggy?

Horse and buggies are cool. I doubt they're particularly challenging to drive with a well-trained horse though. Probably easier than a manual in SF if we're being honest.

You can even do donuts in them:

[img=400x400]https://i.imgur.com/NFFQ1Z2.png[/img]

 

[The Resilient]

Most Americans don't know how to drive a manual. And those that do - boomers, mostly - don't drive them. I worked as a parking valet for years, and 99% of the cars were automatics.

Also, most of the younger valets didn't know how to drive a manual, even though it was the only job requirement, so don't valet your car if you have one.

I just bought a SHO earlier this year, thankfully it has a valet mode security feature on it. Only lets people get up to 25 mph

 

[Batman_]

When it comes to winter driving, I'd rather a manual with bald summer tires than an automatic with AWD. People are morons for driving autos.

I literally did that for an entire winter and it was fine. It's so easy to control a manual car.

 

[Oscar Henri]

When I was a kid learning stick, going into San Francisco to see how you did on the hills was a cross between a quest and a rite of passage. You had to take that foot off the brake fast, and then be really gentle with the clutch and the gas. Parking brakes were for sissies. Stop signs at the top of the hills were the ultimate test.

Yeah, I remember walking up for such a street when I visited SF. Luckily SF never gets ice.

When I was 3-4 years old there was a road up for a hill where I grew up which I thought was steep. But it was absolutley nothing like the streets in SF.

 

[Sargon2112]

I'm 43 and grew up with manuals. It is true that they are falling out of style though and most younger folks can't drive one. I still have my old Jeep which is manual. Ain't giving it up.

 

[flanders]

I've driven a lot of diesel manual trucks but never really drove any manual cars. My buddy has a honda with a manual transmission that he's thinking about selling eventually. In what ways are manual cars different from trucks in terms of a driving experience? Are you not supposed to downshift in order to slow down?

 

[VNvet]

I've driven a lot of diesel manual trucks but never really drove any manual cars. My buddy has a honda with a manual transmission that he's thinking about selling eventually. In what ways are manual cars different from trucks in terms of a driving experience? Are you not supposed to downshift in order to slow down?

The revs go much higher in a petrol. They're also underpowered at lower revs than a diesel.

You can downshift to slow down in a petrol, but most people don't since it's not necessary like a truck. It doesn't damage the clutch if you double clutch it.

 

[Lime]

In europe manuals are cheapers as such many people drive manuals, automatics are also very common, and the latter is what I prefer, getting tired of the clutch stuff especially in traffic jams. It's not difficult to drive a manual haha.

 

[Tikimalore]

Manuals are cheaper in europe, thats why people still buy them.

 

[Sargon2112]

Manuals are cheaper to maintain & service too. They last forever if not abused.