Poll: do you drive automatic or manual?

[Captain Pancake]

In Britain almost all the cars are manuals. I learned on one, it's how I drive. Can't imagine it being any other way, I get the impression the control with a manual is better.

Also, I'm amused by all the people calling automatic drivers 'lazy' in a thread about driving.

 

[flaming_squirrel]

Manual due to being British and thus capable of choosing gears for myself even when the car hates me for it.

Manual; unless you are crippled, I see no reason why anyone should have an automatic besides sheer laziness.

To be fair auto's are much less stressful when driving in places such as inner-city where you'll spend 9/10's of your time in heavy traffic at 5mph. In which case the lazy bastards should be using public transport but that's beside the point...

 

[The Lugz]

I'm an engineer, i find any device that needs constant attention such as gear changing to be a lazy design

the reason you change gear is due to the combustion engine having a limited power band
that's fine, but forcing the driver to fix the problem just feels like a workaround to me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variomatic

that will explain the issue, it's simply a matter of engineering it is possible to have an infinitely adjustable gear system that is in the best ratio all the time

I will use automatics when those systems become commonplace in every car because they are better than you, no-matter how hard you try

 

[El Poncho]

I don't know anyone who drives an automatic here in Scotland.

 

[Pelgrims]

Manual, in Belgium about 99% of the cars are manual and if you get your drivers license with an auto you're not even allowed to drive a manual.

 

[CrustyOatmeal]

i drive automatic but i do know how to drive manual. i just enjoy relaxing while driving and not having to constantly shift

 

[Trucken]

Unfortunatley I don't have a car of my own yet, but I can drive both without any problems. I prefer auto though, then I don't have to think while I'm driving.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Manual; unless you are crippled, I see no reason why anyone should have an automatic besides sheer laziness.

And there is your answer, people have gotten so lazy sliced bread is considered an invention.

OT: Drive all sorts of manuals, the few times I did try an automatic it almost drove me crazy, it's just a constant poke in the eye of wrong shifting.

 

[icyneesan]

Automatic. Screw paying attention while driving!

 

[KjellKanon]

Both.
You can have multiple cars, you know!
I enjoy the manual more though.

 

[Zhadramekel]

I'm still learning but I'm a manual driver.

 

[BRex21]

I own a couple cars ones a 5 speed manual the others a 6 speed manual. People laugh, but I can't drive an automatic vehicle. I panic when I can't find the clutch and im always fumbling for the shifter when I drive my company vehicle.
But my 5 speed Civic will outpreform and get better mileage than the automatic equivalent and in my book thats a win.

 

[Plinglebob]

I've never driven an Automatic and to be honest I'n not in a rush too. I enjoy the connection you get wih a car as you learn when best to shift gears and for me an automatic would take a lot of fun out of driving.

 

[CorinthianRed]

If it isn't manual, I don't drive it.

 

[Redingold]

I'm still learning to drive, and I'm learning in a manual. I'm surprised to see automatic cars are as common as that. I don't know anybody who owns a car with an automatic gearbox. Maybe it's a country thing, and they're less common in Britain.

 

[Irriduccibilli]

No way i'll ever drive an automatic, that's just boring.
(I drive a manual)

 

[loc978]

I prefer a manual. My two cars are four speed and five speed manuals... but my van is a three speed automatic.

I'm very much against the proliferation of automatic gearboxes we've had in the US. It's one of the many reasons that we breed some of the worst drivers in the world here. If they were outlawed to all who were physically capable of pressing in a clutch and working a shifter, I would gladly install a farm truck style four-on-the-floor in my van... and I wouldn't even whine to the government about the expense.

 

[Silvianoshei]

Both, because Me and my brother live really close to each other, we're both in the same neighborhood in Chicago. He owns a manual and we share that. If we ever need to go visit our family out in the suburbs, then we take his wife's automatic since driving manual in schizophrenic Chicago traffic is about as fun as it sounds. Which is not.

 

[PxDn Ninja]

I have driven sticks for a while (Sports Cars) , but recently I had to get a new vehicle ( SUV ) which is an Automatic. My next vehicle once I get this one paid down will be a stick as well. Probably a G57 or GT-R, depending on how much I am willing to go under for.

 

[Schmutz]

Manual for life, i'd prolly kill my face with auto.