auto vs manual debate

[VH commodore]

whats with everybody my age (21) hating auto's. i show people my vh and they go 'ohh...its auto...' im like yeah its a commodore, only good for going in a straight line and auto's are quicker for that. (unless u got no power) ive owed both auto and manual cars, i can understand how u'd want a sports car or track car to be manual but for everyday driving they are so annoying. me and my mate that owns a mint vl turbo are the only ones out of all my mates that drive auto cars. manuals just seem like old technology to me lol

[johnvtls1]

anyone that says that should drive a stalled auto. much, much quicker then any manual car.

[TVR-190]

i drive auto cause i havent learned manual yet

[Cursed CX8]

i love manuals for the sake that i enjoy driving them and having the control over the car. I get bored in an auto, especially on nice windy roads.
I dislike a badly tuned auto because of the untimed kickbacks and lag

[shiftySLE]

i drive auto coz I'm lazy (that I love how you can modify them)

[Morton]

Love manual. Drive one for a job, drive another on weekends. It's not even an effort once you've been doing it for a few years. It's more fuel efficient, and you can control what gear you're going to be in when coming out of a corner - without the awkward weight-shift you get from a shift-kitted auto. You can even change gears mid-corner without upsetting the balance of the car.

When it comes to control, you just can't beat a clutch paired up with a stick that goes down into a big metal box.

[SweetWagon]

anyone that says that should drive a stalled auto. much, much quicker then any manual car.

Hmmm not so sure about that, any is a bold statement A high hp v8 would certainly benefit from a stalled auto down the strip compared to its manual equivalent, not the case with many other cars.

Technically speaking the fastest shifting transmissions are manual anyway.

[soop]

Auto's are so easy and cruisy, and make light work of big power.

Try driving a manual car on the far side of 500hp on the road, then come back and tell me it's "Fun".
Sure is. For an hour.

[shiftySLE]

Hmmm not so sure about that, any is a bold statement A high hp v8 would certainly benefit from a stalled auto down the strip compared to its manual equivalent, not the case with many other cars.

Technically speaking the fastest shifting transmissions are manual anyway.

how so, look at the serious powered cars, all drag cars run very highly stalled autos,

I see, you are obviously referring to F1 and V8 supercar and similar

[Escape-The-Fate]

i love manuals for the sake that i enjoy driving them and having the control over the car. I get bored in an auto, especially on nice windy roads.
I dislike a badly tuned auto because of the untimed kickbacks and lag

couldnt have said it better myself..i have an auto..because almost all execs are haha..i hate seeing ss's and stuff with autos though..kinda ruins them in my view

[shiftySLE]

one more thing, you really appreciate autos after driving a 15 speed ranger too, just a nice non gear changing drive home. I go through phases, get a manual and I miss auto, get an auto and I miss manual. For my main car that is before someone says why not get both.

[STEALTHY™]

Love manuals. Hate Autos. Its just what i prefer to drive. I'm pretty handy on the gear changes, and even convinced someone my car had a shiftkit i changed so fast


I'll never ever buy an auto, unless that model doesn't come out in a manual, with every intention of having it converted.
Along with that, when ever i see a drag time, i only ever take notice of the people who made their time with a manual. Anything with an auto is for picking up the shopping in my eyes.

[azzfox]

Manual gets my vote. Sorry to say but Im also one of them people who look down on cars that are auto. Its one of the first things I look at on other peoples cars lol pretty much a habit now. I just love the feeling of control with manual and constantly having to think keeps you alert.

People can brag "I have X amount of power blah blah blah", but all you have to do is press one pedal to make it move! Barely impressive.

Driving an auto is one thing, but driving a manual smoothly and effectively is an art.

[shiftySLE]

Driving an auto is one thing, but driving a manual smoothly and effectively is an art.

An art??? You press one pedal and let the other one out, driving manuals only using the clutch to take off and not in between gears is even child's play, I like both but if you look down on auto cars/drivers, you obviously haven't had a proper auto in your cars.

[STEALTHY™]

An art??? You press one pedal and let the other one out, driving manuals only using the clutch to take off and not in between gears is even child's play, I like both but if you look down on auto cars/drivers, you obviously haven't had a proper auto in your cars.

I've never owned a car with a shift kit. Driving a few mates cars with shiftkits was enough to make sure i'd never buy one.

[wamboin23]

manual for me. get bored with my auto, and can't help shifting it through the gears.

when i was looking for a car before i got the VR, i was looking solely at manuals, even turned down mine from my mate once or twice, before i bought it off of him.

i'll def go manual when i get the money to do so.

[shiftySLE]

I've never owned a car with a shift kit. Driving a few mates cars with shiftkits was enough to make sure i'd never buy one.

Fair enough stealthy but if azzfox thinks driving manual is an art, what can i say, I learnt (as I know many others have too) to drive a truck crash box in two days, that's not even an art.

[azzfox]

An art??? You press one pedal and let the other one out, driving manuals only using the clutch to take off and not in between gears is even child's play, I like both but if you look down on auto cars/drivers, you obviously haven't had a proper auto in your cars.

I beg to differ. Clutch control plays a big part. Theres also shift timing and rev matching.

Keyword: smooth

No Ive never had a "proper" auto, and dont have plans to.

[STEALTHY™]

Fair enough stealthy but if azzfox thinks driving manual is an art, what can i say, I learnt (as I know many others have too) to drive a truck crash box in two days, that's not even an art.

It is in a way. Depends on the persons driving style tho. I love driving it. I leave work during my lunch break just so i can drive more, rather than sit and eat with the rest of the people haha.

[johnvtls1]

People can brag "I have X amount of power blah blah blah", but all you have to do is press one pedal to make it move! Barely impressive.

i love how people say that. try taking a high power car down the drag strip, its not as easy as just pressing the pedal, it takes a lot of practice and setting up, this goes for manual also.

[azzfox]

I learnt (as I know many others have too) to drive a truck crash box in two days, that's not even an art.

To me that is, because its not something EVERYONE can do. Not everyone can paint a brilliant picture either. Which is why I call it art.

[johnvtls1]

Hmmm not so sure about that, any is a bold statement A high hp v8 would certainly benefit from a stalled auto down the strip compared to its manual equivalent, not the case with many other cars.

Technically speaking the fastest shifting transmissions are manual anyway.

drag cars are auto.

[Tom_1569]

i love manuals for the sake that i enjoy driving them and having the control over the car. I get bored in an auto, especially on nice windy roads.
I dislike a badly tuned auto because of the untimed kickbacks and lag

Spot on.... I get real bored, and fiddle around with things when driving auto, I also find I pay less attention to actually driving, caus its like point and steer.
I feel in control and alot safer driving manual, knowing exactly what the car is going to do, and what gear its in.

I dont hate Auto cars, but it does shit me when people say they cant drive manual, and they flat out refuse to even learn because they "cant", its bullshit. My nephew is 5 and has been driving the landcruiser in low range for nearly a year, he does the pedals to get going then sits up and stears until he needs to stop, then he jumps down and clutches and brakes.... quite humerous, but Im sure if he can work it out, everyone else can. We sit in the car with him, just incase, but so far we have never had to grab the wheel, or handbrake.

[johnvtls1]

Auto's are so easy and cruisy, and make light work of big power.

Try driving a manual car on the far side of 500hp on the road, then come back and tell me it's "Fun".
Sure is. For an hour.

couldnt agree more, maunals are ok in standard cars, even then in traffic they are a pain in the ass, add some decent power and a HD cluty and ur gonna get pissed off after a while. tons of people who start off with manual and add some power eventually convert to auto.

[shiftySLE]

I can see where you are coming from but if you are mechanically minded, which most car enthusiasts are, knowing when to change gears isn't hard until you are on a drag strip and 50-100 revs means a win or loss, especially when the whole race is 10 sec long. I don't believe that driving smooth is hard at all on the street. Shift timing and speed are only a matter of hearing the engine, takes effort but its not an art. If you thinks its an art but, so be it.