What's the guy with so many of you lot driving autos?! =P

[SpaceYam]

What's the go with so many of you lot driving autos?! =P

No really .

Serious question though, how come so many drive autos? A performance car just isn't the same when you're not changing gears the real way!

This is just my opinion, but manuals are generally more fuel efficient, the gearboxes last longer and you (obviously) have more control over what gear you use for different situations.

Not only that, but driving a manual keeps you more alert than simply speeding up, slowing down and turning because your mind is constantly going "Clutch in slowly, now shove it into third!! Back off the clutch, hit the throttle! Now let's go for fourth! GO GO GO!' whereas when you drive an auto it's more like "Ok... foot on accelerator... oh look a birdie!! oh, slow down... intersection... yeah speed up again now..."

Also, how many other manual drivers feel uncomfortable when driving an auto? And how many times have you stomped on the clutch in an auto only to remember there is no clutch when you've smashed your face into the steering wheel? :b:

*puts flame-retardant riot gear on*

 

[Darren]

Well that's an easy one from my point of view.

I learnt in a manual right from day one and still to this day prefer them.

When I was looking around I didn't see any or many manuals so I had to go with an auto, the next car though will be manual for sure as auto's are too expensive fix.

Another thing auto's are more common I guess you could say so it does make it difficult when you do want one.

 

[Gobbles]

Manuals make driving more entertaining and exciting. But due to commodore v6's being very limited in manuals it makes it hard doesnt it I would love the have a 5 spd VS but the auto will have to do for the moment.

 

[Bec]

Agreed...manuals are better, but they are rare. I looked at VPs for 2 months before buying mine, and the only manual had been flogged to ****. Don't need a manual to do good burnouts (it's near impossible in a VX auto though).

And changing gears is 'automatic' in a manual. You don't need to think about it, it just happens.

 

[SpaceYam]

I realise that, but your mind is still more active than if you're driving an auto...

I think I actually got lucky with my commodore, I was refusing to buy an auto... The gearbox in mine has been fine, it's just everything else that has burned huge holes in my pockets

 

[The1985divo]

Manuals are becoming really rare, i prefer auto cause i work in the city, plus im lazy and would never go for a maual again lol, changing gears is to much effort lol

 

[ViperVp]

i learnt auto , because when i first started i wanted driving too be simple, but i think me next car would be a manual.

 

[davo]

Why do we all drive auto's??

Because we all drive commodores.

Because commodores are family cars, and mums hate having to shift gears when they are picking up the kids from school.

Then Mum (or if its an executive, grandpa) upgrades to a suburu forester,

We buy the commodores off mums, whack in the subwoofer, the bodgy panel filter and the blue L.E.D's but the auto remains to remind us that once upon a time, our car was driven by mum to transport the kids.

I too hate auto's. The ECU seems makes crap decisions about what gear the car thinks it should be in, and you cant do fun things like heal toe shifting and double clutching to keep the engine in the power band. (not that you really need to do that with a 3.8 but its still fun)

 

[Bax]

Manual all the way for me, I've had one box blow, replaced and sold and then I'm onto an mx7 - the next car I'm getting will be auto, already contemplating manual conversion solely for my driving pleasure and resale value.. But I think I'll take a break and enjoy the crusiness for a while.. Non power steering manual and takeaway drive through is very difficult to say the least.

I'd nearly go as far as to say you'd be more alert in an auto, your not worrying about changing gears you've got your eyes on the road and thats all you have to think about.

Mind you manuals its second nature and your doing the same except you've got to be aware of what speed your doing to change gears.. I say manual if you want to have a bit more control.. Other then that if your serious about good q/m times or your just slack, Auto

 

[Wombat]

Yep. Manuals are getting harder to find, and nowadays with modern auto boxes, you can't really say they are more "fuel efficient", or at least not to any noticeable amount.
As with anything, depends on the driver.
That's why autos now have four speeds as normal and five is coming up...probably more to come until a good stepless CVT box is developed for big cars.
The more close-together gear changes, the smoother the power delivery, and the better the resulting economy. That's why I would guess within 2 years the "normal" Commodore auto box will be the five speed auto, with a specialist 6-speed auto for performance models. Some overseas maker (Audi?) had a seven speed auto a couple of years back.

Of course, as I said, it depends on whether the driver actually cares at all about economy or if he drives with the foot buried in the firewall all the time....