Manual or automatic - what do you drive/prefer?

[formerly]

Learnt to drive on an auto. First drive of a manual was when i drove my old XF off the lot at the dealer, dad test drove it for me cause i'd never driven manual! Now would never contemplate buying an auto, manual all the way for me!

[Punnisher_42]

love manuals out here where im away from gridlock traffic, and it's just so much fun driving a manual. Absolutely can't stand manuals in the city riding the clutch and so forth. lucky i only go to the city once a year or so.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

I own an auto and thus voted appropriately. If i wad a magic wand, i'd turn the EF into a manual in an instant. Having said this tho, the auto is strong and can take everything i throw at it. One thing that peeves me is the feeling of superiority a lot of my mates get (and a lot of people in general) about driving a manual.

"Oh man, i dunno how you can drive an auto... i just couldnt do it..."

Lol, all good humour i'm sure. But yeah - if i had a small car or a sports car etc, auto would be inexcusable. Blown V8s are fairly well suited to an auto trans IMO.

I was under the impression that the EF was renound for being rather weak. I replaced my box once and was getting close to replacing it again when I sold mine. Slipped when cold and one day lost 1st, 2nd and reverse so was driving around all day in 3rd gear. Wasn't fun I can tell you, and $2000 for a reco fitted.

[gozza]

yeah i hate peeps who think you mustn't be able to drive a manual because your driving an auto....

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Steffo

PS - Two of those supercars use traditional conventional automatics, yet they're some of the fastest road cars ever produced. Gee, looks like Mercedes/McLaren didn't know they chose the wrong trans when they made the SLR, and AMG had no idea when they made the CLK-DTM (a car built to handle) :

Thats because Mercedes can't build decent manual gearboxes, but what do you think would be more satisfiying to drive, an SMG BMW M3 or the original E30 M3? Ferrari Enzo or F40? etc.
My auto 5.5 V8 Mercedes locks the rear wheels if i try to shift manually when driving in a spirited manner, which pretty much shows that autos are useless for track days or hilly roads, and DSG or SMG is the ultimate poser material,
but at least there is refuge for people who can't launch or drive a manual properly.

[Steve D]

Which do I prefer? It depends. For small cars, definitely a manual. No problems, even in traffic, even if the synchro is weak and I need to replace the clutch cable now and then (guess which car that could be!).

Once in a larger vehicle, then I'm happy for it to be an auto. When SWMBO got the Magna (as a Company car) we could have had a manual Sports model, but it just didn't appeal.

A little driving in a manual V8 Falcon (EB era) was enough to make me decide a decent auto is the go for larger vehicles. Seemed a bit clumsy, but that could have just been a lack of practise.

[XR8GRL]

I drive auto but prefer manual.

[argonEL]

I love my "slushbox" and would definately go for a 6 speed auto if given the chance...

Manuals in suburban/city cars are not needed and autos make driving in crappy congested city traffic more bareable.

Save the manual for the track.

and to quote crannersEL:
"why get up and change the channel when you got a remote control".

[xceler8shun]

Currently own 2 maunal vehicles.

The AUII XR8 Ute (mine) and a Daewoo Lanos (misses)

Just love the feel of them over an auto....

[Fairmont I6]

the auto in my ED was quiet, smooth and nice to drive. However once the T5 went in the car came alive, more power more control and more fun. if i was buying a new car i would only buy one that i could get in manual.

[HP Dude]

Manual for me. There's very little in this world that feels better than executing a perfect heal/toe downshift in a car with a fantastic engine note. Love driving my manual AU XR8; for the sound AND the complete involvement. I'll only ever have conventional manual performance cars, and BTW, my everyday car is a manual also. Lots of stop-start traffic driving; doesn't bother me one bit, it actually keeps me awake and focussed on driving. Autos bore me. It's a shame our XR6HP is an auto, if it were a manual, it would be a lot more fun.

[noosacuda]

My Sprint is a manual (a pig to drive,3rd gear to do 60kph) so i do prefer an auto any day.

[Scruba]

I love to drive a manual but after driving a GT-P and realising the pedals are so close (i kept getting my shoe caught under the brake pedal when releasing the go pedal) I'm going to upgrade to the 6 speed auto.

[Cobra]

I own an auto but prefer manual. My next car will be manual!

[Abacus]

I vote auto for work, manual for play.

Reminds me of the Alfa GTV6 I drove for 12 years. Manual (of course), and the indicator stalk was on the left hand side of the wheel. Downshifting whilst turning on the indicator and talking on the mobile phone at the same time was always a bit hairy.

[FORDWOGBOY]

Started off driving a manual car... got my license in one.. just bought an auto because they are handy in congested traffic.. i still get to play around with the semi auto so its all good.

[HSE2]

Interesting result in the poll. Wonder how those numbers tie in with the survey Ford was running.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by HSE2

Interesting result in the poll. Wonder how those numbers tie in with the survey Ford was running.

Probably the other way around. Ford survery more then some performance car enthusiasts.

[HSE2]

Probably not as the survey was predominately for net users who tend to be enthusiasts

[RavenLS1]

you are not driving a car if you aint changing the gears.

[niko]

learnt manual at the age of 10, since being at the legal age to drive on my own ive had 2 manuals and 1 auto; which includes current ea converted from a dead 4speed to t5. A falcons best friend

its sad seeing people driving autos lazy bastards :SaiyanSmi

[SSBUB]

its funny watching people change gears like madmen in heavy traffic, with half the population riding the clutch

[Abacus]

How often do you park behind a car or truck at a red light, facing uphill, and the clown in front rolls back about 1-2 metres when the lights change because he/she can't drive a manual properly?

[LowEL2XR8]

I only like manuals due to the fact the torque converter takes more power from the back wheels.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Abacus

I vote auto for work, manual for play.

Same ... for my work ... auto really is necessary.
But it's not the same driving the auto as it is manual for play.
I only just recently went across to auto in both my cars (cos the fiancee can only drive auto).

Plus both my vehicles get used for heavy towing ... something a manual really can't do.

I has Semi-auto in the Territory ... and just the 4-sp auto in the AU ute (which gets used as a manual sometimes ... LOL).

But prior to all that ... I have driven a manual since I got my L's (about 11-12 years ago)

[HOON69]

manual i drive and love

but love the hwy with a auto on Cruise Control :P

[WizBang]

My work van is a manual and ИИИИs me after a long day in the city and love to drive my car on the weekends as it's a auto but at the end of the day you have to love the control of a manual

i drive a auto so the wife can drive after a few drinks but prefer a manual any day. I tried teaching her on a manual & gave up after she burnt the clutch out

[Pursuit_chick]

can drive both, probally prefer manual for county driving and auto for city driving, my ED is auto but i drive an EA to work everyday which is manual :P