None of mine are either. I can’t afford that sort of stuff. I own 4 cars, but they are transportation for 4 people that can’t drive a stick and one car for me. It’s a commuter car, and in the Baltimore/Washington area, commuting with a manual clutch is not fun.
"Regardless of the advantages of automatic transmissions, I intend to “force” my two children to learn/use a manual transmission car. For two simple reasons: 1. One needs to learn how. 2. It is terribly awkward to text/talk on a cell phone while driving a manual transmission car in traffic. I figure that is worth the cost alone… "
One does not need to learn how. Most cars available in the US today don’t even have a manual transmission option. You do have a point concerning cell phone use, but there are other avenues, such as education. You talk, they roll their eyes, and they know you love them. Maybe they will even listen!
In my opinion, sticks are much more fun to drive. Most people don’t care and think of their cars as an appliance. I’ve owned both and every time I had an automatic I regretted it.
I had a loaner Infinity FX35 for awhile that was auto. It was pretty quick and a hoot to step on the gas and take off. I’d get myself into trouble with something like that. My current car is a 4-cyl. manual Fusion, it’s not that quick, but I don’t have to speed to have fun. I enjoy shifting through the gears, even while driving slowly.
Have owned at least 15 cars from age 17 til 3yrs ago. Prefer them, but old age got to me.
I can remember in my 1970MG someone turned immediately in front of me and if I didn’t have the downshifting ability to make an extemely sharp turn the other way, I don’t think I would be here.(I road rallied so I was used to making sharp fast turns). Then about 5yrs ago basically the same thing happened while driving a Crossfire 5spd. Save my life. I always felt more in control driving a stick.
Say what you will about manual’s mileage compared to an automatic’s, here’s the opinion of Mr. Yamamoto, the chief engineer for Honda’s hybrid, on why manuals aren’t hooked up to Honda hybrids except for the CRZ.
Even though the current Civic hybrids have no option for a manual transmission, a manual transmission was offered on the first generation of that car. The reason the current Civic Hybrid has a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is to increase overall fuel efficiency by automatically letting the system choose the most efficient drive ratio.
While you could potentially get a much better fuel efficiency with a manual transmission if you practice ?Ecodriving,? the efficiency would go down significantly if you choose lower gears more often or drove more aggressively.
It’s not the machine’s fault; it’s the driver’s fault. Drivers demand the EPA to hammer the test subjects to reflect how they drive.
I’ve never owned an automatic transmission vehicle. But, before you decide that I might not have enough experience with automatic transmissions to render an accurate assessment, let me tell you that I travel all the time. I get over 100,000 miles on United Airlines each year and I spend over 150 days a year in rental cars, which all have automatic transmissions. Also, I was a visiting scientist at the Ford Research Labs for three years.
I live in Colorado and drive in the mountains, and ski a lot, so often I drive on snow packed or icy mountain roads. I also enjoy back woods camping and drive the roads to get there – or at least close enough that I can put on my backpack and hike the rest of the way. In my opinion, I never actually have control of the vehicle when I’m driving an automatic transmission vehicle. Selecting the proper gear, the responsiveness of shifting, and the firm control when the vehicle is being used hard either going up or down hill is much better with a manual transmission. Locking torque converters are nice on long drives on interstate highways, but automatics have slippage with each shift, and in the mountains they are shifting all of the time.
So, although it is only a guess, I suspect that if the transmission played a role in an crash, there would be fewer of them in manual transmission vehicles. Also, the skill of the driver might play a role, and manual transmission drivers generally are more skilled, because they have to be to operate a manual transmission.
In addition, a skilled driver can always squeek an extra couple of miles per gallon out of a car with a manual transmission. Also, the cost comparison is still fairly large – manual transmissions are smaller, easier to work on, and less complicated, so they cost less to purchase and to maintain, and generally have fewer maintenance episodes. The more complex the machinery, with more moving parts, the higher the likelihood that it will need to be fixed.
However, I don’t think that automatic transmission vehicles will loose favor with the general public. First, it requires more effort to shift and push in the clutch in a manual transmission vechicle, and let’s face it, the American public is, by and large, lazy. Second, while I always pay cash for new cars, most people finance them, so the added cost of the automatic transmission is lost in the added fees, financing fees, dealer fees, other fancy extras, etc. and most people just don’t pay that much attention when the dealer has the adding machine going. Third, it takes a more skilled driver to use a manual transmission, and since manual transmission cars are relatively rare, today, most people have never driven one long enough to get comfortable with it – and probably don’t see a reason to.
So, bottom line is if you want to have maximum control of the vehicle, have the highest reliability, and get the best fuel mileage, you should drive a manual transmission. The “proof of the pudding” so to speak is NASCAR or the Indy 500 race. When those drivers start using automatic transmissions, then we will know that an automatic is as good as a manual transmission. Until then, I’ll keep driving my Ford Pick-up, Chevy Blazer, and convertable Mustang with their excellent manual transmissions.
But, I think that most people will continue to choose automatic transmission vehicles.
Only in America! Fat, lazy Americans can’t [be bothered to] shift gears. When we go to other countries, the default is manual transmission–except were there are a lot of fat lazy tourists. No matter what hype the car companies, sales people, writers say, OF COURSE you can get better fuel efficiency with manual transmission. But it depends on how you drive. We averaged about 32 mpg in a 2005 Nissan Maxima, but when we got it back from the dealer’s service dept., the computer read 13 mpg. The kid who test drove it floored it to test the 0-60 mph in 6 seconds claim! [New Maxima has only automatic, so we traded the Maxi for a MINI.] Our MINI gets around 42 mpg no matter how I drive it, sometimes better. The Nissan Frontier truck averages about 28 mpg.
Main reason that car dealers in the U.S. sell automatic transmission is a no-brainer. They can charge at least $1000 more for automatic than for a stick. Then they use fear to get gullible customers to spend more. One salesman told me, “What are you going to do if you’re with a friend who can’t drive a stick shift, and you’re incapacitated and can’t drive?” That scared me so much that I told him I’d call a friend or a cab with my cell phone. Other more gullible customers would fall for that, and add OnStar type GPS, and also that feature that’s supposed to parallel park your car for you.
The “experts” like the guys who write for Car and Driver just love to drive the most expensive tricked-out cars, no matter what kind of transmission. Personally, I don’t like automatics because they’re boring, and some engineer thousands of miles away gets to decide how I drive, and that’s not for me.
Automatics are much more dangerous than manuals because they’re so booooooooooooring, you’ll fall asleep and hit a tree. I used to work in a state forest and drove an old Mazda pickup. I pulled Jeeps out of the mud because they had automatic transmissions and the drivers couldn’t do the things I can do with a stick to rock them out. I don’t need four-wheel drive. I have manual transmission. I can drive through snow or sand and not get stuck.
Stick shifts are EASY to drive, and easy to learn. It’s like riding a bicycle [but you don’t fall off]. Left foot goes down [on clutch], right foot goes up [off accelerator]…right foot goes down [on accelerator], left foot goes up [release clutch]. My son learned almost immediately. “Ride bicycle”=“Drive stick shift”.
MT=Easy Don’t be a sucker.
I prefer sticks myself. However, to call anybody that drives an automatic fat and lazy is ignorant. The gas mileage claim is still sometimes true, but you’re seeing more and more autos getting BETTER mileage than their manual counterparts due to advances in automatic transmissions.
Done correctly, it’s just as easy, if not easier, to rock an auto-trans. car out of mud or snow than with a manual. And your claim that automatics are MUCH more dangerous is complete bunk. Care to back that statement up with any facts?
I like manual transmissions, but you are wrong on several points.
With most automatic transmissions, you can control when they shift. Shift points are determined by the position of the throttle. If you want to shift to a lower gear, simply press heavily on the gas pedal. If you want to shift out of passing gear, just let off on the gas pedal. Once you learn where the shift points happen, you can easily manipulate them by repositioning the throttle.
You like driving manual transmission cars. Fine. That is your opinion. However, when you call those whose preferences differ from yours “fat” and “lazy,” it is clear you were raised with the manners of a billy goat.
Do you know what a CVT transmission is? It is a type of automatic transmission that gets better fuel economy than a manual transmission, but even normal automatic transmissions get comparable fuel economy. If you don’t believe me, go to some of the manufacturers’ web sites and compare the fuel economy ratings for cars with various types of transmissions. For example, an automatic Honda Accord sedan gets 22/31/25 MPGs, while the manual Accord sedan gets 21/31/25 MPGs, and that’s without a CVT.
I would like to see you substantiate your claim that automatics are somehow more dangerous than manuals. Will you please show me some factual evidence to back that up?
I would also like you to explain how a manual transmission can substitute for the benefits of all wheel drive. What exactly do you do with your car that can’t be done with an automatic?
rockstar07 and I both prefer manual transmissions, but we both find your characterization of those who prefer automatics as “fat” and “lazy” offensive and fallacious.
It’s great that the debate between manual and automatic transmissions is still a hot topic after more than 50 years. When I was in high school in the late 1950’s, the debate was about which transmission was better for drag racing. Chrysler had just come out with its Torqueflyte (1957) and coupled to the hemispherical engine in the Chrysler 300 C it was hard to beat. There was a company that modified the GM Hydramatic transmission. The modified transmission was called the B & W Hydrostick. The 4 speed manual close ratio transmissions were just beginning to come on the scene at this time, so perhaps the automatic was really quicker in drag races. Most of the manual transmissions at this time were three speed with the shift on the column. These column shifts had rather sloppy linkages and weren’t the best for drag racing.
Simply the public wants to multi-task instead of concentrating on their driving. Very sad indeed!
Though I concur that automatics can contribute to dangerous behavior, like texting and in some cases, allowing inebriated to more easily get their car moving; all told, most vehicles are at least potentially safer to operate when equipped with an auto. Find an emergency vehicle or police car with a standard. They must “represent” safety in operation. Public transportation WHERE SAFETY is paramount have long since moved to automatics for not only safety, but durability and ease of operation…it’s a no brainer with manuals preferred mainly by we control freaks.
I suppose the self tacking jib I installed on my racing sailboat makes me fat and lazy too.
Everything is going automatic in vehicles. I don’t know if this is because females make 80% of car buying decisions.What is the breakdown of male vs. female on this subject? I seldom see a minivan with a manual trans. Automatic chokes,seat adjusters,headlights,wipers,etc…the list goes on from past to present.It all began with the introduction of the starter motor, instead of cranking over the engine by hand. If you drive in stop and go traffic everyday, I would think an automatic is a no brainer. Most problems with manual transmissions from a repair point of view, is that people upshift into fifth gear under 50mph. This puts a strain on the transmission and pressure plate.The majority of Automatics go over 100,000 miles with no problem.I drive both types. Most winning drag racers have automatics these days.Quicker shifts, with less chances of missing a gear.
I know this topic has been very popular, but I thought I would add my 2 cents in as far as car maintenance is concerned. I am a backyard mechanic and I prefer a stick shift simply because of the durability aspect. With an automatic, you have a torque converter and a fairly complicated gear box. More moving parts leads to a increased chance of mechanical failure. Not to mention if you fail to change the fluid, it gets dirty and can damage the torque converter. Growing up my family had about the same number of manuals as automatics. My dad had to take automatic in for transmission service about once every few years. Never had to do the same for a stick shift (and they were driven the same frequency)
A manual has a clutch and a somewhat simpler gearbox (consisting of an input shaft, an output shaft, gears, synchronizers and shifting forks. The most common repair to a manual transmission is replacement if the clutch and pressure plate after normal wear. And even then that can go for 100,000+ miles if you drive it right. I realize there is the possibility of hard driving or clumsy drivers to mash gears and actually shorten the life span of a stick shift past that of an automatic, so that is one case where an automatic might actually make more sense. (Had a buddy of mine drive hard by peeling out and “racing” other drivers in his Escort and when the transmission went out he blamed Ford!)
But, treat it right and you will get many more miles of trouble-free driving out of a manual.
Stick shifts are fading because American drivers are too busy cell-phoning and texting to tax their addled brains with a third task (assuming task No. 2 is driving).
I seem to recall that several years ago, about the time cell phones were becoming more widely used, stick shift was gaining new popularity. Then as cell phones proliferated, drivers realized they didn’t have enough hands to hold the steering wheel, gear shift and cell phone. So, guess what lost…
"You expect folks with four door sedans, minivans, pickups, SUVs, CUVs, station wagons, etc. to want manuals?"
I did/do. My Ranger is a 5 speed, my kia is a 6 (small 4 door sedan), and my last Sonata was a 5 (large 4 door sedan), all manual. Our newest Sonata is a 6-speed auto, we decided having one auto in the family made sense - in case of injury preventing use of 2 feet or hands. Also, this auto is sealed, no maintenance for at least 100K miles, likely 150K. Plus, it’s covered that long, so that’s good, too.
To me, a self tacking jib is analogous to synchronizers in a manual transmission. When you start sailing across the ocean using an engine power, that would make you fat and lazy. You would fall into those set it and forget it crowd. Almost anyone can push a power lever, but it takes a few extra brain cells to understand points of sail; as with manual transmissions, one needs to understand what the car is doing.
Agree, “multi-tasking” has taken on a new meaning in North America. This morning I passed a pickup truck diver who was smokingf and drinking coffee at the same time on an expressway. He might have his cellphone on the seat as well.
I doubt it. Traditionalists will still buy manuals in the same manner bolt action rifles haven’t completely disappeared in favor of semi-autos, there are still people who insist on 35mm film and darkrooms and devotees who swear by vinyl records. I wonder, though, why is it that manuals are still going strong here in Europe, but are fading out in the States?