# Transmission manual vs auto

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-manual-vs-auto/574>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 14, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-manual-vs-auto/574 "2007-06-14T17:53:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![joycealbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@joycealbin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/joycealbin)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-manual-vs-auto/574/1 "2007-06-14T17:53:14Z")

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I’m considering buying a used Subaru Forester or Outback. What are the pros and cons of manual vs auto transmission? Will I get better gas mileage with the manual? Will the cost of replacing a clutch out weight the any savings in gas?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-manual-vs-auto/574/2 "2007-06-14T17:59:18Z")

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You might get better mileage with a manual, but how you drive matters more than your transmission choice.

The cost of a clutch only matters if you wear it out. Many people can get 200K miles out of a clutch.

Automatic transmissions can be VERY expensive to repair, and the Subaru AWD system uses a clutch pack and transfer valve inside the automatic transmission to send drive to the rear wheels. When these parts wear out, and they do, it’s a $700-800 repair bill.

Sort of balances out the clutch issue, doesn’t it?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-manual-vs-auto/574/3 "2007-06-14T18:08:03Z")

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Better gas mileage? Usually, but the differences is usually not earth shaking and if you are not good or attentive to shifting, you might actually do better with auto.

I have had 6 cars all manuals. All but one and the one I have right now had over 150,000 miles put on them by me. I had two clutches go out. The first one, and that was a used car to start with, but I really did burn the clutch and an RX-7 I bought used and I believe the prior owner killed that clutch.

If you know how to drive stick, a clutch should be good for 200,000 miles which is more than most automatics do.

If I ever had to drive in stop and go traffic in a large city, I would go for an automatic. However I have never had to drive that way on a regular bases so I have stuck with manuals.

Modern automatics are really quite nice.