Stick-Shift or Automatic?

[Chaldoray]

What do you guy's perfer? I want to get stick-shift but i don't know how to drive stick-shift and i don't want to learn on a new car.

[BRISK]

Stick

[Ben-MensNiche]

stick! without a doubt - once you've driven stick, you'll never go back.

[puresexnow]

Depends on the car and the type of driving you do...

I like tiny cars with tiny engines... auto's just don't work.

I don't get caught in traffic either, so the stick isn't a pain.

[mpulse]

I love my stick but after having one for 7 yrs now...I would like to go automatic just for a change and actually be able to talk on a cell phone for once...

[WebTitan]

stick is the only way to go

[Daymare]

depends where you drive.

for me if I commuted to work in a city everyday, an automatic would be better for traffic lights, parking, etc. But if you are in a small city or rural area I would definitely go with stick

[Furious_Male]

High Performance sports cars (for the curves not drags etc.) stick no doubt. You may also want a stick in some of the under powered econo box type cars.

Run of the mill cars just for getting from point A to point B go with an automatic.

[angeleyes]

Stick-Shift.......... I can't stand automatics. Last time I got into an automatic after driving only Sticks for 10+ years I was trying to drive it with both feet out of habit.

[rowan]

Is stick shift americanese for a manual transmission? I drive an auto, I don't think I could be bothered with manual for day-to-day driving. My auto selector does see more than just P, R and D though.

[rowan]

One thing I am curious about, are most of the autos in the USA T-bar (floor) or steering wheel controlled? In AU it's pretty rare to have the selector on the steering wheel... in fact I don't think I have ever actually seen an auto car - in the flesh or an aussie movie or TV - with a steering wheel mounted selector!

[Tala]

Originally posted by rowan
One thing I am curious about, are most of the autos in the USA T-bar (floor) or steering wheel controlled? In AU it's pretty rare to have the selector on the steering wheel... in fact I don't think I have ever actually seen an auto car - in the flesh or an aussie movie or TV - with a steering wheel mounted selector!

Standard (sticks) is usually found on the floor. Remember ever hearing the phrase "Four on the floor"? That refers to a four-speed, stick on the floor.

I love my standard shift. I hate automatics, they drive me insane. (No pun intended.)

[Rinaldo]

manual all the way ... unless it's something slow and shitty... but anything with power is fun with manual

[Shok]

SMG all the way


best of all worlds

[com]

manual

[raceman]

I have spent most of my life on race tracks with a stick shift, however in the UK the traffic is so bad having a stick shift is shit so i go for auto in a road car.

[Viper2K1]

I used to be an anit-automatic guy but over the last couple years they improved alot and became "intelligent".
Now I'd pick for example an SMG II over a manual transmission

[Ben-MensNiche]

Originally posted by Tala
Standard (sticks) is usually found on the floor. Remember ever hearing the phrase "Four on the floor"? That refers to a four-speed, stick on the floor.

I love my standard shift. I hate automatics, they drive me insane. (No pun intended.)

What I never understood is that the word "standard" means it's the default build. As the default build seems to be automatic, why isn't "standard" used to refer to an automatic rather than a stick?

For whoever it was asked if "stick" or "standard" was americanese for manual shift - yes it is. For us Brits, it's a regular bog standard gearshift , unless you opted for the automatic.

[Edit Video]

Depends on what type of car you have.. I use to drive a stick but got tired of switching gears all the time. (in rush hour traffic it sucks) A stick is a lot more fun to drive, especially if you have a sport performance car.

[axelcat]

In traffic auto but overall stick

[brizzad]

lots of people like stick shifts because the car goes faster and has more power... but dont base your decision on that.. it's not like you'll be racing every time you drive and will need the extra hp

[Tala]

Originally posted by Ben-MensNiche


What I never understood is that the word "standard" means it's the default build. As the default build seems to be automatic, why isn't "standard" used to refer to an automatic rather than a stick?

For whoever it was asked if "stick" or "standard" was americanese for manual shift - yes it is. For us Brits, it's a regular bog standard gearshift , unless you opted for the automatic.

When the term was coined, automatics were just beginning to be offered to the public, so they offered a standard model and an automatic. Cars were one ALL manual transmission, so yes, at one time, they were the standard.

[Ice]

manual all the way... automatics suck

[Toolz]

Originally posted by Shok
SMG all the way


best of all worlds

Piece of shit, hated the M3 I had with it in it, I don't like a computer controlled clutch.

[BabeHunter]

semi automat all the way

[raceman]

I'll show you my "stick" if you show me yours

[Brat]

Originally posted by mpulse
I love my stick but after having one for 7 yrs now...I would like to go automatic just for a change and actually be able to talk on a cell phone for once...

hmm
ive mastered driving stick talkin on a cell and smoking all at the same time. It's not a habit though. Only when i have to. Like when someone calls me and I'm having a smoke

[JFK]

Originally posted by raceman


I'll show you my "stick" if you show me yours

OK......... You asked for it ............

[raceman]

Mine goes around corners better than yours

[kmanrox]

get a stick and learn if its a nice car... if its a bucket or non sportscar go automatic

[iroc409]

Originally posted by rowan
One thing I am curious about, are most of the autos in the USA T-bar (floor) or steering wheel controlled? In AU it's pretty rare to have the selector on the steering wheel... in fact I don't think I have ever actually seen an auto car - in the flesh or an aussie movie or TV - with a steering wheel mounted selector!

it's kindof a toss-up between console shifters (floor) and steering wheel for automatics around here. it seems tho generally the foreign cars have them on the floor. more traditional american cars generally have the selector on the steering wheel, mostly domestic trucks & suv's are pretty much always on the steering wheel, minivans, and the bigger cars like the buick's. although i think cadillac has mostly moved to a console shift.


personally, i don't know how to drive an automatic. i wish more cars were available with a manual trans, they'd be so much better.

[jerseygirls]

I've driven automatic all my life.

But . . .
I just got a BMW M3 in a 6 speed stick and i got to say i wish i got it with the SMG II. Everyone says you've got to get a stick in that car. I was made fun at alot for having an automatic Vette in the past.

I gave in to peer preasure, because i figured i was missing something by not driving stick.

I will probably never again buy a stick, It's too much work.

I'm stuck with this for a 3 year lease. There are times that i like it and it's a lot of fun. But i miss just pulling my stick into "D" and that's it.

If you've never driven stick before you'll probably want to stick with automatic.


Maybe if i had a daily driver and this was just a fun car it would be different.

[CabanaBoy]

Get something with a computer controlled clutch and paddle shifters. It's the future. The most advanced cars in the world use a computer controlled clutch. No human can come close to the shift speeds. A human cannot adjust the throttle, disengage the clutch, change gears, re-adjust the throttle and re-engage the clutch as well as a computer.

I can't tell you how many times I've raced some cock with his muscle car stick shift and smoked his ass because my M3 outshifts him.

Sadly, the SMG II in the M3 shifts like a no-handed epilectic retard when it's in automatic mode.

[Steve]

I wouldn't drive a daily grocery getter with a stick. I used to have to commute with my Mustang GT from NJ to Queens (and back) and it sucked, especially slowly going up the GWB ramp off the Deegan. Shit, if the cops had the access roads by Yankee Stadium open, I'd cut thru the local streets just to give my clutch a break.

If you have a sporty car, and you don't have to fight traffic every day, a stick is more fun. Also depends on the vehicle. I wouldn't want a manual trans in the minivan.

[Platinum Adam]

Stick

[Abyss_Vee]

get a skateboard

[On-top]

I've had several sticks..and if you just have one car and are going to be driving around town, get an automatic. It's like driving for dummies..push gas to go, brake to stop. If you have several vehicles..you should definitely have a stick in the collection. But not if you have to drive it ALL the time.

[raceman]

nowhere to use your right foot on a skateboard so that is out, plus they dont have "shifts"

[Chaldoray]

You think a mazda 3 stick-shift would be nice?

[Kimmykim]

If you are driving for fun, stick. If you are going to sit in traffic every day, automatic.

[Ic3m4nZ]

stick defininitely !

[Ben-MensNiche]

I only ever drive for fun. I enjoy driving - I think if I ever stop enjoy driving, I'll get a limo and chauffeur

[webgurl]

Guys that drive automatics are not manly
unless its a real highend luxury car

[GonePhishing]

I'm lazy, and I hate driving. Automatic!

[MeatAxe]

auto