How do you drive? Automatic? Manual? Other?

[laxdude802]

So I just got my licence and am starting to drive on my own. My dad forced me to learn how to drive manual first, then let me drive automatic. Now I am hooked to stickshift! Its just so much more fun than driving automatic. Just to put it into perspective, my dad's old car is a 1993 Volvo 850 stationwagon, stickshift. My mom has a 2007 CLS 500 (Automatic with paddle shifters). To me there is obviously no comparison in speed or acceleration, but in terms of how fun it is to drive, I like the volvo much more. Anyway, the point of this thread is to see how many people still drive the "old fashioned" way.

P.S. feel free to discuss your cars, which ones you have enjoyed the most, etc.

[mnlax9]

ha i tried to drive a stick for the first time today, it was so fun but i sucked at it. Its easy after you do it for a few hours tho

[cjm3113]

I like driving stick, but depending on circumstances, the ease of an automatic is unbeatable.

[CApenguin88]

my main car is a stick (wrx) but i drive automatic cars alot especially when going surfing

[HdGLaxWarrior]

i drive a manual. i think it's alot more fun to drive than an automatic. when i was looking for trucks i had to have a manual. i will never drive anything else. and also, depending on how you drive it, a manual can accelerate faster.

[slinkyspine]

I don't care about having fun while im driving.

So automatics for me. When I'm racing karts however its a manual

[d-pole01]

96' ford ranger stick woot woot ha its a piece but its fun to drive and it gets me from place to place

[HdGLaxWarrior]

96' ford ranger stick woot woot ha its a piece but its fun to drive and it gets me from place to place

i feel the same way about my truck (92 f150).

[tomtom]

I prefer manuals for the milage savings. I recently learned to shift sans-clutch, and while i dont do it often, it is kinda cool to do.

[thepalehorse]

I prefer manuals for the milage savings. I recently learned to shift sans-clutch, and while i dont do it often, it is kinda cool to do.

yes thats why i like them but i cant drive them worth a danm. also its better off roading or bajaing with auto personally.

[lacrosseman192]

well i live on a very big, steep hill so whenever i try to drive a stick up it i find it nearly impossible so i stick with the automatic, but manual transmission is definitely better than automatic

[Tehb2]

My whole family has automatics, although mostly because most vans don't come in manual, and my mom (who is paranoid about my safety by the way) thinks its safer to be driving an automatic as a young driver, so both my car and her car are automatics, although she prefers a manual.

My friend though has a manual and he just got his license, and I can easily see myself picking it up rather quick....so maybe some day, when I don't have my Mom to bug me....

Parents are the worst to drive with.

[the next 'one']

my 98 impreza is manual. when i got it i was kinda undecided on whether it was the right decision because i didnt know how to drive a stick. but after not even a few hours i mastered it. i drove my dad's automatic 4runner, which is the coolest 4runner ever. it's supercharged and lifted about 4 or 5 inches. that thing is so fast. but i still prefer my suby to his 4runner just because it's manual.

[stinisonfire]

my 98 impreza is automatic... but i still prefer my suby to his 4runner just because it's manual.

Do you mean it's manual? Or did I just read your post wrong?

For the record, I've owned cars in both styles and prefer shifting manually as opposed to a machine do it for me.

[laxr24]

automatic definitely isn't as fun, but it is much easier for everyday driving especially in traffic

[THE_1protector]

paddle shifters!! i have never been able to use those. are they easy/fun?

[akalata]

I drive my dad's Acura TL. I'm pretty sure its automatic. It drives so nice.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

and my mom (who is paranoid about my safety by the way) thinks its safer to be driving an automatic as a young driver, so both my car and her car are automatics

i disagree. i think driving manual is safer because you're concentrated on driving and not doing something else such as talking on a cell phone.

[roycegracie47]

i disagree. i think driving manual is safer because you're concentrated on driving and not doing something else such as talking on a cell phone.

I'm in complete agreement.

I love driving manual, one becuase it keeps my concentration on the road (I will not talk on the phone when I am in the car, someone calls I let em know I'll call them back when I'm at my destination or nearest stopping point), and also because of the fun and feel of it, also the better mileage helps if only a little I hate the newer "shifting automatics" not the clutchess manuals but the ones where it's an auto transmission where after you put the car in drive it has a seperate +/- column to the side to "shift" up and down, I find there is little feel for shifting and that the engine just fights with me, although the now more common addition of paddle shifters seem to be a tad bit friendlier.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

I'm in complete agreement.

I love driving manual, one becuase it keeps my concentration on the road (I will not talk on the phone when I am in the car, someone calls I let em know I'll call them back when I'm at my destination or nearest stopping point), and also because of the fun and feel of it, also the better mileage helps if only a little I hate the newer "shifting automatics" not the clutchess manuals but the ones where it's an auto transmission where after you put the car in drive it has a seperate +/- column to the side to "shift" up and down, I find there is little feel for shifting and that the engine just fights with me, although the now more common addition of paddle shifters seem to be a tad bit friendlier.

yeah, because when you're driving manual you're more concentrated on driving. like you see a line of cars and you're like i should downshift. plus with an automatic, all you really do is sit there and get distracted.

[HeadHeartHustle]

i use Automatic in my BMW,

but my dad's BMW has a few nice features: Sport overdrive (automatic but revs to higher RPM in lower gears) and non clutch Standard.

so i prefer the non clutch standard, so i put that

[HeadHeartHustle]

paddle shifters!! i have never been able to use those. are they easy/fun?

sorry to post again, but

terrible IMO. you know how you get the jolt from standard? well multiply that times 2. and theyre stiff when you first use em.

[murderlax]

when i learned to drive as a kid(like 6th or 7th grade) i had to learn to drive a manual shift first, and the car i drive now is an automatic.
my dad said it's best to learn to drive a stick just in case i ever needed to.
but automatic is my preferance.

[mikeman5]

Wow, Murderlax, greatest avatar ever.

I'll be driving an automatic, but I'd like to learn to drive a stick.