Nah, I don't really care about it's appearance too much. I'd rather invest that money in a CD player or anime, rather than hubcaps. Maybe on my next car or truck.

My first car was a manual... I currently own an automatic and will never own one again, fuck it is boring driving that thing around. Besides it doesn't help my gas mileage.

If you are talking about any care made after, oh, somewhere in 1995 to 2000, automatics don't get worse gas mileage anymore. In fact, they probably get better since, as we've seen from this thread, people with manuals want to gun it.

The old thing about manuals being cheaper is going away too. The price difference is almost nothing at the time of sale and, with so many manual transmissions on the road, if there are any problems it would be akin to trying to find a Mac repairman in a world full of PC repairmen.

I have a 94 Honda Civic, the automatic gets worse gas mileage. Newer cars it is about the same because as I understand it they changed the torque converter with something that provides a more direct link.

While there might be a small price difference between an automatic and a manual, the cost of repair on the automatic is still much higher than on a manual.

I don't know anyone that drives an automatic except the old woman over the street. Automatics are fucking gay. You lose power, you lose responsiveness and they're just generally annoying. I honestly can't understand why they're so popular in the US.

I can't stand manual transmission trucks. Not at all. I borrowed my friends F-250 piece of shit manual transmission truck...That thing didn't get 50 feet without having to shift. I would never drive a manual TRUCK.

I don't mean that as a personal attack on Dreamshadow at all, I just did not like the feel of it at all.

Plus they encourage things like chatting on the phone while driving (thank God that's illegal over here)...

stick shift is the only way to go! it's much more exciting than an automatic. in traffic, it can be a hassle, but it's worth every penny of it.

as for women driving a stick, if you can find 'em, grind 'em. my sister and step-mom can drive a pretty mean stick.

Am I the only one deeply disturbed by the combination of those two sentences?I've driven a manual F-250 (2004). Just start the thing in 2nd. 1st is a super-low "creeper" gear used when you're pulling stuff.

Yeah I can't see why a lazy culture would rather drive an automatic than manual, in most cases.

For a 2006 Honda Accord, an automatic costs $800 more than a manual. Not a huge difference, but not an insignificant difference either. I like how they're charging $800 more for something far less fun than the alternative and people think it's a good deal.

I've only ever met one female who drives stick, as far as I'm aware. My mom doesn't know how, and my sister has no motivation to learn how to drive, period.

I, on the other hand, hope my first car has manual. Even though I have no driving experience, driving manual seems like it will keep things interesting, and give me something to do while I drive >_>

No it's definately NOT a southern thing. I mean I am a southerner born into a northern family transplanted into the south, but eh. I tried driving a manual and I absolutely hated it. I've had Automatic cars since I started driving and that's all I have for as long as I can help it.

Of course I'm a guy that drives SATURNS so I guess my opinion doesn't count for much anyway.

For those reasons, I have a lot of friend's who have recently gone over to stick shift now that they're buying cars for themselves.

As for why it's so popular, let me put it this way. Although technically I know how to drive stick thanks to driver's ed., I have little desire to practice with it. Mainly because I'm not really a car person and just need one that'll go from point A to point B without falling apart. Therefore, to me, automatic seems easier, because I don't have to deal with shifting gears constantly. I might be wrong, I might get used to it and do it automatically once I started actually doing it, but I'm lazy and have no desire to go out and find one.

As for the topic, I think I only know one woman driver who uses stick. From the four years I've been driving though, I think both genders have their share of shitty drivers.

Ironic, because the Saturn SL Automatic sucks so much it's not funny. I drive a Manual SL myself, but the Automatic is hideous. The Ion's not so bad, though.

Because many people drive cars to get from place to place, not to have fun. And people want convenience. Comfort and convenience is a hell of a lot more important to me than being able to get off the line faster (especially considering that I'm usually stuck behind someone to begin with) or having to focus on what the car is doing rather than, say, talking on the phone or enjoying the radio.

What's wrong with it? I had an SL1 and an SL2 and I had no issues with the transmission.

I drive an Ion currently which is fine too.

Being from Wyoming, it's pretty weird if you know someone that can't drive a manual.

That's because you don't have to pay for the "onboard computer" that handles shifting in an automatic since you're doing it yourself in a manual.

Now that I've finally gotten the hang of using a manual, I can't quite see the advantage of an automatic unless you're doing like a million things at a time while you drive (you really shouldn't do that anyways, I hate people who don't pay attention to the road). Plus, faster acceleration <3.

haha automatic transmission is getting so advanced that soon they'll be little difference in effieciency. Manual = gear stick + clutch, just takes co-ordination for some people

All the ones I've driven it seemed like you had to floor it (or have a huge engine) to accelerate at any reasonable speed. Getting onto the freeway was hell.Of course, the more advanced they get, the more expensive they are to repair.

That's not multitasking, that's reckless endangerment. Consider this your warning.

Double Post:
I'm looking forward to widespread use of Continuously Variable Transmission. It'll be perfect for the autosissies and even more efficient than manual.

But then again you gearheads will probably hate it because the engine's RPM will hardly change at all while you're driving.

Well i'm in no way any expert on cars, but what do you expect from a tiny car with a 4 cylinder engine? They're not really built for speed or anything of the sort.

Dreamshadow, will you marry me :p

I find that I too prefer older cars. Of course finding a car that old that is still in good shape isn't easy, but whatever. Of course cup holders are not standard in older cars... my '87 is the only car I've owned that had them, but the ones that it came with sucked, they weren't deep enough to really "hold" anything, as soon as you turned a corner whatever is in there is gonna spill...

I also like the manuals in older cars more than the newer ones. I learned to drive on a 4 speed, and my current car is a 4 speed. I've only owned one 5 speed, and while it still beats an automatic, I liked the 4 speed better. The gear ratios are just too low in the 5 speeds...

You get greater contorl PERIOD. It's not just over acceleration. Also, I don't agree with your computer vs typewriter comparison. Just because something is new doesn't automaticly make it 'better'.

Maual gives you better milage, better contorl, more power, and all that for less money. I honestly have no idea why someone would want an automatic, unless they do alot of "multi-tasking" while driving, and thats a bad idea anyway...

I think I only know 3 girls that know how to drive manual. The rest drive automatic. The thing is, I only know 1 guy that drives manual so I know more girls that drive manual than guys.

David4516: Manual does NOT give you better mileage. It gives you better CONTROL over gas mileage. You can go way above the average MPG or go way below depending on how you drive.

The same can be said of an automatic too... if you floor the car alot you'll use more gas.

I'm simply saying that, in general, a manual is more efficent than an automatic...