Stickshift or Automatic?

I own both. Auto Civic, manual Opel

My preference is defiantly manual. It keeps me a lot more engaged in driving, otherwise driving just becomes another boring daily task.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Seriously what is all this hate on the automatic transmissions?!? I can pick up a good used automatic transmission for my 94 Honda Civic for 150 dollars. If I was being stingy I'm sure I could get that price down to 100 dollars by shopping around or haggling. Integra auto transmissions run for about 100 dollars. Manual transmissions for that car run about the same price used.

Originally Posted by Duo Maxwell

Every car I've owned has been a manual.

So you have never owned an automatic and can't really speak from experience. That is good to know.

Originally Posted by Duo Maxwell

Automatics are really slow when it comes to gear transitions. The clutch engages really slowly compared to what someone could do with a nice four-puck ACT and the right tension on the linkages.

You are thinking of the old hydraulic automatic transmissions that use a torque converter.

Unless you are telling everyone that you can shift in less than 10 milliseconds (VW Golf GTI is reported to shift in 8 ms) a Direct-Shift Gearbox (which is a type of automatic) will be able to shift many times faster than your manual transmission can.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Arainach

Gumby: You're still ignoring the fact that when automatic transmissions break down they're rather expensive to repair, whereas manuals are simple enough to work on.

That is because they have made it next to impossible to get parts to repair them.

Originally Posted by Arainach

Most cars don't have Direct-Shift Gearboxes. And I can downshift in a manual a hell of a lot faster than it takes an automatic transmission to decide whether by flooring it I mean keep going in this gear or downshift. Plus, don't go saying "hey all these old transmissions are cheap as manuals lol" while saying "brand new transmissions are the ones that are as good as manuals" in the same post. The contradictions hurt.

I wish more cars did! Most people don't buy an auto transmission for the performance, they get it because to them driving is getting from point A to point B while doing as little as possible. I love my manual, don't get me wrong but there is nothing wrong with an automatic transmission either (besides being more boring to operate) and from some of these posts they make it sound like you'd have to be retarded to want to use one.

Originally Posted by Arainach

Take our 95 Astro. Driving around 60mph is miserable because it keeps trying to figure out whether it wants 3rd or 4th. PICK ONE, DAMMIT.

That would piss me off too.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Thanatos

But I REALLY hate the power steering on my car... makes the steering feel.. disconnected.

Is it true power steering or does it just have power assist?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?