Automatic or Stick?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I prefer stick, but we have an automatic (my husband has no clue about driving a stick). Should I ever get my own car, it will be a stick because I like to have extra control over my car.

Currently, I'm driving my mom's car though which sports a tiptronic, an automatic that allows you to shift without the clutch. The best of both worlds, maybe...

[Mand 1]

We drove a stick in Ireland and here too...you've more control over the car, better take off and better gas mileage

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Initially learned to drive on automatic (used Barracuda, which was how I found out about the persistent Park-start problems of Chryslers). After leasing a LOADED Taurus for over a year, I traded it for a Jetta (I wanted the City, which was basic except for having AC--but these were out of stock by then) deliberately choosing 5-speed.

Developed a liking for European (rather than Japanese) style mainuals from the eight years I owned the Jetta (European style requires a bit of a "procedure" to pop car into reverse--not possible to do so other than deliberately).

It would be nice if rental agencies stocked cars with manual--as I INVARIABLY hit that blank space where the clutch pedal should be.

[pax 0]

Currently driving an automatic, but I learned on a standard--my first car.

[wally 0]

got only automatics now but prefer stick

cruise control, power this and power that...makes me dosey on the highway

[ladybutterfly 0]

I passed my test in an Automatic in the UK so that is the only car I am legally allowed to drive. I have tried to drive my husbands stick car but I cant even get the car started! I dont know how you mean to balance the clutch with the gas and then brake aswell! Soooo much confusion!

[sparkofcreation 0]

None of the above!! We have a car with CVT (continuously variable transmission) so it's neither manual nor automatic ... it doesn't have gears at all!

[chispas 0]

We have both. A stick and automatic.

[Baileyj96 0]

I have a stick right now. I go back and forth between the two. I seem to have more control with a stick and when it snows around here you need all you can get.

I'm almost over the idea of having a stick........................kind of hard putting your make up on, eating drinking and smoking at the same time. Just kidding.

Baileyj

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

I passed my test in an Automatic in the UK so that is the only car I am legally allowed to drive. I have tried to drive my husbands stick car but I cant even get the car started! I dont know how you mean to balance the clutch with the gas and then brake aswell! Soooo much confusion!

I know what you mean!

I learned to drive stick while back in Belgium, we were practicing in the township where I was supposed to take the road test. I swear, those speed bumps and stoplights were driving me insane.

I think it'll be easier to learn to drive an automatic. I'm going for my written test next week. Wish me luck!

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I passed my test in an Automatic in the UK so that is the only car I am legally allowed to drive. I have tried to drive my husbands stick car but I cant even get the car started! I dont know how you mean to balance the clutch with the gas and then brake aswell! Soooo much confusion!

I had that problem during my first driving lesson and then my teacher gave me this talk about treating the clutch like a lover, carefully and with lots of feeling. Worked wonders, since then I only have problems when I forget the existence of the clutch after driving automatic for a while.

Balancing it is easy, left foot is clutch exclusively, right foot is brake and gas...

[triaxiom 0]

Stick; more control, more mileage, more fun...

[ChristinaM 0]

Give me a stick shift every day of the week! I can't stand automatics; they never shift when I want them to and when they do it's invariably with a huge lurch. Granted, the newer ones are better, but I'd still take a manual given my choice.

[sparkofcreation 0]

Give me a stick shift every day of the week! I can't stand automatics; they never shift when I want them to and when they do it's invariably with a huge lurch. Granted, the newer ones are better, but I'd still take a manual given my choice.

Get a CVT! They don't shift at all, ever--they just go when you ask them to.

Seriously, I had the same objection to automatics, but I put up with it because driving stick in traffic is too much hassle. CVT is the best of both worlds.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Give me a stick shift every day of the week! I can't stand automatics; they never shift when I want them to and when they do it's invariably with a huge lurch. Granted, the newer ones are better, but I'd still take a manual given my choice.

(and I've more than once experienced downshifting when I DIDN't want it)