Stick(manual) or automatic?

[Tieno]

So this summer I learned how to drive and now I'm driving my mom's car and so far it's going great. I thought most cars had a stick but it seemed this is not widespread as I assumed, or am I wrong?

[brawndolicious]

In the US, I think that automatic is more common.  In Europe and other regions, I'm pretty sure that automatic isn't as common.

I learned to drive with a manual though so I never really got the trouble that people had with clutches.  Automatics basically drive themselves so they're better in stop-and-go traffic or when you need to talk on the phone while driving.

[cloudwalking]

i can't drive stick... seemed like a waste of time to learn

[Tieno]

I learned to drive stick and I find it very satisfying. Feels like an actual skill, like getting to 'know' and 'feel' the car. Don't think I've seen an automatic here yet.

I've been told that automatics use more gas though.

[muckhole]

Drove stick for years, but I prefer automatic. I think people like driving stick because it feels more involved, but I encounter enough shitty drivers out there to keep me pretty involved in my commutes as it is.

[MrAngryFace]

Everyone should at least know how to drive a manual. For city traffic i'll admit automatic is the way to go.

[BobbyRobby]

manual cars are like $1000 cheaper and use less gas.  seems like reason enough to drive stick.  only thing that sucks is other people can't drive your car.

[Brehvolution]

Driving a stick keeps you more alert and you also get better gas mileage. You drive the car not the other way around.

[muckhole]

Everyone should at least know how to drive a manual. For city traffic i'll admit automatic is the way to go.

For me personally, driving manual in the city a pain in the ass, especially during rush times. I'd rather keep an arm free for rude gestures.

[MrAngryFace]

manual sucks in stop and go and if you live in a city with hills. Trust me, I drove a stick for 6 years in those conditions. While I wasnt looking for an automatic as my next car, owning one seems like a godsend during the commute these days.

[MrAngryFace]

Everyone should at least know how to drive a manual. For city traffic i'll admit automatic is the way to go.

For me personally, driving manual in the city a pain in the ass, especially during rush times. I'd rather keep an arm free for rude gestures.

I said should at least 'know how'

[WrikaWrek]

Manual of course.

But i understand that Automatic seems to be the rage amongst pussified americans.

[MrAngryFace]

Manual of course.

But i understand that Automatic seems to be the rage amongst pussified americans.

lOOK AT ME IM BEING CONTRARY TODAY*

*Today meaning "Everyday"

[CHOW CHOW]

I drive in bumper to bumper traffic when going to class and work...having to drive stick in that would suck balls.  I'm not gonna drive stick and sacrifice convenience just because it makes you more of a man (apparently).

[WrikaWrek]

Manual of course.

But i understand that Automatic seems to be the rage amongst pussified americans.

lOOK AT ME IM BEING CONTRARY TODAY*

*Today meaning "Everyday"

This is Europe dude. If you drive Automatic you're a cigarillo.

[Tauntaun]

i can't drive stick... seemed like a waste of time to learn

GAAAAYYYYYYY!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Does Jarosh know about this? 

[close]

[cool breeze]

I can drive both stick and auto but I rarely drive stick because I live in Philadelphia and it would be dumb to drive stick in all this traffic

[CHOW CHOW]

I can drive both stick and auto but I rarely drive stick because I live in Philadelphia and it would be dumb to drive stick in all this traffic

hey im from philly too, well i live in the burbs right outside of philly...around west chester
where u at g

[Bloodwake]

I drive automatic. I think I would want to learn how to drive manual though.

I don't really have anyone to learn from though. My dad test drove a BMW once and he couldn't get anywhere with the stick because he kept stalling it before he got out of the car lot.

[cool breeze]

I can drive both stick and auto but I rarely drive stick because I live in Philadelphia and it would be dumb to drive stick in all this traffic

hey im from philly too, well i live in the burbs right outside of philly...around west chester
where u at g

Closer to suburban area

[CHOW CHOW]

oh so its like that

[BlackMage]

once I went stick I never went back!

[Tieno]

So is this why kids of 16 are allowed to drive in the states?

[cool breeze]

It's like this: One day you'd be walking down the street and someone will ask you to hold a box, point to it, and smile.  That person will be me.

[huckleberry]

Manual transmission for me....city driving or not I like it better.  It is a pain sometimes when you are behind a bunch of idiots.  The amount of control you have over the engine, however, makes up for the pain of changing gears.  Only real thing I dislike about manual transmission is on my car the clutch needs has too much movment.  I would much rather have a clutch with very little movment to engage it.

[Tauntaun]

once I went stick I never went back!

[CHOW CHOW]

It's like this: One day you'd be walking down the street and someone will ask you to hold a box, point to it, and smile.  That person will be me.

[xnikki118x]

I can't drive a stick but would like to learn.

[Greatness Gone]

I can drive both stick and automatic, but I don't prefer one over the other. They're both the same to me.

[brawndolicious]

Whether you prefer manual or automatic, you have to admit that manual drivers drive better since they actually have to pay attention the road and pay a lot of attention to other drivers.  It makes a lot of sense to prefer automatic if you have a very slow and formulaic commute everyday through a traffic jam.  Automatics suck for every other situation though.

In Italy, everybody drives manual but the scooter drivers are fucking insane.  They fucking parkour around buses with their bikes while wearing suits.  I love manual because I want to one day be prepared to drive in Italy.

[drew]

automatic

[ch1nchilla]

I have to drive in heavy traffic fairly regularly, and since I've basically only driven a stick I don't ever really think about it. I hate automatic cars though, I feel like I have no control (downshifting, etc.).