Really? It's the exact opposite over here. Manual is the exception, everyone seems to have an automatic.
A lot of american car makers don't even offer the option of a manual anymore, it's sad.
Automatic or Manual gear?
- Thread starter pascal
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A lot of american car makers don't even offer the option of a manual anymore, it's sad.
DuckThor Evil
Legend
I'm sorry I think I misunderstood the situation...
I didn't realise that you guys were talking about a road that has passing lane...
I thought you were talking about a road that has only one lane per direction. I hate passing lane hoggers as much as anybody, if there is a faster car behind.
That's because, by and large, American cars are soft-suspension waterbeds on wheels with low efficiency engines designed to drive long distances in comfort on flat or low-gradient freeways and in an economy where fuel is cheap. European cars, by comparison, are designed for narrow lanes and congested cities, all up-hill and down-dale where the quality of the road surface is generally lower and the price of petrol much, much higher.digitalwanderer said:
Not where I live in PA. The roads here are so bad compared to Melbourne where I grew up that I'm thinking of petitioning the government for a tax break or subsidy on shock absorbers.
I grew up in England and I've driven manuals my entire life.
The last couple of years I've had to buy automatics because my other half can't drive a manual, and my commute went from none existent to stulpid and I have to say although I'd rather drive a manual, when I'm stuck in stop and go traffic on my morning commute I really like the automatic.
The last couple of years I've had to buy automatics because my other half can't drive a manual, and my commute went from none existent to stulpid and I have to say although I'd rather drive a manual, when I'm stuck in stop and go traffic on my morning commute I really like the automatic.
Really? It's the exact opposite over here. Manual is the exception, everyone seems to have an automatic.
A lot of american car makers don't even offer the option of a manual anymore, it's sad.
That's because you have cheap gas. In a few years I'm sure the trend will changes as gas prices continue to rise though.
I prefer manual primarily because of better fuel economy. On rental cars I prefer automatic though because automatics are much easier to drive and each manual car has their own special clutch/gas balance that takes a while learn. Also, for precision driving automatic is really great. If you need to move the car 5cm, that's far from easy to do on a manual since you essentially need to handle all of clutch, gas and brake at the same time (and I only have two feet). On an automatic you only need to care about the brake in such a situation, so it's no problem at all.
I doubt that. Most people over here have no clue how to drive a manual and don't want to learn.
My current car is a manual, but my last one was a auto and I had it for about 6 1/2 years. The last 6 months driving it were torture, knowing that I would be getting a new car soon and that it would be a manual.
And besides being more fun (at least if the car has some decent power), I think it makes me a better driver because I have to pay attention to whats going on. That and I can't have a cell phone in one hand, a coke in the other and shift and steer all at the same time. When I did have to drive an automatic for a week or two, I found that my mind would wander off and I'd have no real memory of what happened while I was driving.
Meh, manual is overrated imo. Automatic is good to have with all the stop and go traffic and I personally think shifting is distracting when the time would be better spent keeping an eye on the road and your surroundings.
I do have a 5 speed shiftronic transmission though, automatic with the non clutch shifting as an option.
I do have a 5 speed shiftronic transmission though, automatic with the non clutch shifting as an option.
Now that's definitely not true. Try a good BMW or Merc with the latest automatic (with steering wheel shift paddles) and you'll change your opinion.
Really? It's the exact opposite over here. Manual is the exception, everyone seems to have an automatic.
A lot of american car makers don't even offer the option of a manual anymore, it's sad.
I visited family in France and they where like: " oh you drive an automatic , well girls drive automatic gear here ..." hah .
Well so far my first automatic gear drive . my BMW drives fantastic with auto gear, just sometimes i wish i could have manual gear.
Blitzkrieg
Newcomer
Manual by far. Cant stand autos, tho I imagine those BMW autos would change my mind. Here in NZ autos are for drag cars, businesses and girls. Though younger woman seem to be more into manuals these days with the popularity of rally cars and boy racing.
automatic + cruisecontrol
The truck drivers had some serious fun watching me play with my ex-gf while driving, that wasn't a joke
Blazkowicz
Legend
I loved smoking while driving my manual, it's perfectly possible and it was fun (be it a cigarrette or something else). too bad I quit two monthes ago.
-> Anova : uh, I'm constantly keeping an eye (actually, both) on the road. do you watch your gas pedal?
BTW I'm not distracted by LCD screens, A/C controls, loads of crap or even rev-meter.. my car is old and low end so it doesn't have those things
I think stop and go traffic is the best argument. though a hybrid would be even better.
-> Anova : uh, I'm constantly keeping an eye (actually, both) on the road. do you watch your gas pedal?
BTW I'm not distracted by LCD screens, A/C controls, loads of crap or even rev-meter.. my car is old and low end so it doesn't have those things
I think stop and go traffic is the best argument. though a hybrid would be even better.
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