I test-drove quite a few cars over the weekend and was surprised by the number of cars that distinctly smelt of smoke, it was at least half the cars I drove.
I’m in the market for an automatic, and I’m wondering if smokers prefer automatics as it gives them a hand free for smoking?
I predict there will be no correlation because smokers have learned to smoke regardless of the place, condition or activity. If they don’t smoke during sex, then right after. They get arrested on Cops and they continue to smoke.
PS. I came here hoping it was a car question. Leaving disappointed. At least your transmission is not smoking.
Am I correctly inferring that you’re from New Zealand? If so, you’re probably looking at a very different population (of cars and people) than in the US. The vast majority of people in the US prefer automatic, regardless of whether they smoke. I doubt you’ll find any meaningful correlations from a sample of mostly US dopers.
Smoking = Coolness
Stick Shift = Coolness
At least that’s how it was when I was growing up.
What Al Bundy said. It’s not difficult to hold a cigarette and the steering wheel at the same time.
Yes, but with the manual transmission, you also need a hand free to shift with, so where does your cellphone go, smart guy?
I thought this was an interesting question - our last two car purchases have been manual transmissions, and I don’t think I noticed smoke in any of the cars we tried. It never occurred to me that it might be because we were trying manual transmission cars.
Smoker, definitely prefer manual transmission, voted accordingly.
Also I can smoke, talk on the phone and shift all at the same time.
/not that I recommend it, generally.
Smoker, prefer manual.
Today I realised I was simultaneously steering, downshifting, smoking, listening to the radio, talking to a friend (in the car, not on the phone), and deftly managing a potential shart. Who says men can’t multitask?
I’ve been driving manuals since 1990, and quit smoking in 2005. I chose the “prefer manual, non smoker” option, but the reason why I prefer manual is because they’re cheaper. I hate to spend extra money for the auto transmission option (I am on my 2nd Mini Cooper and it’s a $1200 option over a stick shift car) when I know how to drive a stick.
Ask again this winter when I’m driving in blizzards in rush hour traffic with my 5- speed and I’d probably say that I prefer an automatic. 