# Do you drive a manual or automatic transmission car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718 "2011-12-01T17:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/1 "2011-12-01T17:28:41Z")
I did a search and didn’t see a poll on this. So, what kind of transmission do you drive? I prefer manuals, but am getting a bit annoyed at how few cars are equipped with them these days. It seems (other than BMWs) that only the low end models come with manuals. Why can’t I get an inexpensive (low to mid 20s) 4 cylinder with leather, manual transmission and 30+ mpg highway? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/2 "2011-12-01T17:45:19Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > \ > Why can’t I get an inexpensive (low to mid 20s) 4 cylinder with leather, manual transmission and 30+ mpg highway? I think it’s the combination of manual transmission and leather seats that’s the problem - it seems like once you go “up” from a manual transmission to the luxury items, you can no longer get a manual transmission. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/3 "2011-12-01T18:18:46Z")
I drive a 2008 Honda Civic EX that’s a stick. When I bought it I got a deal on it because the dealer was having a hard time unloading it. He said that Honda doesn’t make as many manuals as they used to because nobody wants them. He said that people want their hands free to use their phones, drink their lattes, etc. Also, AIUI, you don’t really get improved mileage with a manual anymore, so folks who would have bought a stick for that reason can now buy automatics. So, that affects demand. Just checked and it looks like you can’t even get a Civic stick until you get up to the Si models, but even the Si doesn’t have leather. Maybe you’d be able to find a late model Civic with everything you want? When I bought mine, IIRC, the EX-L had leather seats. Or maybe a 2007 Acura RSX? (Acura stopped making the RSX after 2007. It’s just basically a higher end Civic Si, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/4 "2011-12-01T18:29:34Z")
Cute 2011 Mazda2 and a 2003 F-250. Mrsaje has a Scion XB, the original model (can’t remember what year) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/5 "2011-12-01T18:31:19Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I did a search and didn’t see a poll on this. > > So, what kind of transmission do you drive? > > I prefer manuals, but am getting a bit annoyed at how few cars are equipped with them these days. It seems (other than BMWs) that only the low end models come with manuals. > > Why can’t I get an inexpensive (low to mid 20s) 4 cylinder with leather, manual transmission and 30+ mpg highway? Have you looked at Mazdas? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/6 "2011-12-01T18:31:30Z")
Automatic-never learned manual. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/7 "2011-12-01T18:35:06Z")
My family rotates cars based on who needs what for what, but my car (the one that’s actually mine) is an automatic Honda Accord. Of the other two vehicles, one (a BMW) is a stick and the other (a Ford) is automatic. While it can be fun to drive stick on occasion, I really don’t get it. Granted, I’m not a “car person” or anything, but getting stuck in traffic in that BMW is like the inner ring of hell. Assuming your leg doesn’t atrophy from all the stopping and going, it’s still a pretty unpleasant experience. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/8 "2011-12-01T18:36:41Z")
I don’t like driving an automatic. I like having that bit of control (I know it’s silly). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/9 "2011-12-01T18:40:37Z")
Manual Subaru Outback. All my cars have been manual but this may be the last one, since my commute these days involves a lot of traffic and the clutch thing is getting old. Plus, for gas mileage it may be to my benefit to get an automatic as others have said. But I like the manual for driving in snow and getting out of tricky places. It will be hard to give up. One reason that manuals are disappearing on fancier cars is that many manufacturers don’t have stick transmissions that can handle the extra power on cars today. They certainly could build them, but the demand isn’t there to invest in the development costs. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/10 "2011-12-01T18:41:40Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Have you looked at Mazdas? Yep. I don’t like the steering feel of them (the Mazda6). I’ve been looking at Certified Pre-Owned BMWs. The prices aren’t bad and the warranty looks great. Unfortunately, I think my insurance will take a hit. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/11 "2011-12-01T18:42:05Z")
> [@Silver\_Tyger](#): > > I don’t like driving an automatic. I like having that bit of control (I know it’s silly). (It’s not silly. I feel the same way. But I tell people it’s because a manual does better in the snow.) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/12 "2011-12-01T18:45:06Z")
> [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](#): > > (It’s not silly. I feel the same way. But I tell people it’s because a manual does better in the snow.) That’s why I like manual: I like the control. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/13 "2011-12-01T18:48:55Z")
Both. The Saturn Ion is automatic and the Nissan Frontier is manual. Same reason as given by others: I like the control on snow and sand. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/14 "2011-12-01T19:15:53Z")
The Prius doesn’t come in stick, so auto. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/15 "2011-12-01T19:20:11Z")
Current is automatic, sold the manual. Only interested in manual with sporty type cars that I wouldn’t drive in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/16 "2011-12-01T19:27:27Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I did a search and didn’t see a poll on this. > > So, what kind of transmission do you drive? > > I prefer manuals, but am getting a bit annoyed at how few cars are equipped with them these days. It seems (other than BMWs) that only the low end models come with manuals. > > Why can’t I get an inexpensive (low to mid 20s) 4 cylinder with leather, manual transmission and 30+ mpg highway? Honda Accord makes a model exactly like that. I’m on my 2nd one. The manual transmission on my 4-cylinder gets up goes lickety split! (Though I don’t quite get 30 mpg.) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/17 "2011-12-01T19:35:12Z")
I currently drive a 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i with manual. I do about 95% highway (~45 miles each way) and am getting 30.9 mpg indicated. I love the car overall, but it is cramped. I had a Ford Fusion rental for a few weeks and really loved. I also had a VW Passat rental over vacation and loved that, too. I’d like a car with less road noise, and maybe a bit plusher. I see Ford only offers the 6 speed on the base Fusion. Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/18 "2011-12-01T19:37:46Z")
I’m really surprised by how many people have voted manual (it’s actually ahead of automatic!). I’ve never understood this obsession some have with making driving much more complex and labor-intensive for themselves so they can feel like a race car driver, or whatever. Do you all have deep-seated psychological complexes where you don’t feel “in control” of your own lives, so you need to feel more “in control” of your car? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/19 "2011-12-01T19:40:09Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Why can’t I get an inexpensive (low to mid 20s) 4 cylinder with leather, manual transmission and 30+ mpg highway? You really can’t find that? We got our 4 cylinder, _automatic_ transmission **40+ mph highway** car for under $14,000. Seriously? You can’t find a manual transmission in that price range? ETA: And I’ll never own a manual as long as I’m married to my current spouse, as due to disability he can’t manage a manual but does fine on an automatic. Folks who have an issue with my choice of transmission can just go pound sand because, ya know, I got nothing to prove and we need vehicles we can both drive. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/20 "2011-12-01T19:40:20Z")
A combination, Tiptronic. I can lay or play. If memory serves, the 0-60 and 0-100 times were actually slightly faster when left in the Automatic mode. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718.md?page=2)