# 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:** 2
**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, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/21 "2011-12-01T19:46:59Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? I learned to drive in Germany where the majority of cars are manual, the majority of cars in all of Europe are manual matter of fact. Automatic trans is mostly an American thing. The pickup is much better and the acceleration around corners is way superior. Slowing and braking is much less load on the brakes, too. When I’m at a light and it goes green… that delay to get moving that every automatic transmission has… is _so_ annoying… uff… I hate it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/22 "2011-12-01T19:49:00Z")
I notice that “manual” is ahead in the poll. I attribute this to people who drive a manual transmission being far more eager to tell people what kind of transmission they drive. In fact, I sometimes suspect that the main advantage to owning a stick shift is being able to tell everybody that you drive one. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/23 "2011-12-01T19:49:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > 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. I have looked at Subaru, Nissan and Ford. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/24 "2011-12-01T19:53:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > 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. Well, your hostile attitude is a little uncalled for since no one has yet to bash automatic drivers. And the issue is finding a manual **with leather**. I’ve noticed the exact same problem as **sparky!** when it comes to that. And I drive both. ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/25 "2011-12-01T19:54:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I notice that “manual” is ahead in the poll. I attribute this to people who drive a manual transmission being far more eager to tell people what kind of transmission they drive. In fact, I sometimes suspect that the main advantage to owning a stick shift is being able to tell everybody that you drive one. :rolleyes: ---
**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, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/26 "2011-12-01T19:56:16Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? First, this is very insulting and ignorant. Second, see above comments about control on snow and in sand. Some of us are actually safe, competent drivers who care about such things, as opposed to slobs who are too lazy to shift. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/27 "2011-12-01T20:12:06Z")
We got rid of our last manual transmission several years ago. I have developed arthritis in the big toe of my left foot, and the clutch business was killing me. To say “OW” each time I shifted gears got a little tiresome. The manual’s gone, and my toe is no better. There’s a lovely bunion now, and I need to have that taken care of. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/28 "2011-12-01T20:23:26Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? It’s much simpler than that. It’s because we are better than you. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/29 "2011-12-01T20:26:26Z")
Manual. Never been in an automatic that I noticed. They simply aren’t common here. ---
**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, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/30 "2011-12-01T20:27:24Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? > [@tdn](#): > > It’s much simpler than that. It’s because we are better than you. Actually it’s because drivers automatics don’t want to admit they can’t drive a stick. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/31 "2011-12-01T20:28:19Z")
My Scion xA is manual, as is spousal unit’s Miata, but our pickup is automatic. We’ve been talking about trading in both cars on a nice, comfy sedan (since I’m retired, I don’t need a commuter car any longer) and we’ve decided we’re getting an automatic, just because. The mileage difference is pretty close to insignificant. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/32 "2011-12-01T20:28:43Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I notice that “manual” is ahead in the poll. I attribute this to people who drive a manual transmission being far more eager to tell people what kind of transmission they drive. In fact, I sometimes suspect that the main advantage to owning a stick shift is being able to tell everybody that you drive one. Or perhaps there’s a less nefarious reason: maybe a number of non-Americans answered the poll. We’re not a rare or endangered species, you know. There are nearly 7 billion of us. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/33 "2011-12-01T20:29:17Z")
> [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](#): > > He said that people want their hands free to use their phones, drink their lattes, etc. Pfft. Wimps. I used to car pool with a guy who would smoke, drink coffee, steer, and shift all at the same time. I think he was trying to add juggling and needlepoint into that routine. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/34 "2011-12-01T20:30:39Z")
I’d rather have a manual transmission too. Most cars I’ve ever driven were standard shift. However a few years ago when I found myself in a position where I could actually go buy a car I wanted – I could only find it with automatic transmission. And it’s a Mustang, so it’s doubly frustrating. I guess I’ve gotten used to it, but when I trade it in – hopefully up to a newer model – I’m going to do everything I can to find a manual shift version. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/35 "2011-12-01T20:30:41Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Pfft. Wimps. I used to car pool with a guy who would smoke, drink coffee, steer, and shift all at the same time. I think he was trying to add juggling and needlepoint into that routine. These days, at least where I’m from, that’s a quick route to a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/36 "2011-12-01T20:33:37Z")
By the way … I absolutely love the fact that I feel like a race car driver when I’m driving a stick. ---
**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, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/37 "2011-12-01T20:35:07Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > Current is automatic, sold the manual. Only interested in manual with sporty type cars that I wouldn’t drive in the winter. We put snow tires on my husband’s new Mustang (six speed standard), and he is reporting that it is handling beautifully this winter (the traction control is really helping, too, we think). > [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? Driving a stick is more complex, but for me, it’s also more fun. I can do more things with my car than if it was automatic (including getting out of snow drifts and shifting down instead of braking on ice). Driving a manual transmission is a skill, and I don’t see anything wrong with being proud of having developed a skill that not everyone has. > [@Broomstick](#): > > 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. I think it’s the combination of standard, leather, and price. The OP can get a standard transmission Mustang with leather seats, but it looks like it’s over $30,000 then. > [@tdn](#): > > It’s much simpler than that. It’s because we are better than you. Well, there’s that, too. 🙂 ---
**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, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/38 "2011-12-01T20:35:33Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? Why does our choice of vehicle make you feel so threatened and inadequate? ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/39 "2011-12-01T20:42:17Z")
Never owned an automatic. I learned on a stick shift, that’s what I’ve always driven. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718/40 "2011-12-01T20:43:21Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 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? Oy. It was a tossup between the two. The automatic got very slightly better mileage. The manual was about $1500.00 cheaper and has less fiddly electronic parts to go wrong down the road. It gives me something to do while I’m driving. And, I suppose, it’s less likely to be stolen because none of the young hoodlums will know how to drive stick. And if you think deep-seated psychological complexes have nothing to do with the reasons why people drive the cars they do, then you should probably stay away from a career in marketing or advertising. (I suspect deep-seated psychological complexes have a lot to do with why people post the things they post too, because I don’t otherwise understand the animosity towards a rather harmless affection for old-time technology.) Oh yeah, Subaru is among the manufacturers that thinks people who drive stick won’t spring for leather and nav systems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drive-a-manual-or-automatic-transmission-car/604718.md?page=3)