Transmission Poll; Auto or Manual

[Psybadek]

Personally I prefer manual in cars, my 05 is a 5 speed and I love it, but i'm glad I went auto for my 11. For me it's just a hassle in a truck and driving in the city sucks, even on highway as it gets crowded in Memphis and bumper to bumper sucks. So I went auto and only just got a manual recently when I bought a 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 last night. Manuals belong in sports cars. Not DD

[rich_earth]

Wish mine was a manual. None were available anywhere in my state when I got my CC Pro-4X. I guess the only advantage is my wife can drive the truck if she needed to being an auto.

[JNR]

I prefer manual in my DD's and you always have control in any given situation and never even bothers(ed) me in traffic, no matter how stop and go it is. One thing I miss about a manual is being able to keep it in one gear and being able to not keep gaps going when I'm in stop and go...seems the auto always like to shift early then get in the wrong gear, forcing you to downshift, then it goes too fast (i.e. have to get on brakes).

I've only driven one 6-speed Nissan and it was an xTerra PRO-4X and it was one of the easiest manuals to drive, although it was for a short period...I am glad I went auto with my frontier, although there are times I really miss a stick...just can't wait to get a transgo and do some more 'mods' and bet the auto will be that much more pleasurable...one thing I wish it had was lower gearing (axles, like 3.73-4.10) and a higher 5th (0.84 is kind of low for a final OD). Also, the WOT removal I'm sure will make a huge difference. Just sucks we can't program the trans thru the ECU like other makes, although maybe uprev is working on that (I hope!).

So, to me, I don't think a manual belongs only in a sports car (that would leave out most all cars that come with the manual, like the CTS-V, camaros, mustangs, etc.) Just as home in the truck, so long as it's not like the old ones that were a bear to drive (ever try a three on the tree, he he).

[booszookpr]

It's funny. I hear the argument for an auto in a daily driver over a manual a lot. Particularly in driving in traffic. For me it's the opposite. When I had an auto, I found I missed the manual the most when I was stuck in traffic. I always felt bored in tha auto. But in the manual, I have the challenge of finding that perfect balance that allows me to stay in a gear and still keep pace with traffic. But then again, I've been told I'm a little odd.


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[Rowdy Dowdy]

I had manuals in many cars, including a '79 Datsun King Cab. I agree with all of the advantages listed in this thread. However, this truck is my DD and shifting just to get from point A to B, that gets old for me. In my dream world, my DD would be auto and I would have a weekend play truck with a manual.

[JeniorNV]

Originally Posted by JeniorNV

There is a case to be made for automatics though. We own three vehicles and they are all manuals. But we decided the next car we buy will be an auto.

We replaced one of our manuals with an auto last week. Now if I have another surgery on my arm (which is a possibility at this point), I'll have something I can drive.

[KickinTires]

Originally Posted by Psybadek

Manuals belong in sports cars. Not DD

To me having a manual in my DD gives me that much more opportunity to enjoy the heck out of this engine and tranny combo...

Originally Posted by booszookpr

It's funny. I hear the argument for an auto in a daily driver over a manual a lot. Particularly in driving in traffic. For me it's the opposite. When I had an auto, I found I missed the manual the most when I was stuck in traffic. I always felt bored in tha auto. But in the manual, I have the challenge of finding that perfect balance that allows me to stay in a gear and still keep pace with traffic. But then again, I've been told I'm a little odd.

I guess then I'm 'odd' as well, never really wanted to blend in either...

Bottom line though, to each there own, just enjoy the truck and drive safe...

[the955iman]

So wish there would have been a Manual available when I got mine. The auto is ok, though I manually shift the gears a lot. I just really miss a manual tranny.

[midnightsun]

Special-ordered my manual NISMO because there wasn't one on any dealer's lot at the time. The only auto trannies I've owned were in two used cars I owned long ago. Stick is just more fun, especially for mountain driving.

The only downside relative to an auto is when backing up a trailer; this is harder to do well with a stick shift.

I dislike city driving anyway, for reasons other than transmission factors, so choosing stick based on its fun factor for rural drives and road trips was a no-brainer. I sure hope we'll continue to have that choice in the future.

[TomInTX]

I like both Auto and Manual. The Auto is good for when I just want to get to point B from point A. Manual is good for when I want to experience, as much as possible, the road I'm driving on.

Tom