Home and Auto Manual or Automatic transmission..which do you prefer?

Deberg_1990 · 10-22-2012, 06:32 AM

Can an Automatic be as much fun as a manual?

http://jalopnik.com/5952570/a-manual...o-deal-with-it

Car enthusiasts have been bemoaning the lack of manual transmissions in cars for what seems like an eternity. Every time a new car comes out and it doesn't offer a manual gearbox, it gets shunned by every card carrying member of the enthusiast community.

But guess what? The manual transmission is outdated technology and there are better things out there. It's time to get over it and say bye bye.
Before I get yelled at by all of you, I want to say that we're not too different. I love a good manual gearbox. If a car has one, I'm instantly more interested in it. And let me tell you, nailing a perfectly rev matched downshift instantly makes me smile. I'm absolutely for putting manual transmissions in everything. When I have a little Travis or Travisette running around I'm going to find a way to stick one in his or her Cozy Coupe.

But I am totally against the notion that having a manual is the only way to properly enjoy a car. That is bullshit. Complete bullshit.

'Manual elitists,' as I call them, will shirk the notion that a car without a third pedal can be engaging to drive. They say that it isn't pure, it isn't as much fun, they don't feel connected.

Bull. Take a current Nissan GT-R to a race track and drive it as fast you can. Then tell me it would be better with a manual gearbox. It just wouldn't be. Your corner speeds will be slower, your straight-line speeds will be slower, and your lap times will be slower.

But you say you don't feel engaged? The point of driving a car quickly, either on a race track or a road, is to make it from the start to finish as fast as humanly possible. If you drive a GT-R on track and don't feel engaged, well, then you just aren't going fast enough.

For a long, long time, a manual gearbox was the best way to do just that, to be the fastest.

It just isn't the case anymore. Times have changed, and we enthusiasts need to adapt to it as well. Everyone dislikes someone who repeatedly refers to the past and says "in my day, we did it this way."

That's what we in the enthusiast community are becoming. Nostalgia is our enemy, technology is our friend.

Funny thing is, a bunch of manual elitists probably own an iPod, subscribe to Netflix, and own a smart phone. The rest of their lives evolved, yet they just can't let the manual tranny go.

I see the manual gearbox like a film camera. When digital first hit the scene, it was terrible. People stuck with film. However, over time, digital got better and better and more and more people started switching. It got to a point where the pros and the stubborn were the only ones with film.

And guess what? Now even the pros use digital. And much like how they could manipulate film better than the average person, their digital pictures are that much better.

It's the same case here. Give a Porsche 991 with a PDK gearbox to two drivers, one great, one not so great. The double clutch transmission will not suddenly make the bad driver a God. He'll still be a mortal. The good driver will be able to manipulate the gearbox better and get the most out of it. He'll still be faster.

And that's where I think a lot of manual defense comes from: fear and snobbery. People think they're members of an elite club just because they know how a clutch works and can heel and toe. Guess what? You're alienating possible enthusiasts by being that way.

As enthusiasts, we should want to welcome everyone, not be scared of others suddenly being better at driving than us. First off, they won't be. Secondly, more competition for the fastest time is better. It's more fun. And having people interested in driving faster makes more enthusiasts. Giving them access to the tools to be quick breeds enthusiasm.

With people caring less and less about cars, we need to make more enthusiasts. We aren't helping by lambasting anyone that can't drive a manual gearbox.

By making exciting cars more accessible to people that may not be as skilled creates passion. Passion builds bonds. Bonds create friends. That's what we need in the enthusiast community.

What we don't need is snobbery and fear of the new.

**Saulbadguy** · 10-22-2012, 06:34 AM

Hard to text and drive when driving a manual so I prefer an automatic.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 10-22-2012, 06:34 AM

It's hard to hold your beer while your trying to steer and shift. Manual trannys cause more wrecks !

Lex Luthor · 10-22-2012, 06:38 AM

When I was a teenager I learned to drive using a Volkswagen that had a 4-speed manual transmission. I had no problem driving a car with a manual transmission. The first time I drove a car with an automatic, I thought "Why the **** would ANYONE ever choose to buy a car with a manual transmission?"

The only reason I could ever figure out was to discourage your wife from asking to borrow your car.

**Easy 6** · 10-22-2012, 06:39 AM

Auto for the daily driver, but any kind of sports car is better in a handshaker.

BlackHelicopters · 10-22-2012, 06:42 AM

Manual more fun in a sports buggy, but auto way more practical for today's commutes.

Imon Yourside · 10-22-2012, 06:48 AM

Manual is more fun, Auto is for the lazy. I drive an automatic now!

**notorious** · 10-22-2012, 06:54 AM

Manual for kids, Automatic for when they are old enough not to destroy it.

InChiefsHeaven · 10-22-2012, 06:59 AM

I insisted both of my kids at least learn how to drive a stick...but it's becoming more irrelevant every day.

Molitoth · 10-22-2012, 07:12 AM

Manual is much more fun.

CoMoChief · 10-22-2012, 07:21 AM

manual ....saves on gas and doesn't wear on your brakes as much (if you downshift).

it's more fun to drive too. sucks though if you're trying to eat and drive around town like on the way to work or something.

mr. tegu · 10-22-2012, 07:21 AM

Automatic for me. I like the freedom and constant use of my hand if I need it. Such as holding onto a drink because they don't always fit in my cup holders.

**cdcox** · 10-22-2012, 07:25 AM

I just bought a new Mazda 3 hatchback with a manual.

COchief · 10-22-2012, 07:33 AM

Real men row their own.

That being said, I'll give a pass to suv/truck drivers as a manual is really just a pain in that type of vehicle.

Radar Chief · 10-22-2012, 07:44 AM

Real men drive a stick, besides a manual transmission is more efficient.
Even with today’s multispeed automatics there is still less parasitic horsepower loss in a manual than an automatic transmission.

10-22-2012, 06:32 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $2154454	Manual or Automatic transmission..which do you prefer? Can an Automatic be as much fun as a manual? http://jalopnik.com/5952570/a-manual...o-deal-with-it Car enthusiasts have been bemoaning the lack of manual transmissions in cars for what seems like an eternity. Every time a new car comes out and it doesn't offer a manual gearbox, it gets shunned by every card carrying member of the enthusiast community. But guess what? The manual transmission is outdated technology and there are better things out there. It's time to get over it and say bye bye. Before I get yelled at by all of you, I want to say that we're not too different. I love a good manual gearbox. If a car has one, I'm instantly more interested in it. And let me tell you, nailing a perfectly rev matched downshift instantly makes me smile. I'm absolutely for putting manual transmissions in everything. When I have a little Travis or Travisette running around I'm going to find a way to stick one in his or her Cozy Coupe. But I am totally against the notion that having a manual is the only way to properly enjoy a car. That is bullshit. Complete bullshit. 'Manual elitists,' as I call them, will shirk the notion that a car without a third pedal can be engaging to drive. They say that it isn't pure, it isn't as much fun, they don't feel connected. Bull. Take a current Nissan GT-R to a race track and drive it as fast you can. Then tell me it would be better with a manual gearbox. It just wouldn't be. Your corner speeds will be slower, your straight-line speeds will be slower, and your lap times will be slower. But you say you don't feel engaged? The point of driving a car quickly, either on a race track or a road, is to make it from the start to finish as fast as humanly possible. If you drive a GT-R on track and don't feel engaged, well, then you just aren't going fast enough. For a long, long time, a manual gearbox was the best way to do just that, to be the fastest. It just isn't the case anymore. Times have changed, and we enthusiasts need to adapt to it as well. Everyone dislikes someone who repeatedly refers to the past and says "in my day, we did it this way." That's what we in the enthusiast community are becoming. Nostalgia is our enemy, technology is our friend. Funny thing is, a bunch of manual elitists probably own an iPod, subscribe to Netflix, and own a smart phone. The rest of their lives evolved, yet they just can't let the manual tranny go. I see the manual gearbox like a film camera. When digital first hit the scene, it was terrible. People stuck with film. However, over time, digital got better and better and more and more people started switching. It got to a point where the pros and the stubborn were the only ones with film. And guess what? Now even the pros use digital. And much like how they could manipulate film better than the average person, their digital pictures are that much better. It's the same case here. Give a Porsche 991 with a PDK gearbox to two drivers, one great, one not so great. The double clutch transmission will not suddenly make the bad driver a God. He'll still be a mortal. The good driver will be able to manipulate the gearbox better and get the most out of it. He'll still be faster. And that's where I think a lot of manual defense comes from: fear and snobbery. People think they're members of an elite club just because they know how a clutch works and can heel and toe. Guess what? You're alienating possible enthusiasts by being that way. As enthusiasts, we should want to welcome everyone, not be scared of others suddenly being better at driving than us. First off, they won't be. Secondly, more competition for the fastest time is better. It's more fun. And having people interested in driving faster makes more enthusiasts. Giving them access to the tools to be quick breeds enthusiasm. With people caring less and less about cars, we need to make more enthusiasts. We aren't helping by lambasting anyone that can't drive a manual gearbox. By making exciting cars more accessible to people that may not be as skilled creates passion. Passion builds bonds. Bonds create friends. That's what we need in the enthusiast community. What we don't need is snobbery and fear of the new.
Posts: 66,914

10-22-2012, 06:34 AM	#2
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $806966	Hard to text and drive when driving a manual so I prefer an automatic. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 47,020

10-22-2012, 06:34 AM	#3
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-29523	It's hard to hold your beer while your trying to steer and shift. Manual trannys cause more wrecks !
Posts: 40,648

10-22-2012, 06:38 AM	#4
Lex Luthor MVP Join Date: Mar 2010 Casino cash: $10022775	When I was a teenager I learned to drive using a Volkswagen that had a 4-speed manual transmission. I had no problem driving a car with a manual transmission. The first time I drove a car with an automatic, I thought "Why the **** would ANYONE ever choose to buy a car with a manual transmission?" The only reason I could ever figure out was to discourage your wife from asking to borrow your car.
Posts: 16,709

10-22-2012, 06:39 AM	#5
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $1867775	Auto for the daily driver, but any kind of sports car is better in a handshaker.
Posts: 94,795

10-22-2012, 06:42 AM	#6
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $1140588	Manual more fun in a sports buggy, but auto way more practical for today's commutes. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
Posts: 32,548

10-22-2012, 06:48 AM	#7
Imon Yourside WhatUneed2Hear Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: AllSoulsMatter Casino cash: $913181	Manual is more fun, Auto is for the lazy. I drive an automatic now! __________________ "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" Peter 5:8 "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay" Isaiah 29:16 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Posts: 45,833

10-22-2012, 06:54 AM	#8
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $1065884	Manual for kids, Automatic for when they are old enough not to destroy it.
Posts: 85,931

10-22-2012, 06:59 AM	#9
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $2265437	I insisted both of my kids at least learn how to drive a stick...but it's becoming more irrelevant every day. __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 26,437

10-22-2012, 07:12 AM	#10
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $1514969	Manual is much more fun.
Posts: 19,912

10-22-2012, 07:21 AM	#11
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7852254	manual ....saves on gas and doesn't wear on your brakes as much (if you downshift). it's more fun to drive too. sucks though if you're trying to eat and drive around town like on the way to work or something. __________________ Last edited by CoMoChief; 10-22-2012 at 07:33 AM..
Posts: 39,198

10-22-2012, 07:21 AM	#12
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $131300	Automatic for me. I like the freedom and constant use of my hand if I need it. Such as holding onto a drink because they don't always fit in my cup holders.
Posts: 25,167

10-22-2012, 07:25 AM	#13
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $1061769	I just bought a new Mazda 3 hatchback with a manual.
Posts: 45,717

10-22-2012, 07:33 AM	#14
COchief Blame it on the Henne Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Donk-town Casino cash: $6503231	Real men row their own. That being said, I'll give a pass to suv/truck drivers as a manual is really just a pain in that type of vehicle.
Posts: 2,979

10-22-2012, 07:44 AM	#15
Radar Chief Wearing ballistic dog goggles. Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: In the box. Casino cash: $4051503	Real men drive a stick, besides a manual transmission is more efficient. Even with today’s multispeed automatics there is still less parasitic horsepower loss in a manual than an automatic transmission. __________________ Like "Cool Hand" Luke I'm busting rocks. __/\|_/[___] \|/ \\_\| ---OllllO _( ))~-( ))-0--))
Posts: 25,390