Stick or Auto

Hawkshot99 · Aug 23, 2007

MarcHowes said:
STICK!

Any stick drivers ever drive an automatic and hit the "phantom clutch" while driving?

I have never had a auto as my vehicle to drive. Both of my parents have autos that I drive quite often though. Almost every time when I get in one of their vehicles I go to push the clutch in to start the engine, and when my foot doesn't hit the pedal I am trying to figure out whats wrong.

The thing I love about a stick is that it can make a real crappy slow car feel fast. When i got my first car, a 95' Ford Escort my sister had a 95' Geo Prizm (auto). Both vehicles were painfully slow, but the Ford felt so much faster to me.

I will never own a Auto car, but would be willing to drive a auto truck, as it makes it so much easier backing up trailers, although I tow with a stick now.

FRITOLAYGUY · Aug 23, 2007

I drive a Maxima stick shift, i get to bored with an automatic , plus i feel like i pay more attention while driving with a stick in relation to road conditions, speed limits, etc.

skijay · Aug 23, 2007

I took delivery of my first car with an automatic this past May. I needed this as I am in stop and go traffic. It does rob the little 1.5 liter motor of power.

My other vehicle is a 5 speed manual.

After driving the automatic for the three months, when the other vehicle needs replacing, it will be an automatic.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Aug 23, 2007

I'm guessing most people on here drive Suburus???? I do..

wa-loaf · Aug 23, 2007

GrilledSteezeSandwich said:
I'm guessing most people on here drive Suburus???? I do..

I think there's a good variety of ski cars represented, but yea Subaru's got a good chunk of it.

'05 Outback here.

Might be an idea for another thread . . . :idea:

snoseek · Aug 23, 2007

imo there is no real advantage to auto unless you really hate driving. better milage, more power, better in snow, lower matainence, more control. seems like so many manufacturers are trying to get away from manuels, shame.

awf170 · Aug 23, 2007

I think you stick guys are actually starting to rival people who drive hybrids and mac users in smugness. Congrats!

Hawkshot99 · Aug 24, 2007

GrilledSteezeSandwich said:
I'm guessing most people on here drive Suburus???? I do..

Negative. Honda CRV......but want a truck

ComeBackMudPuddles · Aug 24, 2007

Stick is definitely more fun, and can make a boring car like my old Saturn a little more interesting, but automatics are way more convenient in traffic, and my wife couldn't have driven without an automatic when pregnant.

I see the mileage point with manual transmissions, but I wonder what would happen to all the manual transmission fan boys if they were faced with the choice between continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and standards? The difference between the two of them is much bigger (10%) than the difference between manual and automatic transmissions. If money is a top concern, and the two transmissions cost the same, you've GOT to go CVT, no?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-06-12-cvt-usat_x.htm

ctenidae · Aug 24, 2007

GrilledSteezeSandwich said:
I'm guessing most people on here drive Suburus???? I do..

Acura TSX. It'd be a damned shame to lose the 6 speed on that. Red line at 7K rpm screams.

wa-loaf · Aug 24, 2007

ComeBackMudPuddles said:
Stick is definitely more fun, and can make a boring car like my old Saturn a little more interesting, but automatics are way more convenient in traffic, and my wife couldn't have driven without an automatic when pregnant.

I see the mileage point with manual transmissions, but I wonder what would happen to all the manual transmission fan boys if they were faced with the choice between continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and standards? The difference between the two of them is much bigger (10%) than the difference between manual and automatic transmissions. If money is a top concern, and the two transmissions cost the same, you've GOT to go CVT, no?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-06-12-cvt-usat_x.htm

Even automatics are quickly catching up to manuals on fuel consumption. It's simply a sense of fun and being in control that keeps me in a standard. There have been many times I've been stuck in traffic where an auto would have been real handy.

Nothing seems less interesting to me than a CVT, you might as well be driving a golf cart.

My wife drove a standard through both of her pregnancies, so I don't get that point.

Marc · Aug 24, 2007

ComeBackMudPuddles said:
Stick is definitely more fun, and can make a boring car like my old Saturn a little more interesting, but automatics are way more convenient in traffic, and my wife couldn't have driven without an automatic when pregnant.

I see the mileage point with manual transmissions, but I wonder what would happen to all the manual transmission fan boys if they were faced with the choice between continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and standards? The difference between the two of them is much bigger (10%) than the difference between manual and automatic transmissions. If money is a top concern, and the two transmissions cost the same, you've GOT to go CVT, no?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-06-12-cvt-usat_x.htm

No, because the other problems inherent to a computer controlled gear ratio selector remain the same whether the means of changing the ratio is accomplished through a planetary gearset or a CVT.

A CVT also still relies on a torque converter which introduces a signifcant amount of the driveline power loss in an automatic transmission. If there are CVT which are more efficient than manual transmissions, I'd love to know about them, though it is not enough of a concern of mine personally to outweight their other shortcomings.

wa-loaf · Aug 24, 2007

ctenidae said:
Acura TSX. It'd be a damned shame to lose the 6 speed on that. Red line at 7K rpm screams.

Nice, the only time I've driven a 6 speed was in Germany in a rental car. It was a Diesel too, i wish we could get some of the high performance diesels from europe over here. Nothing like cruising at 120mph in rush hour and everyone else is going the same speed. I think the slow lane was doing like 80.

Marc · Aug 24, 2007

wa-loaf said:
Nice, the only time I've driven a 6 speed was in Germany in a rental car. It was a Diesel too, i wish we could get some of the high performance diesels from europe over here. Nothing like cruising at 120mph in rush hour and everyone else is going the same speed. I think the slow lane was doing like 80.

Meh, my Audi's got a 6 spd. Nothing special. Usually fourth is still direct drive, and you just have two overdrive options instead of one. Occasionally fourth is slightly less than direct drive and fifth is slightly more, but there isn't too much different between a 6 and a 5 speed. The only real usefull purpose is the ability to have both a very close ratio transmission that doesn't drain gas on the highway since it still have that very tall 6th gear.

ctenidae · Aug 24, 2007

Marc said:
Meh, my Audi's got a 6 spd. Nothing special. Usually fourth is still direct drive, and you just have two overdrive options instead of one. Occasionally fourth is slightly less than direct drive and fifth is slightly more, but there isn't too much different between a 6 and a 5 speed. The only real usefull purpose is the ability to have both a very close ratio transmission that doesn't drain gas on the highway since it still have that very tall 6th gear.

I rarely use 5th, since 4th wraps up well into highway speeds, and beyond. There is about a 500 rpm difference between 5th and 6th, though, so that's good for mileage. 6th still has plenty of go power for highway use.

cbcbd · Aug 24, 2007

MarcHowes said:
Any stick drivers ever drive an automatic and hit the "phantom clutch" while driving?

Nah, but like ctnedia I have stomped hard on the brake pedal with my left foot - very surprising and jarring when it happens.

Paul said:
Watch it there, Killer.....

I drove nuttin' but stick, til I met my wife...

Now I've had nuttiin' but autos. Can't use her as a designated driver if she will only drive auto, and I have a stick.

'99 convertible Mustang GT. Auto. Still drive like a bat outta Hell. Although, it would be more fun with a manual.

My point still stands - you gave up stick and still know it would be more fun with it.

Only cars I don't hear people complaining about the lack of stick are AMG Mercedes - of course they don't have a stick option, but I guess they're pretty sick car in their own right.

ctenidae · Aug 24, 2007

It kills me that Land Rover doesn't offer a stick anymore.
Really, what's the point of 4 wheel drive if it's not a stick?

wa-loaf · Aug 24, 2007

ctenidae said:
It kills me that Land Rover doesn't offer a stick anymore.
Really, what's the point of 4 wheel drive if it's not a stick?

I might be wrong, but I don't think a lot of the traction and stability control functions work with standards.

Greg · Aug 24, 2007

ctenidae said:
what's the point of 4 wheel drive if it's not a stick?

The 4WDs on our 2000 Cherokee Sport and 2004 Grand Cherokee (both autos) serve us well for what we use them for (winter travel). I think you stick aficionados need to chill. For the average driver, is a 4WD with a stick really that much better than an auto? Sure, sticks are fun. I drove them for years so I get it, but come on, it's just a car. Point A to point B as far as I'm concerned... :roll:

awf170 said:
I think you stick guys are actually starting to rival people who drive hybrids and mac users in smugness. Congrats!

Right on, Austin! :lol:

wa-loaf · Aug 24, 2007

Greg said:
The 4WDs on our 2000 Cherokee Sport and 2004 Grand Cherokee (both autos) serve us well for what we use them for (winter travel). I think you stick aficionados need to chill. For the average driver, is a 4WD with a stick really that much better than an auto? Sure, sticks are fun. I drove them for years so I get it, but come on, it's just a car. Point A to point B as far as I'm concerned... :roll:

I think it's like any minority (mac users and hybrid drivers included). We feel a bit outnumbered and feel the need to defend our preferences. I read that 9 out of 10 cars sold in the US are autos. Pretty soon you won't be able to buy them at all, so our days are numbered.

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