Which do you prefer? Manual or automatic?

Question

With manual transmissions the acceleration is better, and the car doesn't use as much petrol. I prefer manual.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

What you described USED to be true, but auto transmissions have been much better than that for the last 25-30 years. That may not be true for tiny, underpowered European cars, but there's a reason that nearly every newer car in the US is an auto, and it's not because we don't like performance.

I drove almost nothing but manuals for the first 25 years or so of having a driver's license, but while I love driving a manual on a road trip, they are hell to drive in stop-and-go, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and that's exactly what you get a lot of the time in the San Francisco Bay Area. That's why my current cars are automatics - that and the fact that very few cars are even available with manual transmissions in the US - just a handful of sports cars, and only if you special order them that way in most cases. Autos are definitely the default choice, and often the only choice in the US today.

But 5-speed and even 7-speed autos are commonplace, and there's virtually no gas mileage difference between manuals and autos on the few cars that offer both.

Anyway, this is going to be a moot issue soon anyway - as cars are quickly going all-electric, transmissions will no longer exist, because electric motors don't need them.

Farmer27 · Accepted Answer

Manual. Of course auto is a lot easier and effortless but when I drive I like to be in full control of the car and I love the feel when you shift gears.

Daniela1982 · Accepted Answer

If you have a good automatic it is not sluggish. I couldn't shift mine fast enough with a stick as it has 800 hp, and I don't have to worry about burning out a clutch or rolling down backwards on a hill. It's just more comfortable driving with an auto. My 8 speed transmission is also shiftable if I want some stick action.

ZS007 · Accepted Answer

I learnt with an auto car though my first lesson was manual. I don't like changing gears and in my fam all the cars are auto so there wasn't really a reason to learn with a manual car.

ElementoP · Answer

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jshm2 · Answer

You're confused, and have a really old automatic.

Newer automatics are much better on fuel economy, not to mention if you do a lot of driving then the cruise control and auto drive features can make the drive a lot easier and safer. The newer automatics also have "drive modes" meaning you can switch the turbo or economy on or off as required.

Manual cars are very inefficient and rely on the driver doing all the legwork. Which is great for supercars and sports cars. But not so great for family or utility vehicles that you want to get from A-Z as efficiently as possible.

Hence why manual is disappearing pretty quick in smaller vehicles. It's just not worth paying the money for poorer manual performance and lower economy, when automatic enables a smart car.

Smoothing · Answer

Manual is still the best. Unfortunately they are disappearing worldwide. Automatic is becoming the car the standard. I surely going to miss manual cars.

Th3ft · Answer

Manual transmission ALLLLL DAY LOOOONNNNGGGGGG lol! I would and will always prefer manual but I do see a lot of good in automatic and very well may end up gettin an automatic soon.

CourtneyJane2 · Answer

Manual. It's more fun to drive, and my Porsche had a manual. I miss that car 😢

MuddyMole · Answer

Manual is better than automatic, but obviously electrification is going to make both obsolete within a couple of years anyway.

It's just a shame we're stuck with shitty batteries, instead of using small gas turbines running on biofuels to provide the electricity instead (more like diesel-electric trains and ships) - all the benefits of electric cars (high torque, no gearbox/clutch, carbon neutral), with none of the drawbacks (slow charging, limited range, destructive and polluting lithium mining, etc).

LikeALog · Answer

I had manual transmission in my most on my vehicles. My truck has a manual. For hauling, I think manual is the better option. It is also much cheaper to maintain and more reliable.
Automatics have improved vastly and most accelerate better than manual these days. But I'm not interested in getting to the next stop light first.

ohsheeT · Answer

If I'm just cruising around town I'd rather have an automatic if I'm up in the hills four wheeling I want to stick shift because I want low end torque and I want to gas the gas and climb up the hills I want to climb up your gear shifter your manual you use when you need to control your speed you're turning because it reads at the RPMs and you have 10 times more control in short little distances but around town automatic I'm lazy but if I'm racing or find out four wheeling I want to stick shift

RavVid · Answer

Good luck with maintaining a preference for manual! Electric cars don't have them and don't need them.

Internal combustion engines have them because their torque/power curve is relatively narrow. Electric cars change the frequency of the current. In effect the gearbox gear shift becomes electronics other than one fixed gear.

MikeInHawaii · Answer

A stick shift is now the best anti-theft device you can buy.

Fireguy17 · Answer

I have both.
As for speed now an automatic can't be beat.
Dual clutch, paddle shift or just put it in drive and hang on.
For feeling like you have more control, nostalgia, just holding it in 1 gear to make some noise nothing beats a manual.
City traffic, stop and go rush hour traffic an automatic is so much nicer.
I used to drive trucks, and as soon as you started getting up some speed you would hit a red light and start all over again.

Curmudgeon · Answer

I learned on stick, as it was a necessity for economy cars, especially second hand ones, when I learned to drive in the 1980s. Today, it seems that just about all cars have gone automatic, at least in the USA anyway.

hafinjun · Answer

So you prefer having that hard shifter in hand , while "driving" 😉

Anonymous · Answer

I don't have a drivers license but i test drove a manual transmission car before for a very short time.

Automatic transmission sounds pretty nice as its one less thing to worry about when driving Even though manual transmission is easy enough.

FreyaRed · Answer

I'm European but I prefer automatic. After standing two hours in traffic jam with a rented Porsche 911 that has clutch with at leas 30kg pushing force, I had really enough of manual shifting.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Try an 7+ speed double clutch automatic… that acceleration is not beatable by a manual clutch. I like manual, but to my information there are no manual systems with seven or more speeds.

mandyfire98 · Answer

I prefer automatic, it's just less to deal with and you don't have to fool with a clutch or shifting.

20thGreatRomances · Answer

Auto is obviously easier to drive for anyone but, I prefer manual because I have more control of my car. Being able to down shift and keep RPMs higher when necessary is convenient for me.

docster · Answer

I was a manual enthusiast for decades and 4 cars. But when I got over 45 y/o you finally get tired of it and just want to take it easy and get an automatic.

douride2 · Answer

Either is ok with me. I learned to drive with a manual. My work vehicle is a manual my personal vehicle is an auto. After shifting all day long at work it's nice to just put it in drive & go on the way home.

MTC29 · Answer

I prefer manual, but those transmissions are difficult to find.

Massageman · Answer

Auto. Mine has the option of going manual on demand, and I will use this feature once-in-a-great-while in odd-ball situations, such as pulling out into traffic from this one particular store in town.

Adam1978 · Answer

I don't drive but when I have it was always manual. Automatic is of course much easier since it's basically one less thing to handle.

Autember · Answer

I prefer automatic. I learned to drive a manual and took my driving test in one, but honestly I prefer how easy the automatic cars are.

whereismyjohnny · Answer

Manual. Automatic looks so easy to drive and I would probably find it boring since I love to drive and actually do something 😅

2Wheels · Answer

I prefer automatic for everyday driving. Obviously my motorcycle is not though, so I get the best of both worlds. 😄

Middleman · Answer

I prefer automatic. I tried stick shifts before (when my family had manual cars) and I didn't like it.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Neither. I'm a fan of the the ''quick shift'' system

JPresidente · Answer

I presently have an automatic but used to have a manual transmission. I much prefer a manual transmission. Shifting is fun especially on the open road areas.

genericname85 · Answer

i ever only drove automatic once. i actually prefer it but it's rare in germany and costs extra money, which i'm not willing to pay as i'm used to manual.

DCooper · Answer

I like a good old fashioned bolt action shift machine.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Join the 21st century, yo! Semi-automatic shifting is where it’s at.

BlueScorpio · Answer

I've always been in auto cars so that's what I'm use to.

TransAm85 · Answer

I live in a city where accidents happen everyday. Automatic tranny is best to have.

devilish-cutie · Answer

I voted manual cause I never tried automatic so...

DarkWinterNights · Answer

Amazing how they’re phasing out manual transmissions almost entirely, but half of the people in this poll still prefer them.

Levin · Answer

I don't know how to drive an auto. So manual.

exitseven · Answer

I would rather have a standard transmission Too bad that any vehicle I have owned over the last 20 years does not have it as an option

DavidRaul · Answer

I have driven both and tbh i prefer automotive. Once you drive a DCT, get a taste of real speed. You can't go back loving the manual transmission

Paul09 · Answer

Manual for life! Well till EV takes over. kinda wish their was ev manual version lol

dustybiker · Answer

Manual. I like to drive a car, not snooze.

AviatorTom · Answer

A manual transmission is more fun to drive but an automatic is so much easier... and safer.

smilelots · Answer

I like both to be honest. I have both as of right now and I love them both my hot rod is Auto my every day car is Manual.

Redstang88 · Answer

Manual is fun for a weekend cruiser or tow rig, but honestly I’d take an auto for a daily or dedicated race car.

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

Automatic. I don't have the cash for a high end sports car and otherwise find the stick shift more dangerous with chicks trying to take selfies at the same time.

Anonymous · Answer

The actual answer is likely to be what you're used to most. For me it's manual. Note that if we are all to drive electric cars. Everyone will soon have automatics.

OG956 · Answer

As u write manual is better 4 petrol safe, but automatic gear is better 4 city (where u have 2 stay in traffic) but I would buy a car with automatic gear 100% :) + cng

AsaKyo · Answer

I'm too dumb to operate a manual, so automatic

User_69 · Answer

It depends normally i prefer AUTOMATIC but if i need some adrenalin i prefer MANUAL transmission :)

altaboy · Answer

I will continue to drive a manual for as long as I can.

TroyDT · Answer

On the (so-called) freeways around here automatic.

zagor · Answer

Don't need a transmission with all-electric cars.

bolverk · Answer

Either I was trained on both, but in snow/icy conditions I prefer a manual.

WhiteBoyChill · Answer

When you gotta merge into busy traffic the autos help a lot. Its only in those situations I wish I were driving one

Guardian45 · Answer

EVERY day of the week and TWICE on Sunday... MANUAL!!!

888theGreat · Answer

I hated mowers that were not automatic. Zero turns are automatic and no brakes.

IndyZee · Answer

For fun, I love a stick. For everyday driving, I'll take an automatic... much less work

maximumpower · Answer

Older vehicles = manual Newer vehicles = automatic

nawtee_me · Answer

I drive both but sometimes I try to shift when in the automatic. lol

Chill_Thoughts · Answer

Manual is just more fun

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