Automatic or Manual

[dimlight]

Sequential .. im open minded. I drive manual everyday since 4 years now ... and to tell you the truth .. my next car will be automatic.. 407 coupe.

[PsychoChimp22]

manual, for the control.

[taz_rocks_miami]

Manual no doubt. Maybe one of those paddle shifted sequencials is a proper manual isn't available.

[kennyknoxville]

depens on the car. my dad had an avalon that was automatic and i loved it. my uncle has an acura TL type S thats an auto and i love it. my acura RSX type S was manual and i loved it. the next car i get im not so sure: if i get am acura legend id probrably get an auto, but if i get something like the mitsu EVO id definatly get a stick.

[Fleet 500]

I've always preferred automatics.
For one thing, being a Cadillac fan, it would be silly to want a manual transmission in a Cadillac (I mean real Cadillacs, the big 19 or 20 foot long ones; not the "Cadillacs" of today).
Second, being a Mopar muscle car fan, the Mopars had the best automatics in the industry. And a Mopar with an automatic is virtually as fast as those with manuals. In fact, faster sometimes... the winning car at the 1962 or 1963 (I forgot the exact year) Winternationals was a Mopar with an automatic. That's right, it beat out the manual cars!
Here is a good comparison of a Mopar with a automatic and manual transmission:
Two 1969 Dodge Charger 500s (Car Life, April, 1969)...
Engine/hp------------- 426-Hemi/425--- 426-Hemi/425
Compression ratio------ 10.25:1-------- 10.25:1
Transmission----------- 3-speed auto--- 4-speed manual
Rear axle ratio--------- 3.23:1---------- 3.55:1
Curb weight------------ 3,950 lbs------- 4,025 lbs.

0-40 mph--------------- 3.3 secs------- 3.3 secs
0-50 mph--------------- 4.4------------ 4.4
0-60 mph--------------- 5.7------------ 5.7
0-70 mph--------------- 7.1------------ 6.8
0-80 mph--------------- 8.8------------ 8.4
0-90 mph--------------- 10.6----------- 10.0
0-100 mph-------------- 12.8----------- 12.3
1/4 mile----------------- [email protected] [email protected]
Passing:40-60 mph------ 2.4 secs------- 2.4
Passing:50-70 mph------ 2.7------------ 2.4
Passing:30-70----------- 4.8------------ 4.4
Fuel mileage, normal cond. 12-14 mpg----- 13-14.5 mpg
Mileage (test conditions) 6.0 mpg-------- 8.5

Note that the auto-equipped, even with higher (lower numerically) gears (though weighing 75 lbs less) is tied up to 60 mph with the manual-equipped, and has almost the same 1/4 mile speed. According to the article, the manual-equipped Charger also had a slightly sharper tune, too.

[ZemoButts]

auto for city and manual for racing

where i live theres way too many stop signs so i wouldnt be able to race either way

[Radoman]

Manual. That's it. I don't give a shit where I live, or how crowded the city is; I will NEVER, in my right mind, buy a CAR with a manual transmission. Huge Luxury cars and most trucks are the exception, but I'm not big on luxury cars anyway.

[Egg Nog]

Manual. That's it. I don't give a shit where I live, or how crowded the city is; I will NEVER, in my right mind, buy a CAR with a manual transmission. Huge Luxury cars and most trucks are the exception, but I'm not big on luxury cars anyway.

This sums up all that deserves to be said.

[Rockefella]

Manual. That's it. I don't give a shit where I live, or how crowded the city is; I will NEVER, in my right mind, buy a CAR with a manual transmission. Huge Luxury cars and most trucks are the exception, but I'm not big on luxury cars anyway.

Wait, aren't you contradicting yourself?

[Matra et Alpine]

Engine/hp------------- 426-Hemi/425--- 426-Hemi/425
..
Transmission----------- 3-speed auto--- 4-speed manual
Rear axle ratio--------- 3.23:1---------- 3.55:1
Curb weight------------ 3,950 lbs------- 4,025 lbs.

With a diff that is 10% 'lower torque multiplier' AND a car that weighs 100 lbs more it's not hard to surmise that it would be reasonable to equate that to AT LEAST being 10% faster. No ?
That's the problem in comparing GEARBOX technologies on an unlevel playing field.

For the kidn of cars you like, Fleet, I could not IMAGINE trying to drive a manual version. Hill starts How big is the clutch and how heavy the clutch pedal and feel ?????

[henk4]

Mileage (test conditions) 6.0 mpg-------- 8.5

If an autobox is over 30% more thirsty than a manual the choice is quite easy.

[Vaigra]

Wait, aren't you contradicting yourself?

yeah I also got a bit confused..he say's "Manual"
and then he'd never buy a manual car?

[F1_Master]

Really depends on the car for me.

Auto for maybe something a Sentra or any other daily seen car, and manual for those big beasts.

But I also consider auto for city, and manual for the open roads sometimes.

[Fleet 500]

With a diff that is 10% 'lower torque multiplier' AND a car that weighs 100 lbs more it's not hard to surmise that it would be reasonable to equate that to AT LEAST being 10% faster. No ?
That's the problem in comparing GEARBOX technologies on an unlevel playing field.

For the kidn of cars you like, Fleet, I could not IMAGINE trying to drive a manual version. Hill starts How big is the clutch and how heavy the clutch pedal and feel ?????

Yes, I'm not surprised the manual car was faster but I am surprised how close the auto car was for the 1/4 mile speed.

And, yes, it would be ridiculous to drive a 20 foot long, smooth-riding Cadillac using a manual transmission!
As for a clutch, it would be interesting to try driving a manually-shifted Cadillac (just to see what it's like).

[Fleet 500]

If an autobox is over 30% more thirsty than a manual the choice is quite easy.

Yeah, strangely they are very close in normal driving, but the auto is much lower during "test" conditions (which means mileage obtained while doing the dragging tests).