Stick Shift or Automatic Transmission

[GoldenTV]

According to recent car sales in US, only 1.7% of car sold had manual transmission. And with electric cars only needing single-speed transmissions, "consumer" automobiles with stick shift might soon be a thing of the past.

I grow up with stick shift cars (my first one being Volkswagen Beetle), so I prefer cars with manual transmission. Make me feel like I have more control over the car with coordination of clutch pedal and stick shift. They are also much more reliable and trouble free than automatic transmission. So a big thumbs up for stick shift

[Babalu]

I've never had a manual transmission car. My past few cars have the ability to manually shift using the gear shift lever or now paddles on the steering wheel but no clutch is needed.

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by Babalu

I've never had a manual transmission car. My past few cars have the ability to manually shift using the gear shift lever or now paddles on the steering wheel but no clutch is needed.

In our generation, they wouldn't let you drive a car until you can maneuver a manual transmission car. Parked uphill

[Theda Bara]

Automatic Transmission

[stevea]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

According to recent car sales in US, only 1.7% of car sold had manual transmission. And with electric cars only needing single-speed transmissions, "consumer" automobiles with stick shift might soon be a thing of the past.

I grow up with stick shift cars (my first one being Volkswagen Beetle), so I prefer cars with manual transmission. Make me feel like I have more control over the car with coordination of clutch pedal and stick shift. They are also much more reliable and trouble free than automatic transmission. So a big thumbs up for stick shift

Me too! I have a 6 on the floor from 2019; however, the shift model is no longer made. Maybe they don't like charging a few hundred dollars less.

I learned to drive a manual transmission on VW Beetles. Both an aunt and an uncle had one. The reverse gear was a bear to get into.

[Chocolate Moose]

Never learned to drive a stick.

[Steve_uk]

I've never driven an automatic. Not sure I'll be driving an electric vehicle.

[Yong Fang]

I was taught how to use a stick shift and that’s about all I have ever driven. I am out of my element in an automatic car. I have to remember to put it in “P”ark. When I drive a car, I want to fully operate it, not have the car drive me.

[Dude111]

I know ppl who shift from 1st gear right to 3rd!

I wonder if you could rev up high enough and go directly to 4 from 1??

[Fleet]

I have always preferred automatic transmissions for a few reasons:

1. Most of the cars I have owned were only available with an automatic.
2. The Mopar Torqueflite and GM Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions were very good.
3. I installed a shift kit in a few of my cars. With it would shift firm and faster than with a manual transmission.

I had driven my former '66 Dodge Dart GT V-8 for 16 years. Under many conditions and never had felt I would have had more "control" if it had a manual transmission. I did manually shift it often. And wound out 1st gear to 40 mph and 2nd gear to 70 mph.

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I know ppl who shift from 1st gear right to 3rd!

I wonder if you could rev up high enough and go directly to 4 from 1??

I imagine you could go from 1st to 4th if you going downhill, but probably not on the flat surface. Car speed has not caught up with the momentum, to put it simple terms

Originally Posted by Fleet

I have always preferred automatic transmissions for a few reasons:

1. Most of the cars I have owned were only available with an automatic.
2. The Mopar Torqueflite and GM Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions were very good.
3. I installed a shift kit in a few of my cars. With it would shift firm and faster than with a manual transmission.

There are excellent automatic transmission out there especially with newer model. But I tend to buy used car and usually pass it over if it is automatic as they are more maintenance cost prone than manual transmission.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

There are excellent automatic transmission out there especially with newer model. But I tend to buy used car and usually pass it over if it is automatic as they are more maintenance cost prone than manual transmission.

It does vary a lot. The transmission in my former '66 Dodge Dart GT V-8 lasted over 150,000 miles and I did not drive that car gently... numerous burnouts and winding 1st gear to 40 mph and 2nd gear to 70 mph.

I remember a friend selling his 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. It had 218,000 miles on it with the original, non-rebuilt transmission. My mom's 1970 Cadillac Coupe de Ville passed the 200,000 mile mark also with the original transmission.