AT or MT?

[guy93]

I plan on buying my getting my first car sometime this year(17 years old) , and I was wondering, is it worth to learn how to drive a Stick Shift car? I know the differences between the two though. MT also has more fuel effiencieny and control, and of course not a lot of people can just borrow your car whenever, since not a lot of people know how to drive a Stick =)

Thanks!

Between the people who are just plain trolling and the people who think this is P&N, this thread has gone far off the original topic. We're closed.

Zenmervolt - AnandTech Moderator

 

[Nik]

If you're doing a lot of in-town driving, the constant shifting from stop/go can get old fast. Something to think about.

 

[guyver01]

Automatic.

If you ever plan on eating, or answering the phone, or looking at a map, or anything in your car.... you can't do it with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the shifter.

 

[Locut0s]

27 here and just learning to drive myself. Learn on an automatic then transition to a stick. If you know how to drive a stick shift you can basically drive anything. Only knowing how to drive an automatic means you can only drive automatics. However it's WAY less complicated to learn on an automatic than on a stick because you don't have to worry about what gear you're in, the clutch, stalling the car, up shifting, down shift, AND the rules of the road and car handling.

 

[theflyingpig]

People here will tell you to get a stick because they like to feel superior to others, even if it's as insignificant as how you drive a car. The truth is, guy93, the novelty of driving a stick wears off pretty quickly. You'll eventually end up getting an automatic because you're tired of having to fumble around with your silly manual transmission car. People enjoy convenience and if you're one of those people, buy an automatic. Everyone knows this.

 

[guy93]

Automatic.

If you ever plan on eating, or answering the phone, or looking at a map, or anything in your car.... you can't do it with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the shifter.

Most I would do there is drinking something time to time and that is it, I cannot stand food in any car, and over here it is now illegal to drive and talking on the phone(BC Canada)

Good point nonetheless.

 

[Nik]

Automatic.

If you ever plan on eating, or answering the phone, or looking at a map, or anything in your car.... you can't do it with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the shifter.

Who drives with one hand constantly on the shifter? In my stick, I drove with 1 hand, 1 foot, and only used the other ones when it came time to shift, which isn't constantly.

...unless you're trying to make the point that he should be focusing on the road instead of all those other distracting things

 

[TruePaige]

Any of the modern AT transmission variants (DSG) have higher efficiency and better speeds, so if you are looking at any recent cars those points don't hold. Even the old fashioned autos on some lower end models are pretty damn good now. In those situations unless you just enjoy MT, go AT.

If you are buying used and older models and the small difference is that important then sure, go MT.

 

[Locut0s]

Most I would do there is drinking something time to time and that is it, I cannot stand food in any car, and over here it is now illegal to drive and talking on the phone(BC Canada)

Good point nonetheless.

Where in BC. Fellow Vancouverite?

 

[guy93]

Where in BC. Fellow Vancouverite?

Abbotsford here!

 

[ahenkel]

Myself purely driving satisfaction wise, I prefer a stick. Though I get the appeal of an Automatic.

 

[Newbian]

Stick is a pain to learn if you are just starting to learn to drive like it sounds you are and these days it's not really worth it.

Stick with a AT and be happy.

 

[guy93]

Stick is a pain to learn if you are just starting to learn to drive like it sounds you are and these days it's not really worth it.

Stick with a AT and be happy.

I'm currently learning in a old model of a Jetta VW(95 I think), AT. Road test in 2 months time. I thought maybe after I'd may want to learn MT. Everyone has made great points though, learned a lot already.

 

[Spacehead]

...is it worth to learn how to drive a Stick Shift car?

Not a bad idea to learn how to drive one even if you do end up buying an automatic. I mean, you wouldn't want to look like the fools that are these 2.

 

[Locut0s]

Oops misread. I though you were just learning to drive. That's why my posts was worded the way it was.

Really the only reason to learn to drive a manual is to have that skill in your pocket. It's something I'd like to be able to do so once I get comfortable with an automatic I intend to learn to drive stick. But for you I'd say stay with an automatic unless you really feel like you want to know how to drive stick. There really isn't any intrinsic reason to go with a MT.

 

[sdifox]

I don't know my geography, but isn't BC hilly, as in your streets slope towards the ocean? Learn auto, or at least go to the test in an auto. Stop to 1st gear transition without stalling or going backward on an uphill slope takes a while to master.

 

[Locut0s]

I don't know my geography, but isn't BC hilly, as in your streets slope towards the ocean? Learn auto, or at least go to the test in an auto. Stop to 1st gear transition without stalling or going backward on an uphill slope takes a while to master.

BC is mountainous yes. But Vancouver is mostly flat except for North and West Vancouver (suburbs, I live in North Vancouver) which are on the slopes of several mountains. In fact a lot of greater Vancouver is below flood level.

 

[TheVrolok]

Automatic. Only time I'd buy a manual these days is for a huge price difference, or a sports car. Unless it's a sports car, I don't want to be bothered with shifting.

 

[Newbian]

I hated the stick vehicle I learned on since I preferred AT and the stick vehicle was a truck and was a bit older and had the light switch for the brights / dims on the bottom floor to the left of all the pedals so it was a pain to switch and I am sure I blinded a few people when I was shifting and couldn't change the lights at the same time because of where the switch was.

Plus since it was a older truck the shifter was one of those long style types and was a bit rusty.

Although it did have two unique things about it I liked, two gas tanks with a switch to change what one you are using and it had a bed behind the seat and was fun to stop fast when a friend was kneeling back there and you proceed to make him fall over the seat and hit his head on the dash.

 

[TheVrolok]

I hated the stick vehicle I learned on since I preferred AT and the stick vehicle was a truck and was a bit older and had the light switch for the brights / dims on the bottom floor to the left of all the pedals so it was a pain to switch gears and I am sure I blinded a few people when I was shifting and couldn't change the lights at the same time because of where the switch was.

Plus since it was a older truck the shifter was one of those long style types and was a bit rusty.

Although it did have two unique things about it I liked, two gas tanks with a switch to change what one you are using and it had a bed behind the seat and was fun to stop fast when a friend was kneeling back there and you proceed to make him fall over the seat and hit his head on the dash.

I have an old truck just like that. Dual gas tanks, high beam switch was a foot switch. Quality. I love it when people get in and are bewildered by the little circular foot switch on the left.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Where is the Poll OP?

 

[shortylickens]

AT-ST.

/thread

 

[sdifox]

double post...yes, I can still do it.

 

[sdifox]

BC is mountainous yes. But Vancouver is mostly flat except for North and West Vancouver (suburbs, I live in North Vancouver) which are on the slopes of several mountains. In fact a lot of greater Vancouver is below flood level.

I have only been to Vancouver for like 3 days except for the long haul flights when the take us to Stanley Park for a stroll kind of thing, so the parts I saw were probably the sloped parts. But I would think learning auto first, get good at driving, then learn manual if you want to. Since at that point you just have to worry about figuring out the clutch timing and not everything at the same time.

I learned how to drive stick on a Peugeot 505. Mostly out in the rural area so not to kill others/myself.

I executed a 50km/h 90 degree turn in that car and my whole family was on the car. My dad told me to pull over and get out of the driver's seat :biggrin:

 

[JEDI]

psst... there's a car sub forum over there...

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