Why don't you drive a manual?

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Dacalo

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2000
8,778
4
76
Auto because it's convenient. I drive to and from work when traffic is the worst of the day, so I didn't bother with manual.
 

cheapgoose

Diamond Member
May 13, 2002
3,877
0
0
have you been to san francisco, way too many hills. plus, driving a stick in stop and go traffic can't be fun.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
0
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Interesting... so over 40% of this sample of ATOTer's have a manual car as their daily driver, while the rest of America is well under 10%.

Also, only ~7% of ATOT doesn't know how to drive stick.
Rest of USA is... probably greater than 60% (?).

Most quote traffic as the biggest deterrent, which was pretty predictable.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,862
33,924
136
It's an on road/off road vehicle and driving stick off road is a drag. Autos are much less tiring on long off road hauls. Sticks are fun in zippy little cars, not so fun in trucks.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I drive a minivan and before I get judged, it is a company vehicle and they won't let us get anything else. So FREE = FTW!
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
1
0
eh....daily driver here, and traffic isn't bad, I usually let a gap build, and then put it in first and idle along....you chew up the gap, then the car in front of you hits the gas, hits the break, hits the gas...repeat ad nauseum. less wear and tear on my manual then those autos :D

Manual's are more fun to drive...I'm not a huge driving fan (I drive an 88 VW Cabriolet) but as long as I have to, I might as well enjoy it. I just wish my truck was a manual :(
 

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
4,125
0
0
I love my manual transmission! Too bad they dont make them anymore.....
 

Zee

Diamond Member
Nov 27, 1999
5,171
3
76
i want to get rid of the manual. pain in the ass in traffic. "fun to drive" reasoning sounds really lame by the way
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
I've driven somewhere in the neighborhood of a million miles in my life, and approx. 1/2 of that was with a manual tranny. I just don't see the point anymore, auto is just so much more comfortable and way less annoying in heavy traffic. I would never again consider a manual for a daily driver, maybe for a weekend toy.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,862
33,924
136
Originally posted by: Zee
i want to get rid of the manual. pain in the ass in traffic. "fun to drive" reasoning sounds really lame by the way

My Rabbit, Subaru DL, and Escort were fun to drive. My Hilux was a pain in the butt as I had to stomp the clutch to shift.

Having one of each, manual and auto, is great because every once in a while you get the exhilaration of stomping on the clutch only to be reminded that you are driving the auto that day.
 

archcommus

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2003
8,115
0
76
1. Why do manual drivers on ATOT have some kind of weird superiority complex where they feel the need to ask the question, why DON'T you drive a manual, as if we all SHOULD.

2. I don't because 1) my car was given to me, and it's an automatic, and 2) I've never learned, and am pretty sure that if I did learn, even if I thought it was fun, I wouldn't feel like caring about it every time I get in the car to run somewhere.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,862
33,924
136
Originally posted by: archcommus
1. Why do manual drivers on ATOT have some kind of weird superiority complex where they feel the need to ask the question, why DON'T you drive a manual, as if we all SHOULD.

2. I don't because 1) my car was given to me, and it's an automatic, and 2) I've never learned, and am pretty sure that if I did learn, even if I thought it was fun, I wouldn't feel like caring about it every time I get in the car to run somewhere.

It's all very phallic, Freud would enjoy these threads. I subtract 2" from your e-penis.
 

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
I used to, but I figured there was no point when the majority of my driving was in traffic congested areas. I'm quite happy with the 5EAT on my Legacy GT.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
136
My daily driver is an automatic because I've found that driving a stick in the insane heavy traffic I deal with makes my left knee squeal like a rusty hinge!

Faced with the choice of skiing, biking, running etc -or- putting up with an automatic, the choice wasn't very hard.
 

Umberger

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
1,710
0
76
I am still driving my first car, the one my parents gave me when i was 16 (almost 6 years ago...) it was a hand-me-down from my dad, who didn't want to drive the manual in traffic. my next car will most definitely be manual, but i plan on driving this one for as long is physically possible, and saving my money. (yay for poor college students)
 

Thorny

Golden Member
May 8, 2005
1,122
0
0
The three vehicles I drive regularly are all manuals, my wifes is an auto. Her's would be a manual too but they don't make minivans with them :(