Manual or automatic?

[parsley]

Interestingly, the manuals always command a premium. People want them, just can't get them.

Only on certain cars. When I bought mine the manual was actually a grand or so cheaper.

[zadok]

Manual. I've always prefered them. Nearly always had four cylinder cars and the manual tends to give better performance and fuel economy. With the newer generation of cars, that seems to be a lot closer. Plus automatics usually cost at least a grand more (new). If I was to go to the latest V6 craze, I would most probably go auto.

[geoffm]

Manual on both cars, with a terrible auto before that. Having said that, a manual is best for the open road, but wears a bit thin in Auckland motorway traffic. If I was still doing that, I would have an auto.
Worst in the family was a Mazda 626 diesel "supercharged" auto. What a POS - put foot down, wait 2 secs then lurch into the intersection and traffic... A 323 diesel auto was just plain gutless. Autos are ok with a big motor on the front, so it doesn't have to shift much.

[Pixie]

my mx5 (try telling me face to face it's a chicks car, fucko) is a manuel.
the duchess's legnum is an auto.
i don't mind auto's on a 6 or 8 cyl, but a revvy little 4 - manuals are the go IMHO..
k

An auto MX5 is a sin

[FROSTY:Me]

Theres a common misconception that an auto will use more gas than a manual And that auto's are gutless.
I get to drive a shit load of cars in diorklands rush hour and even the 1000cc auto's are pretty peppy. Fuel economy wise they are as good as a manual-
Now this is in town stop start stuff not country driving.

[oldrider]

Bang on there frosty, before I retired I used to average 70/80K per year and got a new car every year. Autos out performed the manuals on fuel every time ( accurate data too) Cheers John.

[Beemer]

[QUOTE=Badcat]my mx5 (try telling me face to face it's a chicks car, fucko) is a manuel.[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry, but if your MX5 is a Manuel (aka useless Spanish waiter) then I'm afraid it's not a chick's car, it's beyond gay!

Learned to drive in an automatic, which my father kindly sold three weeks before I went for my licence! Driven mostly manuals since - current car is a 1.8L Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi - not many manuals around so we were lucky to find it. Apart from rush hour traffic and motorways, I prefer a manual - better for dragging people off at the lights!

[Motu]

What I hate about autos on the open road is that they are hard to hold to a speed,you have to watch the speed all the time....one minute you are doing 85kph,next up to 120kph,following drivers must think I'm crazy! The Diamante has cruise control,so I just set that...the Pajero has a lock up converter,but I still find it hard to maintain a set speed....my manual diesel Vanette will hold any speed I like and hardly ever glance at the speedo,it's always where I want it to be.Could be the noise....cars are very quiet these days,the van is very noisy and I drive it by ear....

I've just finished reading an article on transmissions,and there is plenty of development ahead,6 and 7 speed autos,2 reverse ratios,double clutch automated manuals,chain drive CVT that get better mpg than a manual,torodial infinatly variable transmissions that need to clutch,having a geared neutral.

Poor bikes eh? Stuck with a silly clutch and sequental shifting....

[parsley]

What I hate about autos....

People who sit at the lights and slowly move forward. So you come to a stop a safe distance behind the cage in front and you end up with a car length in front of you!

[myvice]

Poor bikes eh? Stuck with a silly clutch and sequental shifting....

You will be SO happy with the new Honda Goldwing then...

[oldrider]

Hey there myvice, I read your post and something just said to me, have a look at his profile. The last one I looked at had a photo of a nice Honda ST1300. I nearly pissed myself when yours came up. Caught me by surprise. Good one. Cheers John.

[dhunt]

last car I had was auto and it ended up costing me a packet when the transmission screwed up without any warning. Hopefully that's the last auto I have.

I also agree with motu that is hard to hold a constant speed. Also much harder to do engine braking etc so I find I rely on the brakes a lot more than in a manual.

[Motu]

You will be SO happy with the new Honda Goldwing then...

I was pretty happy with the FA50.....but I got that for free,if I get a free Goldwing I'll be pretty damn impressed too!

[skidMark]

just to be different i selected what are these gear things

[Waylander]

Havn't driven an auto since my driving test when I was 15. Got in the one here and I kept wanting to hit the clutch but the only other pedal down there was the brake.

I'll stick with the bike whenever possible. It's safer that way.