Poll: Manual vs Automatic Gearboxes

[wordsmith]

I've just got home from picking a mate up from the airport, first time I'm seen him in about a year since he left for the US. As we're both 18, we've both learnt to drive in this time, and as I was driving him back to his hotel, he said something strange.

"Hey, wow! You can drive a stick shift?"

Now I was unaware until he told me, but apparently in the US, manual gear boxes are really rare, and not that many people can drive them (to the point -so he says- of it being a boasting point).

My question to you, Escapists, is can YOU drive stick shift?
The reason the poll is set out like this is simple. If you can drive a Manual (stick shift), you can automatically drive an Automatic. If you drive an Automatic, however, you cannot automatically drive a Manual.

 

[GyroCaptain]

I love this, everyone who's responded so far can drive stick. In my case, I can go one better: I can drive unsychronized stick. I have a '66 Land Rover I rebuilt, and it lacks synchros on 1st and 2nd.

 

[sky14kemea]

i dont have my license, but yeah when i practiced in my dads car i did the gear box fine

 

[Drachknouir]

mustang GT's are only manual, because you can get more power out of it. I like running it up past 6000 rpm in 2nd = 80 mph.

 

[Ignignoct]

Auto.

I don't care if it costs more to fix later on, the ease of use is good for my paranoia when I think everyone else on the road is going to fuck up around me.

That, or my mind-grating urges to just plow into the nearest lightpost for no good reason.

I should probably get that checked out.

 

[Heckles]

In Aus you get teased if you can't drive a manual

 

[Abedeus]

I'm underaged, yet I can drive it on Manual. It's just easier.

...I think so. Why is Automatic so good, again? Other than being braindeader?

 

[Starnerf]

I'm underaged, yet I can drive it on Manual. It's just easier.

...I think so. Why is Automatic so good, again? Other than being braindeader?

You can drive with only one foot. It's just easier, especially if you drive mostly in the city.

 

[Gooble]

Learning to drive (got my test soon!) and driving manual's easy-no reason why it should be difficult. Doesn't take long to get used to what you have to do.

 

[Volucer]

I can drive manual, but I'm in the UK. Driving an automatic doesn't really count as driving does it? I mean most of it's done for you

 

[The Shade]

I didn't vote, because there's no "Canada" option. (I guess that falls under US, but whatever.)

Anyway, I drive an automatic. (Hyundai, be-otch!) If I had an accessible standard transmission, I'd learn to drive that. But I don't, so I never bothered to learn.

 

[CapnGod]

Driving stick is so much more fun... Corvette Z06 only comes in stick, and my dad got the one off the cover of Motor Trend (the April '01 issue). He taught me how to race shift in his '69 Chevelle SS 396 (but it had the 396 pulled and replaced with a 427... that car was incredible), so when he got the Z, man, we had some fun.

 

[Gamine]

PUHLease!! gimme the automatic....no need for stress!!!

 

[Dirkie]

I prefer manual gear. Did try an automatic some years ago, but i did feel a bit uncomfortable near traffic lights and parkinglots. The stopping/accellerating and getting into reverse without using a stick and a pedal creeps me out.
For my previous job i drove in 2 nearly identical cars, one automatic, the other manual gear. Somehow i got a better fuel/milage from the manual thing, i guess it's the nerves.
Put me in a 1987 vw polo with a 1.3l engine, stickshift and i'll get it up to 110 mph without bits falling off.

 

[Melancholy Crow]

Personally enjoy driving manual trans. for the control.
My truck is an automatic, though (Ford Explorer), and I still occasionally hit bare floor with my left foot when I brake, reaching for a clutch that's not there! =)

 

[-IT-]

Manual all the way, it's how the real men drive!

 

[Simalacrum]

i refuse to learn to drive cause i'm mad and i don't like destroying the environment