Automatic Vs. Manual

[Demon_Mustang]

Everyone's gonna say manual basically. This is a forum for automotive people, and despite their real preference, it sounds cooler to talk about manuals.

The choice is completely personal preference. Unless you have a really bad left knee and couldn't do with the clutch in everyday traffic, then you're stuck with automatic Or things like shiftronic, or whatever it's called, or paddle shifters, both costs a bit more money, but are really cool to have.

Anyway, your options are if your car is for a fun ride, and something you actually plan to race or drive around a track for fun, then manual is probably the only way to go.

But if you're not really hardcore into racing, and just like a little bit of oomph in your car, but not so much into top-end performance, and you want to be able to eat, change your shoes, take off your jacket, and all those things while driving... wait, that's not safe, nevermind!

Um, anyway, yah, if you're not really hardcore into racing and just like a bit of oomph but don't care about top-end performance then it's not a problem to have an automatic since it would be a lot easier, and you'd be glad you made that choice in heavy traffic, especially if you're in stop and go traffic on an incline... But one really obvious disadvantage is mechanical problems. You're much more likely to run into mechanical problems with an auto then with a stick. Also, you don't have direct control of which gear you're in, which could get a bit annoying, but after a while, you get used to how much and how fast you need to open up your throttle to force your tranny into the gear you want.

So it really is up to your personal preference. Sorry I can't be more decisive for you, but I think you should look at your own style of driving and where your priorities are and make up your own mind, you'll get what you really want that way, instead of what the majority of the forum really wants.

[70z]

Originally Posted by Demon_Mustang

Anyway, your options are if your car is for a fun ride, and something you actually plan to race or drive around a track for fun, then manual is probably the only way to go.

Go to the track and see what the hardcore guys are running. 2 speed powerglide. Unless they are high dollar pro cars, (Alot of pro cars run them too tho) then you will see lencos, etc. which are manuals but don't require a clutch once you leave the line. It takes a light wt. car,w/ high H.P. to run a powerglide, but most hardcore cars do have high H.P. and light cars. A well built powerglide will handle up to 1,800 H.P. A powerglide will be much more consistant in brackets which is what most street cars run. A four speed IS more fun to drive, and if that's what your buying it for than I agree. I've had both, 4 speed is great fun. But, if your a hardcore racer automatic is the trans. of choice.

Powerglide, High stall converter, you can put any gear ratios in it you need, trans brake, SFI housing, CO2 shifter,
All you do is let go of the trans. brake button on green...... hit the CO2 button @ red line and your done. Simple is best when it comes to hardcore..."consistant" racing.

[Joseph1082]

but who is actually going to put a powerglide on thier normal car

[70z]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

but who is actually going to put a powerglide on thier normal car

That would be me.
572 BBC Blown/Injected 1,000 h.p.
Tube chassis with funny car cage Certified for 7.50 Sec.
Aluminum modular 9" rear. w/4 link
Strut front end
Powerglide
2,800 Lbs.

Street leagel/ but not a daily driver. Weekend Nice day driver.

[Demon_Mustang]

Yes, but the original thread was asking for advice for whether he should buy an automatic or a manual. Everything you've mentioned is quite irrelevant...

[Joseph1082]

2 things...
1) so what kind of car... is it a funny car or what?
2) I must a agree w/ you Demon

[70z]

1st. post.
hmm lets see.. im guna get a car soon.. and i dont know with is better

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Demon_Mustang
Anyway, your options are if your car is for a fun ride, and something you actually plan to race or drive around a track for fun, then manual is probably the only way to go.

Um, anyway, yah, if you're not really hardcore into racing and just like a bit of oomph but don't care about top-end performance then it's not a problem to have an automatic since it would be a lot easier
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[QUOT/]=Demon_Mustang]Yes, but the original thread was asking for advice for whether he should buy an automatic or a manual. Everything you've mentioned is quite irrelevant...[/quote]

Thanks for pointing that out. I only brought up the powerglide because it sounds (in your posts) like a manual is the only choice for racing. If you go to the track and check out the cars in the pits you will find MANY automatics. Fast automatics. Also, if you read all the posts on this thread you will see more than once, I said a manual IS more fun to drive and that he should buy what HE likes best. What I probably didn't mention though.... shifting a manual, especially in city traffic will eventually get old. It's entirely up to the car owner. I was merely pointing out pros and cons. How is that irrelevant??? I've been driving manuals and automatics for over 35 years. If you don't want to believe me, I have no problem at all with that.

[70z]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

2 things...
1) so what kind of car... is it a funny car or what?
2) I must a agree w/ you Demon

It's a street legal car. Pro Street. Pump gas.

[aznxthuggie]

oo good u guys are still debating, almost every post helps me out more, and today i talked to a guy that got a manual xB, he said it was his first stick shift car, hes had it for one year, and he said in that year he learned everything he needed to know about stick shift, he told me it just takes some getting used to, but then i think back to how i drive now

...when im driving, i tend to play around with my head unit, change songs constantly, an occasional smoke, while still holding my head unit remote, and steering with my knees, drink soda/water and maybe eat when im in a rush, im wondering if i can do all those things in a stick shift, im not saying its impossible, but that'll be hard, my friend is onthe stage where he can eat a burger, answer his cell and still be pretty alert driving

also my accord is a 4 speed auto, and you can actually "control" the gears, i mean if i put it on 1, it'll be on first gear and i can't really go fast without revving all high, and same goes for the rest, and downshifting is easy as hell, i just put it from 4 to 3, and the rev jumps and it goes down as i slow down, i think its not good for my car, so i stopped doing it, now im driving as slow as a granny

so yea, still awhile til i get my car, i've also got it down to 2 choices, its between the Scion tC, and the Nissan SE-R spec V, i took everything else out because either it has low torque, or it cost too much, as for auto vs manual... im still deciding heh

[70z]

Originally Posted by aznxthuggie

so yea, still awhile til i get my car, i've also got it down to 2 choices, its between the Scion tC, and the Nissan SE-R spec V, i took everything else out because either it has low torque, or it cost too much, as for auto vs manual... im still deciding heh

Another way to look at it... this won't be the only are you ever own. If you buy a manual and don't like it, buy an automatic the next time or vise versa. There really is no right or wrong answer. It's all about choice.

[Joseph1082]

Spec V is a nice ass car. my friend had one.
I just want ot point out that in most situations Manual is faster... most situations being 99.9% of the cars driving around out there with me everyday.

[Demon_Mustang]

70z, I know there are automatics that race. Prime example is the Mercedes Benz SLR, it ONLY comes in automatic.

But I am giving advice in general, without getting to specific with any specific cars. Obviously there are exceptions to almost everything.

Anyway, not doubting what you say is correct or anything.

But to aznthuggie, please don't get the scion, we'll all laugh at you if you do.

[Mr Payne]

I'll take CVT over manual. That's what this poll should be. CVT vs manual.

[aznxthuggie]

Originally Posted by Demon_Mustang

70z, I know there are automatics that race. Prime example is the Mercedes Benz SLR, it ONLY comes in automatic.

But I am giving advice in general, without getting to specific with any specific cars. Obviously there are exceptions to almost everything.

Anyway, not doubting what you say is correct or anything.

But to aznthuggie, please don't get the scion, we'll all laugh at you if you do.

lol but.... the tC has 160hp and 163 torque, and has a supercharger that gives it 200hp!!!!! come on that can't be so bad right?

[Joseph1082]

How many of us have even encountered a car on the street with a CVT... I know I haven't.