Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

I would argue that manual cars make you a worse driver. They distract your attention from driving because you have to spend extra mental energy on operating the clutch and the shifter.

That is just about the most idiotic thing I've read all day. The reason that more Americans don't drive stick is because most of you are lazy.

Anonymous wrote:Stick shifts are for losers who can only afford the base model car. Smart successful people drive automatics. I would be embarrassed to even know how to drive a stick shift. People would judge me.

What a hilariously insecure nouveau riche outlook. Never mind the fact that manufacturers are increasingly only offering manual transmissions on top-of-the-line enthusiast trims.

Stick shifts are for losers who can only afford the base model car. Smart successful people drive automatics. I would be embarrassed to even know how to drive a stick shift. People would judge me.

I only buy manual cars. Got my last one at a huge discount because the dealership had 2 that were sitting for a while.

Welp, manual is pretty much dead with EV taking over.

Automatics are so much easier on the clutch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

I would argue that manual cars make you a worse driver. They distract your attention from driving because you have to spend extra mental energy on operating the clutch and the shifter.

What

Have been driving standard transmission for decades and, no, I don't think it makes me a better driver. But it does give me more control over the car, especially when I need to make that little car accelerate quickly and I do like that.

OTOH the one time we had an automatic transmission, it was nice to be able to drink a cup of coffee while in traffic.

On the third hand, since we moved near a metro stop, I don't drive to work at all so drinking coffee in the car is irrelevant.

Also I should add that, back in the day, when I was a young'n , the word on standard transmission cars was that they were cheaper to buy, run, and fix. I don't think that's true anymore. Basically you should buy whatever you enjoy and not try to convince people that one type of car or another makes you a better person/driver!

I drove a manual for 30 years and then transitioned to an automatic when we purchased our last car. I thought I was going to miss it much more than I actually did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

I would argue that manual cars make you a worse driver. They distract your attention from driving because you have to spend extra mental energy on operating the clutch and the shifter.

I literally never expend mental energy on shifting gears.

Our cars have manual transmission and our pickup truck has automatic with a tow package because I use it pull the horse trailer. Different tools for different purposes.

I appreciated an automatic when I lived in Seattle because of the hills and the city traffic.

Anonymous wrote:Hybrid/EV will erode manuals away.

You mean autonomous vehicle technology? It will erode all kind of driver controls away. In the end it will be no controls autos for masses and manual cars and horses for enthusiasts.

Anonymous wrote:This is so dumb.

1) No, it doesn't make you a better driver. Here's a study about it:
Results: Subjectively, participants report being more attentive while driving in manual transmission mode. Objectively, participants drive safer in the manual transmission mode.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17085632/

2) Unless you are living in the country with no traffic, there is no point. It's not fun in stop and go traffic, which is what we have here in DC.

3) there's no longer any fuel efficency to be gained. https://pitstop.rumbleon.com/automatic-vs-manual-gas-mileage

IF you want to enjoy a manual car on the open roads of the American west, go for it. Puttering around the beltway, however, will be a huge pita.

The study you are citing is laughable. 10 participants on a simulator amount to nothing more than an anecdote.

Also, what is so special about open roads? If you enjoy the manual transmission you should like the stop and go traffic. It presents infinite opportunities to shift. The open roads on the other hand, you get into a cruising gear and stay there, no different from automatic.

I learnt to drive with manuals in the UK and used to drive a lot in London were sometimes it seemed there was nothing but stop and go traffic. Now I look back on those days and can't believe I never had an automatic. There's no way I'd ever purchase or even rent a manual vehicle these days. However, I'm glad that I have experienced manual driving and I do think that everybody who learns to drive, should learn in a manual.

It used to be that in the UK, if you took your test in an automatic, that you were only allowed to drive automatics. People who passed their tests in manuals could drive manuals and automatics. I don't know if that has changed but it was a good idea.

Hybrid/EV will erode manuals away.

I learned to drive in Paris on a manual. It didn't make me a better driver at all - on the contrary, the clutch distracted part of my attention. I moved to an automatic as soon as I arrived here in the US. Automatics are gaining a lot of ground in Europe and other parts of the world. They're just easier to drive. My children are learning on automatics.