Stick vs Automatic, your choice?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:04:59 -0400

Nowadays the shift stick is not as common as it was before. All the luxury, exotic cars have been transitioning to automatic transmissions with paddle shifters, they say it would be humanly impossible to shift as quick as the car is producing more and more power (they have a point). I love the fun that driving stick is, I think you get the full experience of driving with stick, but that's my opinion. But for daily commute, I would go with an automatic. My last car in PR was stick and, I kid you not, after a 1:30hr traffic jam my left leg was shaking and the clutch was feeling heavier and heavier.

A friend of mine has a Nissan Maxima with Sport Shifter, he tried it with me and you can feel the power even when is an automatic car. Is a good option when you have just one car and want to have some fun every now and then.

What is your choice? What do you drive?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 3:10 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:10:57 -0400

I would prefer a manual transmission rather then an automatic. But do to my wife's medical condition automatic is just easier.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 3:23 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:23:59 -0400

I like my sport shifter (which I'm assuming is the shiftable automatic). That way on short drives to and from work, I can drive with one arm on the steering wheel and the other out the window. While on interstate drives, however (and even with a lower power car, about 160HP), I have a lot more fun shifting to get past the slower drivers. Plenty of em here in Texas.

I would like to have a stick shift, but I'd have a lot to get used to with it since I've never actually driven one.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 3:30 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:30:35 -0400

I drove a stick for the last 23 years....but now I drive an automatic because it was the car I could afford.

Response by Cpl Dave D made Oct 30 at 2015 3:39 PM

Cpl Dave D — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:39:01 -0400

Automatic. I drive 9 10 and and 18 speed at work. It's nice to shift once and just go.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 30 at 2015 3:41 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:41:31 -0400

I currently drive a Volkswagen Passat with a Sport Shifter. It's a reliable car that gets me from point A to point B. For daily commuting, I'll take an automatic with sport shifter.

If I were to race however, I would definitely take a manual transmission.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 30 at 2015 4:10 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:10:23 -0400

When I was younger, stick shifts all the way. When I got older, it only took one 20 mile stretch of stop and go traffic to cure me. I still love driving stick, but I'm over it as my every day car.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 4:18 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:18:36 -0400

I like the Auto in my Avalanche.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 30 at 2015 5:01 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 17:01:34 -0400

Stick.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Oct 30 at 2015 5:09 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 17:09:49 -0400

I've converted to automatics in my old age. My wife's Ford Five Hundred has an awesome continuous variable (automatic) transmission. No gears to shift and no noise and/or the vibration of gears shifting to ruin a peaceful drive or daily commute. Even my awesome Land Rover Discovery has an automatic transmission.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 5:20 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 17:20:07 -0400

The new 8spd auto is soooooooooo much faster then the six spd stick

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 8:11 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 20:11:42 -0400

Every car or truck I have owned was stick shift, until the past five years. Back then I hunted a lot and stick shift was the only way to go in the mud and up hills and mountains. An automatic probably would burn up after a while with so much stress on them. The stick shift was easy to work on and replace parts. But, now, I love automatic. I like the cruise control on long trips. That's what happens when you become a senior citizen, SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. LOL

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 8:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 20:21:31 -0400

Both are fun. My fiancé has a 14 STI and it's a blast to get out and rip some gears on a nice windy road, but my 08 charger with its sportronic shifter is a blast as well.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2015 1:02 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 01:02:50 -0400

I believe there is a great misconception now. Many people believe that the modern auto is inherently more efficient than the modern stick. Yet, in the examples of the cars I've seen where the auto actually turns out to be more efficient, the gearing favors the auto significantly. This may not matter to most, but as a point of technicality, the type of tranny (manual v. auto) is not the cause. Look at the gearing. Given identical or even close gear ratios, the manuals still dominate the efficiency argument. They'll also put down more power on a chassis dyno. It's just hard to be more efficient with a "slipping" hydraulic transmission/torque converter than one with a solid mechanical linkage directly from the engine to the tire. In terms of performance, the autos do shift more quickly, and they are more consistent. If better geared they can also outperform, i.e. 8-speed auto vs. 6-speed manual. In the hands of an expert who can power shift very quickly and who launches consistently, the identically geared manual still outperforms the auto. In the hands of most, a performance auto will win.

Response by CPL JeMario Laurie made Nov 2 at 2015 10:11 AM

CPL JeMario Laurie — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 10:11:17 -0500

I drive an automatic now. But I really do miss my manual transmission. I felt more in control of the car. Plus, they are just fun to drive.

Response by CW3 Eric W. S. made Nov 2 at 2015 11:14 AM

CW3 Eric W. S. — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 11:14:28 -0500

I actually waited 6 additional weeks for deliver for a manual transmission in my Jeep.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Nov 13 at 2015 3:44 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:44:47 -0500

Nick Petros might feel differently

Response by Cpl Joyce Milo McKinley made Nov 19 at 2016 6:55 PM

Cpl Joyce Milo McKinley — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:55:00 -0500

Stick

Response by SGT Johnathon Bevil made Jun 14 at 2017 3:23 PM

SGT Johnathon Bevil — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 15:23:10 -0400

My personal preference has always been a manual transmission. All of my sports/muscle cars that i have owned as been manual. I have even thought about making my pick up a manual as well with a swap but that will be later down the road. Nothing against automatics but i rather be in control of my shifts instead of the transmission. In a drag race though we all know an automatic would be the best to use once set up correctly.