Stick or automatic?

[KIR]

Just saw a news report stating why are all Americans driving an auto, instead of a stick?
When I was a teen, my father who was a truck driver bought a large flatbed truck with not only a 4-speed stick, but it also had a red button on the side which required the truck to be double clutched. My father showed me how to drive it and was amazed at how well coordinated I was driving it.
Years later, wife and I bought a 1969 Toyota Corona for $2300 with a stick. During the last five years I owned it, I would screw up the clutch, because I used to "ride" the clutch pedal and have to get a new clutch every year, $150! Thereafter, every car/truck I have owned has been an automatic. Currently have an 2001 Chevy S-10, X-Cab, I bought used for $6K with only 88K mi. on it in 2008. Currently only has 144K miles on it. Whenever I have bought a used vehicle, I consider myself ahead, if I only have to spend $1000/yr on any major updates/repairs. Right now, I am breaking even.
So, what do you drive? Stick or Auto?

 

[dannyd]

Drove a stick shift from 1973 to 2011, then switched to an automatic in 2011.

 

[eveled]

I still have my first car. A 1979 Jeep 140,000 miles on the original clutch, still have my second vehicle a 1994 Ram with a Cummins turbo diesel 180,000 on the original clutch.

I’ve had a dozen motorcycles never put a clutch in any of them either.

I’m not saying I enjoy a standard, but at least I’m good at driving them. Trouble is no one in my family can drive them.

 

[wolfsong]

"So, what do you drive? Stick or Auto?"

Yes.

 

[coach]

It’s too hard to drive a stick and text at the same time.

 

[contender]

For most of my life,, my vehicles were manual shift. But the truck I got in 2004 was automatic. My 2021 truck is also an automatic. But I can drive either type w/o any issues.

 

[Dave P.]

Both.

 

[Sapo]

61 scout, 75 Skyhawk 82 Corolla 82 bronco 02 Corolla with manual transmission. Many more automatics Fords and Volvo.
Can't hardly find a standard these days. Young folks can't figure them out.

 

[arfmel]

The only manual transmission I still have is the 1980 CJ7.

 

[protoolman]

All sticks. Newest is a Subaru Crosstrek. 2 cars and a pickup. Sold my old squad car when I moved, that was my last auto.

 

[Ray Newman]

Automatic

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I have had lots of stick shift vehicles over the years. Column shift , stick shift and push button shift.
I prefer automatics.
Besides a hot rod 4 speed, there are only two things a stick shift can do that an automatic can't.
One is , you can push start it.
The other is if you have a truck with a 4 speed , Then you can put it in granny gear and idle down a steep hill.
Other then that , an automatic is the way to go.

 

[protoolman]

As an aside a big car magazine writer wrote an article on the new Ford Bronco. He said they did something NEW that no other manufacturer had ever done. They put a Crawl gear in that -get this lol- you don't pull out in - it's just for rock crawling! Guess he never drove an old pickup. We all pulled out in the 2nd gear in the old days some of the knobs said L123 and some said 1234 regardless most had a "granny low" heck my 04 dodge in 4 low first gear has a super low "crawl gear" guess he is new to sticks.

 

[protoolman]

I have had lots of stick shift vehicles over the years. Column shift , stick shift and push button shift.
I prefer automatics.
Besides a hot rod 4 speed, there are only two things a stick shift can do that an automatic can't.
One is , you can push start it.
The other is if you have a truck with a 4 speed , Then you can put it in granny gear and idle down a steep hill.
Other then that , an automatic is the way to go.

Well you can save on your brakes too by downshifting. Also drop a gear when towing so your auto doesn't start "gear hunting". Actually sticks do most things better in my opinion just keep you a bit busier.

 

[nvbirdman]

My Harley has a standard transmission, does that count?

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Well you can save on your brakes too by downshifting. Also drop a gear when towing so your auto doesn't start "gear hunting". Actually sticks do most things better in my opinion just keep you a bit busier.

I keep my brakes up , so there is no worry there.
If it is " gear hunting " drop it down a gear.
Personally I don't have problems on any of my vehicles " gear hunting ".
I also don't have a clutch to burn out.
I'll stick with an automatic.

 

[Jeepnik]

I have both. But what I get a kick out of is folks thinking that having a stick will prevent theft.

 

[Ride1949]

Do you actually  know anyone that believes that? Although I've read of carjackings or thefts being foiled by the inability to operate a manual transmission, I don't know of any personally. I've always taken that as a joke.

 

[375hh1973]

Automatic

Have never owned or driven a stick

No one I know owns a stick either

 

[eveled]

I keep my brakes up , so there is no worry there.
If it is " gear hunting " drop it down a gear.
Personally I don't have problems on any of my vehicles " gear hunting ".
I also don't have a clutch to burn out.
I'll stick with an automatic.

Automatic transmissions still have internal clutch packs. They still wear out.

Automatics have gotten better for sure, but I can make a standard with a clutch last longer than an automatic transmission.

 

[Ordguy]

Began driving a stick shift about 1970, legally in 1971. Stick shift Army vehicles 1972. Sciatica began to bother me about 2012. Keeping pressure on clutch pedal at Red traffic light began to hurt more and more. Tried putting vehicle in neutral and taking foot off clutch pedal with right foot on brake; worked until I got a couple traffic tickets for "coasting". Bought an automatic in 2014, sciatica doesn't hurt near as much now.

 

[blume357]

Loved the stick on my wife's Porsche can't imagine driving a car like that with an automatic transmission.... had three on the column on a work van many years back and absolutely hated it. In fact my first work van was a VW mini bus and twice had to drive that one home with no clutch... cable broke.... trying to shift at just the right rpm is really a challenge.

 

[Dan in MI]

I have both. But what I get a kick out of is folks thinking that having a stick will prevent theft.

Do you actually  know anyone that believes that? Although I've read of carjackings or thefts being foiled by the inability to operate a manual transmission, I don't know of any personally. I've always taken that as a joke.

I believe it.
Example 1) I worked closely with the emission test lab at one of the big 3. (had testing performed on my vehicles) The company decided to save money and switched from in house company drivers to drivers hired through a contract house. Nobody bothered to see if the new hires could drive a stick. For the first month none of our stick vehicles passed the test as the drivers could not drive a stick. The building reeked of burnt clutch. (I also worked with engineers that needed to be taught upon hiring in)

Example 2) I saw a security cam video of an attempted gas station car jacking of a stick. They got in and tried to start off, after a couple stall/jump/stalls the carjackers bailed before the stolen vehicle made to the sidewalk. (fake video? maybe, but it looked awfully good to be fake)

Of course it won't stop flatbed theft.

 

[JBP]

Learned to drive a stick on a M151 jeep in Vietnam. Had a Volkswagen square back and Toyota Tercel that were both sticks but last 3 veichcles have all been auto although my Jeep has a CVT 6 speeed. Taught my oldest son to drive one but the youngest one just couldn't be bothered.

 

[ole442]

My 3rd car was a stick and for a long time all I drove was 4 speed cars but sadly, all 5 cars now are automatics! Love to drive sticks though! The one that would really throw car jackers off would be the seldom seen any more, manual column shift!
Of the 33 cars I’ve owned, probably half were stick shifts!
I owned 1965 Mustang once with a Hurst Ram 4 shifter! It wasn’t an “H” pattern but moved backwards and forward through the gears! It also had a separate lever for reverse! It was a hoot to drive!

 

[Johnnu2]

Now that I'm OLD and lazy.........it's AUTOMATIC for me....!!

 

[eveled]

I bought a Nissan Altima for my kids with paddle shifters. It’s an automatic but you can go through the gears shifting manually with the paddles. They are up on the steering wheel. I understand the principle and know the technique but I can’t get used to the paddles.

 

[ronto]

My first car was a '53 Chevy stick shift which I converted to a Hurst Mystery Shifter on the floor. I drove automatics until I bought a '90 Dodge Caravan with 5 speed manual on the floor. I would still have it but a drunk t-boned me on the passenger side and it was totaled. Lucky I was not seriously injured. Realy loved that 5 speed on the floor.

 

[Dave Schwaab]

I bought my first car, a Triumph TR3A, before I was old enough to get my driver's license. While I was waiting to get my license, my dad and I replaced the carpet, recovered the seats, rebuilt the side-curtains and replaced the soft top. I learned how to shift the 4-speed manual buy driving up and down our driveway, while sitting on a footstool in the stripped out interior.

Now I hardly ever get the chance to drove a manual, but I still enjoy it when I do. My wife says I drive our automatic like it's a stick, because my hand is often hovering around the console mounted shifter!

 

[3manfan]

Don't forget '3 on the tree' !