Manual Vs Auto. What's Your Preference?

pegaxs on 16/09/2019 - 10:01

Got to talking at work the other day with a few friends and customers about the shift in the automotive industry towards vehicles with automatic transmissions (and I'm lumping everything in with "auto" that do not require user input to frequently change gears. DC, DSG, CVT, Automated manual, etc.).

This fired up a debate on "what's best" and bought out a lot of valid debate from both sides (and a lot of invalid, posturing as well). It was still undecided and on the fence either way. So, I thought I would throw it out to the worlds best automotive forum, and see what they say.

So, the question was;

This week, you are out to purchase a new car. This car is going to be your daily driver for 80~90% of the time, with the odd weekend to do what you want. The car you have settled on is now down to selecting options. We are at the "gearbox" selection when the salesperson offers you "What ever you want, we have that as an option".

What would you pick, and why?

Poll Options

  • 314
    Traditional Manual
  • 319
    Traditional Automatic
  • 28
    Mixed Mode (step/tipronic type)
  • 45
    DSG/DC/Automated Manual
  • 19
    CVT
  • 10
    Other (see comments)
Automotive

Comments

  • Willco88 on 08/10/2020 - 16:21
    -1

    What a vague question that will elicit 1 million different answers

    • Euphemistic on 09/10/2020 - 09:40
      +1

      It’s not that vague. What do you prefer to drive is pretty simple.

      It has elicited 4 pages of response and quite a few poll results, not quite a million but plenty none the less.

  • Sydneyswans on 08/10/2020 - 19:06
    +1

    Guys I'm on the hunt for my next car but in 15 years of experience driving I have never learnt manual. Should I still take the plunge into manual or just stick with auto for the foreseeable future?

    • apsilon on 08/10/2020 - 19:47
      +1

      Personal preference. Keep in mind there aren't many cars that are even available with manual any more (unfortunately IMO). If it's a daily driver in traffic I'd say just stick to auto. If it's a dedicated weekend fun then probably manual.

    • Willco88 on 09/10/2020 - 10:23

      Think about what you want the car for?
      Where do you drive mostly?
      How many hours a day are you driving?

      If you're buying fairly new cars they can both be just as powerful and economical as each other these days.

      Or get the best of both worlds automatic with sports auto triptronic?

      You can drive in automatic gears or can use it similar to a manual without the need for clutch, like what came in FORD BA.

      • Sydneyswans on 09/10/2020 - 12:06
        +1

        My car is a train station supermarket gym and home again vehicle pretty much

        • Willco88 on 09/10/2020 - 13:14

          Well for that just get a small reliable economical automatic something like a Hyundai or Toyota

  • Willco88 on 09/10/2020 - 10:20

    Well personally I've had both driven 20+ cars over the years, it all depends on the car and the situation, hours in peak hour traffic like Melbourne or Sydney after a hard day you just want to relax with an automatic.

    but as above for the weekend cruise car to go out of town through the hills and have some fun definitely manual, to get the most out of the car definitely need a decent manual with a good clutch.

    But in this day and age most people are just driving for hours in rush hour traffic to work or university so are after convenience and function and that is usually automatic.

    But as I said before everyone has their own personal preferences and there's no right or wrong answers…

  • Toph Beifong on 09/10/2020 - 11:48

    I would absolutely panic when my old Civic wound't go into 2nd gear (probably due to a worn synchro). I'd be stuck in the middle of the lights doing 20kph.
    An auto when new generally costs 2k more. But with a manual the clutch eventually gets worn and you'd spend $1.5k getting a new one. Add to that poor resale value on a manual. So in the long run, it makes economic sense to buy an auto.

    • Willco88 on 09/10/2020 - 13:16

      Very true if someone doesn't know manual well they can easily ride the clutch and cost alot to replace

    • apsilon on 09/10/2020 - 13:21

      An auto when new generally costs 2k more.

      It used to be the case that autos cost more than the manual version but that changed some time ago and manuals were generally more expensive than their auto counterparts. Now you rarely get a choice.

  • Foxtail on 09/10/2020 - 13:06

    I do not know anyone with a manual shift, I thought they went out with tin hats, it would be so annoying in traffic and where can one use the teeny bit of extra power?.

    • apsilon on 09/10/2020 - 13:20

      Track aside, it's not about extra power (there's rarely a difference), it's about being in the right gear at the right time. I can see ahead, I can anticipate and select the right gear in advance. An auto/CVT can only react. Some will argue you can do that with paddle shifters etc but it's not the same.

      • robboaustralia on 26/11/2020 - 00:57

        I hate going down steep hills in an auto. Manual much better.

  • iridiumstem on 09/10/2020 - 13:12

    I had the joy of driving a manual van for my work. I could see the appeal (since I had to drive out to countryside), but at the same time, it was a badly maintained as well.

    I do prefer auto, but if the gearbox wasn't so bad I could see why people would enjoy driving manual.

  • robboaustralia on 26/11/2020 - 00:54

    Going to buy a black Suzuki Swift soon uprgading from my 2001 VX Auto. Cheap reliable runabout. Still deciding manual or auto. I am thinking manual. How easy are the newer manuals to drive? Effortless or still gotta do a bit of work? Anyone vouch for the auto?

    • pegaxs on 26/11/2020 - 08:37

      The auto in the Swift is a bit of a slush box and if you are getting a newer Swift, they have a CVT. That is a love hate thing. Some people like CVT, some don’t. You are best to take it for a drive, because only you will know what you like or are willing to accept.

      As for manual, how do you mean easy to drive? Got to do a bit of work??? A manual is a manual. It’s pretty standard experience. It’s called a manual because you have to do all the shifting work.

      • robboaustralia on 26/11/2020 - 10:34
        +1

        Haven't driven a manual since my 1988 Nissan Exa. Just though with modern vehicles they might be a bit smoother/easier. Will take em both for a test drive soon. Cheers.

        • apsilon on 26/11/2020 - 10:54

          Just though with modern vehicles they might be a bit smoother/easier.

          If you're referring to a manual, if it's jerky or difficult, it's not the car, it's the driver. FWIW, auto will have more resale appeal if that matters.

        • Euphemistic on 26/11/2020 - 11:51
          +1

          It’s a small car, the clutch most likely will be pretty light.

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