What's your transmission?

**Odd_Nonposter** · 05-06-2010 12:26 AM

What type of transmission do you drive the most often? I can't get much simpler than that!

Personally, I drive manual transmissions most often and prefer to do so over other "lazier" types. I feel that I must have a greater portion of control over my vehicle than automatic, CVT, paddle shift, or other types give me. In fact, when I had to drive the driver's ed car, it seemed so incredibly foreign. Nearly every piece of farm equipment has a manual transmission of some sort, (most are unsynchronized) with the exception of the combine and our largest tractor, which has a computer-assisted manual (paddle with a clutch.)

I find several advantages to a stick shift over others:

1) I can make a manual maneuver however I possibly could want through some clutch magic.
2) That said, much better winter handling.
3) Automatics have historically had worse fuel efficiency over the years. A fluid-coupled torque converter can never be close to 100% efficiency. With a manual, you have a solid coupling that is 99% efficient. With computers, autos are becoming better, but will never match an ace stick shifter.
4) No extra fluids to worry about.
5) Roll starting capability means that I do not always have to find another vehicle to jump me.
6) The transmission itself is lighter in weight and more durable.
7) It keeps me awake.
8) Not everyone can steal it.

Unless your vehicle is a hybrid, I don't see an advantage over a manual other than the fact that you can eat a salad and drive. I do see an advantage in CVTs though. A constantly variable transmission can keep an engine running at its peak efficiency no matter the vehicle's velocity. Consumers don't think that they're powerful though because they don't hear the engine rev up as they're accelerating, which is why CVTs have to waste energy by faking it.

Most Americans I know drive automatics. I know that the situation is different in Europe, though. When I was in Spain, the only automatic vehicles I saw were tour buses and American imports.

Anyway, rant over. What's your take?

**ninja9578** · 05-06-2010 01:43 AM

Auto, it's hard to find a new car that has a stick without going into the luxury models. I couldn't afford the luxury or sport cars, and older cars are for high school kids getting their first.

**Puffin** · 05-06-2010 01:50 AM

I don't own my own car yet but I drive my dad's Infiniti, which is an automatic.
I watch Canada's Worst Driver and figure that if I ever have to drive stick shift, I'll get in an accident. Looks hard. xP

**Freemorph** · 05-06-2010 02:06 AM

My car will be automatic sadly, I want a stick. I love the last one, not everyone can steal it haha, I always think of that too that's another reason I want one.

**khh** · 05-06-2010 02:13 AM

Manual, of course. I'm an European.

**ChrissyMaria** · 05-06-2010 02:34 AM

Automatic T here, I cannot for the life of me learn how to operate a manual T car, for me its impossible...I'd rather let the car switch for me because I would end up crashing trying to switch hehe

Once My brothers car was parked behind mine in the driveway, so I had to get to work and couldn't leave because of his car blocking mine, so he was sleeping so I tried to move it myself....

I ended up stalling the car 50 times and couldn't put it in reverse and ended up getting stuck in the road and blocking the whole road so nobody could pass if they tried, luckily no cars came through at that time I was so scared I couldn't start the car or move it so i panicked and screamed at woke my brother up so he could re-park it lol...omg manual is so complicated.