% of automatics cars sold

[Arctic_White]

I am seriously starting to wonder about the mental capacity of those who claim that manual transmissions require too much concentration to drive in traffic.  WTF is that about? 

Shifting gears manually should be second nature to any competent driver.  I've driven in plenty of heavy traffic and I have never ever found it too mentally taxing.

What's next?  It's too hard to concentrate on steering because of traffic?  Jesus H. fracking  Christ, I can't believe how disgusted I am with some of the lame-ass excuses some people can come up with to justify their laziness. 

My thoughts exactly!

Furthermore, learning how to drive a manual car is not hard at all.  I've seen very bad drivers driving manual cars, and know of excellent drivers who don't know how to drive a stick. 

[Snowman]

I am seriously starting to wonder about the mental capacity of those who claim that manual transmissions require too much concentration to drive in traffic.  WTF is that about? 

Shifting gears manually should be second nature to any competent driver.  I've driven in plenty of heavy traffic and I have never ever found it too mentally taxing.

What's next?  It's too hard to concentrate on steering because of traffic?  Jesus H. fracking  Christ, I can't believe how disgusted I am with some of the lame-ass excuses some people can come up with to justify their laziness. 

Sorry for the angry outburst and the harsh words.   However, it is really incredibly lame to claim that manual gear shifting is somehow too intellectually taxing to do in heavy traffic.

There are plenty of convenience features on modern cars that are there for convenience (aka. laziness ) and automatic transmissions are just another such feature.  There's nothing particularly wrong with wanting convenience and there can be good physical reasons to really favour such a solution (i.e. bad knees and all).  However, claiming that manual transmissions are just too mentally difficult to use is disingenuous, bordering on insulting.

My wife has driven a manual are her life and when we first met she was diving a Bronco MT  Now she does not want to drive one and finds it far easier to deal with children in the car and heavy city traffic with a slushbox. This is what she wants and I’m not going to argue with her. When she wants some excitement she takes Rut Ro out and beats on males driving MT Mazda 3’s and assorted poser sport cars.

[Arthur Dent]

IMO the downward trend in manuals has gotten worse due to:

cellphones
next text messaging
blackberries.

It is hard to drive in traffic with a manual tranny  if you are also trying to surf the net on your Blackberry.

cellphone usuage is exactly why my wife likes automatics now.

[AVToller]

cellphone usuage is exactly why my wife likes automatics now.

Then you REALLY need to have a chat with your wife! 

[dr_spock]

cellphone usuage is exactly why my wife likes automatics now.

Then you REALLY need to have a chat with your wife! 

But not when she is busy driving the car. 

Aren't women better at multitasking?

[Trainman]

Aren't women better at multitasking?

My wife says she is   

[Julie]

I am seriously starting to wonder about the mental capacity of those who claim that manual transmissions require too much concentration to drive in traffic.  WTF is that about? 

Shifting gears manually should be second nature to any competent driver.  I've driven in plenty of heavy traffic and I have never ever found it too mentally taxing.

What's next?  It's too hard to concentrate on steering because of traffic?  Jesus H. fracking  Christ, I can't believe how disgusted I am with some of the lame-ass excuses some people can come up with to justify their laziness. 

Sorry for the angry outburst and the harsh words.   However, it is really incredibly lame to claim that manual gear shifting is somehow too intellectually taxing to do in heavy traffic.

There are plenty of convenience features on modern cars that are there for convenience (aka. laziness ) and automatic transmissions are just another such feature.  There's nothing particularly wrong with wanting convenience and there can be good physical reasons to really favour such a solution (i.e. bad knees and all).  However, claiming that manual transmissions are just too mentally difficult to use is disingenuous, bordering on insulting.

I think, once you get good at it, it becomes second nature. Like riding a bike. I'd looove for shifting to become second nature to me. I'm thinking, it shouldn't actually be mentally taxing when it's second nature.

However, if you're learning later in life how to drive manual, weren't really taught well, or for whatever reason, it can be more difficult to learn.

I think, for people who have not mastered driving with a manual well, it is taxing when you're in bumper or bumper traffic or new places you're not familiar with where you need that extra level of attention.

[Arctic_White]

However, if you're learning later in life how to drive manual, weren't really taught well, or for whatever reason, it can be more difficult to learn.

I think, for people who have not mastered driving with a manual well, it is taxing when you're in bumper or bumper traffic or new places you're not familiar with where you need that extra level of attention.

That's very true.  But it doesn't take a long time to learn how to drive stick. 

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

[Leviathan]

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

So true. The real shocker is when you next drive an automatic and your left foot automatically pushes a pedal to the floor as you reach for the non-existent stick and realize you're not in Kansas anymore and that pedal under your left foot is the brake

[Arctic_White]

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

So true. The real shocker is when you next drive an automatic and your left foot automatically pushes a pedal to the floor as you reach for the non-existent stick and realize you're not in Kansas anymore and that pedal under your left foot is the brake

Totally!

Happened to me just recently while I had to move my father's car from the driveway, and I pressed on the non-existent clutch while turning the key in the ignition.

Quite an experience after not having driven an automatic car in months!

[tpl]

Dorin speak with straight tongue.

[dr_spock]

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

So true. The real shocker is when you next drive an automatic and your left foot automatically pushes a pedal to the floor as you reach for the non-existent stick and realize you're not in Kansas anymore and that pedal under your left foot is the brake

I have both manual and auto.   I get mixed up with ignition procedure some times when I am shuffling the cars around in the drive way.   Otherwise, when I'm on the road, I have no problems adapting. 

[Trainman]

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

So true. The real shocker is when you next drive an automatic and your left foot automatically pushes a pedal to the floor as you reach for the non-existent stick and realize you're not in Kansas anymore and that pedal under your left foot is the brake

Did that when I was twelve and driving the bosses 3/4ton GMC P/U in the bush 40 miles from camp, at about 30 mph.  The only time I have ever stalled an automatic   

[Incredible_NATE]

It took me two months to feel comfortable driving a stick in everyday Vancouver traffic.

However, if you're learning later in life how to drive manual, weren't really taught well, or for whatever reason, it can be more difficult to learn.

I think, for people who have not mastered driving with a manual well, it is taxing when you're in bumper or bumper traffic or new places you're not familiar with where you need that extra level of attention.

That's very true.  But it doesn't take a long time to learn how to drive stick. 

Within a couple of months, it should feel second nature.   

[safristi]

Looks like ye've got the hang of it.....Witch Hand Drive is it....

[faston]

In all fairness, a distinction needs to be drawn between BMW offering manual transmissions on a model and actually selling manuals.  BMW offers manuals on nearly everything they sell.  HOWEVER, every BMW I've ever ridden in was an automatic.  In my non-scientific experience, BMW owners prefer automatics.

In addition, last summer I was going to test-drive the new 3-series.  When I called the local BMW dealership, they didn't have a single manual-transmission 3-series in stock!  You had to special-order to get a manual!  And that's the frickin' 3-series 

(I ended up getting sick and not going for a test-drive at all, but the very fact that they had no manuals in the entire dealership was a bit of a reality check for me)

I had the exact same thing happen to me Mitlov.  I've never owned (or hardly even driven) an automatic and just automatically (haha) look for a MT.  BMW here in Vancouver told me that there was 'one in Calgary' that they could truck in - if I pre-bought it.  They looked on the ships coming in and I think there was one maybe two that were MT.  This is the Ultimate Driving Machine and you can't even get it with a MT?? Yikes.  I eventually did get one a month or so later but had to wait for the next ship to get here.  In the next year or so it's going to be time to get a new car and, again, BMW will be at the top of my list (very happy with my 3 series).  I have read that the automatic that they have now in the e90 is supposed to be really good for an automatic.  Blips the trottle to rev-match on downshifts etc.  This time I may actually have a look at an automatic. 

BTW, if they ever really decided to curtail Cell phone use in cars, all they would have to do is mandate manual transmissions, because I find it absolutely impossible to drive with a manual and use a cell at the same time!

[B2]

My wife has driven a manual are her life and when we first met she was diving a Bronco MT  Now she does not want to drive one and finds it far easier to deal with children in the car and heavy city traffic with a slushbox. This is what she wants and I’m not going to argue with her. When she wants some excitement she takes Rut Ro out and beats on males driving MT Mazda 3’s and assorted poser sport cars.


So you're wife races Mazda3's with an Impreza WRX?  Lame.  That's like using a Ferrari to race a Miata just because you know you'll win.  Or like Hulk Hogan beating up Steve Erkel because he knows he can win.  I guess it makes one feel better though.  With my Mazda3 I'm pretty sure I'm faster than a 1982 Pontiac Acadian.  Yup, I can beat 'em off the line no problem!

[airbalancer]

My wife has driven a manual are her life and when we first met she was diving a Bronco MT  Now she does not want to drive one and finds it far easier to deal with children in the car and heavy city traffic with a slushbox. This is what she wants and I’m not going to argue with her. When she wants some excitement she takes Rut Ro out and beats on males driving MT Mazda 3’s and assorted poser sport cars.


So you're wife races Mazda3's with an Impreza WRX?  Lame.  That's like using a Ferrari to race a Miata just because you know you'll win.  Or like Hulk Hogan beating up Steve Erkel because he knows he can win.  I guess it makes one feel better though.  With my Mazda3 I'm pretty sure I'm faster than a 1982 Pontiac Acadian.  Yup, I can beat 'em off the line no problem!

Weird, I really dont think Snowman was saying his wife goes not looking to race people it just happens,
and she finds both trannies are good for what they do

[Snowman]

Its okay AB. What I should have said was Wiffy likes to take Rut Ro out on occasion and when aggravated by young males driving Mazda 3’s, Civic Si’s, and Cobalt SS’s like to make their peckers shrink by out accelerating them. B2 must have previous experiences.

[barrie1]

I own both standard and beefed up auto tranny's which are both good for racing but not while I am on the ph as I pull over to use the phone. I refuse to endanger my life and everyone else's around me  by being stupid enough to yack for any period of time on a cell phone.  In the truck I own I am too busy watching the tach if I am running hard from a light in some form of competion with a challenger.  The revs come up very quickly and I don't like to over amp the cam anymore then I have to. Slows me down when that happens and you may lose the race if you don't pay enough attention to your shift points anyways.