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I prefer a Manual. One has better control of their vehicle. Sometimes in city traffic an automatic would be nice though. BTW, I'm a trucker and had to drive a fully automatic 10-speed tractor for a couple of days. Hated it!! More trucking companies are going to automatic transmissions in order to recruit more drivers (especially the ladies).
[quote=southernlady5464;928712]I PREFER manual, my knees prefer automatic...I have arthritis in them so now I drive an automatic.
I can relate!
I had always driven a stick shift until I began to have health issues, even then I tried to hang on to my beloved car because I swore ZI'd have a stick until the day I died. It got to the point that I needed both hands to shift into the forward gears and I couldn't get the car into reverse at all, so I had to plan ahead so all of my trips would be in forward. LOL It's harder than it sounds! Think of all of the times you use reverse. (Small parking lots were especially challenging and parallel parking was impossible.) After a few months of this I mentioned to my DH that driving was becoming an issue for me. When he heard what I had been doing he was floored and told me to trade in the car immediately and get something I could drive easily. I now have a Honda Accord with an automatic transmission which is a breeze to drive, but I miss the freedom and feel of shifting gears.
I used to drive a manual, but finally made the switch to automatic about 8 years ago. I was doing so much city driving, and the shifting got old (heh, along with my knees.)
My younger son still doesn't know how to drive a manual, not sure how he'll ever learn, but I'm not too worried about him stealing a car.
My younger son still doesn't know how to drive a manual, not sure how he'll ever learn, but I'm not too worried about him stealing a car
I made SURE my daughter learned on a manual. She just bought a Honda Civic Hybrid. Told her it was a good thing she could drive a shift and she said yes it was. And then thanked me for teaching her. Liz
I have both and for sport I like the manual but I am learning left foot trail breaking with the automatics and find them just about as quick in the twisties as the manual shift car. On expressways I prefer the locking overdrive automatics and cruise control please.
I have both, my 2005 Dodge Dakota has an automatic, and my 2001 Nissan Xterra has a 5-speed manual.
My Nissan has all of the premium options like power windows, power locks, and the V-6 3.3 L engine, and the sport wheels. When I bought it new in 2001, I was very lucky to get it with the stick shift because normally you'll get the basic stripped down model with a smaller 4-cylinder engine if you choose to go with a manual transmission.
One of the reasons I like stick shift is you have more control on vehicle speed when driving downhill, you can use the transmission to control the speed, rather than riding the brakes. as many people do, and can end up overheating them.
Love manual transmissions unless I am in a city with a lot of hills. Hate being stuck in traffic going uphill in a vehicle with manual.
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