Who drives an automatic?

[Valk]

Now, who does?

[Spike]

Are you implying there's something effeminate about letting a car make the decision to change gear for you?

How does semi-auto fit in your scheme of things? I've got paddles behind the steering wheel a lá F1.

[Valk]

NO, I was just asking if someone drives an automatic around here.
Dont try to force that male-female crap on me. You're the one who always brings those things up anyway.

[Ed]

Standard rules but most people drive automatic around here.

[Miccius]

I'm guilty.

When I was shopping around this past summer for a new car, I wanted a standard but the one I bought was automatic.

[Valk]

So why is it that America almost only features automatics? In other countries its considered more of a luxury.

[Ed]

In any country that has snowy or icy roads, standards are much safer. Strange that automatics are more common in Canada. :?

[Archangel]

Automatics are considered standard here in the states. I'd say 3 out of ten people(or less) can drive stick in the states, in my area at least.
I personally loathe automatic cars. That's why I drive a five speed. :wink:

[Valk]

So why are automatics considered standard in the US?

[Clockers]

I'am not sure but it is.

Anyways i have and 'Auto' aswell. :cool

[wern]

So why are automatics considered standard in the US?

That's a no brainer - coz yanks are LAZY

only sissy boys drive automatic http://www.geocities.com/the_general.rm/00000031.gif

[Clockers]

:x :x

[wern]

:x :x

figures http://www.geocities.com/the_general.rm/00000045.gif

[Clockers]

:evil: :x :x

[wern]

http://www.geocities.com/the_general.rm/00000027.gif

[Katsz]

That's a no brainer - coz yanks are LAZY
I'll admit it - we are a lazy group, as a whole. Oh well.

I drive an auto, and the reason is because I never learned to drive a manual trans. That's the way they teach it here, just assuming that you'll get out there and drive your automatic. And there's also a lot of traffic where I live, so I guess the auto is easier in stop-and-go driving, or so I'm told.

[Archangel]

Everybody says that - stop and go is easier with auto. Even some of my friends who drive stick claim this.
I personally don't know what they're talking about. Driving in traffic with a manual is no more difficult than auto.

[Clockers]

http://www.geocities.com/the_general.rm/00000027.gif


:lol: :lol:

[JB22]

I learned on an automatic like everyone in the US, but the first car I bought was a stick, I've had my manual ever since.

[Hypnotic]

5-speed all the way. Autos are boring

[wern]

Everybody says that - stop and go is easier with auto. Even some of my friends who drive stick claim this.
I personally don't know what they're talking about. Driving in traffic with a manual is no more difficult than auto.

of course it's more difficult than auto. If it was easier, everyone would be driving manual.

The thing I like about manual/stick is that you are interacting more with the road and the car, and ultimately this translates into more focus and control.

Plus it is a hell of a lot more fun!!!!!

[wern]

:lol: :lol:

we need more emoticons

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[Clockers]

I had a few sticks before but after awhile i get tired of the bull shit stopping/going shifting them fooking gears so now i just sit back and relax :mrgreen

[wern]

I had a few sticks before but after awhile i get tired of the bull shit stopping/going shifting them fooking gears so now i just sit back and relax :mrgreen

that just means you haven't been driving stick long enough. Once you get used to it you never go back.EVER!!!

[Katsz]

I hear you, Clockers. Sometimes it's nice to just relax and do as little as possible. It's the American way!

[hugh g rection]

I don't know how to drive stick plus I couldn't find a car with a stick that wasn't beat to crap. I do want to learn because it is more fun to drive a car with a manual, I can't really get into first I should say but once I am moving I can shift very well. Only tried to drive stick once for about 15 minutes, so give me a break. :P

No matter what you say though, it is a lot easier to drive in city traffic with an automatic. You use the gas, brake and steering wheel basically. Manual requires, clutch, gas, brake, shifter, and wheel. It is pretty easy to see how it is easier, and of course I am leaving out the horn and turn signals and the like but I am trying to keep this simple.

3 of my close friends have/had cars with manuals in them. One got sick of shifting 10k times a day driving downtown and bought an auto car, one doesn't really care either way, and the other is hardcore manual. Most people have too much of a bumper to bumper commute in the states anymore to want to deal with it.

[wern]

The major advantage that manual/stick has for me in city traffic is the responsiveness. You basically have 100% responsiveness (unless you drive a bomb), which means that when you put your foot down on the accelerate the car goes immediately. Automatics take about 1/4 - 3/4 second to respond. And in city traffic where everyone is cutting everyone else off, that quicker response time can give you a massive advantage.
This ofcourse assumes that you are one of those dickheads who actually has that sort of a driving style, like myself.

[Clockers]

I hear you, Clockers. Sometimes it's nice to just relax and do as little as possible. It's the American way!


Yes it is..and try to eat or drink or whatever eles when driving a stick.. :shock:

Now do them same things with an 'Auto' :mrgreen

[Ed]

5-speed all the way. Autos are boring

I agree. Especially in traffic, when your mind is being destroyed by the excruciating boredom, it is nice to be able to have something to do. The manual aspects of driving make you feel like you are driving as opposed to sitting on your ass getting fatter.

[wern]

and try to eat or drink or whatever eles when driving a stick.. :shock:

pfft, easy. Left hand holds whell or stick, right hand holds food and drink (us aussies have the steering wheels on the right side of the car).

[Katsz]

Driving an auto gives you a free hand to perform PE exercises while stuck in traffic. :lol:

[wern]

Driving an auto gives you a free hand to perform PE exercises while stuck in traffic. :lol:

Well, if you'd hurry up and tell your wife about your adventures in cherryland she would be able to provide the extra hand for those exercises. Plus you won't look like a pervert to these kids on the bus next you. http://www.geocities.com/the_general.rm/00000045.gif

[Katsz]

If my wife provided an extra hand for my jelqs, I think I would violate the 5 hour rule. And you're right about the kids on the bus; they're too young to be doing PE.

[wern]

have you told her yet??

[Miccius]

Ha, you guys all talk about how boring an automatic is. So basically by shifting a stick around between 5 settings you are having the time of your life while driving? Hey, try looking out the window or listening to music. Driving an automatic isn't all that bad. Plus, we have cruise control on the highways. :cool

I always wanted to get a stick though since they have a little better gas mileage. But I still never get bored driving an automatic.

[Ordo Ferrum]

Omg this thread has proven how lazy americans can be, even when sitting down they would prefer not to move thier left foot or hands to move a stick around, how lazy can you be and we are right hand drive people in the uk aswell, you learn in an automatic in this country you are said to be a crap driver who doesnt have the skill to drive a real car.

[Clockers]

Just go drive your stick and will keep on driving are auto's. :roll:



heheh!






:cool

[Ed]

Ha, you guys all talk about how boring an automatic is. So basically by shifting a stick around between 5 settings you are having the time of your life while driving? Hey, try looking out the window or listening to music. Driving an automatic isn't all that bad. Plus, we have cruise control on the highways.

Seriously, moving the stick around keeps you more engaged in the act of driving. The most dangerous thing to do, especially on the highway during long trips, is to use cruise controle. Your mind can turn right off, next thing you know you are sleeping.

The other thing really is it feels cool to have the controle of your vehicle in that way. I think it taps into the Schumacher in all of us.

[wern]

Driving an automatic isn't all that bad. Plus, we have cruise control on the highways. :cool

I always wanted to get a stick though since they have a little better gas mileage. But I still never get bored driving an automatic.

You can get cruise control on a manual. Many cars now come with it standard. The first car I had was a mazda 626 1984 coupe 5 speed manual WITH CRUISE CONTROL. Can you believe they were putting cruise control on manuals in 1984??? totally blew me away. thats the japanese for you though.

As for the benefits of manual, in Australia for new cars, manual cars usually go for around $2,000 less than autos. Closer to $4,000 in high class cars like mercedes.

[smooth]

boring fun? I don't drive for fun, i drive to got point A to point B.


automatic for me.

[wern]

fair enough smooth. What kind of car do you drive?

[Spike]

a stick .. since they have a little better gas mileage.

That 10-15% difference multiplied by 150m American cars could make the difference between the Greenland Icecap melting or not as our little world gets warmer.

So I wouldn't move to Florida or Houston in a hurry unless you like houseboats.

[Ed]

I do the point A to B stuff too of course, but I guys got to get some fun out of life! If you just connect the dots, what's the point?

[smooth]

What you mean, what is the point. That IS THE POINT! :lol:

I drive jeeps!

[Ed]

Dig deeper man! :D

[smooth]

NEVER! :lol:

[wern]

What you mean, what is the point. That IS THE POINT! :lol:

I drive jeeps!

Ah you like offroading, right?