sticks are annoying as fuck. glad i can do it but won't buy another one.
― sexxx attic (will), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 00:29 (nine years ago) link
i get the control aspect, and the mileage +, but sticks are just too shitty and annoying in stop and go traffic
― alomar lines (anky), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 06:46 (nine years ago) link
Automatic only. And I use cruise control at every opportunity. I like to adjust the cruise speed while pretending I'm in space, engaging forward or reverse thrusters.
― I can't make my waterface turn into a *fart* (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 07:03 (nine years ago) link
re mileage - i understand that manual transmissions have historically been better on fuel economy, but i'm not sure that's still the case in many makes/ models. the difference is certainly not as substantial as it once was.
i drove a manual trans '02 Jetta from 2008 until last month and was definitely not impressed with the mpgs (though tbf i'm not sure that era Jetta was renowned for its economy). my current '05 auto Altima does considerably better. and quite a bit larger.
― sexxx attic (will), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 14:01 (nine years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 00:01 (nine years ago) link
i can think of three ilx0rs who don't/cannot drive; who are the other four
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 00:31 (nine years ago) link
waaaayy the fuck easier to drive stick in the snow than automatic.― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, October 8, 2014 11:34 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, October 8, 2014 11:34 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
missed this before, so otm
― dan m, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 02:19 (nine years ago) link
don't drive in snow. don't do that.
― I can't make my waterface turn into a *fart* (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 02:42 (nine years ago) link
You sure? It's fun!
― dan m, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 02:58 (nine years ago) link
i really only drive from el paso airport to the observatory at top of a mountain.
the first 3 hours are city and freeway so automatic works.
the last 30 mins is like 25% grade and the automatic is awful.
on balance, i would have to say: don't go to grad school.
― caek, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 03:04 (nine years ago) link
It snows in El Paso?
― pplains, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 03:07 (nine years ago) link
Driving automatic still feels like operating a dodgem car to me.
Although two US ILX0rs offered to let me use their cars last year and I demurred out of wrong-side-of-the-road concerns, and it's only just occurred to me how easy it would be bcz automatic
― Starland Vocal Gland (sic), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 08:44 (nine years ago) link
I don't know how you UK/AUS drivers do it left-handed.
Used to borrow a friend's left hand drive car at uni, then drive my parents' right hand drive when I went back home. Whenever I switched I would fumble around a few times for the gear lever with the wrong hand by the door, but settled back in to the right mindset pretty quickly.
― ledge, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 09:43 (nine years ago) link
On a trip to Boston once the rental place was like "we have a manual, if you can drive that?" I was all smug-Britishes and like "Yeah, I think I can handle a manual, buddy". Got in and had the immediate panic of realising the gear stick was on the 'wrong' side of me, and curse my smugness, etc.
I like automatics, but I don't miss the unexpected downshift of an overzealous auto transmission while going round a corner. I had some dicey moments in my last (automatic) car where the back end kicked out a little because I went just too hard on the accelerator coming out of a bend. It was a ~1994 car, though, and I'm sure auto boxes have come a long way in 20 years.
― CraigG, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 11:11 (nine years ago) link