Poll-My Daily Driver Has Manual / Automatic Transmission

[haha]

We seem to love to talk about our cars, and just casually reading it appears that many more of us drive stickshifts than the population base rate.

Situation made for a poll! Note-use "automatic" to classify Porsche Tiptronic, and some odd Citroen and rare types.

Ha

[Danmar]

Two of my cars (BMW's) have what is called SMG transmissions. They are manual transmissions without clutch peddles. Shift via paddles on the steering wheel. Very fun to drive. Newer models have a dual clutch system that is smoother. In my opinion these set ups are great. Similar engagement level as regular manuals but you get to keep both hands on the wheel. Some say traditional manuals with clutch peddles are a dying breed?

[rescueme]

My "daily driver" (even though I only drive it 2x a week) has auto, with the manual "performance shift" option, on a separate shift gate, if I wish it (Cadillac).

My "passion" is my Mustang GT vert. Such a car driven as an auto would just be wrong (yes, it has a 5-speed manual). That's my "sunday" car - IOW it only comes out of the garage when the sun is shining, and there is no moisture/salt on the road surface.

In a much earlier time (40+ years ago) I had a short-term j*b delivering stuff, using a 22" ft straight-bed, using a manual that required "double clutching" to ensure forward travel, without a sync. After driving that, any manual transmisson car is a piece of cake...

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Two of my cars (BMW's) have what is called SMG transmissions. They are manual transmissions without clutch peddles. Shift via paddles on the steering wheel. Very fun to drive. Newer models have a dual clutch system that is smoother. In my opinion these set ups are great. Similar engagement level as regular manuals but you get to keep both hands on the wheel. Some say traditional manuals with clutch peddles are a dying breed?

I just read an article about the BMW SMG. No torque converter, but the shifting is done with the usual planetary gear set-up of an automatic. It sounds like an excellent transmission. Clutch life with these very high output engines is a problem, and I am sure that something like the SMG will preserve the drivetrain all the way to the drive wheels better than even an excellent driver operating a clutch. I will likely never drive one; my son has an M5 as well as a new 911 but he won't let me get behind the wheel or either, in spite of no at fault accidents in a very long driving career. He may figure that I have just never had enough torque available to get into trouble.

Ha

[hakuna matata]

The BMW and the Miata are both manual and the Sportrac pickup is an automatic. We use the BMW and the truck on an equal basis, the Miata not as much. Overall I prefer automatics for a generic non performance type vehicle like the truck. I would hate the BMW or the Miata if they were automatics. They are just too much fun to drive with a clutch and I would miss that.

[FIREd]

My everyday car is a Toyota Camry with automatic transmission (my first ever car without a manual transmission). The Camry's transmission also has a "sport" mode which I use all the time. It basically allows me to manually limit the transmission's gear range which helps spice up the otherwise sluggish auto transmission.

When I want to have fun though, I jump in DW's Mazda Miata with manual transmission.

[Nodak]

Mine is automatic and I'm very glad that it is. Two years ago I broke my left leg just below the knee and four months later had to have the knee replaced due to arthritis damage. Without an automatic I would have been house bound for more than 6 months. Prior to this car I've had manual transmission only.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodak Mine is automatic and I'm very glad that it is. Two years ago I broke my left leg just below the knee and four months later had to have the knee replaced due to arthritis damage. Without an automatic I would have been house bound for more than 6 months. Prior to this car I've had manual transmission only.

My ex had a similar situation when she needed rotator cuff surgery on her R shoulder. She managed tempory swap of her Integra GSR to a friend for his auto trans Toyota. So she was able to get around, and in the bargain the somewhat stodgy friend managed to attract a girlfriend, no doubt helped by her very sporty red car which had been formerly owned by our son and lowered and modified in all sorts of ways loved by a 22 year old.

Ha

[rescueme]

I understand that all Corvette's owned by those 60+ have an auto trans.

Wonder why? ...

[kumquat]

My everyday car is a 5-speed manual. It's a 'sin' to put an automatic in a Mustang GT. I also have an automatic pickup since the auto has a much greater towing capability. My toy car is kinda hybrid, it has a 4-speed manual and an electric overdrive that you engage with a switch on the column.

[yakers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumquat My everyday car is a 5-speed manual. It's a 'sin' to put an automatic in a Mustang GT. I also have an automatic pickup since the auto has a much greater towing capability.

I test drove the Mustang and was surprised that I liked the automatic as much as the manual. I have read and heard many times that automatics are better for towing. My Jeep is an automatic as it is used for towing and its actually better off road than with a manual transmission. DWs daily driver, when she worked and now that she is retied, is a 5 speed Miata. So we are one of each.

[JOHNNIE36]

"Our" family car is a 2011 Honda CRV auto trans. Do they make a manual? My "golf course" car is a 98 Ford Escort with manual shift. Bought it in 2004 when I found out we couldn't get along on one car. Car was in great mechanical shape with new brakes, tires, battery and shocks. When I stopped to look at it I was disappointed to find it was a stick shift. Bought it anyway because of the way it drove and thought this would keep me from worring about transmission trouble as it had 147K miles on it. Turns out it was a great buy. Without A/C I can get 35 mpg. It now has 178k miles on it and all I've spent was about $200 for a clutch master cylinder and $80 for a new battery. Pretty good buy says I for $1750.

[travelover]

Escape hybrid with CVT.

[Khan]

Automatic.
Drove a stick from 1971 - 2007.
I'll probably not go back as my joints are deteriorating.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I just read an article about the BMW SMG. No torque converter, but the shifting is done with the usual planetary gear set-up of an automatic. It sounds like an excellent transmission. Clutch life with these very high output engines is a problem, and I am sure that something like the SMG will preserve the drivetrain all the way to the drive wheels better than even an excellent driver operating a clutch. I will likely never drive one; my son has an M5 as well as a new 911 but he won't let me get behind the wheel or either, in spite of no at fault accidents in a very long driving career. He may figure that I have just never had enough torque available to get into trouble. Ha

Yes I also have an M5 as well as an M6. The SMG's are a blast to drive. Owned the M5 for almost 5 years and no problems whtsoever with the transmission. Can't get these cars with an automatic but a 6 speed manual is an option which is picked up by a small proportion of buyers(mainly Americans). The engines are V10's with 500 hp and 383lbft of torque. Naturally aspired reving to 8250rpm. Planning on getting a new M5 european delivery next spring.

[Animorph]

Porsche Tiptronic, so I answered auto. However I do shift it manually. While I like manuals, they are pretty much history these days with dual-clutch paddle shifting giving better performance and most racing series using sequential shifting. I've got enough attention deficit now to make a manual a distraction I can do without in the future.

[rescueme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animorph I've got enough attention deficit now to make a manual a distraction I can do without in the future.

OK, we understand. You can't walk and chew gum at the same time ...

[Fireup2020]

Too lazy to special order a stick! (if even an option these days!) If I found one on the lot that met the rest of my requirements, it would be headed home with me!

[Nova]

Three vehicles, all "stick".

[BigNick]

Three vehicles, two of them automatic (and the third is an MX-5/Miata, which is available in an automatic but that would be super-lame). I doubt if 3% of cars in France are automatics, so I'm bucking the local trend.