Manual over Automatic any day!. Review on Automatic Gear Vs. Manual Gear

I am 47 years old, and have owned many cars in the last 30 years. I started out with a manual transmission, and once I was proficient at driving it, I found the gas mileage to be better than any Auto Transmission I had driven. Also, being able to shift the car when I want to gave me much more power entering a busy highway, etc, and when passing at high speeds. Simply downshift to fourth, and the car flies! Gas mileage set aside. I have only had 2 Auto Transmission cars in my life.

On both cars, the transmission had to be replaced between 70, 000 to 75, 000 miles. However, in ALL the manual transmissions I have owned, I have only replaced 2 clutches total! 1 at 98, 000 miles, and the other at almost 147, 000. I have NEVER replaced transmissions or gears, partial or whole in a manual transmission car. I think this kind of speaks for itself. And while the Auto Transmission cost around$1300 to replace, the more expensive of the 2 clutches was only$800.  I recently had to purchase a car, and without having much time to look for the perfect one, and a very limited budget, I(with family help) had to buy an automatic. I am already saving for the transmission repair. By the way, I have always owned only 4 cylinder cars, if that info helps any.

P.S. - Since I wrote this review, I have read a few more, and would like to address just a couple other things. Braking, vs. Downshifting was discussed. I don't know about you, I never downshift except to make a turn, which I am comfortably in the gear margin by the time I downshift to 2nd gear. When I am approaching a stoplight, I simply take my foot off the gas, rest the car in neutral, and because it is NOT an automatic, my rate of speed declines quickly, leaving me only to brake in the last few moments. I save not only my brakes, but my transmission. Some have said blatantly they are leaving out older cars, as they are not well maintained. I have to tell you. all of my cars have become older cars, with GREAT maintenance on them. My last car was a 14 year old Acura Integra, 5 Speed, manual transmission. The clutch never failed until 147, 000 miles, the gears and transmission NEVER failed. And gas mileage? Heh. city, 32mpg easy. ALL highway driving, averaged between 39 and 40 mpg, WITH the AIR ON. Also the city driving was with the AC on as I live in Florida and I use AC most of the time.

I find it rather fasicinating that someone would even post here who has never owned a manual transmission, only automatic. Seeing as this is a debate between the two, I would have to say that to be well versed, a person have experience with both. As far as the automatic transmission being out frist at a stop light, hardly ever happened to me while driving the 5 speed, especially the Acura. Yes, some cars with 8 cylinders definitely beat out my car, but it was a rare ocassion that I was the one left behind.

So, for my opinion, I have always had a lot of fun driving the manual. I felt in tune to my car, and the one in control. I could baby it and keep up with the auto transmissions on the road, or I could have my fun and leave them in my dust. I usually tended to not have my fun, as I no longer desired any speeding tickets(you have to mature sometime, lol). In my mind, automatics are a bore to drive. Nothing to do but press the gas, then the brake, then the gas, on and on. For me, the truly pleasurable driving experience was in the control I had over my car, and the abiltiy to overpower others(such as in passing situations) with no more effort than a move of my hand and my left foot at the same time. To me, driving was almost an art. I could shift seamlessly, and no one really noticed when I switched gears. I guess maybe the people who just don't get it down right, WOULD enjoy an automatic more. But for those of us who love the thrill of a good chase, stick with the manual transmission.  It DOES    eventually become second nature, and the city driving does not bother you, in fact, you hardly notice the shifting at all.

So, for all you manual transmission lovers. keep to it and have lots of fun with it. For the automatic lovers, keep good music on the radio so you don't get so bored with the driving.