[OFFICIAL] Manual v. Automatic Thread

[wanker]

Originally Posted by ChopsZ

It all boils down to people becoming more and more lazy, mostly so with the lazy fat slobs here in the US. That's why you can typically buy just about any vehicle overseas with a manual, but nearly everything over here in the states is an auto. Hell, even semi-trucks are automatics these days. Embarrassing...

Mmm, I'd disagree. It's really an issue of manual transmission becoming obsolete given the advent of ECUs and multi-geared transmissions. Computer controlled automatic transmissions are now quicker and are more efficient than manual transmissions -- and we Americans are a wealthy car culture who are willing to pay for benefit.

I'd venture to guess that automatic transmissions will outperform 90% of most drivers on a manual transmission. Even when you look at the track lap times, top drivers on a manual transmission can only outperform automatic transmission by a very small percentage.

[Desert Rat]

Today's automatics do outperform the manuals but they'll never give you the driving experience and zen that a manual provides.

It used to be that manuals were quicker. That changed sometime in the late 90s when auto technology made for crisper shifts, and there were more gears to bridge the huge gap of the old timey 2 and 3 speed automatics.

It's still a slushbox though.

[CRiZO]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat