Why do you drive an automatic (unless you don't)? - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

tumnasgt · 12-04-2010, 07:38 AM

I've been wondering for a while what people's reasoning is for getting a car with an automatic, so I thought I'd start a poll. I think I've thought of all the general reasons, obviously explaining more in a reply is even better

As for my family's Sonata, we weren't able to get a used one with a manual in our price range. At first I hated the auto (first I'd ever driven), but it's growing on me. A DSG gearbox would be nicer, as it gets a bit annoying having to pay so much attention to keep the TC locked up as much as possible while going up inclines on the highway. And gas mileage in the city is rubbish.

cfguy2000 · 12-04-2010, 11:02 AM

In DFW, manuals are hard to find. I got an auto because out of all the vehicles I test drove, the one I found had the most will to survive and it happened to be a 3 speed automatic (bah never again!). I bought it with 134,000 miles, it has 200,000 now.

UFO · 12-04-2010, 01:10 PM

I got an automatic so I could drink while driving (coffee!). Seriously though, when I bought my car mileage didn't matter to me as my fuel is cheap and the mileage is already very good. Automatics are convenient in stop & go driving. I regret that now, as VW automatics are unreliable and expensive to repair. When my transmission fails I will most likely be swapping a manual.

Cd · 12-04-2010, 02:17 PM

I don't like the idea of rolling into the guy behind me at a stop light while on a hill.
I tried to learn to drive a manual car as a teen and completely failed. Now as an adult, I don't see how that i could just go buy a car with a manual and drive home without first getting comfortable with it.
I'd end up stalling at every light, or miss a gear. I have enough to worry about while driving without worrying about what gear i need to be in.

gone-ot · 12-04-2010, 04:26 PM

...although we've driven sticks for years & years, here recently, a bum left knee has reduced the wife to driving only automatics.

...and, that's why *we* drive automatics.

Cd · 12-04-2010, 05:09 PM

Because automatics get more chicks.

Ryland · 12-04-2010, 05:50 PM

All of the cars and the truck at work are automatic and I would ever buy one, they are harder to control, they get worse mileage and make the vehicles all feel sluggish.
I've taught a handful of people how to drive a manual and it tends to take me an hour from the time we first start before I can have them doing a hill starts smoothly without using the hand brake.

brucey · 12-04-2010, 06:36 PM

I couldn't find my car in a manual.

tumnasgt · 12-04-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryland

All of the cars and the truck at work are automatic and I would ever buy one, they are harder to control, they get worse mileage and make the vehicles all feel sluggish.
I've taught a handful of people how to drive a manual and it tends to take me an hour from the time we first start before I can have them doing a hill starts smoothly without using the hand brake.

I know what you mean about the control thing, until I got in the habit of using manual-mode to engine brake before corners, it felt like I was driving around corners in neutral.

The sluggish thing is interesting, I find that our Sonata is amazingly quick from 0-40mph, but after that it really wants a stronger lockup so it doesn't have to rev so high to get up to speed (as in, lockup and then accelerate).

I've never bothered to learn to do hill starts without the handbrake, but now that I've heard it talked about twice on here in the last day, I'm going to have to teach myself.

nemo · 12-04-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryland

All of the cars and the truck at work are automatic and I would ever buy one, they are harder to control, they get worse mileage and make the vehicles all feel sluggish.
I've taught a handful of people how to drive a manual and it tends to take me an hour from the time we first start before I can have them doing a hill starts smoothly without using the hand brake.

Learned to do hill starts in a 66 Catalina with a 3 on the tree. Talk about roll back.

My car at this time is an auto it was my fathers car. My wife's car is a 5 speed. If i were going out to buy a car I would be looking for a stick. Always liked the feeling of control especially when coming down a mountain road.