|
|
Manual for performance, automatic for simplicitySep 10 '00 Write an essay on this topic.I first started driving a car with a manual transmission in 1994. For 15 years prior to that, I wouldn't drive a car with manual transmission. I had tried back in 1980 with a friend's car, but gave up after stalling several times. It scared me to think that I might stall on the road and perhaps not be able to do anything but lurch back and forth, so I stayed with an automatic. In 1994, I spotted sharp looking Mazda 626 at a decent price. I looked inside and saw the "dreaded" stick shift. My wife from Europe was really happy to know about my find however, and suggested that we buy the car. I reluctantly agreed, figuring that now she might start driving more often. In contrast to the U.S., manual transmissions are the norm in Europe. She was really happy to start driving a car with a stick shift again. I gradually adjusted to driving the Mazda. At first, I stalled a few times when starting from traffic lights. There wasn't any real danger of an accident though. At most, people got a little irritated waiting for me to start the car again. Stalling is really uncommon once you get used to the feeling of pushing the accelerator while simultaneously lifting the clutch pedal. I won't buy a car now unless it has a manual transmission. I like the extra control and the better gas mileage that the manual transmission gives me. We did have trouble finding the used car that we wanted with a manual transmission. Manual transmission is standard in new cars, however it seems like most people choose to pay the extra $400-$500 for the automatic transmission option. This fact was evident to me only after I started looking specifically for a used car with manual transmission. I've had friends tell me about the trouble they had in selling cars with a manual transmission. It seems like many people won't buy a car other than an automatic. For that reason alone, I'd think twice before buying a car I might want to sell quickly unless it is an automatic. The automatic transmission is great for inexperienced drivers, as well as those who either cannot or don't care for manual gear shifting. Resale is generally better, since most people seem to prefer automatics. If you are thinking of buying a new car that you plan to keep for a while, you might be better off saving the $400-$500 and taking the 5 speed. I've yet to meet anyone who made switch from automatic to manual complain about wanting to switch back!  |
| Write the first comment on this review! |
