Celica Forums General Discussion General Automatic vs. Manual

Hey everybody. I just wanted to see what everybody's opinion was about their cars. I have a 2002 celica GT, Carbon Blue all the way!! sorry, anyways. It's an automatic and whenever people see it I get this look like, are you stupid or something? I like driving standards and everything but i'm just to damn lazy when it comes to sitting in traffic. But thats just me, just wanted to spark some conversation, does this ever happen to you guys? Latez

James

love your car coz its a celica!

ide never get an automatic unless it was an SUV, or luxury car

manual rules

There's nothing wrong with driving an automatic unless you're actually racing.

you have auto?

Sometimes I wish I had an auto when I'm too lazy to shift or I'm sitting in traffic.

YEAH!!!!! carbon blue all the way. Nice car btw. Yea i hate sitting in traffic with manual.

agree

I love my car even tho an auto but the good thing is that with a gts I still have lift...

automatics are the worse thing to happen to cars since federal safety regulations.

It makes people less aware when they drive, it allows people who are incompetant to drive, and it makes driving like sitting in your lounge chair in your living room.

They should do away with it.

eventhough manual all the way, it gets disturbing sometimes. manual is good for fun. but when it comes to traffic and having ur hands free for some other thing, then damn. or if you want to drive with foot, lil harder. i prefer driving stick when with friends, and auto with a girl. they both rule

Not like Celis are fast anyways. Mmmm...auto...besides, my remote starter ownz j00.

i prefer manual i dont mind it in traffic no big deal its second nature to me, traffic is annoying but has nothing to do with shifting and what not im sure people with autos get frustrated in traffic just as much as people with manuals

manual

Why, you have an auto?

Check it out I moved here from Poland 3 years ago, and everyone over there is driving standard [like 90% of cars] so those how have automatics out there are "pimping big time" - girls like that alot. weird huh? but i got my baby standard :-)

MT for me.

having all these nice luxiries we have here in the US really makes people lazy. If you had never driven an auto b4 you would never have these complaints. It's not that hard to push the clutch back in and move your arm a little to shift back in N. Your not supposed to be lounging in the car, your supposed to be driving. I agree with Diablo, if everyone drove stick, there would be a lot less stupid drivers on teh road, and no more old ass people driving 60 the fast lane. Ok im done

haha well i wouldnt take it that far...but i will say that i have owned both types of tranny's and i'm MUCH more satisfied with my 6spd..unless i'm sitting in traffic

nothing like banging out the gears

Let's make that a third on the carbon blue, gotta love it. And personally, i like manuals, but I've never had a problem with auto's either, unless i'm racing.

Definitely prefer manual, don't mind the traffic at all with a stick, use to, but not no more.

Having a sports car without a stick is like having a dick and not being able to f*ck.

I was going to get manual, but I don't know how to drive a stick...and I'm too lazy to learn. Nevertheless, automatic is gooood enough for me.

^^^ you can learn easily

possible. in a lot of countries ppl drive stick, the only ppl who drive auto are handicapped or old ppl. rich ppl drive stick. examples are countries in south america, asia, etc...
as for as the traffic, i think manual gets you tired and the auto gets you bored. i prefer getting tired rather being bored though.

Prefer auto, manuals are fun on the highway but suck for city, prefer to concentrate on mistakes stupid drivers are making than remembering how to shift. In defense of Auto's, Italian sportscars now primarily feature autos of some sort. Aka, Ferrari Enzo has paddle shifting around the steering wheel and the Lambo Gallardo uses a Sportshift system. Last time I checked, F1 and CART cars are manumatics.

YEAH!!! WHOOOHOOOO...STICK RULES AND AUTOMATICS SUCKS!!! WHOOOHOOOOO. I HATE AUTOS "WORSE THING TO HAPPEN TO CARS"...WHOOOHOOO! WHILE WE'RE AT IT LET'S DO AWAY WITH POWER STEERING...THAT STUFF IS WEAK. WHOOOHOOO. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT LET'S DO AWAY WITH AIRBAGS, SHOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, AIR CONDITIONING, ETC. WHILE WE'RE AT IT LET'S DO AWAY WITH THE MOTOR ALL TOGETHER AND ROLL IT LIKE FINTSTONES STYLE! AND USE OUR LEGS.


...if you didn't notice i was beinc sarcastic. there is nothing wrong with an automatic transmission. it's a luxury. it is given you get better performance out of a manual.it's a perk and i like my auto as well as many other member here including isaac and tony. in no way does it make me more or less complacent behind the wheel (actually i tend to drive faster with a stick)...people who get into accidents are not due to the transmission but due to bad driving habits and unforeseen circumstances. sorry to rant...

my first car was an automatic and it felt really sluggish.
Since then i have always gotten 5 speeds.

As one person put it, he can drive and do "other" things thanks to his auto. he can eat, talk on the phone, chat, read the newspaper, shave...

Automatics make people complacent drivers. Maybe not you, but generally speaking, it does.

The better you get at shifting and the longer you have done it for, it should become second nature and you shouldn't even have to think about it that much.

I have never driven car with AT and I'm 29 years old!

How each transmission works...

Manual Transmission:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm/printable

Automatic Transmission:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm/printable



...
The following articles are taken from the Consumer Reviews Website
...



The Automatic transmission vs the Manual transmissions - its pros and cons.

Firstly, as we all know that the AT (Auto Transmission) is much more convenient and enjoyable than the MT (Manual Transmission). Well, lets talk convenience here. We know that the car is run on 4 basic things besides the judgment of the driver. They are the steer wheel, the pedals, the gear shaft and the other control including lights, wipers, horn etc. If we subtract one of those jobs, we reduce our efforts in driving by 25%. All you have to do is relax both your hands evenly on the steer wheel rather than constantly engaging yourself in switching gears as per the changing speeds. Also one of your leg is as good as not required as there is no clutch pedal. When we talk about the driving pleasure, well with the efforts reduced the car definitely seems to be a much better machine than otherwise.

Some Basics - Just like that of a manual transmission, the automatic transmissions primary job is to allow the engine to operate in its narrow range of speeds while providing a wide range of output speeds.

Without a transmission, cars would be limited to one gear ratio, and that ratio would have to be selected to allow the car to travel at the desired top speed. If you wanted a top speed of 80 mph, then the gear ratio would be similar to third gear in most manual transmission cars.

Youve probably never tried driving a manual transmission car using only third gear. If you did, youd quickly find out that you had almost no acceleration when starting out, and at high speeds, the engine would be screaming along near the red-line. A car like this would wear out very quickly and would be nearly undriveable.

So the transmission uses gears to make more effective use of the engines torque, and to keep the engine operating at an appropriate speed.

The key difference between a manual and an automatic transmission is that the manual transmission locks and unlocks different sets of gears to the output shaft to achieve the various gear ratios, while in an automatic transmission, the same set of gears produces all of the different gear ratios. The planetary gearset is the device that makes this possible in an automatic transmission.

We clearly can make out, that the AT vehicle is very convinient and a smooth drive compared to the MT, but there are a few drawbacks in the AT. Firstly, the At gives a much lesser mileage than the MT, besides if you ask some of the good drivers, they really prefer the MT to the At. WHAT????? WHY would anyone prefer a MT over an AT? Well, the fact is that the AT is designed to change gears at a specific range of speeds, for example, the gear might shift from the first to the second lets say when the car hits 20 KMPH and then from second to third when it is doing a 50 KMPH and so on. That leaves a driver with little option to choose his drive mode. Some drivers prefer to rev the engine on every gear, which would mean, he probably would like to hit the second gear only when the car hits a 30 KMPH and the third when its about 65 KMPH whereas the others who would like to conserve fuel, might switch to a higher gear a little early.

The difference - AT being very easy to use and smooth, MT gives you more options and is easy on the budget month after month. Having driven both, seems like, the AT is really good when you out on a vacation or generally if wanna enjoy a drive, but the MT is good when you going to work, braving the traffic.


The Benifits of a Manual Transmission...
1. Acceleration. A manual transmission accelerates more rapidly, and evenly throughout the gears, especially in a situation where one needs to merge into traffic more quickly. Automatics, on the other hand, start off very slowly in the lower speeds, then accelerate more in the higher speeds. This makes it very difficult to predict just how long it will take to reach the targetted speed. Score 1 for the manual transmission.

2. Maneuverability. Due to the acceleration differences above, an automatic is less maneuverable in a crisis situation (say, quick lane changes when being cut off), whereas a manual is just as peppy as its owner. Advantage: manual.

3. Assistance in maintaining alertness. Since one is constantly shifting gears in a manual transmission vehicle as traffic speeds change, one is forced to stay alert. This is especially important in stop-and-go traffic situations, where the car can stall if one isnt alert. Automatics on the other hand, require no adjustment or attention, as the correct gear is always engaged. In a traffic situation, this could cut down on ones alertness. This is especially dangerous when dealing with erratic drivers who will change lanes without signalling in tight quarters or any of the other myriad hazards such as rear-endings that come with thick traffic. Advantage: manual.

4. Fuel efficiency. An automatic guzzles far more gas than a manual vehicle-- EPA statistics and ratings on fuel efficiency show exactly that. This is because some energy is used to power the gear-shifting mechanisms in an automatic vehicle. A manual transmission requires none of that energy, since the driver does all of that him or herself. Advantage: manual.

5. Calorie burning. An automatic requires the actions of only one bodypart, the right leg, alternately pressing the gas pedal or brake, and maybe the hands for some occasional steering. A manual transmission, on the other hand, requires the use of both legs, with the left leg engaging the clutch as necessary, the left arm constantly steering, while the right arm shifts gears. The right leg is used in the same manner as the automatic. So, driving a manual transmission is more of a workout than driving an automatic. Advantage: manual.

6. Wear on brakes. When going downhill, in an automatic, one must constantly keep riding the brakes. In a manual transmission, on the other hand, one merely needs to shift into a lower gear, and with minimal useage of the brakes, ones speed can be controlled quite easily. This girl noticed a huge difference the first time she had to go down the other side of the Santa Cruz Mountains-- she merely downshifted to third gear, and her speed was very controlled, while she saw continuous brake lights and smelled burning brake pads from the automatics all around her. Advantage: manual.

7. Startup due to battery failure. In an automatic, a jumper cable and additional vehicle are required, to restart a car with a depleted battery. On the other hand, one merely needs to push a manual transmission vehicle, and get it going at a reasonable speed, then jump in and start the vehicle-- it will start up with no problem, and the battery will recharge as it is driven. Advantage: manual.


Why I prefer Automatic Transmission...
The Automatic v Manual argument will rage on just as long as there are motor vehicles on the road and people to drive and argue about them and neither will be right or wrong. It is all down to the individuals preference and experience.

Before automatic gearboxes came on the scene the argument was about whether floor change or steering column change was the best or easiest to use. Then came the gearbox that required manual handling but there was no clutch and then a pre-select gear box where you selected the gear before using it and depressing the clutch brought the pre-selected gear into play and these forms of transmission were also argued about at length. So this controversy is nothing new.

For forty years I have driven cars with a manual gearbox right from the old days of double de-clutching to the more modern synchromesh gearbox and now an automatic car. In my younger days I wouldnt be seen dead driving a car with an ˜automatic box as young men changed gears as slickly as racing drivers to impress the ladies Actually there werent any automatic cars to be seen dead in, so I was OK. In those days ladies, real ladies didnt drive cars because it was reckoned that they would not be able to master the art of double de-clutching. So the ˜men could show off their driving skills much to the admiration of the ladies beside them. Even when the synchro box came in, it was still reckoned that the lady would not be able to co-ordinate the use of hand and two feet to effectively change gear. Off course time has proved this supposition to be nothing more than that as ladies can drive cars and change gear as slickly as men.

Manual change gave you absolute and total control of how you drove and appealed to those younger persons who liked to pretend to be budding formula one drivers as they changed down to screech around a corner, impressing no one except the traffic cop on their tail but it didnt impress the magistrate in court a few weeks later. Indeed just to show off your driving skill you could slip neatly from second to top or vice versa. Approaching a tight bend you could change down a gear ready to go in ˜slow and come out ˜fast much to the admiration of the passengers as they hung on for dear life to prevent them being thrown around inside.

Before the advent of motorways, driving was fun where gear changing was part and parcel of the Sunday spin. But now if it wasnt for the multitude of road works on the motorways you could drive a couple of hundred miles and never touch the gear lever let alone actually change gear.

Nowadays the automatic box is as reliable as the manual and on my Vauxhall Corsa I can select which gear I start off in depending on the conditions prevailing at the time. At the press of a button I can select the ˜sporty mode where the cars does its best to misbehave under acceleration and that is handy for showing the ˜boy racers a thing or two at the traffic lights. They just do not expect a Corsa to leave them standing especially when they see an old geezer driving it. When it is snowy and icy I can select the snow conditions where the car will take off in third and for hilly terrain I can select to only go up to third gear. I can also select the same mode for up to second gear and stay in first for really hilly driving. But in normal automatic mode I can still change gear as I want simply by lifting off the accelerator to go up a gear or pressing down hard to come down a gear or I can let the ˜box do its stuff on its own. The automatic box has one drawback for those who do not use it properly and that is fuel consumption. In town where the road speed is restricted to 30 mph you can find yourself in third gear all the time and emptying your fuel tank as if there was no tomorrow. My box changes up to forth at around 35 mph so I have to make it go up a gear myself at 30 mph or risk the wrath of a nearby copper. To get the best out of an automatic box you have to listen to your engine and watch the rev counter as well as the speedo and that compensates for not having to change gears manually.

With my automatic box I have the best of both worlds and still have a leg left over to tap to the music. Just one final thought, Long John Silver of Treasure Island fame would have been able to drive had there been cars in his day, but it would have to have been an automatic. With only one leg he could not have been able to handle a manual box, unless he got the parrot to do it.

Manual is the winner. Case closed.

please diablo. post some facts, not opinions. what crash that has happened was ever reported as being caused by the transmission choice of the owner. once you get good enough at driving a stick it becomes second nature and you become just as complacent, so your point is moot. it is only worse when people who drive stick try to talk on the phone and eat while they shift. the simple fact is there will always be idiots who drive and people who arent idiots. it has nothing to do with the transmission, it is just a fact of life.

great links.

Opinion is welcomed everywhere otherwise this would not be ECelia...and fact is when I was 16 I was told by numerous insurance agents that if I wanted cheaper insurance I should definately look into getting a manual over an automatic...now why is this...I dont think State Farm Allstate etc. base their information on opinion. I have driven Autos, triptronics and maunals love them all because the each have highs...but manual is what I like casue it keeps your mind sharp...think about all the things your brain has to do to shift and drive through traffic...those synapses are buzzing

No one has ever said that a crash was caused by an auto tranny unless it malfunctioned or something. What Diablo meant was that some crashes are caused by some people doing other things that they shouldn't be doing like shaving, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, shit like that. All stuff that might have been avoided if the driver was shifting. MIGHT HAVE. Nothing is certain, but some accidents may have been prevented or made less severe if a manual tranny had be used. Manual trannys make it easier to manuever your car to avoid obstacles also, so there's another plus.

And don't get so pissed off. I don't see what you are getting mad at. You are acting like you invented the automatic transmission or something. And just because you drive one doesn't mean you have to defend it to the death.

i got an automatic gt in carbon blue also and i love it, but i have to admit that its more fun to drive a manual transmission!!!!

also have any of the celica owners that has automatic transmission tried to put a automatic transmission shifter? i found one at a autozone and i wonder if anyone have tried it and how is it!!! let us know!!!!

True. And then you get complaicent at that as well and then it doesn't really matter what the choice is really. True, you have more control of your speed with the stick, but any transmission in the wrong hands is deadly.

Today in STOP/GO Traffic... I watched some guy read the newspaper in his SUV

I was going to get my camera out and start taking pictures of this but then thought that doing so would be just as bad... I love my Automatic

hmm.. arguing different sides, all have pros/cons, why not combine both, already been done, convicne of automatic with timing and enjoybility of a manual. sport shift.. i owned two sport shift car, and even though my bro drives my celica i now i still luv it... my opnion is that people dont really give this technology a chnace, i think toyota poorly excuted this techonology in the celica, as well as mitsubhishi did in there new generation of eclipse.. i expect people to be biased on the subject, i jsut wonder why people wont accept the best of both worlds..

Most of my friends drive manuals, and many started off in autos. They say that tha change from auto to manual makes me more alert drivers, because if you don't pay attention to driving, you will stall the car out and have problems, especially first starting out. I have been driving manual since I could learn to drive, and never owned an automatic. If you have an automatic, cruise control and a steady knee, you can do just about anything while your car is sailing down the road at 70 MPH.

If you are driving at 70 mph, and you take your eyes off the road for 1 second, you travel over 100 feet without your eyes on the road.

Keep that in mind when you look up at your mirror for 10 seconds to put on your makeup, you drove 1,026 feet blindly.

Snake: No one said an automatic causes crashes, the dumb people who drive them and use the convience to do other things while driving cause crashes. The automatic transmission makes those non-driving tasks easier to accomplish.

^^ ditto jameson on automatics not causing crashes..its the added convenience that allows you to concentrate less and that indirectly causes crashes.

that said..there are more crashes involving automatics than there are involving manuals. that said, there are lots more automatics driving around than manuals so these #'s really don't mean anything...i don't have a ratio so these #'s are useless.

A main argument people make against manuals is the inconvienence of having one in traffic. I don't know about other MT drivers but I've never really gotten tired or sick of having a stick in traffic...in fact it has never been a bother at all. Hills and other similar criticisms aren't really enough IMO to justify auto over manual (unless you're in SF or something ). Plus in the import tunning world, auto is a no no in most people's eyes...well at least in the non show part.

That being said, I love manual transmission. Heck, even my gf drives manual...in fact her car is a GTS 6 speed ^^ which is why I'm here on this board =P She even said she would never go back to auto unless need be.

Plus driving stick keeps you more focused and aware, which was pointed out on an article on this very site. I'm not saying that driving stick leads to fewer accidents, but driving stick does at least (or should) keep you more focused in the logistics of driving.

I can say I speak from experience as I've been through 3 cars...the first two being autos. My second car was an Integra LS auto...and although it was fixed up and all that junk, it was never "right" because it was an auto. I would try to convince myself that it was ok to drive auto while fixing up my car but...nope it didn't work. Needless to say I parted out and sold the car after a year or so to get a 5 speed Prelude and it was a world apart.

I'll never go back to auto unless need be, such as buying a SUV or luxury car. But whether auto or manual it's all good in my book. If you're happy with auto then that's cool...but don't try to convince yourself that it's superior to manual to make yourself feel better...that's what I did and it didn't work.

manuals also go better in the snow.

none AWD/TCS, that is.

Yeah, manuals tend to be better in the snow because you can keep them at a low RPM, but regardless of what type of tranny you have in a Celica, they shouldn't be driven in the snow.
I know you weren't talking about the Celica, but I took mine out when there was about a half an inch of snow on the ground and I couldn't stop worth a shit. I slid all over the place and winded up side swiping a curve and messing up my rims. Let's just say that I learned my lesson the hard way.

yeah well, i dont think anything should be abolished because of the possibility of people misusing it.

and sorry about seeming so angry in the other post, i was just unhappy about something that there is no point in bringing up

true