Manual or not?

[eljoekickass]

Hi, I'm new here. This is my first post. For those of you who have the 5 speed, do you guys like it a lot? The reason I ask is because i get a lot of stop and go traffic, and i always thought it might be a hassle. In addition to my 96 camry, which is auto, im going to get a new car and i dont know if i should go manual or not. It is very fun, since ive practiced in my friend's car, but i dont know if i will continue to like it. A manual will save me a thousand or so bucks of the price but i just wanted u guy's opinions on it.

[midnightmach]

It all depends on you, to be honest it can get tiresome in stop and go traffic but i would not go anywhere near an automatic transmission, when driving my parents cars i get bored...including my dads G35...

So if you already drive an auto and dont have any issues with it, i see no reason to get a manual transmission. If you find it will be a hassle to you then stay auto. Keep in mind automatics have a shorter life span, provide worse gas milage, and weaken performance...

[TTercel]

This is even a question LOL

For me is manual or nothing, but if your going to drive in the city in high traffic you might wanna drive your friends manual car for a week and get a feel for it before you drop the money on the new car.

[eljoekickass]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna take that advice and drive my friends car for a week in the city. I just need to get rid of him first.

[bigbird]

ive only owned autos, i love the convinence but they bore the shit out of me, and i can actually feel the tranny sucking the power away from the wheels. if u can stand the hassle of stop and go, i say manual.

[SilvaCam92]

i drove my moms ford probe 5spd for 6 months and went to an automatic... man i miss driving a 5spd

[RodMillenFan]

We have a 93 SE V6 auto and a 92 SE V6 manual... auto is convenient for road trips and stuff, not worrying about shifting. But for driving it, it's a LOT more interesting with a stick.

[Svanzy Ya]

its 5 speed or nothing especially for a Camry

[Unco]

i4 + auto = snail
i4 + manual = i4
V6 + auto = comfortable and sufficient
V6 + manual = FTW

[geoff5093]

I love manuals when driving around the city for fun or driving with some friends, and it gives you something to do. Although auto's are great for long trips or stop and go traffic. They are also great if you enjoy talking and eating while drinving, without worrying about shifting :P

[ECale3]

traffic or no traffic automatics suck donkey balls.

[Heat]

With a manual you get better gas mileage, save $1,000 or so on the initial purchase, have much more control over the vehicle (easy to pass people on highways for example, just drop it to fourth or third), looks cooler, don’t have to worry about $2,500 automatic transmission rebuilds, etc etc. Just go manual. Shifting will quickly become second nature, even in heavy traffic. Also, if your battery ever dies, you can start a manual by "popping the clutch".

My main family car is an I4 ’99 Honda Accord with manual transmission, I love it. It’s a very peppy vehicle even though the reviews at the time said it was sluggish… but the reviewers had all driving Accords with automatic transmissions. Speaking of which, that era’s automatic transmissions were bad, lots of people are facing $2,500 rebuild fees (on top of the $1,000 extra they paid when they first bought the car). Lots of threads on the Honda Accord forum about how to convert automatic transmission Accords to manual transmission.

That being said, my ’95 Camry is automatic but it was given to me for free so I couldn’t really complain.

[geoff5093]

Manuals and autos today hardly differ in terms of gas mileage, I believe it was more so in the past because most cars had 4 speed automatics, but 5 speed manuals. Today however most cars have 5 speed manuals, while some have 6 or more speeds. But I do like the idea of saving almost $1000 on the initial purchase, and the fun of driving a stick.

[midnightmach]

Originally Posted by geoff5093

They are also great if you enjoy talking and eating while drinving, without worrying about shifting :P

Haha, you have two choices...eat on a straight road (no steering) or eat between shifts...depends where you are lol eating and driving is difficult. As for friends, it doesnt interfere unless your a beginner...

[CamryPunk]

U live in Fullerton... you'll love the auto. I have a Civic and WRX both stick... and both suck in traffic.