Automatic or Manual

Trev · #1 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 06:36 PM

As I said before, I am starting to love cars, and am looking into Evos. What I am wanting to ask, what are the main differences between automatic and manual? Will a car newbie like me be able to tell much of a difference?

coco · #2 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 09:38 PM

Have you ever drove a stick shift, and can you do it well. Evos can be really quick cars, the only teens I know that drove them that were not into racing always had automatics as it was easier and their parents didnt want to purchase a new clutch when the kid ripped it out.

Bling · #3 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 10:51 PM

If you have only ever driven automatic you are gonna have to learn to drive manual. It will take some getting used to let me tell you-it takes most of us a good while to stop crunching and mashing the gears.

If you are only licensed for an automatic you might even have to take another test (don't know if that is the case in the USA).

Trev · #4 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 12:24 AM

I know how to basically drive one, but I need a lot of practice. The only one I ever practiced on had a somewhat hard gear shifting problem, so I would like to practice with a decent/good manual car.

Bling · #5 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 01:49 AM

Well the evo is definitely a good car

But I wouldn't want to practise on one. The clutch can be a bit tricky, so my advice would be to find a mate who has a manual and take it somewhere nice and quiet. Somewhere with a few hills to do some starts on would be even better so you can learn to balance on the clutch.

Trev · #6 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 03:23 AM

Thanks for the tips. I have learned from my mother that hills can be tricky, depending on the car. One time she got stuck on a hill with an underpass, and had to be shimmyed up with a pickup truck.

motorhead · #7 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 08:23 PM

There is also a big difference driving a stick car or a stick truck, truck gears are a little harder to play around with. I would try and suggest something small stick wise to practice with, as you improve and your reflexes take over, it will be easier to adjust when you start driving things with tougher clutches.

BigEars · #8 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 10:29 PM

I know that you Americans don't like small cars, so I had a bit of a look. My recommendation would be a manual Toyota Camry or similar if you can find a mate with one. That isn't a hard drive, but will give you the feel before you switch.

Ma986 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 01:17 AM

In addition to most of what was said earlier, I think it would have been a better situation if you had learnt to drive the stick shift first. Personally having learnt to drive the stick shift, then switching to automatic was a easy switch but I think the other way around will pose very challenging.

EvoLover · #10 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 04:09 PM

Personally if you are asking this question then you probably have only driven automatic transmissions. I think that if you have driven a stick then you would know that naturally they are faster. But if you are used to an automatic have little experience with a stick then you may want to purchase an automatic. I think for people that usually drive sticks that is what they stick with...