The end of manual/stick shift is nigh

Cooperspale

Looking for a new car and most of the dealerships seem to have a plethora of auto or DSG transmissions but we prefer a manual. It's a bit of a pain, some spots just didn't have a manual for test drive.....there's no demand mate.
Looking at mid range size. I thought it was only in the USA that auto ruled but looks like its heading that way here. So my question is: what are people on here driving? Manual or Auto?

GalwayKiefer

Mine's an auto and my misses' is a manual, my previous ute was a manual too. Whereabouts are you? I had plenty of choice in both when i was shopping around in January, though auto is a lot easier to get.

Cookie_Monster

3.5L V6 auto barge or a car

Over here it seems to be about 80-20 in favour of auto.

Xavi6

Autos bore me and I would only buy a manual.

Driving a slightly modified 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer ES and love it.

Cookie_Monster

Xavi6 wrote: »

Autos bore me and I would only buy a manual.

i thought that but autos are great for long sit cruising or traffic. manual far more fun on back roads and it general but complete pain in traffic.

Xavi6

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

i thought that but autos are great for long sit cruising or traffic. manual far more fun on back roads and it general but complete pain in traffic.

Ah but I catch the train door to door for work so pretty much never have to contend with traffic

Zambia

I drive a Auto Ford falcon but every now and again I force myself to drive it by changing gears myself. Without the manual clutch though it feels wrong.

myflipflops

Cooperspale wrote: »

I thought it was only in the USA that auto ruled but looks like its heading that way here.

They are taking over all over the place. I lived in the Caribbean and you could not get a manual transmission for love nor money. They thought I was crazy for even asking.

Same situation in the Phillipines. People don't seem to want to learn to drive a stick. It's pretty annoying to me.

Cookie_Monster

also with 7 and 8 speed transmissions coming on line would you really want a manual for that?

kdevitt

Cooperspale wrote: »

looks like its heading that way here.

Don't think its heading that way, think its already there.

Of 6598 BMW's currently on carsales, only 804 are manual - the rest (88%) are auto.

Have no interest in driving automatic cars myself - managed to get a manual Golf GTi which will do me here until I leave.

massdebater

Auto's convienience far outweighs the very occasional 'fun' you get from driving a manual. I'll not be going back to manual anytime soon. Unless you live in the countryside, I can't see why anyone would prefer a manual.

NoelAPM

I THINK there's more Choice of manual in 4x4 vehicles here, since alot of off roading is about knowing your gears.

I managed to get a 2001 Mitsubishi triton Dual Cab 2.4 petrol rear wheel drive! It's in Perth if ya wanna buy it in July! ;p

GalwayKiefer

Are many of ye using LPG? This is my first time having one with a tank fitted and it's a Godsend when filling the tank.

Zambia

I have a gas falcon as well. Sadly gas is about 25% less effective than petrol. With gas going sorry flying up the gap is closing.

mandrake04

I have 2 autos, wouldn't be arsed with a manual now. My brother and father both have autos now back home so it's not that odd these days.

comeback_kid

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

3.5L V6 auto barge or a car

Over here it seems to be about 80-20 in favour of auto.

where as in ireland its about 95 - 5 in favour of manual , one thing you notice quickly when travelling abroad is that irish people have a peculiar aversion to automatic cars

man1

I have found manuals are much harder to re-sell than autos so be careful what you choose.
However there is a difference in price though with manuals being a couple of grand cheaper than autos especially for new cars.