RollaMo-LT4

If only that were true.

Fact is, there are far more automatics sold in the US than manuals.

JT-Monster-

wich is why I used the terms "personaly" and "thats just me" im sure sales accross the US do not show / match my persenal preferance

Slow_Lane

In my case I just happened to buy an automatic. My wife can drive a manual but prefers an automatic. If I were to buy another, I'd probably go for a manual for my "fun" car, though I think the 700R/L98 combo works pretty well and doesn't leave much on the table provided you have the right rear end gear.

I have autoXed (not seriously) a handful of cars...
87 Dodge Shadow Turbo - Automatic (first time for autoX)
96 Plymouth Neon - Automatic (sucked but you gotta run what you have - young family)
82 Trans Am - Manual - (Ok, I definately like RWD better but the car was pretty worn out)
92 Miata - Manual (bought for AutoX, never was competitive with it, got made fun of a lot by male peers
88 Formula 350 - Automatic (Best car for me and my driving style...earned trophies in this one)
04 Mustang GT - Manual (never was competitive in this car either, though it was fun)

Have yet to AutoX the 89 C4 Automatic but I am hoping if/when I do that some of the magic from the 350 Formula will resurface.

Bottom line...do I suck as a driver...maybe, though I can wield a stick on the road as well as anybody...in AutoX I seem to do better with two pedals.

blacknwhite92

My Mom is 83 and still drives her manual tranny car, so it's definitely not a "female" issue.

Personally, I think the reason there are so many autos sold is that the majority of drivers under 50 never learned how to drive manual, and many are probably reluctant to admit so over machismo.

I'm 56 and in Drivers Ed we had simulators that were 3 speed manuals (on the column) that we were required to learn. I'm sure that stopped long ago....thus the new generations reliant on autos shifting for them.

No offense meant, just a changing of the times.

TommyFox

:beatdeadh orse::beat deadhorse: :beatdeadh orse::beat deadhorse:

H P Bushrod

PLRX

LOL, Looks like somebody is dating my ex-wife. I gave that bitch a kick to the curb so hard that she hasn't fall yet.

True Mountaneer

My Dad is 73,and you couldn't give him an automatic pick-up.He's of the generation that thinks automatics are unreliable ..I used to think that too,and if I would have bought my Vette new I would have gotten the 6 speed,but I can't help to think that the automatics have most likely been babied more..

captainkawasaki

All five of my vehicles are stick and my wife drives them like a champ (except the motorcycle). She doesn't care for driving the Vette since it's my 'baby'.

TommyFox

That did not come out right.

laurieb

I don't think that's offensive. I think you're likely on track. My husband, who is 66, feels the same way. He also feels that everyone should, at the least, get some experience driving a manual transmission while taking driver's ed. Not a bad idea. He was taught on a manual tranny. I wasn't taught until I purchased one and had to learn. Yeah...I bought a car I didn't know how to drive yet LOL. My first husband could drive manual and we bought the car together so he could teach me. After I learned manual, I never went back - until now. I still love driving manual, though, and something tells me we'll end up with another Vette, but the second one will have a manual tranny. I do kind of miss it, even though I love our Vette with the automatic.

Aaron Keating

To get a stick I'm willing to go down 2 Cylinders if necessary (providing it's the right V6 and if I can put some gears in the back of the thing) to get a stick.

That being said there are things I love about the old slush box. Just footbrake it, launch it and blow people's doors off -every- time being one of them. And for city cruising it's easier.

I still miss my Bird though. Ideally imma have both a stick car and a slusho. I've just about given up getting a stick shift C4 though, there just weren't many of them made, and alot of the ones that were have been beaten within an inch of their lives. My 89 has proven to me enough already that it's hard finding an 89 in good shape as it is.

bb62

Neither Corvette that I own even came available with an automatic. I can't imaging driving these two cars with automatics and having the same fun.

Tom400CFI

X2 here. If the woman can't drive a stick...teach her. ALL good women should know how to "handle a stick" properly!

Mtn Billy

Yup you gotta get yours now. Be careful though, if yours is nicer than hers you will be sleeping in yours.....

rocco16

Oh, yes, you will. I put a high stall in a DD once.
I had it out and replaced with a stock converter within a week. Pain in the rear, it was.

Many is the time I've wish for an automatic in the Vette. Also, many is the time I'm glad for the manual.
For me, a Vette with an automatic is not quite a Corvette.


Larry
__________
not easily impressed....

TommyFox

You need to drive one with a race prepped auto, 3:73's and some actual horsepower/torque that is not equal to a Honda civic.

vittal

I've said it once and I'll say it again.
I learned to drive manuals and drove manuals for the most part of my early driving but then when I could afford something a little more than a Yugo or a Kia I bought an auto for the simple fact that when I kind of missed having a manual fine it would be great to be able to shift and play around but whenever I get stuck in traffic I remember that I would curse the clutch every minute 45 times over and realize that the benefits (for me that is) of an auto tranny far outweigh the benefits of a manual. So I decided that if I was buying another car I would really thing hard about weather I'd take a manual over an auto tranny. So even when I bought the vette I decided on an auto just because I felt like it and don't regret it.

Retxpres

My wife will not hesitate to drive my Automatic Vet. She has never driven my 6-speed Challenger RT.

There are times that I wish my Vet had a stick and there are times that I wish my Challenger was a automatic. So I think it is a toss... MHO

TommyFox

My wife hates my Vette not because it's an auto for her Challenger SRT8 is an auto. She just hates Vettes. So she bought a 96 GTS to show me up.