Dream Car thread - Manual or automatic?

[hippymamato3]

I'm getting my (adolescent lol) dream car...a Jeep Wrangler. We are looking at both manual and automatic transmissions. Which would you choose? I think manuals are super fun, but I wonder if I will still feel that way in a year. 
 

Did yo have an adolescent dream car? Did you get it? What was it?

Edited April 29, 2021 by hippymamato3

[Elizabeth86]

Well I don't have drivers yet, but my DH is passionate about our children to driving manuals.  My dh will be 40 this year and he just bought his very first automatic.  So, I'd say it's safe to go ahead and say manual.  lol It's a fun skill to know.  I see those stickers on vehicles all the time that say something like millennial anti theft device with a picture of a manual shifter.  

[bibiche]

I would always get manual if there’s a choice. More fun to drive, and automatics make me carsick, even when I’m the one driving.

And my adolescent dream car was a vintage 911. I got it, and it was fun to drive. 😎

Edited April 29, 2021 by bibiche

[Pawz4me]

My adolescent dream car (which my wonderful parents gave me) was a manual Mustang. I loved it. My second car was also a manual. But I’m lazy now and adore automatic transmissions. A manual would make any car an easy no for me. 

[Matryoshka]

1 minute ago, bibiche said:

I would always get manual if there’s a choice. More fun to drive, and automatics make me carsick, even when I’m the one driving.

Me too. I love driving manuals. Now that the kids are grown and have their own cars, I'm dreaming of a fun manual for me!  Anybody have some good suggestions? 🚘

[Miss Tick]

I wanted a manual Mustang, too. Hard top. By the time I could (perhaps) afford the car, I wasn't interred in the upkeep.

Yesterday I was thinking that I don't just want a manual, I want some kind of steam punk looking steam engine thingy with pedals and levers and aviation goggles! Very much hands-on driving! That would be fun for a bit. Can't wait to drive it for carpool!

Edited April 29, 2021 by SusanC
too much dialect leaking through

[hippymamato3]

I am leaning towards manual because they are fun and I'd like my DS 18 to learn how to drive one. I've always felt you should know how to drive any possible "get away" car if in a bad situation. I love hearing about other people's car stories!

[Spy Car]

For me? A manual, for certain.

Every car I've ever purchased/driven for myself my whole life has had a manual transmission. I love manuals and will be very sad when electric cars make them obsolete.

I didn't really get my "adolescent dream car" until I purchased my MINI Cooper S in 2003 when I was 45. Mid-life crisis car? Still have that beauty. It has a very fine German 6 speed transmission.

I think if my 16 year old was asked his current dream car, the Jeep Wrangler would likely be his top pick. 

Bill

[Spy Car]

19 minutes ago, bibiche said:

I would always get manual if there’s a choice. More fun to drive, and automatics make me carsick, even when I’m the one driving.

And my adolescent dream car was a vintage 911. I got it, and it was fun to drive. 😎

Envy

Bill

 

[Elizabeth86]

23 minutes ago, Elizabeth86 said:

Well I don't have drivers yet, but my DH is passionate about our children to driving manuals.  My dh will be 40 this year and he just bought his very first automatic.  So, I'd say it's safe to go ahead and say manual.  lol It's a fun skill to know.  I see those stickers on vehicles all the time that say something like millennial anti theft device with a picture of a manual shifter.  

Ha I just re read.  YOU are getting YOUR adolescent dream car.  Congrats!! I thought your child was.  

[PaxEtLux]

27 minutes ago, hippymamato3 said:

 We are looking at both manual and automatic transmissions. Which would you choose?

 

It is a bit of a joke, but around here, people say that a manual transmission is the most effective theft prevention device you can have on car.

[hippymamato3]

5 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

For me? A manual, for certain.

Every car I've ever purchased/driven for myself my whole life has had a manual transmission. I love manuals and will be very sad when electric cars make them obsolete.

I didn't really get my "adolescent dream car" until I purchased my MINI Cooper S in 2003 when I was 45. Mid-life crisis car? Still have that beauty. It has a very fine German 6 speed transmission.

I think if my 16 year old was asked his current dream car, the Jeep Wrangler would likely be his top pick. 

Bill

I'm 100% ok with the Jeep Wrangler being my mid-life crisis car. I figure if I don't get it now (age 42) I never will.   🙂

[Selkie]

I grew up driving manuals and never saw the thrill of it. Every vehicle I've chosen for myself has been automatic. Dh is the same.

[Spy Car]

Just now, hippymamato3 said:

I'm 100% ok with the Jeep Wrangler being my mid-life crisis car. I figure if I don't get it now (age 42) I never will.   🙂

If not now, when?

I'd love a Wrangler in the family fleet. We had a Land Rover Discovery II (wife's car) for many years, which was a nice compliment to the MINI, but no manuals available on those.

Wranglers are classics and will never go out of style. If I were young I might consider a diesel (expensive?) and drive it forever. 

Bill

 

[hippymamato3]

1 minute ago, Spy Car said:

If not now, when?

I'd love a Wrangler in the family fleet. We had a Land Rover Discovery II (wife's car) for many years, which was a nice compliment to the MINI, but no manuals available on those.

Wranglers are classics and will never go out of style. If I were young I might consider a diesel (expensive?) and drive it forever. 

Bill

 

Ooh I didn't know that was an option. Something else to research!

 

[Selkie]

14 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

For me? A manual, for certain.

Every car I've ever purchased/driven for myself my whole life has had a manual transmission. I love manuals and will be very sad when electric cars make them obsolete.

I didn't really get my "adolescent dream car" until I purchased my MINI Cooper S in 2003 when I was 45. Mid-life crisis car? Still have that beauty. It has a very fine German 6 speed transmission.

I think if my 16 year old was asked his current dream car, the Jeep Wrangler would likely be his top pick. 

Bill

Two of my kids have Minis, which I occasionally borrow. So much fun to drive.

I got my own dream car last year - my Toyota FJ Cruiser.

[Spy Car]

3 minutes ago, Selkie said:

Two of my kids have Minis, which I occasionally borrow. So much fun to drive.

I got my own dream car last year - my Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Fun fleet. 

Even after 18 years the go-cart like handling of my MINI puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

The combo of a supercharger (new ones have turbos) and a 6-speed manual with the maneuverability brings me driving joy. I think it is a niche choice, but I'm firmly in the niche.

Bill 

[Lori D.]

When given the choice, we've always gone manual. Many new cars need to be special-ordered as manual, however. That was the case with the Ford Fusion we bought back in 2013. It also has cruise control, so it's easy to drive on the highway.

Manual is obviously more fun, but it also has an advantage if you have a dead battery -- you can push-start a manual, as you only need to get it going 5-10mph and pop the clutch. An automatic is much more difficult to push-start, as it needs to get up to 30mph.

(Many years back when we were having battery troubles, I was actually able to push start our old light-weight Honda Civic hatchback stick shift by myself a few times because I had just a tiny bit of a downward slope to work in my favor. As a result, we always back our vehicles into the driveway, so the engine faces out in case we need to jump start. 😆 )

Edited April 29, 2021 by Lori D.

[regentrude]

Manual.

We have been going to great lengths to find manual cars for all of us in the family,  but it's getting harder every year. Always driven super reliable Japanese cars with manual. The only automatic I ever owned was a Mazda with a Ford transmission,  and that transmission died at under 80k miles. 

[KSera]

Neither 😝. I’m electric all the way for my dream car. I never cared that much about kind of car, but the electrics I’ve driven have been by far the most fun. And I sure don’t want to have to be putting gas in my dream car. 

[Spy Car]

8 minutes ago, hippymamato3 said:

Ooh I didn't know that was an option. Something else to research!

 

I think they come at a premium cost. Afraid to look. But if those diesels last the way diesels typically last, with all that torque it would be a great match for a Wrangler IMO and that is a vehicle that I would never (ever) get tired of looking at.

They will only get cooler looking with age IMO. Can't say that about too many vehicles these days. 

Bill

[regentrude]

3 minutes ago, KSera said:

Neither 😝. I’m electric all the way for my dream car. I never cared that much about kind of car, but the electrics I’ve driven have been by far the most fun. And I sure don’t want to have to be putting gas in my dream car. 

I would love electric, but the range isn't there yet. Getting gas is a few minutes, charging takes forever. Not practical for distance driving, so would only be useful as a second car.

[Arcadia]

7 minutes ago, Lori D. said:

Manual is obviously more fun, but it also has an advantage if you have a dead battery -- you can push-start a manual, as you only need to get it going 5-10mph and pop the clutch. An automatic is much more difficult to push-start, as it needs to get up to 30mph.

I agree. My cousins had push start many family owned small business trucks (Toyota Tundra size).

My adolescent dream cars were the Formula One cars that Michael Schumacher drove, especially the Ferrari ones. I learned to drive on manual cars back in the early 90s. 

[marbel]

Of all the cars I have owned, my two favorites had manual transmissions ('88 Mustang and '91 Ford Escort). The Escort was a far better can than the Mustang in terms of fun driving. And that moonroof....ahhhh I still miss that car. 

But that was a long time ago. I'd be happy to have another manual transmission and would like my kids to learn to drive them. When we were looking at cars a few years ago, manual transmissions were hard to find and were much more expensive to buy. 

If I was in the market for my dream car, I'm not sure what the model would be but yes it would have a manual transmission.

[Spy Car]

Believe it or not, but during the early 1960s my dad drove a 1929 Ford Model A with a Briggs body (similar to picture below).

The Model A did not have synchromesh, so one had to "double clutch" (which entailed pushing in the clutch, shifting to neutral, re-engaging the clutch, shifting to next gear, and then releasing the clutch). Some of my earliest memories are sitting on my Dad's lap and doing the shifting for him. He had to engage the clutch (as I was far too tiny to reach). 

Airbags? Seatbelts? 4-5 year old sitting on a parents lap "shifting " a relic? A different era.

I've always loved manuals. 

A 1929 Ford Model was not the most practical car in the world, especially in Los Angeles, but my Dad was a romantic and she was a beauty. Nickel plated (not chrome) which was a maintenance nightmare--but boy is polished nickel beautiful.

Bill

 

 

 

[MooCow]

We bought a manual along the time our oldest was learning to drive because that’s how we learned. So far two out of three kids have failed at it. Lol 

[KSera]

22 minutes ago, regentrude said:

I would love electric, but the range isn't there yet. Getting gas is a few minutes, charging takes forever. Not practical for distance driving, so would only be useful as a second car.

Well, if we’re talking dream cars, the range and charging time on a Tesla makes it comparable to an ICE. I mean, how often are you going to drive over 300 miles without needing to stop for a bathroom or food break (I can’t personally go more than a couple hours without a stop)? Easy enough to combine those with a charging stop, and the superchargers charge really quickly. Other, lower-cost makers are quickly catching up. I drive a low-cost electric, but you’re right it’s not what I would use currently for a long trip, because mine is an old model that only does 100 miles per charge. Works perfect for my needs, because I’m never driving 100 miles in one day. I just do my driving for the day and plug it in when I get home. The newer model years do more than twice that, though, making them practical for even longer drives. Anyway, that’s just me. I was surprised how much I love driving an electric. I was never a car person before. 

[annandatje]

Now that children are adults, I have reverted back to driving manual shift small cars.  However, I did buy automatic Mini Cooper because that was what was available at the time.

[regentrude]

45 minutes ago, KSera said:

 the range and charging time on a Tesla makes it comparable to an ICE. I mean, how often are you going to drive over 300 miles without needing to stop for a bathroom or food break (I can’t personally go more than a couple hours without a stop)? Easy enough to combine those with a charging stop, and the superchargers charge really quickly. 

We drive out West several times a year. If we're driving 950-1000 miles in a day, we're stopping 2-3 times for gas/bathroom, but only for the few minutes it takes to pump and pee. I can't imagine sitting around for half an hour or longer waiting for the car to charge, several times during the drive - that would add significantly to the already long 15 hours.
ETA: Once we get to 400 miles range, I can see it as a viable option for us as a 2nd vehicle. We routinely drive 200 -300 miles round trip on a  weekend day with no amenities at the destination, so even 300 range would be cutting things too close for comfort.
I am really curious to see how long the infrastructure development will take in rural low population areas. 

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by regentrude

[KSera]

6 minutes ago, regentrude said:

We don't have ICE here, and it's a really big country.

We drive out West several times a year. If we're driving 950-1000 miles in a day, we're stopping 2-3 times for gas/bathroom, but only for the few minutes it takes to pump and pee. I can't imagine sitting around for half an hour or longer waiting for the car to charge, several times during the drive - that would add significantly to the already long 15 hours.

Yeah, it definitely would add more time for trips like that. I still have little kids, so our stops are longer anyway. Range keeps increasing and charge time keeps decreasing, so I expect we will get there. I agree much of the country does need better infrastructure, and it will get there. 
 

ICE=Internal Combustion Engine—a gas-powered car 😊

[regentrude]

2 minutes ago, KSera said:

ICE=Internal Combustion Engine—a gas-powered car 😊

oops. Didn't know that abbreviation. I was thinking of the high speed train in my home country 🙂

[regentrude]

3 minutes ago, KSera said:

 I agree much of the country does need better infrastructure, and it will get there. 

Let's start with internet 🙂

[KungFuPanda]

Where do you live?  I prefer a manual "back home" where there are more hills than stoplights.  Where I live in suburbia it's just a pain.  The terrain is flatter and there are stoplights all over the place.  I think a manual gets really annoying in a stop and go situation.

[Annie G]

We kind of have the best of both options in our fun car. It’s an automatic with paddle shifting on the steering wheel for manual operation. Though I know how to drive a manual (drove manual exclusively from 1977-1994), I prefer an automatic these days. But dh still enjoys the feel of manual.  It’s not the same as a ‘real’ manual transmission but it’s an acceptable compromise, and cheaper than having two fun cars. 
I wanted a Jeep as a teen, too...have fun!!!

[prairiewindmomma]

55 minutes ago, regentrude said:

We drive out West several times a year. If we're driving 950-1000 miles in a day, we're stopping 2-3 times for gas/bathroom, but only for the few minutes it takes to pump and pee. I can't imagine sitting around for half an hour or longer waiting for the car to charge, several times during the drive - that would add significantly to the already long 15 hours.
ETA: Once we get to 400 miles range, I can see it as a viable option for us as a 2nd vehicle. We routinely drive 200 -300 miles round trip on a  weekend day with no amenities at the destination, so even 300 range would be cutting things too close for comfort.
I am really curious to see how long the infrastructure development will take in rural low population areas. 

 

Look and be surprised. There are stations all along 70, 25, and 80. Blew.my.mind. Even the Hampton Inns had charging stations. ChargeHub has great maps, with chargers labeled Level 2 or Level 3. 🙂

[regentrude]

1 minute ago, prairiewindmomma said:

Look and be surprised. There are stations all along 70, 25, and 80. Blew.my.mind. Even the Hampton Inns had charging stations. ChargeHub has great maps, with chargers labeled Level 2 or Level 3. 🙂

I am not sure which part of my post the bolded is referring to? Of course there are charging stations along the interstate. Still takes more time than getting gas. And there are none in rural areas hours away from major freeways.

[prairiewindmomma]

It does take more planning than I feel comfortable with right now—I still drive a traditional vehicle when going cross country, but I think I am way more comfortable with all electric than I was even three years ago.

[prairiewindmomma]

I was pointing to the roll out of electric to teeny tiny rural towns. Wyoming is barren (population wise), iykwim, and yet there are stations everywhere.

I am not saying it is necessarily worth the time trade off in your calculations, just that it is possible. 
 

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by prairiewindmomma

[prairiewindmomma]

We are vehicle shopping right now.

If I were buying for me, I would buy manual all of the way. I have just been surprised by how few options there are.

This is dh’s car, though, and he is going automatic. We are just debating about whether to go all electric. Most of our neighbors drive all electric—and have solar panels to boot—and it wouldn’t take much to wire our garage with a charging station, even if we don’t get solar panels.

[hippymamato3]

2 hours ago, Spy Car said:

I think they come at a premium cost. Afraid to look. But if those diesels last the way diesels typically last, with all that torque it would be a great match for a Wrangler IMO and that is a vehicle that I would never (ever) get tired of looking at.

They will only get cooler looking with age IMO. Can't say that about too many vehicles these days. 

Bill

That's how I feel too. And they retain their value, so if I decide I'm done I think it won't be an issue to offload it. 

[Bambam]

I drove a manual all the time up until we decided to get a minivan with the kids. I hated that automatic but stuck with it through two minivans. I'm back to a manual (Honda Accord) and I love it! So much more fun to drive than the automatics.

And, yes, I've driven in heavy traffic regularly with my manuals - Houston - and I never regretted the manual. Of course, Houston really doesn't have hills (except for overpasses and bridges over ship channels), but we have plenty of hills where we live now and I enjoy keeping my skills sharp on a steep hill/red light combo! 

There are few cars being made in manual transmission. I think Honda no longer makes the Accord with a manual transmission (so sad). 

And I do have to ask before I take my car anywhere if they can drive a manual. One last time, they proudly told me this young man had been sent off to school to learn how to drive a manual. Who knew they had schools for that? 

[elegantlion]

I like automatic. I've driven manual before but I don't consider it fun. My dream car was a Jeep Wrangler, so far practicality and budget have won out, although I did own a Jeep Cherokee for a while, still mad I sold it. Maybe my next car will be a Wrangler *sigh* if my Explorer lasts a few more years, just maybe I'll finally break down and buy one. 

My first car was a 1980 Dastun 210 Hatchback, no power anything, it was a fun car. 

 

[Spy Car]

2 hours ago, Arcadia said:

I agree. My cousins had push start many family owned small business trucks (Toyota Tundra size).

My adolescent dream cars were the Formula One cars that Michael Schumacher drove, especially the Ferrari ones. I learned to drive on manual cars back in the early 90s. 

When I was a poor assistant editor (just starting out in the film industry post-college, working for peanuts) I had to save up a little money to replace the generator (not alternator) in my beautiful 1959 VW.

During the weeks I saved up, I'd park my car on a slope at home and in the parking garage at work and I'd "push start" my Bug by rolling down hill, then popping the clutch.

In that light car it was surprisingly easy. 

Bill

[Terabith]

I cannot drive a manual, so I am all about automatics.  

[Amethyst]

My dream car used to be white Mercedes convertible. But now I know I’ll never buy a showy car. And while I love the *idea* of a convertible, I get a headache just from an open moonroof on a sunny day. And the wind!! My hair flying all over the place! I think the thrill would be over fast.
 

As far as automatic or stick shift, definitely automatic. I like automatic windows too. Automatic seat adjustors! I can drive a stick shift, but don’t see the appeal. Especially with the hills near me. Ugh. And how do I adjust my radio, drink my coffee, etc when my right hand is occupied. Lol. Nah. Automatic was an advancement. 

[Ali in OR]

I learned on a manual, took the driver's test on a manual, first car (hand-me-down from parents) was a manual. I can drive one well, and shifting is still second nature, but I guess I'm a lazy driver. I prefer the mindlessness of automatic.

[Emba]

2 hours ago, marbel said:

Of all the cars I have owned, my two favorites had manual transmissions ('88 Mustang and '91 Ford Escort). The Escort was a far better can than the Mustang in terms of fun driving. And that moonroof....ahhhh I still miss that car. 

But that was a long time ago. I'd be happy to have another manual transmission and would like my kids to learn to drive them. When we were looking at cars a few years ago, manual transmissions were hard to find and were much more expensive to buy. 

If I was in the market for my dream car, I'm not sure what the model would be but yes it would have a manual transmission.

I learned to drive manual on an Escort of slightly older vintage. It wasn’t my dream car, but it was a super reliable vehicle for me, and I was sad when it had to go.

[Spy Car]

I remember one of the first times I drove an automatic I almost caused an accident, I was so used to manuals (and needing to clutch) that I mashed on the brake out of pure reflex.

Let's say that my (then) girlfriend, whose car I was driving, was not amused.

Bill 

[rebcoola]

Manual!! Have fun in your dream car

[Soror]

I've never been very into cars but I loved the manual Honda Civic I had for the first 8 yrs of our marriage. It burned up in our house fire and I replaced it with a minivan as I was due to give birth to #2 any day and we knew we wanted a big family. We've had minivans for 14 yrs now and I'm so over them. I want a little car and when dd1 gets her license I'm selling the minivan and getting a car. Heck, if my van suddenly dies right now I'll replace it with a car, there are so few instances where we are all in 1 vehicle together it isn't worth having a big car. I'm not 100% certain what car I want yet, likely a Toyota or Honda, probably bigger than the Civic as I'll still have 2 kids. I like the idea of electric but don't think I'm ready for that in my rural area, we'll see how I feel in a couple of years. I wouldn't mind another manual but it isn't my highest priority so if I find something else that checks all the boxes I'm not stressing over whether it is manual or automatic.