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Whats With Manual Cars? Automatic Cars Better?

8K views 81 replies 40 participants last post by  aheath 
#1 ·
Okay so it always seems that used BMW E36 or E39 cars are cheaper and have shady service recs. if they are manual. Someone just told me that manual cars have a shorter life span and are more sensitive to a previous driver fcuk ups. Also they are way more money to maintain and tend to break down more. Hence the lower resale price tag....

is this true....because everyone here seems to brag about owning manual cars...
 
#2 ·
:cheers Manuals are more prone to trouble as most drivers do not know how to drive a manual correctly. Ever ridden (spelling??) with someone who when shifting just lets out the clutch and you get a neck jerk. If you drive a manual right you get a smoother shift than whith an automatic. This of course is regular driving not the balls out type the kids think is "cool".

The throw out bearing will wear if the clutch is ridden and held down for all stops lights. but otherwise the manual should last as long or longer than an automatic.

:driving mike
 
#3 ·
My experience with BMWs manuals are more expensive then autos.

As for maintanence, my life experience is stick is MUCH cheaper then autos.
If do you do smoke a clutch you can replace it 2 or 3 times and it will still be cheaper then paying for an auto rebuild. Also, auto-tranny rebuilds never seem to feel the same as the originals.



As long as you know how to use manuals properly they will outlast pretty much any auto.
 
#4 ·
Everyone on here likes manuals because it gives you more control over the car and is more fun to drive. Even my mom wants a 5 speed she liked driving her 528 manual better than her 530 auto. I guess if I lived in a big city and had alot of traffic to go through every day I would want an automatic for my everyday driver, but I don't and I love having a 5 speed.
 
#6 ·
Originally posted by xsperf@Mar 6 2005, 11:12 PM
no, thats bull
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What's bull?........I'm bull or above posts are bull.......comeon man quote will you, you hurt my feelings.
 
#7 ·
i drive a manual because i like to actaully drive my car. i have driven autos before i dont mind them, its just not for me. as for the resale lower etc... ive never heard of that, the only thing is people might think manuals are going to be driven harder (which isnt always true i know a few dudes with autos that rail on there cars) or maybe the dude didnt know how to drive his car so the clutch is going to go, (not that big of a deal) most people dont grind gears etc

David
 
#8 ·
when u buy a manual car.. the price is lower, because of demand.. not many people like to drive stick! (except bimmer drivers) also.. prices maybe higher to fix them, is because thats 1 more thing that can go wrong, like burning the clutch!!

plus, they are less exspensive to put together..
 
#9 ·
When you buy a car most of the time the automatic is more expensive. So when you go to sell the car wouldn't it be worth more money then too. It is more expensive because of the parts involved costing more money....no? I remember seeing an automatic as an extra option so many times.
 
#10 ·
OK......Crusin323IS has the main point.

Manuals are cheaper b/c they have less parts. Think about it. If you make a machine shift for you, you have more parts....common sense here.

Manuals get better gas milage 1) because they are manually shifted which takes no extra engine power, and 2) because a good driver can asses the road ahead and make the proper gear selection unlike an auto which only factors in speed, throttle amounts, etc.

Now the only arguement for manuals being more expensive is to look at replacing the clutch. Auto's don't need any replacements, but they do have a lot more internals that could break, and be very expensive to fix. Manuals are simple, easy to fix, and unless they are abused, will not break as easily.

Simple things like putting your automatic in park on a hill without applying the e-brake first can really mess up an automatic, but most don't know that. On the contrary, someone who can't drive stick worth a crap can mess up a manual fairly easily by selecting the wrong gears, accidentally downshifting into the wrong gear (engine can blow up too) and...............well you get the idea
 
#14 ·
Originally posted by illwasteyou@Mar 6 2005, 10:32 PM
im used to driving manual, so i find driving auto is wierd, cos i always put my clutch foot down...
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yeah, and the first time you have to do a defensive stop in an auto: you stomp both feet on the brake!!! It's action packed!

Manual all the way! I don't want computer making the shifting decisions for me. take a manual on an uphill in the snow and you'll understand.
 
#15 ·
i own a 92 325i auto right now but gonna sell it soon and buy my gf's uncle's 325i manual. ive talked to bmw specialist and they say the same things as above: mainly that the manual is way cheaper to fix cause all you replace is the clutch, with an auto it cost something like $3000+ sometimes, especially when your car hits 115k miles, the chances of an auto breakin down is far greater than a manual. unless you really suck at driving stick. i know that manuals drive faster than autos. and generally manuals save more gas, but in the driver manual, it says that the auto actually has better gas mileage than the stick??? and i was told that manuals can hold up to 17 gallons of gas, and my auto only holds up to 12, whats up wid that?? :dunno
 
#16 ·
Originally posted by jbnery6465+Mar 7 2005, 12:50 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbnery6465 @ Mar 7 2005, 12:50 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>and i was told that manuals can hold up to 17 gallons of gas, and my auto only holds up to 12, whats up wid that?? :dunno
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What? I dont think that's right...


<!--QuoteBegin-bigred318
@Mar 7 2005, 01:27 AM
it is not hard at all, find someone that will let you learn on there car, all you need is practice and a basic understanding of what you are doing
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[/quote]Rental car! YAAAH! (do rentals still rent manuals???)
 
#17 ·
Originally posted by bitcore@Mar 7 2005, 01:29 PM
Rental car! YAAAH! (do rentals still rent manuals???)
Not in North America. I think you still can in Europe. I know how to drive a stick but I'm not proficient in it. Anyway, I went to the UK last year and got a rental. I had to get one of the more expensive models to get an auto. There was no way I was going to learn to drive on the other side of the road and operate a manual transmission !
 
#18 ·
Learning to drive a manual....

Go to an arcade and find the game "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin.'" I learned to drive a stick from playing those! (ca. 1994)

Of course, the first manual I tried to drive was a little different than the digital on/off clutch of that video game, but the concept was the same.
 
#20 ·
Originally posted by Delmarco@Mar 7 2005, 12:19 AM
thanks guys...you all just scared the shit outta me for wanting to learn how to drive stick..but thanks
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Nah...don't be scared to do it. Its way worth it when you learn, you might not want to drive anything else....I have had three cars...all stick...screw an automatic.

Its best to learn on a cheap car though cause most people tend to mess up a few times. Don't learn on a bimmer, even though bmw manuals are soooo smooth to drive, learning on something harder will teach you better, and cheaper. Also, learn to rev match if you like to downshift. I don't let people drive my car unless they 1) are a really good friend 2) know how to drive stick the RIGHT way....my way (not to be an ass, but I'm really damn good) Lots of people can drive stick, but many can't do it that great, and if you like to drive hard, thats easily another skill learning technique by itself.

When you get good you don't even need to look at your speedo, you can tell how fast you're going just from the tach and knowing what gear you're in. Good luck
 
#21 ·
MANUAL all the way, baby!!!!!!

:driving

Had a 89' Celica GT 5spd (died but loved it), 97' CL 5spd (crashed but loved it), Now my 318i also 5spd (will drive it and keep loving it)

Ohh and i agree, manuals is much cheaper to maintain (clutch and good to go) and autos will have a higher risk of killing the tranny than manuals.

Delmarco, learn to drive stick, you wont be dissapointed
 
#22 ·
In my experience autos end up going for less than manuals because theres just more of a demand for manuals.

And also, considering reliability, the e36 auto tranny is made by GMC and is a fucking pos.

Delmarco i dont think you understand the benefits of a manual trans. A manual tranny is just a much more efficient way to get the power to the ground without losing as much power as an automatic trans, it lets YOU control the car not a shitty computer.

Ever consider why MB's often times have huge amounts of power but 8 or 9 second 0-60's? because their transmissions are automatic and simply cannot get the power to the ground fast enough.

All the power created at the crank is useless unless you have a method of getting it to the pavement, and a manual transmission simply does this more efficiently than an automatic one.
 
#23 ·
i learned to drive manual on my uncles rav 4 when i was 13, i wanted to learn so that i would be able to drive a car that was manual if i ever needed to, but when it came time for me to get a car, i had to have a manual, i get bored now when i drive an auto, driving a manual gives u more to do while driving, not that there's already enough to worry about, but i like the fact that i control when the car shifts, not to mention most people can't drive a manual right and all my friends are like omg teach me, i'm like not on my car lol, my clutch is already gone from the lady who used to own my car, this summer i hope to get a new clutch, before i get it, maybe i'll teach em, lol, so yeah, basically it takes some skill to drive a manual, most can't do it, and u have more control over the car, that's why i like it
 
#24 ·
My dad made sure all of us(his children) knew how to drive a stick. If you ever get in a jam or something you can drive any type of car. Let me tell you a story, say you and some friends and out one night, everyone is drinking and such. Suddenly something happens to your friend that drove they have to get to the hospital or something(doesn't have to be bad maybe they are drunk and you arent't). But they drive a 5 speed. Now if all you know is an auto you are screwed. If you know a stick shift you are perfectly fine and can drive you both to whereever you need to be.

Ok i know that was a lame story but it could happen right.
 
#25 ·
Originally posted by RedlinedRU@Mar 7 2005, 06:03 PM




Nah...don't be scared to do it. Its way worth it when you learn, you might not want to drive anything else....I have had three cars...all stick...screw an automatic.

Its best to learn on a cheap car though cause most people tend to mess up a few times. Don't learn on a bimmer, even though bmw manuals are soooo smooth to drive, learning on something harder will teach you better, and cheaper.
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Yeah, at first I hated my dad for making me learn to drive on his manual 96 civic with no power steering starting at the bottom of our uphill driveway. But once I learned, I loved it (not the car...but the manual, haha).
 
#26 ·
Originally posted by RedlinedRU+Mar 7 2005, 05:03 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedlinedRU @ Mar 7 2005, 05:03 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Delmarco@Mar 7 2005, 12:19 AM
thanks guys...you all just scared the shit outta me for  wanting to learn how to drive stick..but thanks
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Nah...don't be scared to do it. Its way worth it when you learn, you might not want to drive anything else....I have had three cars...all stick...screw an automatic.

Its best to learn on a cheap car though cause most people tend to mess up a few times. Don't learn on a bimmer, even though bmw manuals are soooo smooth to drive, learning on something harder will teach you better, and cheaper. Also, learn to rev match if you like to downshift. I don't let people drive my car unless they 1) are a really good friend 2) know how to drive stick the RIGHT way....my way (not to be an ass, but I'm really damn good) Lots of people can drive stick, but many can't do it that great, and if you like to drive hard, thats easily another skill learning technique by itself.

When you get good you don't even need to look at your speedo, you can tell how fast you're going just from the tach and knowing what gear you're in. Good luck
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it's not hard I promise!
if I managed to teach my retard crazy ex how to drive a standard - surely you can! :thumbs

~*Teg*~
 
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