Whats With Manual Cars? Automatic Cars Better?

[Delmarco]

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...

[chily3]

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.

mike

[NeverLeaned]

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.

[jshearer]

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.

[xsperf]

no, thats bull

[jshearer]

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.

[bigred318]

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

[Cruzin 323is]

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..

[jshearer]

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.

[RedlinedRU]

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

[Delmarco]

thanks guys...you all just scared the shit outta me for wanting to learn how to drive stick..but thanks

[bigred318]

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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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

David

[illwasteyou]

im used to driving manual, so i find driving auto is wierd, cos i always put my clutch foot down...

[kestrel325is]

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.

[jbnery6465]

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??