I'll never understand the Euro obsession with manuals (stick shift)... Driving using one foot and two hands on the wheel is inherently safer. Do you know what happens if your wheels lock up on ice and you don't push the clutch in in time? Your engine dies and you have no power steering or power brakes. That's always great as you careen off the road into a ditch or another vehicle.
All of the benefits that manual drivers tend to spout are subjective... "It saves fuel"...if you drive it like a grandma! "You have more control"...over what? Which specific gear you're in as you drive around the round about?
I've driven both and realized automatics really are just better.
[/rant] and left.
Back in the 90s and earlier, they got better mileage no matter how you drove. Now-a-days there isn't much difference with autos being better often times.
re:the snow/ice. Yes, if you don't have anti-lock brakes and lock 'em up on the ice without pressing the clutch your engine might die. But like the third think you learn when learning stick shift is to press the clutch in when you brake heavy. And once the clutch is in you're slightly more likely to catch it vs an auto. Manual's are also better cornering in the snow 'cause they won't shift on their own and fark up the balance of the car...granted if you're that close to the edge of traction you're probably going to fast and are going to lose control eventually anyway, but in theory....
Really, the reason I prefer manual to auto is that I feel more "in touch" with the car. I enjoy driving. Most people it's an annoying task one must do to get by in life, like grocery shopping and doing the laundry. You guys can have your autos and distance yourself from the process as much as possible (self driving cars for the masses is right around the corner), I'll keep having a good time. (if this asshat driving an automatic would ever finish passing this guy)
manual-moderate
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