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Originally Posted by Rockstar
If you plan on taking it to the track maybe a manual is for you. But to use one effeciently and effectivley takes alot of practice and I don't think you'll want to take your brand new pony anywhere other than to show it. IMO, it's well worth the extra bucks to get an automatic. I lived in Miami, you will appreciate an automatic waaay more than a manual with all the start and stop traffic associated with city driving. Highway makes no difference as you won't be shifting gears all that much anyways.
Now days it's hard to beat a automatic off the line if thats what you're thinking of, unless you're good at a manual the other guy will leave you behind chokin on dust.
I took out a perfectly good automatic once and threw in a B&M manual-automatic with transmission brake and set up an independent front wheel brake system. I could rev up those RPM's, let go the tranny brake and with the front wheels locked those back ones would smoke for all they was worth. Release the front brakes and away I went  Course I'd burn a transmission or two up every few months |
I have to respectfully disagree with you on some of the points here.
To drive a manual effectively or efficiently doesn't take that much time or practice. They are a lot easier than people realise.
I wouldn't say that driving a manual in stop start traffic is a big deal. If your careful and with my car I can gently slip the clutch all the way out and the car rolls on tickover. Get the distance to the car infront correct and you can keep rolling. That's what I do in a jam, I keep a large enough distance that I can trickle along, then usually the traffic infront has started moving before I have to stop, my gap opens up and I can keep going.
I wouldn't know about drag racing an automatic so I'll take your word for it, though I believe I can get the jump on one.
Then again in the UK I think 90% or more of drivers learn on manuals and most people drive manuals. Also a manual transmission is more fuel efficient. One thing that bugged me with an auto was when it would hunt the gear, usually between 3rd and 4th for example of I was going up a hill at a certain speed, the system couldn't make up its mind.
However I will concede if I'm feeling lazy I'll drive an auto.