I've gone back and forth between manual and auto over the years. I definately prefer manual (except when I'm sitting in Beltway traffic!). My father insisted we all learn to drive on a manual and I appreciate it every time I drive the S2000. I learned to drive a manual on a 1976 VW Microbus (the original minivan!! My father had a thing for them, we owned one from the time I was born, a '64 I think, until the late 1980s when the '76 was sold.)

It always cracks me up when I go to Ireland (about twice a year) and I show up to pick up my rental car, they always assume I want an automatic because I'm American. Basically, there are very few automatic transmissions in Ireland (is this true throughout Europe, the world?), and the ones that are there are horrible.

 

I've had 3-, 4-, 5- and now 6-speed manuals. Never owned an auto - and never will unless I become too feeble to shift for myself.

 

All of my cars have been manuals.

'68 VW Squareback 4sp (killed while parked)
'68 VW Beetle 4sp
'79 VW Scirocco 4sp
'89 Honda Si Hatchback 5sp
'00 Honda S2K 6sp

I guess I'm due for a new car in another 10 years or so .

 

All but one of my cars have been manuals. The one automatic I did own was a great car and I got a great deal on it but, I always wished it was a manual.

66 MG Midgit 4 speed
70 VW Bug 4 speed
76 Honda Accord 5 speed
79 Subaru Wagon 5 speed AWD
81 Subaru Wagon 5 speed AWD
86 Honda Accord 5 speed
90 Subaru Legacy Wagon 5 speed AWD
91 Subaru Legacy Sport Sedan automatic
97 Subaru Outback Wagon 5 speed AWD
00 Subaru Legacy GT 5 speed AWD
00 Honda S2000 6 speed

Notice a trend here? Subaru's for AWD! The 91 Sport Sedan had a turbo with alot of get up and go.

The S2k is getting stored during our winters here in MN.

 

Never owned a auto in my life. Between my wife and I:

'80 Celica GT
'84 Corolla SR5
'87 Celica GT-S
'88 MR-2 Supercharged
'93 MR-2 Turbo
'94 Integra GS-R
'97 Integra GS-R
'99 Integra GS-R
'00 S2000

 

I am not doing a list of shifters because there have been over 40 cars starting with a 60 Falcon 2dr station wagon with 170 six and a three on a tree.
But I will list the shushboxes
57 Chrysler Windsor Hemi with push button auto
59 Ford Galaxie 300hp 352 3 speed auto
70 Chevy 1/2ton truck
94 Jeep Grand Cherokee(they didn't make a stick with a v8)
97 Ford F250 Powerstroke Deisel-I was in a hurry to find a truck and couldn't find a stick.
That's it, all the rest including the wife's cars have been sticks.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Austin_S2000:
[B]This is my 3rd.

 

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE ( @ Nov 19 2000, 01:21 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Never owned a auto in my life. Between my wife and I:

'80 Celica GT
'84 Corolla SR5
'87 Celica GT-S
'88 MR-2 Supercharged
'93 MR-2 Turbo
'94 Integra GS-R
'97 Integra GS-R
'99 Integra GS-R
'00 S2000

 

Austin, you must be a vintage driver. I have not heard the term "standard" used to describe manual transmission for 25 years! The reason manual transmission was called "standard" was because at one time, 100% of the cars were made with manual transmissions. Then along came "automatic" transmissions, which by default, was "non-standard". So the "standard" referred to what was considered to be the norm at the moment.

But now, in 2004, I'd think that more than 90% of the cars are made with automatic transmissions, so the "standard" today would be automatic and manual transmission is really the "non-standard" because it is such a small segment of the market. Because of this potential confusion, I have not heard anyone refer to manual transmissions as "standard" anymore, but they just say "manual transmission". Just thought I'd throw that in.

 

Since 1968 we have always had one manual shift vehicle in the house.

1967 MG Midget
1968 Saab V4
1970 Vega Hatchback
1972 Mustang
1975 Chevette
1990 CRX Si
1995 TransAm
2000 S2000