Honda Car Forum

Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help me
on an age old question.
Stickshift or Automatic?

I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate any
insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to decide
my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift gears
from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver Spring,
Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).

I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?

Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
-RG

My first seven years of driving was only on automatics, in the suburbs with a
touch of city driving here and there.

My first real boyfriend patiently taught me how to drive a manual (great test
for "boyfriend suitability" BTW), and when I bought my first car, I would only
go with a manual transmission. Why? Because it was fun, got better fuel
mileage, saved a meaningful sum of money (approx. $500 to $1000) on the initial
purchase (which was a bigger factor right out of college), and I liked feeling I
had more control over the car's correct operation.

But I haven't lived in a big city like DC in some time. I do know it is annoying
driving my manual transmission 1991 Civic when I am driving **off-highway** in a
big city's rush hour. It's not a big deal during non-rush hour or on the highway
during rush hour.

So despite your lack of experience with a manual, I think your intuition is
correct.

IIRC from my little driving in/around DC, commuting would justify a manual
transmission. Living smack dab in the middle of a large city would not,
comfort-wise.

"Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote
> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?
>
> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate any
> insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to decide
> my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
> So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift gears
> from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
> where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
> and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver Spring,
> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
> have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).
>
> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
> if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
> road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
> main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
> -RG

Caroline wrote:
> My first seven years of driving was only on automatics, in the
> suburbs with a touch of city driving here and there.
>
> My first real boyfriend patiently taught me how to drive a manual
> (great test for "boyfriend suitability" BTW), and when I bought my
> first car, I would only go with a manual transmission. Why? Because
> it was fun, got better fuel mileage, saved a meaningful sum of money
> (approx. $500 to $1000) on the initial purchase (which was a bigger
> factor right out of college), and I liked feeling I had more control
> over the car's correct operation.
>
> But I haven't lived in a big city like DC in some time. I do know it
> is annoying driving my manual transmission 1991 Civic when I am
> driving **off-highway** in a big city's rush hour. It's not a big
> deal during non-rush hour or on the highway during rush hour.
>
> So despite your lack of experience with a manual, I think your
> intuition is correct.
>
> IIRC from my little driving in/around DC, commuting would justify a
> manual transmission. Living smack dab in the middle of a large city
> would not, comfort-wise.
>
> "Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote
>> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could
>> help me on an age old question.
>> Stickshift or Automatic?
>>
>> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much
>> appreciate any insight into this. One thing that keeps me from
>> better being able to decide my self is the plain fact that I don't
>> know how to drive stickshift (yet). So I wouldn't know if it would
>> annoy me by having to constantly shift gears from block to block.
>> Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC where there is
>> virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student, and in
>> about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver Spring,
>> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC
>> can have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush
>> Hour).
>>
>> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine
>> modifications. And if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably
>> happen about 2 years down the road (So I guess by then I could sell
>> the automatic anyway?). I guess my main question is, is the
>> immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
>> -RG

I wouldn't give you a thank you for a standard transmission in city driving.

Once had to drive a VW bug in downtown Montreal (all hills and mountain) and
almost needed a new left thigh after about 2 hours of stop and go driving.
Having driven rush hour in DC, although flat terrain, I still wouldn't enjoy
driving standard there.

Come to think of it can't see any practical use for a standard nowdays, of
course I'm 62 so creature comforts are much more important to me.

Mike

"Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:x_qRc.7507$nx2.1755@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help
me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?

My opinion on this is that, the modern automatic transmission is very good
at performing in the way it was designed to do so. There is very little
difference between manual and automatic transmissions in the terms of fuel
mileage. And the kicker, an automatic doesn't wear out your left knee joint
prematurely <g>.

--
Brian

http://www.cakesbydarlene.ca

http://www.accesswave.ca/~orion

The only way I would buy a manual trans nowdays is if I lived where there
wasn't much traffic, not many hills and it was a sports car.

Otherwise there really isn't any valid argument to purchasing a stick shift.
Like the other poster said the difference in mileage is nil and in traffic
you aren't having to do a workout by pushing in the clutch pedal all the
time. It may sound trivial but if your in traffic with a stick for any
significant amount of time then you will feel it in your muscles.

With an auto you don't have to worry about somebody stealing your car and
push starting it. You can also hook up a remote start/alarm safely with the
auto. One last thing.....you don't have to worry about not setting your
parking brake and coming out to find your car has rolled down the hill into
somebodys house, car or anything else.


"Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:x_qRc.7507$nx2.1755@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help
me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?
>
> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate
any
> insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to
decide
> my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
> So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift
gears
> from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
> where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
> and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver
Spring,
> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
> have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).
>
> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
> if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
> road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
> main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
> -RG
>
>

CaptainKrunch wrote:

> The only way I would buy a manual trans nowdays is if I lived where there
> wasn't much traffic, not many hills and it was a sports car.
>
> Otherwise there really isn't any valid argument to purchasing a stick shift.
> Like the other poster said the difference in mileage is nil and in traffic
> you aren't having to do a workout by pushing in the clutch pedal all the
> time. It may sound trivial but if your in traffic with a stick for any
> significant amount of time then you will feel it in your muscles.
>
> With an auto you don't have to worry about somebody stealing your car and
> push starting it. You can also hook up a remote start/alarm safely with the
> auto. One last thing.....you don't have to worry about not setting your
> parking brake and coming out to find your car has rolled down the hill into
> somebodys house, car or anything else.
>
>
> "Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:x_qRc.7507$nx2.1755@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
>
>>Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help
>
> me
>
>>on an age old question.
>>Stickshift or Automatic?
>>
>>I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate
>
> any
>
>>insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to
>
> decide
>
>>my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
>>So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift
>
> gears
>
>>from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
>>where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
>>and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver
>
> Spring,
>
>>Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
>>have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).
>>
>>I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
>>if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
>>road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
>>main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>>
>>Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
>>-RG
>>
>>
>
>
>
Hi,
Real drivers drive with stick. More control.
Today's manual tranny is so GOOD.
Tony

Rabid G wrote:

> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?

I've had manuals for 20 years now, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Your more one with the vehicle. Its a little bit of work in traffic,
but I just let the cars get a little ahead of me, and go slow so I don't
have to do the stop and go so much.

I feel totally mindless when driving my wifes accord, automatic. Feel
like I'm going to fall asleep.

In article <x_qRc.7507$nx2.1755@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink. net>, "Rabid
G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?
>
> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate any
> insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to decide
> my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
> So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift gears
> from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
> where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
> and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver Spring,
> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
> have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).
>
> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
> if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
> road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
> main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
> -RG

You might consider renting a car that has a manual transmission on your
next long trip or vacation. It will give you a chance to see whether you
love shifting gears or hate shifting gears. I drove a dump truck one
summer while I was in college. When I had a load of gravel, I had to shift
gears so much that my arm hurt at the end of some days. I got so sick of
changing gears that my last three cars have had automatic transmissions. I
would only have a manual trans. if I decided to rent a hot two seater
sports car.

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.

Thanks to all of you that put in your two cents (Caroline, Artfulcodger,
Brian, CaptainKrunch, Tony, noway, and Jason). It was greatly appreciated. A
friend from work is slated to show me how to drive a manual soon and
hopefully, after combining all the info you guys put up with my own
experience, I'll be able to come up with a decision that I won't regret
later.

Thanks again!
-RG







"Rabid G" <a_rabid_g@nopam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:x_qRc.7507$nx2.1755@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> Hi, I just found this newsgroup and I was hoping someone here could help
me
> on an age old question.
> Stickshift or Automatic?
>
> I'm going to buy a Honda Civic 04 soon and I would very much appreciate
any
> insight into this. One thing that keeps me from better being able to
decide
> my self is the plain fact that I don't know how to drive stickshift (yet).
> So I wouldn't know if it would annoy me by having to constantly shift
gears
> from block to block. Some other factors are that I live in Washington DC
> where there is virtually no open road, I'm a 20 year old college student,
> and in about a week I'm going to be moving out on my own (To Silver
Spring,
> Still commuting to DC and back.). Also, for those who don't know, DC can
> have pretty bad traffic during certain parts of the day (Rush Hour).
>
> I don't know if I'm actually going to want to do engine modifications. And
> if I ever do make egine mods it'll probably happen about 2 years down the
> road (So I guess by then I could sell the automatic anyway?). I guess my
> main question is, is the immediate fun really worth the trouble?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and help.
> -RG
>
>

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 17:54:30 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Hi,
> Real drivers drive with stick. More control.

Completely agree. If you want to have real fun with your car, gotta have
the control. Tired of waiting for the auto trans to respond when I want
it to. Not to mention auto Civic's are governed to 106mph while manual's
to go over 125mph. At least that was my experience with my 2000 and a
friends 1995 Civic.

-AGS

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/