Stick shift or automatic?
By ethanmama
@ethanmama (1745)
Philippines
February 6, 2007 8:14am CST
Here in the Philippines, many of us drive vehicles with stick shifts, rather than automatic transmission. So I meet some drivers over here who can handle a stick shift but cannot use an automatic. When I went to the USA, I noted that even older model cars use automatic gear shift. While I was watching Amazing Race, I was surprised that some people can't drive with stick shifts, because over here in our country, it's almost a default that you can drive with a stick shift.
Can you drive a car with a stick shift? An automatic gear shift? Or both?
6 people like this
53 responses
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
26 Dec 07
i can drive manual geared vehicles and automatic.you see,once you have learned the manual transmission drive you can easily drive an automatic car.not much difference except for the transmissions.some people where get used to the automatic transmission that they forgot how to drive a mahula driven vehicles.
1 person likes this
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
28 Dec 07
I agree with that. I started with a manual before I transitioned into automatic so I can drive both.
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
28 Dec 07
yeah!but if you started driving an automatic car you will have trouble driving the manual one because you have to learn how to shift to first gear then the second gear then the third one and so on and you will have to learn also to right timing to shift gears unlike in automatic transmission where you dont have to worry about shifting gears just slide the stick and off you go....
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I can drive with both. I like them both, but stick shift is more efficient. But sometimes I like automatic so that I eat while I'm driving, LOL!
1 person likes this
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
Yep, I feel that a stick shift is more efficient and gives you more control, but your hands are both tied up, so you can't eat :D
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
7 Feb 07
yep you can't eat...another reason to suggest stick shift...
1 person likes this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
7 Feb 07
when you say stick shift do you mean (manual)
because thats they car i like to drive
but i can drive both
@pebbles_cubbie (3789)
• United States
7 Feb 07
i prefer automatic but that's because i dont know how to drive a stick shift. i was never taught how. many americans use automatics now. only automatics for me.. lol
1 person likes this
@sweet8684girl (232)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I'm the same. I don't think my boyfriend would want me to screw up his car if he tried to teach me how to drive a stick shift car. I don't think he has the patience to teach me, either. Most of the girls I know drive automatic cars and the guys prefer stick shift vehicles, especially trucks.
@Julienne (1)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
I drive a 1996 Toyota Corona Ex Saloon, manual transmission. I've driven cars with automatic transmission but I really prefer driving stick-shift. It makes me, the driver, feel more in control and there is greater flexibility in maneuvering my car. I also like the thrill of "ordering" my car to accelerate as I floor the gas pedal.
1 person likes this
@sunny66 (23)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I learned how to drive using a stick (back in the Philippines) but I have been driving with an automatic gear since I moved to the US. Now I don't think I could still drive with a stick.
Meanwhile, my brother learned the automatic shift before using the stick shift. He prefers the stick now as it gives him more control.
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
I think you still can drive with a stick shift if needed. You never really forget it.
@lisado (1227)
• United States
14 Feb 07
I pretty much always had a stick shift until we got 4 door cars. The past 5 or 6 years I have had an automatic, mostly since we had the boys. It's easier to drive an automatic and deal with them if I have to. I don't have to worry about shifting. My husband's car is a stick shift, however, and I can drive it if I have to, I just usually don't. When we go places we take the SUV since it has more room. I do like that I have more control with a stick shift, but have gotten lazy since I have gotten older and prefer an automatic.
1 person likes this
@angelastreit (287)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I have just recently learned how to drive a stick shift and actually love it sometimes. I have a one year old and it's really hard at times to be able to just stick a hand back there in the back seat for her to know that everythings ok with me driving a stick.
1 person likes this
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
I grew up driving a manual transmission automobile. So an AT won't be a problem. =) I prefer using stick shifts though, It gives you better control. But for long drives, I'd opt for an automatic transmission vehicle. =)
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
MT can be quite tiring for long drives or heavy traffic. AT is easier in such cases. But in such cases, I find myself becoming sleepy :)
@jennybeans (912)
• United States
14 Feb 07
I can't drive stick shift. I've not learned, though I would like to some day. My husband and I both have cars and for a long time his was standard and mine was automatic. I hated that he would take my car when he wanted, but I couldn't take his car if I needed to for any reason. Now we both have automatics, but I still would like to learn to drive stick. You never know when you'll be in an emergency where you have to know.
1 person likes this
@yaneeps (122)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
i am allowed to drive both cars here in the philippines, but i have yet to drive an automatic-transmission car. at first, it was convenient for us to have a stick shift car because we lived near our offices so we didnt get a lot of traffic. and the stick shift is more powerful and apt when overtaking cars during long drive. however, now that we have transferred home, we're thinking of getting an automatic because we're sometimes trapped in a bumper-to-bumper traffic for nearly two hours.
@kimpot (17)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
When i was just learning to drive i was taught using a stick.They say that once you've mastered using a stick you could drive anyhting.But after learning to drive the car i used was an automatic.I tried drving a stick again a couple of years ago but with the traffic here i think i better stick to an automatic. But once in a while i still think of driving a stick especially along the expressway.
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
Automatic IS so much easier but manual gives you more control. At least you know how to use a stick shift so that you can practically use any car.
@alfa62603 (192)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
Yup..I learned driving with a stick shift car 2 decades ago :p ...but now that I'm driving an automatic, i prefer it more but I can drive both :)
1 person likes this
@joaqui412 (72)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
hello. yeah most people here in the philippines drives the stick shift. but i find the A/t easier to drive. it requires less hand and feet coordiantion. we dont have an m/t at home so i have no idea on how to drive it =)
@Fallen_Gurl (480)
• Canada
8 Feb 07
i dunno how to drive a stick shift, so i'm all automatic, that i can drive lol
1 person likes this
@morejong6435 (35)
• United States
8 Feb 07
for me i personally drive both and depending on the car it benefits the person or their style. i like to drive a stick but on my 69 torino that races at the drag strip i like having the automatic because it is more reliable
1 person likes this
@carol79 (201)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
I learned how to drive in the States when I was living in Florida so I only know how to use automatic transmission. When I started driving here in the Philippines I was scared with the crazy drivers we have here, especially in EDSA. I guess here they use more the Manual transmission which i guess is a whole lot cheaper when buying cars.
