I much prefer a manual for "spirited" driving (I enjoy the heel-and-toe, double-declutching necessity of an old motor with dodgy synchromesh cones...). Even my little Hyundai Accent can offer a surprising amount of fun on back roads, and provoke some raised eyebrows amongst the cart-sprung live-axle truck owners.

But it's not been the case for many years that you can't control when an autobox changes gear - up or down. My Honday Odyssey (over two tons of minivan) kicks down entirely predictably when overtaking and I can anticipate upchanges with only the slightest of throttle lift. It also kicks down on overrun when approaching junctions so there's plenty of grunt when the light turns green before you get there.

Yes they are better than they used to be..but still not as good as a manual..i drove an Audi A4 sport albiet for a few weeks in the UK with a tiptronic automatic gear box..still wasnt as slick through the gear changes as i wanted..manual cars can be driven anyway the individual wants and can tailored to your own driving style..auto just dont do that.

Also yes i could get a manual but they are much less readily available than Autos so choice is less.

I have had both whilst i have been here, insurance did'nt change at all with either but be warned i was treated as a new driver when i moved here, no insurance company would except my no claims cert from the UK so very high either way, i have actually found my automatic easier in the winter, it does have traction control and with winter tires can usually get through most snow storms,i never thought i would prefer automatic but i even hire them when i go home!:

I agree with the previous comment: “found my automatic easier in the winter”. When it’s cold, say less than 15C, manuals become notchy/obstructive and a real pain to use. Furthermore, you don’t have your typical British country back-roads here in which to enjoy powering through bends.

I see no point in having an automatic in N. America.

This doesn't occur if you start your car a few minutes before using it to warm things up and get the fluids flowing

Letting the engine warm up does nothing for the transmission. The only way to warm that up is to drive the vehicle but not aggressively for the first few miles.

I prefer manual, but I have an auto. The auto is a boring drive, but as it's on boring straight roads with frequent stop signs or traffic lights it doesn't really matter. In summary, driving here is boring and having a manual probably won't make it interesting.

One thing to consider is that the money you save with a manual will be money you won't get if you sell it on. I'm sure you're right that they are cheaper. They are cheaper to buy new as a manual, i.e. auto is extra. Also there is a smaller market for manual transmission vehicles because yanks cannot drive them. In fact I'm surprised there's any on the road because most of the UK driving test focused on learning clutch control, hill starts etc. How the hell do they teach themselves that here? Well one way is to drive them badly, and they certainly do that here. My point though is that you'll be getting a lot less for your car if you resell it as a manual vs. auto. I would urge you to get an auto to save the potential hassle if you sell it on. Manuals are more fun but if you live in an urban environment, not so much. By the way, they call them 'stick shift', and won't have a clue what you mean by Manual LOL

I disagree, by letting the engine and the vehicle get some warmth, it radiates to the transmission too. I certainly noticed a difference if I hadn't managed to run outside and start the car 5-10 mins before leaving to when I had. Mind you the gear change on the liberty I had was like something like I imagine a trabant would be, my little old spitty (even before repair) is a lot smoother and we're talking a couple of decades in between the technology

I know my auto tranny subaru kicks like a mule going from 1st to 2nd when its good and cold, presumably to do with transmission fluid viscosity.

Id never noticed any drop off in performance with the manual Honda or the old Jeep, but the knob gets cold

As I said earlier, there isnt one right choice, pick what you prefer for the kind of driving you are likely to do.

Alright Jeremy Clarkson give it a rest........