Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10175903)

Not if this is the view on your evening commute;)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...1_Gridlock.jpg

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10175807)

I call it manual, people seem to know what I mean. Besides, this is a british expats website.;)


You can equally well argue you should buy a used "standard", because the limited resale market means you have the seller over a barrel and its going to cost you less. If you drive it into the ground by the end of its life if its still going, its going to be worth $1000-1500 as a beater regardless of the transmission.

Id rather buy an old manual than an old auto, once the transmission fails in an auto its going to cost more than the vehicle is worth to fix it.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 10176147)

Are you arguing to use the gears to slow down, therefore slowing without showing the driver of the truck behind that this is what you are doing? Does removing a foot from the gas slow a manual faster than an auto?

Originally Posted by el_richo (Post 10176132)

You need to move to BC

Originally Posted by MikeUK (Post 10176227)

yes... removing your foot from the gas does slow a manual down faster...

Thank the torque converter and freewheel clutch for the lack of natural engine braking...

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 10177347)

OK, how does that help with the problem of the idiot behind?

Originally Posted by MikeUK (Post 10176085)

But that’s the big problem with the Auto, the only way to effectively make a minor reduction to its speed is to touch the brake, on come the lights, and the guy behind reacts… each reaction step is a little longer and a little harder and if you have enough cars in that chain that small adjustment results in stationary traffic..

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10177406)

I just lift off.. dont know about the others.

You just need to leave a slighly larger gap to the car infront, but of course in toronto thats asking for some cock to nip into the gap in order to get home 10 seconds earlier.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10177355)

So how do we feel about the paddle shifters found on some vehicles?

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10177418)

There are good and bad, depending on how well sorted the transmission they are controlling is.

If they are just controlling a regular hydraulic/ planetary slushbox then they are worthless, they take too long to change anything. The newer dual clutch type autos are much more similar to a manual box, and in many cases are faster and more responsive than sticking your foot on the clutch.

Originally Posted by Greenhill (Post 10170881)

Cruise control for long highway trips is something I'd definitely recommend, too.

Originally Posted by HSJones (Post 10179541)

Yes definitely - it's a must!!