I prefer driving a manual shift, more control, better acceleration, better gas mileage etc. We own an old volvo which is stick shift but my daily driver is an auto. In the winter the volvo does as well if not better than my 4wd.
Had a mondeo as a hire car in the UK recently with a 6 speed shift, have to say getting back out of 6th gear to 5th or 4th took a bit of getting used to.

I've got an auto here and I feel like a big girls blouse!

I guess I did it for the trade-in value reason as I've never driven an auto in the UK before. I hate not being able to select the gear I want when I want it. Manual for me next time.

Dodge Durango - Auto. Clunky.
F-150 - Auto. Nice and Smooth.
Mazda 3 - Manual. Nice and fun.

Mazda was supposed to be traded in when we bought the truck, but at the last minute, my wife said she couldn't stand to lose it and wanted to keep it as a commuter car. I didn't put up any resistance! Its still the car of choice if we're not taking the kids.

Also have a Mazda MPV in the UK - manual with the stick coming out of the floor. Drives like a pig. Changing gear is like stirring custard and hoping to find a lump.

All the cars I've had here are auto's. Last car I owned in UK was an auto. Manuals are too much hard work.

I couldn't agree more.

I wonder how many calories are used up over a year changing gears? I understand that just being more active during the day, doing what you do, is better for weight lose than going to the gym for most people.

It might be an extra snickers bar or two over a year.

I understand all the arguments for only having manual transmission on a performance car... but most of them are now outdated.

Better performance? Automatic (well, strictly DCT) BMW M3s are quicker around a track than manuals.

Better gas mileage? Also not the case with many current automatics.

Better control? That's a matter of taste. I prefer manual shifting my automatic for control than I do driving with a clutch, but I know that's a personal choice.

In the end, there are fewer and fewer strong arguments for driving a manual other than personal taste. If you like them, get one. Just don't expect everyone who might want to buy your car to have the same opinion of manuals!

Manual, I keep cars a long time and automatic transmissions are far too expensive to replace. And manuals are fun to drive (except in heavy traffic).

Oh God, I so prefer manual, but it's so hard to find around here!!

I spoke to a friend of mine last night who has recently bought a new Golf GTI with a manual transmission. This is kind of what sparked my discussion in the first place as I told him he should have looked at the auto as it's actually quite a good one in the GTI, anyway, he's now regretting it and says he wished he had bought an auto. That's what Houston traffic will do to you!!

The odd thing is he already had a manual so he should have known better but he's moved towards the Galleria area and has more traffic to deal with these days...

I guess it depends where you are and how much driving you do. Don't get me wrong, I still prefer manuals to autos but here (Houston) I just don't think they make sense as a daily commuter car if you're going to be in heavy traffic.

Lot of bluster. But it doesn't really get you round the girl's blouse problem, does it?

There is one thing I have not seen mentioned -- if one drove manual in the UK, one shifted with the left hand on a RHD care. Here in a LHD car, the shifting will be with the right hand. My expat brother-in-law in the UK jokes about being able to spot female US expats due to the broken nails on their right hand! I do not rent manual cars in RHD countries for that reason.

I agree that driving manual is more fun. I always used to buy manual, but as they have become rarer in availability, I have not owned one for 15 years now. I have rented them abroad [as recently as 2011 in Costa Rica] and find that the skill comes back within 100 yards or so. I find that it takes a week or so to "forget" to shift when I get home.

I agree that modern automatics exact much less in the way of a fuel consumption penalty. I believe that in some vehicles, the automatics get better mileage!

It also pays to note that brakes have improved quite a bit. Back in the days of drum brakes on all four wheels, the braking effect of a manual transmission was more important in my opinion. With modern discs and ABS, the need for engine braking is much less.

While on the subject of brakes, replacing brake pads is a lot cheaper than clutch replacement. With the exception noted below, automatic transmissions last a long time.

One final note: the early models of the Mini Cooper used a CVT automatic which turned out to be quite problematic. BMW finally changed over to a more conventional torgue converter tranny. Those Mini's are the ones to avoid buying an automatic.

I have an auto, but of course drive a living room couch

The toys I've had (including a TR7, my favorite) were all manuals. When I own pickups I also prefer manual (more durable in my experience).

Last I was over England way my grands friend had this giant RV, manual. It was interesting to watch this 60+ year old little lady climb in that thing and tear down the road lol.

Pete