Auto vs. Stick in the city

[Vodalus]

Kinda dumb debate here, I know, but... getting a 5-spd 3-door liftback in black with the power package is next to impossible. Finding the same in an automatic is simple. I'm waiting on one now. But I still have time to pull the plug and do an allocation order for the same car in a 5 speed, it'll just take 10 weeks instead of two, time which I don't really have.

The question is, if you were doing mostly city driving in a place like Los Angeles, lots of stop-and-go rush hour traffic, wouldn't you prefer an automatic over a stick in a tiny little car with (no offense) a tiny underpowered engine anyway? I tend to like to drive cars like karts and usually prefer a stick, but I am about to just give up and take the auto because it's already here and ready to go, and because having the auto will be so much nicer in traffic.

My head is spinnning with indecision. Or maybe it's the beers... :help: Any opinions?

[fearturtle44]

Auto for me. If you are driving mostly city/stop and go then auto is definitely the way to go. My beef is having to pay "extra" for auto as the car manuf. produce many more auto than manual. So it should be the manuals that cost extra, not the auto. But this is a way that the car manuf. can still get a profit.

Kevin

[why?]

It is a personal preference. I still like a stick because an automatic is always trying to push the car forward, whereas a stick you don't always need to hold down the brake to be stopped.

[Ziv]

I drove mostly in the city also, having auto. Since it doesn't seems to save too much gas on stick, I would perfer auto in the city. Just lazy for the way I am.

[swng]

I have driven with both types of transmission. Forgive me for stating the obvious. Yet in favour of the auto, I wish to say that one driving an auto will not lose control completely. Some control is still allowed by the design of the Yaris' auto stick. For example, one can down shift form the 4th to the 3rd gear just by pushing the stick sideways. One can also limit the car's up- shifting by using the 3, 2, or L positions when necessary e.g. when engine braking is desired or when gear hunting occurs. After driving the auto for long enough, one will feel more at one with the car and gradually become able to know, predict, anticipate, preempt or prevent its actions (but admittedly only to a certain extent). By controlling the throttle, one can induce the car to select and/or stay in a desired gear.
Just my humble opinion. Of course, nothing compares with a manual when absolute control and ultimate fun is the goal. There should be be no argument on that:smile::smile: :smile:.

[eight_heads]

i will never own another automatic, i hate them , they don't last as long, rob power and torque... and hurt fuel economy.... plus i just hate them... anyway, luckily i don't drive in downtown traffic all day everyday

[TRD_Yaris]

I prefer the manual transmission, but i haven't driven the automatic so I can't truely judge. The manual has plenty of pep for me in stop-and-go traffic and city light-to-light sprints. if the yaris had a 5 speed auto like the Fit, i would probably be in favor..but I dunno.

Though, eight heads, i tend to agree with you on the loss of torque and (horse)power from automatics..i don't know if that's AS true now a days, especially since the automatic with Electronic throttle can be a bit more fuel effective in some ways (in contrast to a bad driver on a manual, for example).

But, I'm sure you'd be happy with the manual if that's you're usual preference, but only YOU can TRULY JUDGE and decide if one of them doesn't live up to your expectations..

[Chaad32]

The Auto in the city is a must have in my opinion. I hate shifting through traffic.

[swng]

The Auto in the city is a must have in my opinion. I hate shifting through traffic.
Same here. But probably we are the minority:biggrin:.

[ECHOKnight2000]

As much as a stick would be nice, especially for this car, seeing that you live or from LA, one of the worst (from what I've see and heard) places to drive and the constant stop and go traffic, get an auto, if your car is primarly for city driving...I think if you got a stick as cool as it would be you won't enjoy the full benifits of it, getting up to speed, going through the gears, I don't know, but you might not enjoy as much with constant or near constant traffic. If your driving downtown its nice to have an auto (no disrespect to hard core MT fans) but its a matter of what you want and willing to sacrifice for each.

You should write a list of pros and cons of each type of tranny, relative for you situation of course and see what you come up with, that might help. Good luck and keep us posted!:thumbsup:

[Violin]

I always preferred stick for the control. Several sports cars I owned didn’t even come with an auto (like my 1987 RX-7 Turbo).

After owning a 4WD SUV with a stick, I’d never get another stick again. Holding that clutch pedal down in traffic took way too much effort.

My last couple of cars have been automatic. I sit in too much traffic to get a manual again.

I would guess that resale on the Yaris would be easier with an automatic.

[boxerboy]

I have drove 160k in the city doing sevice work in dallas texas in the 80's. It gets to the point where you don't even know you are shifting its just automatic. You get use to it.

[Chaad32]

I agree with boxerboy on the fact that shifting gets to be second nature because I used to have a Ford escote GT that was a stick for my first car and I drove it through traffic for 3-4 years no probolem,....but.....seeing how I'm a little older now, I just don't want to fool around with it. Maby for a second car or something. But like I said earlier, I agree with boxerboy in a little way, because the kid in me wants to still have a little fun. The deciding factor was that this is afterall a comuter car for me, and ease of drivability means more that sport or speed (not to say I don't want to look good with some aftermarket cosmetic stuff). So it all boils down to personal prefference and what you bought the car for.

[swng]

Stick shifting means fun, agility and flexibility but may no longer also mean better fuel economy. At least it is so for the Yaris and the Nissan Versa. Please see my latest post on the Fuel Economy Thread. Hehe, I am promoting that thread here :biggrin:.

www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13664#post13664

[Chaad32]

I agree that it gets better gas mileage, but it is only 1 mpg more. I drive about 15,000 miles a year at say $3.00 a gallon. That means that it saves me a whole wopping $28.85 a year if you are doing the math from 39mpg to 40mpg. The comvience is worth $28.85 to me.

[Chaad32]

Sory..I just read you thread....I agree with you swng.....it "no longer also means better fuel economy".

[fnkngrv]

If in city I would be going Auto....I live in the country....hence the stick:thumbsup:

[Billstein]

[QUOTE=Vodalus]Kinda dumb debate here, I know, but... getting a 5-spd 3-door liftback in black with the power package is next to impossible. Finding the same in an automatic is simple. Los Angeles, lots of stop-and-go rush hour traffic, wouldn't you prefer an automatic over a stick in a tiny little car with (no offense) a tiny underpowered engine anyway? I tend to like to drive cars like karts and usually prefer a stick

Dude you live in L.A. is there truly a question here?:thumbsup:
Automatic

[El Jefe]

before i got my yaris and was on the hunt for a daily driver, i was determined to get an automatic, because it would be my daily traffic contestant. but when i drove the stick and auto back to back, and the auto had some trouble getting to speed on an on ramp i decided i HAD to get the stick. with as little power this thing has i dont need to be wasting it through an auto. the clutch is soooo much lighter than my cobra i've been driving the last few years that i hardly notice it being a pain. just my $.02

[weaponrcamry]

stick vs. auto. Auto B-cause stop and go traffic, a better retail price when you sell it. But stick, shift at you own pace, if you want the extra single gas mileage, and a slight less value of the car. Dont no whatever suits you. :)

[07WYarisRS]

Auto for me...
I have owned several standard trans cars/trucks but when it comes to city I prefer the automatics. At stop lights I often shift to neutral to save fuel and wear and tear on the transmission.
clutch replacement is not cheap or easy in the driveway at home and that's just one more thing to break down in heavy down town NY or highway traffic.

Like already noted the Yaris auto trans can be used to gear down or up shift much like a standard anyway so there is really no difference other then there is no clutch pedal to push.

[costaricandreams]

If you ever need to get on the freeway where traffic is moving along faster than 60mph, the manual transmission is going to be your best friend. The motor is already small enough. Slap an automatic trans on it and you're gonna wish you had waited.

[oktaren]

i love manuals, so obviously my opinion is biased. i commute to work everyday and drive in the city and love the manual in it, but i know alot of people would rather have the automatic. it really depends on whether you feel comfortable with it or not. i feel more comfortable driving a manual either way.

[07WYarisRS]

If you ever need to get on the freeway where traffic is moving along faster than 60mph, the manual transmission is going to be your best friend. The motor is already small enough. Slap an automatic trans on it and you're gonna wish you had waited.


With the auto you can just slap it over to third or even down to 2nd while accelerating onto an on ramp and pull away, then up shift just as you would with a manual..
true there is a loss of HP and torque with the auto but I would not say I'm disapointed at all in the automatics performance...
After driving every other auto and manual econobox out there the Yaris is still one of the best performing even with the auto

[SEaton]

I kinda like shifting in traffic (and everywhere else), Get the Manual, it will be worth the wait

[bulldogs2k]

i love the auto in traffic, although I sometimes wish I got the Stick.

[seriousfun]

Driving everyday on the L. A. freeways, I chose Auto. I thought hard about a stick (my last stick was an '86 Celica, and I loved it), I just couldn't go there.

I polled four mechanics who would be getting none of my business for a while, and they independently agreed that manual transmissions (especially on cheaper cars) are old technology and there will be a point in time soon where automatic transmissions are easier and cheaper to repair.

The Yaris auto lever is just made for that downshift from D3 to 2, for onramps, and passing SUVs!

[Toddhata]

I sold my 05 Corolla because it was manual, and no power package. Put 14k miles on it in 8 months, and sold it for what I paid and bought my Yaris in auto with the power package. Too much driving in LA traffic, really sucks shifting in traffic here.

[rstb88]

In high traffic and sitting around, stuff like that and stop go. I went auto cause thats all my area is. And its a small sprite compared to LA. But seriously consider a transmission cooler from BMRacing. Cause its gonna burn up quick out in that heat with the stop and go. plus it running cooler has some added benefits.longer life span ftw. but get a small one cause the climates changing (can get too cold for the tranny)and here in TN its like a freaking desert. Its hot and humid as hell in the day and cold at night.

[bulldogs2k]

I dont even drive my s2000 because its stick. unless i'm feeling the need for spirited driving, then i will take her out. Once i get a suspension package on the yaris, then it might be a difficult choice. Both cars are fun, and with a proper setup, they both feel like GoKarts.
A

[Chris07LB]

The Auto in the city is a must have in my opinion. I hate shifting through traffic.

Amen brother!