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... 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 .

[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]

Originally Posted by Chaad32

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.

[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!

[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 .

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...3664#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

[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?
Automatic