Automatic vs. Manual..whats your favorite?

[chevytruckclassics]

so what do you prefer as a trans auto or stick? and what kind of trans is in your truck? i have a four speed manual

[Southcity]

I've always preferred manual in all my vehicles (new or vintage) especially trucks. Able to get more power out of the engine, easier and more controlled braking (brakes sure last a lot longer in a manual) and there is just something about rowing through the gears that makes driving more satisfying. Currently running a Saginaw 4 speed in my 68 and love it.

[kwmech]

Ah, the debate continues........Well, I have both. Currently swapping out an NP435 in my '68 for a SM465+ranger O.D...In my dually flatbed I have a t400 with a gear vendor behind it. My other '68 also has a t400, with an Art Carr low gear set (2.75) in it

[shawno72]

I had a 4 speed manual for over a year and I just swapped in an auto 700r4. Night and day differance. My truck is a real joy to drive now

[Mister-B]

Well, I really like manual transmissions, but if it's in a truck and I'm not a bachelor, I'd say auto has its benefits too. The reasons being, that I like having my wife ride next to me in the bench seat. That'd be tough with the gear shifter right in the middle, not to mention trying to shift through the gears with her there. Also, I've noticed younger chicks tend to not know how to drive a manual transmission, so if you're ever in a situation where she needs to drive the truck, you're sort of screwed.
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[TBONE1964]

That's a good question and for me it depends on the truck and what I use the truck for. My 72 Cheyenne has a 350 turbo automatic and the only thing I would prefer more is a 400 turbo. I cannot imagine that truck with a manual trans.

On the other hand, my 64 has an old granny gear four speed (not sure the correct name for it) and I love it. I love to cruise around Junction City and listen to the gears whine. It belongs there and I could never imagine it with an automatic.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

Well, I really like manual transmissions, but if it's in a truck and I'm not a bachelor, I'd say auto has its benefits too. The reasons being, that I like having my wife ride next to me in the bench seat. That'd be tough with the gear shifter right in the middle, not to mention trying to shift through the gears with her there. Also, I've noticed younger chicks tend to not know how to drive a manual transmission, so if you're ever in a situation where she needs to drive the truck, you're sort of screwed.
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That seating position would be a great place for her to learn how to shift. You have to teach them in baby steps. First how to shift from one gear to the next and then work on the clutch. Do not add the gas peddle in with the clutch right away, that can be a little overwhelming for some.

I taught my daughter to drive a manual trans and she said she was shocked that I did not yell at her. I ask, what is there to yell about and she said other people would yell when she did something wrong. I don't get that or what it accomplishes. If it breaks, fix it and move on. She can drive a manual trans now better than most men.

[BugzC10]

Auto....shifted for too may years.
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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

That seating position would be a great place for her to learn how to shift. You have to teach them in baby steps. First how to shift from one gear to the next and then work on the clutch. Do not add the gas peddle in with the clutch right away, that can be a little overwhelming for some.

I taught my daughter to drive a manual trans and she said she was shocked that I did not yell at her. I ask, what is there to yell about and she said other people would yell when she did something wrong. I don't get that or what it accomplishes. If it breaks, fix it and move on. She can drive a manual trans now better than most men.

That's cool that you were able to teach your daughter how to drive stick. Just calmly talking to my wife that I'd like to show her how to drive a stick one day, results in her getting all frustrated. Can't even fathom the real thing. I guess everybody is different.
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[DesertCat]

Driving a stick is a life skill like swimming. Everyone in my family drives stick.

That said and back to the topic, I like both but given the choice for fun... car 4 speed in my truck, 6 speed in my Mini Cooper S!

[69GWC]

It is for sure easier to drive a auto just set and push the go peddle. That said I bought my 69 because it was a stick and I like rowing threw the gears on it.
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[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

That's cool that you were able to teach your daughter how to drive stick. Just calmly talking to my wife that I'd like to show her how to drive a stick one day, results in her getting all frustrated. Can't even fathom the real thing. I guess everybody is different.
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That is true my friend, very true.

[sstone69]

Three speed on the tree here, and she can still ride next to me!
A few years back here in Atlanta I read about some punks that car jacked a 5 speed and got caught because they didn't know how to drive it.
So it is built in car/truck theft prevention.

[Mr Handy]

I have to admit that at 28 years old I have driven stick in only 3 different vehicles.
First was a 79 Porsche 914, second was a VW Jetta 07 I think... and 3rd is my buddys old jeep cj2a.
There just were no standards around when I came of age to learn to drive, so auto it was... I have a strong desire to own a standard car or truck, and have my wife learn to drive it as well...
My 70 has a th350, and will most likely go to a 700r4 at some point in the future.

I also think they should make people take their drivers test in a manual trans/steering vehicle. I would say that a majority of people under the age of 35 have no clue what they are doing behind the wheel... they are used to getting in, turning the key and beating on the gas and breaks. Pretty much everyone trusts their breaks way to much for my liking...

[67anthony]

Auto but my dd is a 4 seed .

[jeffahart]

Whatevers in it, keep that. It's what I always do, it's easier.

But if I were buying new; Auto everything!

[Longhorn 70]

My truck has gone through several transmissions in the 30 years I have owned it. I has had a TH350 which was OK. It was dependable and smooth.

A Muncie M22 when it was first changed to the Olds engine. Gears were too close and fuel economy was terrible.

A granny 4 speed, 465 maybe, and it was great for pulling. Fuel.

TH400 came next. It was OK but the input shafts and sprags kept breaking. BEEFED up TH400 next....GREAT but fuel economy, again...11 mpg.

NOW it has a BUILT 700R4 and that seems to be a good balance of pull, reliability and fuel economy. If I keep my foot out of it, things don't break and I get 15 MPG with the big Olds in it. DONE...well I may try a 6L80E next.....but I have to get a lot of stuff done first.

Maybe a manual with overdrive. My other 2 cars are 6 speeds..... I guess I like manual better after all.

[Shyguy]

I like the old style truck 4 speeds myself. My wife can drive anything we own, but she tends to like automatics better.

My 1967 swb stepper has a 454 backed by a SM-465 out of a 1971. That engine seems to like the old style 4 speed with 3.73 gears.

I just picked up a 1975 C-30 dually with a 350 and it has a NP-435 heavy duty 4 speed.

We bought a 1992 GMC K-3500 dually new with an automatic to pull our 5th wheel travel trailer and I have got into places I wish it had a 5 speed manual pulling in out of lakes in the Sierras.

My wife has a Soul with an automatic that she drives to work and we take long trips with.

[snj8198]

I love rowing my 5 speed.

[70cst]

I like manual but since I have a 400 its staying plus...it makes drinking coffee easier

[Lattimer]

Manual for anything thats fun, auto for everything else.

Just finished up putting a car 4-speed in my truck. Loving it.

My DD is a 2012 Toyota Tundra, 6-speed auto.

[jocko]

67 or newer: auto (o/d preferred)
66 or earlier: manual (5 speed preferred)
I don't know why.
I think of the 67 and newer trucks more as "trucks" than hot rods (i.e. like I consider the 66 and earlier trucks).

[54belair]

Well, I like both. For every day work or transportation, Im lay enough to prefer an auto.

I have an auto in my 54 chevy street machine but in my current 68 stepper project I removed a 700r and Im installing a muncie m 20 four speed. Itll be my last affair with a 4 speed----and when I give the truck to my grand son, it will insure that he will have to learn the ancient art of driving a stick!! In the meantime, grandpa may lay a little rubber!

[special-K]

I lean towards manual because I enjoy "driving",not just making a vehicle "go" . I have swapped both ways,but generally leave them how they are. Most I've had were manual. I ordered my '92 that way and the '90 Blazer I had was a 4spd manual. Back in the day a 4spd was hi performance and auto was for a family car,and no trucks had auto.
It really shocked me the first time someone told me they can't drive a manual vehicle. WHAT?? How lame is that? I'm thinking,"Well you don't really know how to drive,then". I got to thinking,every vehicle my x-wife drove was manual except the Cherokee she bought shortly before she left. I guess I should have read the writing on the wall . She was driving a '79 Fairmont Futura w/3spd+o/d when we met. Next was an '82 Rabbit 4sp,'87 Samurai 5spd,'90 Blazer 4spd,'96 Cavalier 5spd,and '99 ZR2 5spd. Soon as she switched to automatic she was gone!!
My older son started on a '65 Biscayne wagon 6cyl/3spd,then got a '92 GMC 5spd. My daughter started on a '82 Civic 5spd,then '98 Cabrio 5spd,and now she drives a Beatle conv. 5spd. My younder son started on a '97 Nissan p/u 5spd and now drives a '98 Ranger 5spd. We're just a gear shiftin' family

[JJorgensen52]

I've owned both, but I usually end up switching to manuals.

'93 Typhoon - built 700R4 (there is no readily available manual to convert this one, wish there was)

'10 HHR - 5 speed stick

'69 - NV4500 5 speed
'72 - SM465 4 speed