I don't really know which will last longer. I suppose it's all how you drive either one.

I got an AT for two reasons:

1. I wanted a wagon. More specifically, I wanted a Sportback and they are only available in AT. Sure I could've gotten a manual wagon from someone else, but it wasn't the car I wanted, so why choose your entire car based on MT vs. AT?

2. I drove MT for 9 years on two cars. It was fun while it lasted, but I honestly got sick of it. Will I miss it? I'm sure I will. There will be those situations where I wish I still had it, but the other 95% of the time, I'm glad I don't anymore.

I am very happy with my AT so far. The perfomance seems pretty damn good. There's a few spots I'd choose a different gear than the transmission is, but I can still do that if I choose with 3, 2 and L. But when I want to move, it moves.

 

manual is about 1000.4 times more fun to drive I would say. Ive owned an AT Lancer and MT lancer and the MT kicks its ***.

Once you learn it, you will like it, then you will want it.

 

i drive a AT, and i think i discovered something strange about their adaptive shift
in the mivec, i been driving my ralliart for a couple of months already, and just recently i took out the trunk tire, then when i drove, the transmission kept on shifting strangely in the 2500RPM range at a stop sign and stuff like that, is that the adaptive tranny or something?

 

You took out the tire! That is where the super dooper artificial intelligence CPU for the tranny is located! No wonder it won't work correctly! J/K , on a more serious note...sorry I have a manual and can't really help...maybe you should see the dealer and ask.

 

yep, i think i found what the problem was. a dead squirrel got cauhgt up into my rims and was causing friction between my left back tire. good thing my car was red, so it hid some of the damage and gore.


also, about choosing between AT and MT, i choose AT, because im a fickel-headed b*stard when it comes to choosing things, and also because when someone chooses a AT, 9/10 times the person chooses it for sensible driving, right?

 

Heres a simple idea on why manuals usually last longer than automatics. Automatic transmission is no different than manual except the shifting is done by computer. It uses a whole new set of system for shifting compare to manual. In manual, you as the driver is doing all the clutching and shifting. Therefore, you are responsible for how the car drives. Which comes to the point, how good your driving skills are? You can easily kill the car when you recklessly shift gears and rev'ing the car in the reds all the time. Now back to the subject. Since automatic transmission is done by a computer, the computer may malfunction one day. This is the fact about computers, they will die sooner or later. No computer can defy that rule. Therefore, I can conclude that manual transmission will last longer than automatic transmission.

 

Not all automatics are computer controled; in fact computer controled automatic transmissions have only popped up in the last 10-15 years I think. Before that they were shifted by the pressure build up as rpms increased the trans fluid pressure would increase opening a valve shifting the trans. I know it's much more complex than that inside; but I don't want to spend the time getting detailed. Suffice to say, not all are computer controled, infact one of the best automatics ever designed is the TH400 made in the 60's when everyone and his brother was running 350+ hp and no computer control; with minimial build up ($500) it can easily take 700hp. Thats a strong trans.

 

I got the manual, because that's all I've ever driven. I've never owned an automagic, and don't intend to start anytime soon.

 

well, everyone can drive in auto, since you dont need to change gears with clutches. Even a 6 year old can do it too.

 

In auto, the TQ will burnup first before busting up its gears, unless manually shifting it. Cost is crazy high to repair.

In manual, you'll burn up your clutch before busting up gears.

 

how long will it takes for a auto to burn up the gears? And how long for the clutch?

 

Well the type of tranny selected depends on the type of car it is and the use you are going to use it for. Large cars will definitely have an auto tranny and today even the more exotic sports cars like Porsches, BMW and Benzs will have a combination of both like Tipronic or lever style of shifting on the steering wheel like in F1 cars. Since most of you have not been around long enough, I remember an auto tranny was a hot option$$$ in the 60's and everyone on the street came to see my dads car ... no shifting, thats awesome$$$ they would say, the technology then was more advance then it is today if you can believe that, I remember my dads power trunk would open at a push of a button and close by itself with another push of the button !, but I guess with the limited budget and additional cost of an auto tranny, many younger less affluent drivers will go for a manual in a new car, I will most always get an auto if the price difference is not too much for the simple reason anyone in the family can drive it and also it is easier to sell the car and get more for it when the time comes.

 

manuals are way better in the sense that they are more responsive. downshifting then laying down the gas is the best thing when you get some loser who wants to play on the highway.....you cant do that with automatics!

 

I would say Manual *IF* the person is good at driving them. The other thing to consider is the Automatic is 3-4 times as expensive to replace when it goes out just food for thought.
I know I will probably never own an automatic (posibly tiptronic if I can ever afford an M5)