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where is the "bicycle" option?....

How about walking?

I hope you were the one saying there are more automatics ( at least in America)

what part of America, i think south america/canada have more manual and the US is well lazy as for the mexicans, they are us but 20- 40 years behind(meaning 30 year old 2 speed automatics)

so yeah, and no

i'd bet most cars in the US are auto, we're a pretty damn lazy country.  as for me, when i can drive, i'll be all manual

on a recent trip to maui, i wished there was a stick in the rental car. so many curves... automatic is okay for grandma driving to the market, but for me, it's standard all the way...

I wouldn't want to stake a bet on this type of poll -- unless you're betting a higher percentage of sticks.  People who drive stick love it and care enough to stop in to answer your poll.  Many people who drive automatic don't "get it" so wouldn't even bother to answer.

I've got a stick and I know how to handle it...

Still talking cars, right?   Right?

I don't understand the fascination with manual transmissions.

Manual transmission is much, MUCH more fun to drive! You also have a lot more control over how the vehicle responds when accelerating around corners. You can have instant response when passing, by dropping a gear or 2 when setting up to pass. Automatics have a slight hesitation (sp?) when you suddenly "put the peddle to the metal". When driving a manual, you end up using the brakes a lot less. Downshifting holds the car back going down hills, and coming to a stop or corner. In winter driving that can be a lot safer, and a reduction in loss of control. This is because the wheels are still free to rotate while they are slowing the car, while the brakes can suddenly lock up even under light pressure (ABS not included). Another good thing is that they generally get better gas mileage than automatics.

I would have to say, the sense of control over the vehicle is the best way to describe it.

I think that about sums it up.

Oh, I choose manual, if anyone couldn't guess that one! 


Moi

Tall, you know what "it" means.   Yeah.


Oh, I drive a manual.

Well, size does matter.    
Not that I have something to worry about.    Right?

I have an automatic.
Another advantage to manual transmissions is that they have less power loss to the wheels.

Standard. Holla back!

I hate automatic.

LOTRfan, you're absolutely right.

Driving an Audi TT 6-speed with turbocharger is the most fun I've had so far. We might buy it, in fact . When you get up to about 6000 RPM and the turbo kicks in, it's one of the most gloriously powerful sounds you will ever hear...

But the thing I like best about the standard is the wide, wide torque band. I can really piss off/impress my friends by powering around a 120 degree turn in first gear at about 30 mph

Also the feeling that you're really in control of the car - you are driving somewhere, rather than being driven somewhere by the car. Our minivan, besides being bigger than the U.S.S. Nimitz, is like pulling on the reins of a horse while riding a sofa. Not interesting at all.