[M L Struck]

People run autos in drag cars for three reasons

1. Consistant times (less movement to shift less human f-ups)
2. Cheaper then a high quality manual
3. Believe it or not most people cant drive well enough to master it

and for the last time stick cars with good drivers are as fast or faster then autos.

[cusp]

They are fun to drive. Except for in traffic jams. Stay away from traffic jams. I hate them even with an automatic.

I have been driving stick for so long that I don't really even consciously think about it most of the time. It doesn't detract from my over all situational awareness though. With the stick, the car flows along with me and I am good enough with the clutch and rpm matching that I can move through the gears and not hardly feel it if I want to.

Maintenance costs on a manual are less that on an automatic.
Resale is easier with the Automatic as shifting a car is becoming a skill not so many people pursue any more so your market is larger.

You can always move the shift lever your self. But I find automatics shift rather abruptly when done that way. I have often wondered why automotive engineers don't design the computer to RPM match so they don't thump the car when down shifting.

[BWAL]

Originally Posted by cusp They are fun to drive. Except for in traffic jams. Stay away from traffic jams. I hate them even with an automatic. I have been driving stick for so long that I don't really even consciously think about it most of the time. It doesn't detract from my over all situational awareness though. With the stick, the car flows along with me and I am good enough with the clutch and rpm matching that I can move through the gears and not hardly feel it if I want to. Maintenance costs on a manual are less that on an automatic. Resale is easier with the Automatic as shifting a car is becoming a skill not so many people pursue any more so your market is larger. You can always move the shift lever your self. But I find automatics shift rather abruptly when done that way. I have often wondered why automotive engineers don't design the computer to RPM match so they don't thump the car when down shifting.

the nissan 370z has the feature you mentioned

[the misfit wolfie]

Originally Posted by 2004CobraBound accidentally downshifted from 4th to 1st... and I am starting to think: I don't wanna mess up my baby!

i regret to say i did the same thing my first day driving my car. but in my defense i had only driven stick for about 2 hours at the time. i was trying to go to 3rd and missed. any-how. you should go with a manual, they are way more fun to drive, and you will get used to it, after i shifted to 1st from 4th, i was like SH**! and i was questioning if getting it was a mistake, but i havent done it since, and have gotten alot better, and so will you.

[Silverfoxbody]

a quality built 4R70W with a MVB would get you the best of both worlds