Auto or Manual?

[a fragrant plant]

What do most people drive in the U.S. (especially in WA and IN)? I'm learning manual but I think I'll prefer auto when I get my own car. I want to see if it's easy to get a second-hand auto in the U.S. Here in the UK very few people drive auto. As a result auto is not only hard-to-find (second-hand) but also expensive.

[JustChill]

There are many more auto than manual cars in the US. Most Americans prefer auto, and manual transmissions are starting to be more and more rare in new cars. You could find tons of auto cars that are used and in good shape.

[neuroJ]

It's actually quite easy to find a used car in the US, but you do have to look around a bit to make sure you're getting a good deal. To that point, the blue book is a good resource for determining the worth of a car based on its model year mileage and condition.

http://www.kbb.com/

[origin415]

As someone passionate about manual, it is extremely hard to find manuals. It took me a couple weeks to find the one I currently own. Basically if you look on craigslist and it doesnt say its a manual, then it is definitely an automatic.

I would say the rarity would mean that used automatics are cheaper, but I have never shopped for one.

[HelloKaty37]

As someone passionate about manual, it is extremely hard to find manuals. It took me a couple weeks to find the one I currently own. Basically if you look on craigslist and it doesnt say its a manual, then it is definitely an automatic.

I would say the rarity would mean that used automatics are cheaper, but I have never shopped for one.

Actually, automatics tend to be a little more expensive (I guess it costs more to make them), but not enough for it to really matter. For example, I just bought a used 08 Civic, and buying it manual would have meant a cost decrease of only about 1-2k dollars. Seeing as the automatics were about 12-13k, that's not a really big savings in my opinion, especially since I would have had to learn how to drive stick!

[origin415]

Actually, automatics tend to be a little more expensive (I guess it costs more to make them), but not enough for it to really matter. For example, I just bought a used 08 Civic, and buying it manual would have meant a cost decrease of only about 1-2k dollars. Seeing as the automatics were about 12-13k, that's not a really big savings in my opinion, especially since I would have had to learn how to drive stick!

Thats an entirely different market, I'd say. The car I bought was $3800, a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon.

Regardless, if someone offered you $1000 to learn to drive a manual, you wouldn't? Thats basically what your choice was, and I don't why someone would turn that down, but to each their own!

[pea-jay]

Put me firmly in the manual transmission camp. It's the only kind of vehicle I have bought and driven over the years. They're fun, challenging and really give you the feel of being in control. Especially when you drive in places like San Francisco, in traffic, going uphill. My wife calls me nuts and refuses to learn stick.

That said, we're going to sell both vehicles and get acquainted with the Subway system pretty quickly.

[so47]

Like the people above said, most people in the US drive automatic. The result is, when looking for a used car, it is MUCH easier to find an automatic. My boyfriend is a huge manual transmission fan, and when he was looking to buy a car, it was very difficult to get a used manual. If you were to buy a new car, a manual is slightly cheaper than an automatic though.

Honestly, it's your preference. My current car is a manual because I wanted to learn how, and I am glad I did because I will never NOT be able to drive someone's car because it's stick shift. But the next car I will buy will probably be an automatic, out of convenience and the fact that although I do enjoy driving stick, they are a pain in the butt in bumper-to-bumper traffic or in hilly areas (like where I am going to grad school lol).

[HelloKaty37]

Regardless, if someone offered you $1000 to learn to drive a manual, you wouldn't? Thats basically what your choice was, and I don't why someone would turn that down, but to each their own!

I should have specified. I would love to learn how to drive a standard transmission car. I even tried a few years ago. It took me several days to make it out of first gear once, then I never achieved that feat again. The person teaching me finally just gave up after a few weeks. So what I meant was that the cost decrease was not enough for me to put yet another car through my failed attempts at using a clutch. If someone does know how to work with a manual transmission car and doesn't mind doing so (my boyfriend, for example, can but hates it so he always buys automatic) then it would definitely be nice to spend less.

[Lantern]

I'll add my vote to the "standard are more fun, but automatic are easier to find" mindset! I have only ever had standard, but that is absolutely a matter of personal choice. With that said, I do think it's really important to be able to drive standard, so it's good that you're learning. It's always nice to be able to drive anyone's car in a pinch, and also if you can drive manual, you will be able to drive any vehicle for any company or university of which you are a part.