I'm the reverse, all my cars were autos until I got my '01 GT. My wife's cars were always sticks, so I was forced to learn to drive them. I love the manual, would never go back to an auto. And I sit in LA traffic everyday too, and still have never minded.
2 times I bought a brand new car with an automatic and sold it within 60 days. I HATE automatics, I just can't seem to have any fun driving them. Some people LOVE them but I for one will NEVER own another automatic. I test drove a 300 C Hemi and I never bought the car since it only comes in auto. I can't control the power bands on the engine and there simply is no substitute for rowing a manual tranny. I owned an M3 with an SMG Tranny and even a Sequential Manual Gearbox just does not have the "fun factor" of a manual.
Well since I usually respond when I disagree, I guess it is only right to respond when I agree.
Excon, I could not agree more. I'm not knocking the automatic crowd, it's your car and you should get how you want it. Personally, I will not buy a car with an automatic, and there are cars I will not buy because the only come in automatic. That is one thing I like about Nissan, all there cars are available with a manual.
And QCStang, since as EXCON said we are all sticklers here. Nobody refers to the Shelby Cobra as the original muscle car. Though the 260,289 and 427 Cobras were muscular they are sports cars not muscle cars. The car refered to as the original muscle car is the 1964 Pontiac GTO. The term " Muscle Car" refers to an intermediate size car, i.e. Ford Fairlane, Pontiac Lemans, Chevy Chevelle, with large motors.
my last car (my first stang - rip) was auto - i compromised on that because it was everything else i wanted: redfire convertible with all the trimmin's! i also got an incredible deal on it - 1 year old, 10K miles and 2/3 of list price. i loved that car.
but i always had a little ****ling remorse that i didn't get a stick.
this time i got to order exactly the car i wanted (see below). getting a stick. but with all the talk of not getting scheduled, not getting an 05, etc (just for you, tyler) i was seriously thinking about canceling my order (STILL c/u!!) and trying to find a car somewhere else. (i haven't. yet.) i actually found my exact car (except for color) at a dealer in texas. i found the exact car (right color) but w/ an automatic somewhere else. i really thought about that one. but in the end, i don't want to 'regret' anything about this car.
as someone else said earlier, it's an individual choice that everyone has to make for themselves. but for me - gimme a stick!
If you go to the track and bracket race, then the best choice would be auto. Its not alot of fun to be eliminated in round one and have to watch the next seven rounds. Stick cars are better for street racing. I have owned and liked both, Dont settle, buy what you really want.