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Accord - Manual or Automatic?

68 messages,  Last post on Aug 11, 2007 at 8:23 PM

You are in the Honda Accord Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Sedan

Messages Page 4 of 7

#29 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [wcskjb] by chirocat

Jul 26, 2007 (12:20 am)

Replying to: wcskjb (Nov 27, 2006 11:56 am)
I have a 98 Maxima with a manual and V-6. I absolutely turn my nose up at auto cars, my fiance' does as well. I am looking to trade in my Maxima for a 07 EX-L V-6 and I will not even consider a auto for a second. Not only is a manual just pure joy to feel the engine power directly, it also can save your arse. I saw a report of a woman that got carjacked; the perp pushed her over to the passenger seat at gunpoint then saw that it was a manual. He Told here, "YOU DRIVE" and he got out and ran around to the passenger side. Before he could get there she had the doors locked and was driving off.
 
I once drove my car into the entry of a Sears Auto Center to get my tires rotated and the service advisor ( a black man in his late 40-early 50's I think) took one look and laughed. He asked if I could drive the car to the hoist, he had never driven a manual in his life.
 
With there being such a small percentage of mid-range sedans with manual trans, it's easy to think that a thief would just move along. I also like the Q-ship persona, it's fun to sink unsuspecting dorks with your quiet, reliable, "invisible to cops", fuel efficient near luxury ride.
 
Wish me luck, I have started the quoting process with the dealers!

#30 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [chirocat] by blueiedgod

Jul 26, 2007 (5:48 am)

Replying to: chirocat (Jul 26, 2007 12:20 am)
There were two recent car jacking reports in the news, and in both cases thieves did not know how to drive stick.
 
Here is one:
http://www.theregister.com/2007/06/21/stick_shift_dummies/
 
"Two US would-be car thieves failed dismally to make off with a Honda Accord after discovering it had a mysterious manual gearbox, RTÉ reports.
Having menaced the owner with a gun outside a pizza restaurant in Georgia, and relieved him of his wallet and car keys, the pair of teen master criminals prepared to make good their escape. However, according to an employee of the pizza outlet, "they could not start it because it had stick shift".
 
The eyewitness recounted: "The kid was just sitting in the car trying to start it but he had no idea what to do. He looked dumbfounded. The only thing he had going was the radio."
 
While dumb and dumber wrestled with the problem of how to drive a car with four on the floor, restaurant staff called the cops who cuffed them as they tried to leg it into nearby woods."
 
I can't find the other, but I heard it on the radio just the other day.

#31 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [blueiedgod] by elroy5

Jul 26, 2007 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: blueiedgod (Jul 26, 2007 5:48 am)
Have you considered the fact that one day a manual may have the opposite affect. Say mister car-jacker was planning on making your wife get out of the car, and just take the car. But then when he finds out the car is a sick shift, he is forced to take your wife along to drive. I have a manual truck (I drive to work), and I would much rather drive my automatic car. I don't see what the big thrill is to exercise your left leg and right arm in heavy traffic, when you don't have to.

#32 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [elroy5] by chirocat

Jul 27, 2007 (12:49 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jul 26, 2007 2:21 pm)
If my wife is that careless maybe it's time to trade her in.
 
I don't drive in heavy traffic unless there is a wreck. My commute is 23 miles each way and usually averages 80 mph on the interstate portion. The amount of times I have been stuck in traffic and cursed my manual is low and it NEVER made me even seriously think about getting a lame auto box. I would move closer to work before I would give up the joy of having a manual.

#33 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [chirocat] by elroy5

Jul 27, 2007 (6:37 am)

Replying to: chirocat (Jul 27, 2007 12:49 am)
The amount of times I have been stuck in traffic and cursed my manual is low and it NEVER made me even seriously think about getting a lame auto box.
 
I don't drive in a lot of heavy traffic either, but that doesn't mean I want a lame exercise machine. And I have never cursed my automatic. Enjoy your workout.

#34 of 68 Re: Manual or Auto [elroy5] by blueiedgod

Jul 27, 2007 (10:27 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jul 26, 2007 2:21 pm)
Have you considered the fact that one day a manual may have the opposite affect. Say mister car-jacker was planning on making your wife get out of the car, and just take the car. But then when he finds out the car is a sick shift, he is forced to take your wife along to drive. I have a manual truck (I drive to work), and I would much rather drive my automatic car. I don't see what the big thrill is to exercise your left leg and right arm in heavy traffic, when you don't have to.
 
What if the car jacker does not know how to drive period, but has a gun.... your argument does not hold here....
 
As to excersise, have you ever driven a Honda manual?
 
It is far from excersise.
 
Going along the same lines, why bother excersising the right foot (gas and brakes) and arms (steering) when one could take a bus?
 
And yes, AUTOs are lame.

#35 of 68 Uh... by tallman1

Jul 27, 2007 (12:52 pm)

I consider a manual having many advantages over an automatic but worrying about carjacking, exercise, or about my car being stolen had nothing to do with my purchase.
 
Driving a stick becomes second nature and I'm sure many auto-only drivers will never completely understand how the flow works. It really isn't any different than your right foot coming off the accelerator and applying the brake. You react; you do it. You don't really THINK about it, do you?
 
My left foot and right hand react just the same to any adjustments I need to make, whether I am just anticipating or experiencing a crisis.

#36 of 68 Re: Uh... [tallman1] by elroy5

Jul 27, 2007 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: tallman1 (Jul 27, 2007 12:52 pm)
Driving a stick becomes second nature and I'm sure many auto-only drivers will never completely understand how the flow works.
 
I have a stick in my work truck, so I know exactly how the "flow" works. I just don't see the big benefit of shifting manually, when the car can do that for me. Sure, a manual can be more fun, at times, but most of the time it's just extra hassle.

#37 of 68 Re: Uh... [elroy5] by tallman1

Jul 27, 2007 (1:05 pm)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jul 27, 2007 1:02 pm)
Sure, a manual can be more fun, at times, but most of the time it's just extra hassle.
 
I couldn't disagree with you more... but ain't it great we have that choice so we can drive what we like??

#38 of 68 Re: Uh... [tallman1] by elroy5

Jul 27, 2007 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: tallman1 (Jul 27, 2007 1:05 pm)
I couldn't disagree with you more... but ain't it great we have that choice so we can drive what we like??
 
Right! To each, his own.

Messages Page 4 of 7

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