"I find it keeps me in tune with what's going on around me" This is all to true. I purchased my first automatic vehicle, (so that an X-girl friend would have a backup car), about 2 years ago. I don't drive it much. When I do, I find other things I'm easily distracted by, don't have a very good idea as to my speed. I don't seem to have much "road feel". I guess this was the idea. Is it true that you need a special drivers license in Japan to drive an automatic? Eric

tabe johnson wrote:

>I asked this same question not too long ago when shopping >for a Westfalia. It sounds like it's more a matter of >personal preference than anything else. > >The automatics are easy and relatively cheap to rebuild; >the standards are not. It sounds like the RPM per >MPH are about the same at highway speeds for both the >manuals and autos. Mileage on all vans is about the >same -- the overriding factor here is that you're driving >a big square brick around, not the relatively small percentage >of efficiency the autobox robs. > >For ME, I'm used to driving manuals. (More than once, >when I've rented cars, I go to push the clutch in when >I stop, and accidentally hit the edge of the brake pedal!) >I prefer the control the manual gives me - if I see a >hill coming up I can downshift when I want to, and >when I'm going downhill I can choose a gear based on >if I want to speed up or slow down. Also if you have >a dodgy battery or starter you can push start a manual, >not an auto. I don't find shifting a chore; I find it >keeps me in tune with what's going on around me. Also >at low speeds on back roads I can pick the most appropriate >gear. > >If you're a lazy shifter, I suggest the auto. If you like >to shift, I suggest the manual. > >Good luck! > >--tabe johnson >xtabe @ yahoo . com > >PS Religion and all other personal details about listmembers >are completely irrelevant to our discussions. Please make >this guy go away. I'm so glad politics is hardly ever discussed >here! > >______________________________________________________________________ >Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca > > > >