Stick or automatic?

Hello!

Been reading a lot of build threads and got to wondering...how many people out there want a stick vs. automatic, and why?

I'm FIRMLY in the stick camp...as someone's signature line said, "If it ain't got 3 pedals, it ain't not hot rod.", although I know that some people need an automatic because of back problems, etc.

Thoughts?

Chris

 

I want a stick, but it's stupid expensive to put one behind a '55-'62 cadillac engine. One day......til then the stock hydramatic works pretty darn good.

 

Most of the cars I owned growing up were sticks. But, back then, the was no rush hour traffic. My last two stick cars had street and strip clutches and were a pain in traffic. After that, I'm a big believe in automatics, plus my wife can drive them. It seems, in Southern California, there'a a small window between 11:30 am and 1 pm, where the traffic is tolerable.

 

auto for me, one less pedal to fit in.

 

I'm in a T roadster and i got 3 pedals. I'm not a big dude though.

 

When I first started building cars there was no way I'd consider an automatic. Most were heavy inefficient and weak.Now both I and the transmissions have come a long way.You can build an auto to be almost bulletproof and make shift however you want and at my age I've gotten tired of jammin the clutch in traffic around town.These days it's an automatic for me.

 

Doesn't matter to me as long as I look cool behind the wheel. And I'm ok with it being all in my head.

In all seriousness, it's more about what's available at the time.

 

I am regressing in old age. Always have had 4 speeds in muscle or rods, but now it has to be a non-syncro 3 speed, either column shift Ford, or top shift case.

 

Sticks are fun and offer lots of control, but are a real drag if you drive in very much stop and go/slow traffic. Guess that is ok if you like changing out clutches frequently.

 

Stick for me all the way 100%. When I drive my hot rod, I want to actually drive it. For me, driving means shifting. I love the feel of the car when I downshift to second and let the clutch out around a turn. Sticks make me feel closer to the road, and closer to my car.

 

Id prefer a stick, my left hip has a different way of looking at it.

 

Stick all the way.

Ive only owned 1 automatic in my life so far, no complaints but no fun either, my hot rod has a T5 and i have a couple more T5s for future projects.

 

A 4 speed makes me feel more connected to the car. As far as traffic? I'm aggravated either way. For me, it has nothing to do with the 3rd pedal

 

My son asked " don't all the boys drive sticks"?


Sent from my iPhone using TJJ

 

Stick in one coupe, auto in the other......

 

Depends on the car, some of them need a stick, some are fine with an automatic. My 55 has an auto, it's kind of quick and I don't want things to break, so running a TH400 was the easy way out.

I've been having fun driving my old truck with the granny 4 speed...and working on a few granny 4 speed transmissions....

 

I'm building a T and it's gonna have three pedals. My OT BMW daily driver has three pedals. I like to make the decisions instead of my car.

 

I drive a 18 wheeler with a ten speed for living when I get home it's nice to drive a auto.my 28 and 32 will have 3 speeds the 40 woody will have a auto

 

Haha that's why it's called a Manual

 

I want a stick, but I race and consistancy comes with an automatic.

 

Straight drive for me ,Please.....

Thank you very much.........

 

Stick for me. They are more fun and get better MPG. Plus keeps my left leg from getting bored.

 

lucky i have one of each my 50 chevy with a 350 -4 speed andmy 58 ford with a 292 y-block auto. i like driveing the stick more but sometimes it,s nice to have a auto.

 

I wanted a stick, but with space limitations for pedals and linkage, it wasn't in the cards.

 

heh...I get better mileage in my 55 with the blown big block and automatic, then I do in my truck with a stock 454 and 4 speed.

 

I was talking about same car, same engine, same rear gears.


Plus you don't have worry about a damn stall with a stick. Big plus in my book.

 

I'll probably still run the full syncro 3 speed in the 48 unless I change to a five speed and I have a five speed to go behind the flathead but If I were to build a custom besides the 48 it would have an automatic simply to make life easier.

Plus for many of us who are at that senior discount level the hips and knees aren't up to pushing a stiff clutch in traffic for a length of time. Ok to do road trips and a run to town but not the most fun when you get in a long line of cars going into or out of an event.

 

I had the same engine and gears in a different truck with an automatic, and got better mileage. Maybe I'm not as good at shifting as a valve body is?

yeah, stall is a pain, but it's fun when you get it set up right.

 

Stick is in my truck. Even though its only 3 gears, it will stay that way. The non syncro takes time to master and I am still working towards perfection.

 

I've had both and honestly can't say one was more fun than the other. I've actually considered pulling the stick out of my 27 and going with a C4 so it will be more consistent at the drags and get the power to the tires a little better. My Son is running less cubes in his T but with a TCI C4 and when he leaves a light I have to push mine pretty hard to keep up, probably because of the loose converter and torque multiplication.

Sometimes there just isn't room in a hot rod to squeeze in that third pedal, no matter how you try, and todays automatics are really good, especially when worked over and with the right converter.

Don