"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
>
>
>
>