LogFAQs > #970459851

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Not really. It has a little benefit, in certain situations, that don't really matter to the vast majority of people.

And as you say, to get the maximum amount of benefit out of it, you have to use it intelligently. I'd argue that the vast number of people who drive shift don't necessarily optimize their usage to a degree where it makes all that much of a difference. They're sufficiently skilled, but haven't necessarily mastered it.

And even then, the difference is pretty minimal these days. People are fond of saying that manual offers better fuel economy, which used to be true (presuming it was used competently), but automatics long ago reached the point where they are equal to or better than even perfect manual usage in the vast majority of everyday scenarios.