I have a choice between a manul or automatic in a new 2006 roadster. I've driven manuals most of my youth up until I was 38. Never thought about owning anything else.

The cost is the same. Manul has NAV and the auto has, well, automatic. Cost stays even.

I'm pulling the trigger tomorrow. Know this is a late post so I'm hoping to get a couple of thoughts.

Absolutely love this car and this site.

Thanks in advance.....

 

I just bought an '06 coupe 3 months ago. I drove both and did not care for the automatic. Unless you will be sitting in major traffic (which in MD you may be), I would get the stick.

 

I'd say go for the Manual......but then again I'm biased!

 

Personal preference. Except for the SRTs . But if you are tall the clutch can become an issue, knee room is tight.

 

Obviously, if you regularly drive in traffic, there's a lot more leg work involved. So, I won't adress this obvious point of consideration.

I've talked of my personal reasons for going the way I did:

1- Most professional reviewers seemed to prefer the automatic.
2- After 35 years od manuals, I finally decided to give my right arm and left leg a well-deserved rest.

Zero regrets.

 

Manual for overall better control. Lots of highway driving or open road.
For a daily commute in traffic, the manual can be tedious, especially the first to second gear bump.
I'd go auto for stop and go commute.

Personally, I'm a stick guy. My manual shifts automatically every time and flawlessly goes into the right gear for speed and conditions....
unless I try to think about it.

Then it shifts kinda klunky


roadster with a stick

 

I'm tall, I have a manual, and I never noticed any problems using the clutch.
For me, you really only get that true "sports car" feeling with a manual tranny.
I've had nearly identical cars (several times) over the years with one being an auto and the other a manual. The manual was always more fun.
The 6 speeds are nearly a 1/2 sec. faster in the 1/4 mile too.
But if you're going to be stuck in stop-n-go traffic on a regular basis, the auto may be the way to go.
Good Luck!

 

I've noticed this problem as well. I'm 6'00" and if the seat is not set up just right, my shin hits the bottom of the dash. My wife and I both drive it, so I have to reset the seat every time I use it. Still like the stick better though.

 

I'm 6'4".........I don't really have a problem using the clutch.

 

I just purchased a new 2006 Roadster w/6-speed and do love it - although I think the 6-spd adds to the 'sports car' feeling, I'd be fine w/an automatic and actually prefer it I think based on repairs (clutch, etc) that will no doubt come in the future...the Nav system though is very cool and works well - I'm not sure I would have gotten an automatic if they had had one for the same $ - probably not - but again, looming (in the distant future one hopes) repairs, etc...

My 2 cents...

 

Doesn't the 06 come in an auto stick? You can have the best of both worlds. My 07 does.

 

Now matter which one you go with, you will always want the other one at times. If it were my decision, I'd get the manual. The nav system is a nice bonus!

 

Buy the 6-speed. Manuals are much more fun than automatics.

Bob

 

With my wife in mind I got the Autostick.
She only drove stick one time long ago and didn't care for it.
Although it is mine I wanted her to be able to enjoy the car too.

 

Save yourself some time and just skip every reply here, even though the posters are trying to help. The basic premise is this >>

If YOU want to shift when you drive, buy the manual.
If YOU don't want to shift when you drive, buy the automatic.

It's really that simple ;-)

Mike

 

I've always owned manuals but since the SRT-6 only came with the autostick, I treat it like a manual shifting all the time, but without a clutch, oh well..

 

I've got a 06 roadster with a stick. Went with it after driving a total of 100 miles total on a stick ever. While, as the people above said, it can be a pain during traffic, it's a lot of fun to be able to totally control the car yourself without having to rely on the programming of the auto.

If you like eating in the car and talking on the phone tho... auto all the way.

 

Manual and no regrets...wife doesn't drive a stick...hmmm.

Well, it's a problem occasionally, but not a show stopper!

 

It's your car, so really we shouldnt' have a say in it!

That being said, I prefer my cars to drive themselves.

When I want to go somewhere, I don't want to have to do work.

I choose an automatic.

 

And your chauffer? what does he prefer?


LOL


roadster with a stick