This question has bugged me for quite some time, since knowing the answer is important for choosing my next car. So, which one is better? Note: I don't need car suggestions.
Lol. Yes. It's a good idea to have a good amount of experience. Manual bc you have MORE control over how the vehicle shifts, and how it moves.
Manual vs Automatic comes down to your skill and experience as a driver, as well as financial situation. If you can't operate a clutch to save your life, but have plenty of money, a manual may still work out as you learn/get better (possibly after replacing the clutch a time or two). However, if you lack both money and experience with a manual, then an automatic is safer for you. That is actually the reason I use an automatic. The risk of burning out a clutch is unacceptable in my current circumstances, and I was never able to practice on a manual. You may also want to consider a shiftable automatic. You get to control the gear shifting to a large degree without the risk of ruining a clutch or money shifting.
My current car is a manual, so I have more experience with it. I find the way automatic works (especially when starting and taking off) weird. Money shouldn't be a problem . I brought this question up because despite manuals being faster*, more efficient*, familiar to me and fun on pavement, they are harder to find* and you have to be careful when taking off in a manual AWD. Does one of the transmissions have significant advantage off-road to influence my final choice? *particularly applies to the cars I'm looking for
you want high torque, a manual transmission, a Hi/Lo transfer case, good tires, and I recommend limited slip or locking differentials With a manual you can keep it in the rev range you want better, an example would be climbing a steep hill, you would want to keep it in first or second gear for putting the most torque down
I'll say manual as well, if you really want a better experience. Automatic could work (mostly best for trail/off-road racing), but manual can really help with technical terrain and is much more useful when off-roading as seen in this article: https://www.drivingline.com/article...-or-manual-transmission-better-for-the-trail/
