Can We Guess If You're More Automatic or Manual Transmission?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can We Guess If You're More Automatic or Manual Transmission?
Image: Tetra Images/DigitalVision/Gettyimages

About This Quiz

Perhaps no single feature has divided car enthusiasts quite like the two types of transmissions, and until fully self-driving cars come to us, this will probably not change. The choice of a manual or automatic transmission may seem like a small detail, but it says a lot about the driver.

Manual transmissions used to be de rigeur for the serious driver. A manual transmission meant a greater deal of control over fuel economy, acceleration, and most fun of all, noise. In the present, manual enthusiasts can compromise with automatic drivers because there exists the "flappy paddle gearbox". Initially a single clutch setup, modern flappy paddle gearboxes use a double clutch mechanism, meaning gear shifts are instantaneous, executed at speeds much faster than a human can muster. Still, there's nothing like the feeling of rowing one's own gears, and for a special class of auto enthusiast, nothing else will do.

Then there are people who prefer automatics. Since a double clutch flappy paddle gearbox is effectively an automatic, and can be set to fully automatic (meaning the car decides when to shift gears), a driver who just wants to get from point A to point B can do so without the three-pedal dance manual drivers prefer. At the same time, they can feel like a Formula 1 driver by switching to "sport mode" and making their own shifts.

So which side are you on? The road cowboys or the retirees? The boy racers or the dads who have to pay for the boy racer's insurance? Take this quiz to find out.

What do you like to listen to when you drive?
NPR
Anything with a catchy tune
I need a good beat.
Audiobooks
What brand of phone do you like to use?
iPhone
Samsung
OnePlus
LG
How do you cook?
I don't.
I don't make things like pizza dough, but I'll cook a pizza.
I make everything from scratch.
I make simple things, with instructions.

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What is the best category of car to own as a daily driver?
Executive sedan
A hot hatchback
A sport sedan
An SUV
How many times have you been to a racetrack?
None
A couple times
More than I can count
Once, to watch
When did you learn to drive?
When I was 18+
When I was 16
When I was 13
When I was 17

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How many times did you have to take your driving test?
Once
3 times
6 times
Twice
Have you ever done an advanced driving course?
No. Sounds dumb.
I did, for one day.
I took a full course.
I'm thinking about it.
What kind of road is your favorite for driving?
A short one
A pretty, twisty road
An empty, winding, back road
The highway

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Other than driving, how do you get your kicks?
I watch sports.
I'm into crafts.
I like to wrench on my car.
I have a sport I like to play.
Do you share a car with anyone?
Yes, my family
Not usually
No, no one
Occasionally I'll share it with my spouse/roommate.
What kind of books do you read?
Novels, biographies, all kinds
History books
Manuals
Mysteries

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What's your favorite movie genre?
Dramas and comedies aimed at adults
Westerns
Martial arts movies
Blockbuster adventures
How do you keep your computer safe from malware?
I have a Mac. Aren't they supposed to be bulletproof?
I have Norton on there.
I have three brands of anti-malware, which overlap to protect me.
I just use what came with the computer.
How often do you go to a cars and coffee meet up?
Never. What is that?
A couple of times a year
As often as I can
I've been, once.

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How many times have you gone to a "cars as art" exhibit?
Once
Many times
I seek them out and go whenever possible.
A few times. How many are there, anyway?
Do you regularly watch TV shows like Top Gear or The Grand Tour?
No. What's that?
I watch both of those.
I only watch The Grand Tour these days.
I'm more of a Fifth Gear audience.
Have you ever been accused of not paying attention to the other party in a relationship?
No, I make sure I have the time to put into that.
A couple times, sure.
Once
Most of my past relationships ended that way.

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What kind of pet would you own?
A goldfish
A cat
A parrot
A dog
How do you prep your car for the winter?
Am I supposed to do that?
I've got all-wheel drive. I'm good.
I give it a full overhaul, including tires.
Winter tires, man
What kind of drive system do you like the best?
All-Wheel Drive
4-Wheel Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive

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How do you dress for a long drive?
In... clothes?
Driving shoes
Driving gloves
Comfy shoes
Do you prefer to be alone or with friends when you are behind the wheel?
I don't mind.
I like having a navigator.
I like to be alone.
I like to be with friends.
What kind of driver behavior do you find the most irritating?
Driving at unsafe speeds, fast or slow
Poor signaling
Brake checking
Lane discipline

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What passenger behavior irritates you the most?
Toying with the radio
Messing with the temperature
Distracting me while I'm maneuvering
Blocking the view of my mirror
What model of car would you be happy to drive on a daily basis?
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
A Jaguar XF
A Chevy SS
A Cadillac CTS
What traffic law do you like best?
Laws barring commercial traffic from certain roads
The one in San Francisco that says Smart Cars have to bay park
Right on red
The law in Nevada that says you have to be doing at least the speed limit if you're in the passing lane

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What bit of car tech do you like the most?
Navigation systems
The double clutch gearbox
Heated steering wheels
Backup cameras
Do you pay attention to motorsport?
No
I've seen some F-1.
I watch Rallycross.
I watch some NASCAR.
How will you feel about self-driving cars, when they hit the market?
Great! I'll be able to go out drinking and be driven home!
I'll have mixed feelings, honestly.
I hate the idea.
I'll still want to drive for pleasure sometimes.

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