I'm not the kind of guy who likes to think too much while I'm driving. Sue me; I'm a little bit lazy. But being a senior in college has gotten me that way, because I believe I've earned it. Perhaps it is because I think my car should be "smart" and I don't want to put up with having to know what gear I'm in around town. Yes sir, automatics are by far superior, and let me count the ways. By now, some people are screaming "What??" but here's why:

1. Eighteen-wheelers and other work trucks are gradually being made into automatics. Yes, it's true. My father, who's in the trucking business, told me that for long interstate drives, they want to make trucking as easy as possible.
2. Death? You mean to tell me a car can "die", and it can be your fault? Pah! If my automatic ever "died," it would probably be the car's fault. Sounds like a pain in the ass to me.
3. We have the technology, we can make it faster, and we can make it smarter. I know for a fact that modern vehicles are becoming more and more like Knight Rider. Some sports cars are available in automatic, but are more expensive. That would change if these kinds of cars were more available with automatic transmissions. If we can put computers in these cars that measure road grade and aero-dynamics, surely they would know when to change gears at just the right time.
4. Don't get me wrong; I know that manual transmissions are fun some of the time. My roommate told me this, but he also said they were mostly a bitch. That led me to conclude that it should be kept with the race car drivers. Yes, for those who want to have more control and focus on driving (and have time to deal with the hassle), go for it. Me? I want the lazy boy of cars. City driving is much easier if you don't have to worry about what gear you're in. I understand that interstate driving is about the same with both transmissions.
5. One thing I could not bear with a manual: Why, oh why can't I eat my burrito while driving my car? It's hard enough to keep the salsa off my jeans, but to have to deal with shifting gears at the same time? I want no part of that madness. There would be so many food stains in my clothes that I would have to sell my car for the dry-cleaning bills.

Now I know that this kind of article will mostly bring three kinds of opinions. There are those of you who will be offended greatly, and will hound me to tell me why their manual transmissions are so great. Then there will be those who don't really care, and those who agree with me. Simple, yes?

Always remember though, for all of you manual drivers out there, you will be assimilated, very, very soon.

Name: The Slampoet
Comments:
The reason your girlfriend's Supra eats gasoline is because it has a monstrous engine...if it has a turbo it may be generating over 300 hp and no transmission will turn her drivetrain into something that can compete with the mileage of the Supra's relative, the Echo.

Name: Grant
Comments:
By the way... the auto diesel I drive is an '81 Mercedes Benz. (just a clarification)

Name: Grant
Comments:
Gah, you people... I wrote this article to get yer ire. It worked, didn't it? To Mr. Mechanic: I'm probably the biggest hypocrite out there... because I'll be driving a manual truck soon. But I'll tell you this... I won't like it. Automatics are easier... and I'll stick with em'... my girlfriend has a manual Toyota Supra that EATS gasoline... I have been known to drive a diesel AUTOMATIC that has the best gas mileage of anything else I've ever seen. So yeah... see ya on the road. I do like Jeff's addition, the auto-manual hybrid seems like an interesting choice. Keep it comin' folks...

Name: Mechanic
Comments:
It is true that trucks (18 wheelers) are being changed to automatic but this is due in part to the high turn over of qualified drivers and a need for new drivers quickly... it is easier to teach people to drive an idiot-proof car--then a harder, but more efficient car. As for working on a manual transmission there is far less that can go wrong... the primary problem will be a clutch... where as an automatic is very hard to work on or around. Hope that burrito is good (and cheap) because an automatic is more expensive to maintain than that manual transmission (even for gas mileage if properly run). I am doubtful that you are even able to drive that manual or even a car with the remarks that you have made... Hope that you enjoy walking!

Name: The Slampoet
Year: Many as a car buff
Comments:
Grant, Grant, Grant. The manual transmission is a long way from extinction. Fact is, many cars that come with the manual transmission can't be made fast enough, like the Volkswagen Passat. Manual transmissions aren't popular because they're hard. Many times, the manual transmission costs less to produce, therefore it costs less for the buyer. The only exception to this rule I can think of are BMW's and Lincoln's sport sedan models. Manual transmissions provide more speed, more horsepower, more torque, and most importantly in this questionable economy, fuel mileage. Also, many sports cars are available with automatic transmissions, including the best-selling Mazda Miata, the Chevrolet Corvette, Ferraris and Porsches. The autos on the last two are actually semi-automatics where one can shift without the need of a clutch. Porsche's respective system is known as Tiptronic. Chrysler has marketed (quite successfully I might add) an AutoStick transmission where drivers can shift from automatic to manual mode. Oldsmobile, Saab, and Alfa Romeo have also had such transmissions in the past. Another reason people like manuals is because the car does not decide what gear you are in. I know that I would rather have the five-speed manual in my Maxima than the four-speed auto it has. The overdrive engages too quickly and this is not a good thing on roads where RPMs are high. This makes the engine work too hard. With a manual transmission I can tell the car to stay in a gear, and to get out of it when I say so. Most importantly, and you may not see this, the manual transmission enhances the driver-car relationship, where an automatic makes the experience more distant and mechanical. This aesthetic factor sells. Why else would auto makers be offering these pseudomanuals in their cars? Because while (as you point out) automatics have strong convenience aspects in areas like urban commuting, people still want to sport about in the same car. As such, the manual is far from extinct. Now, manual steering...we can do without that...