Manual...my first one since 1995.

I drove both and really liked the manual better.

 

the dealer had one of each. I took the one on the front lot! It's a stick

 

I bought a manual. I had to special order the vehicle because there were no manuals available at the lot.

 

I got a Automatic, not by choice I am disabled from back surgery, where the doctor Screwed up on me and left me with Foot drop and Nerve damage in both legs!
But hey at least I can drive and walk!

 

Thats my mentality.
I'm sure the xB is a little/a lot more peppier with a 5 speed but
its not like its 105hp (and yes i know its less with the auto) and the
stick is 200hp.

the difference is minor i've driven both and with LA traffic theres no way im getting
a daily driver in 5 speed again. now if its a weekend car then 5-6 speed is the
way to go.

but some can put up with traffic and doing the clutch/gas tango all day long.
i've had a Honda Civic 5 spd, Mitsubishi eclipse 5 spd and a Ford Mustang 5 speed
and i've had it with stop and go traffic. since i cant get rid of the traffic jam i'll
stop shifting and let the car do it for me! that way i can do things like this
when im driving down the 405

 

auto baby

 

stick

 

very happy to be driving a stick again

 

automatic and it sucks so bad, it robbed about 10 hp from me...

 

I went with the manual. It was my first time really driving a manual too, but I love it now.

 

automatic is a man best friend

 

Just ordered a manual - tons more fun!

 

maunual

 

automatic

 

An Automatic

 

Manual transmission; 37.5 MPG. Thank God I'm a country boy.

 

AUTO is for the ladies...

 

i want to get manual when i get an xB, i've only driven a stick a few times (im 17) but i regret not getting a manual when i bought my first car, so i definitely want to get one. I know how the gearbox is layed out thanks to video games lol, but i'm not very sure about stopping for instance, i would assume 3rd or maybe 4th gear would be good around town on big roads at like 50~mph? if theres a traffic light you would brake with one foot then with left foot apply the clutch and take it out of gear right? then cruise to a stop? is that how it works?

you don't just brake and leave it in gear then take it out once u stop right? that would prolly screw up the trans i would imagine

 

Ordered an auto, got a bad leg. Usedta love the stick, though.

Happy to discover that Xb auto is only a little slower, and doesn't hurt the MPG much.

RichC

 

You can brake and disengage the clutch when slowing down. If you're slowing down over a long distance, downshift, engage clutch and let the engine slow you down a bit. In the xB though, the engine is so small, you can brake, disengage the clutch and slow to a stop. Once you're stopped (or close to it) put it in 1st and get ready to go again. If you're downshifting, just watch your speed; downshift too soon and you're engine will let you know you made a mistake (chirp the tires, throw you and your passengers forward in your seats, etc.)

It's pretty easy, but I wouldn't go by what is shown on a video game. From what I recall from my test drive, the xB's clutch engages pretty quickly as you lift your foot off the floor. It takes a little practice. Probably the most difficult bit of driving is in a very hilly area (San Francisco, Laguna Niguel, parts of San Diego) when you're stopped, first one in line at the light and on a 20 degree incline with some yahoo on your tail.