[gambiting]

Torque converts are the niche choice nowadays, a lot of modern cars have dual-clutch transmissions which are always more efficient than manuals. They use less fuel, shift quicker and commonly have more gears for less strain and better efficiency(almost all new MB cars ship with 9-gear dual clutch tranmissions nowadays for example).

But yes, after owning manuals for years I would never go back, an automatic allows you to be so much more focused on the road and enjoy it more - I love driving and have a sports car, would never ever swap the transmission in that back for a manual.

[no_flags]

I had the reverse experience of you, that is, I always drove automatics and then learned to drive manual later on. I actually felt I was more focused on the road in the manual because I needed to plan ahead for gear shifts. In an automatic everything is taken care of so it's easier for the mind to wander. I thought I was a better driver in the manual. I guess if I drove a manual for years it would probably go on mental autopilot more.

At the end of the day I think manuals are great fun but automatics are more practical. An automatic will never stall out in a safety critical moment, as I always worried I would do in the manual. I've also pondered that if I was ever to sustain a serious injury to an arm or leg, I would probably be able to drive an automatic in an emergency. Driving stick with a broken arm would be substantially more difficult. The fuel economy advantages enjoyed by manuals seem to have dissipated at this point as well.