I tend to race with auto, if just because I can't seem to get get used to downshifting with buttons. In my car, I know which gear I want to move to, and don't even have to think about what gear I was on. Sixth to second? just as fast and easy as 3rd to 2nd. With a controller or a paddle shifter, I have to remember how many times to push the button, which is both much slower and harder on my poor head.

Shifting is also harder on me in game because I don't get to really feel the car. It's bad enough for people used to sedans that do their best to separate you from the road. My little Mazdaspeed MX-5 might not have the straight line acceleration of even high end sedans, but the feel of the road makes it a very different beast. It's actually made me play less racing games.

About a 70/30 split in favor of manual. When I started getting drunk, I switch over to auto.

@BDBDBD

1st Car - 1987 Honda CRX Si - 5 Speed Manual

2nd Car - 1989 Honda Prelude Si - 5 Speed Manual

3rd Car - 2005 Acura RSX Type S - 6 Speed Manual

Yep, I only drive Honda.

Automatic in both. It just makes things easier.

Manual, the car doesn't behave like I want it too with auto gear.
In driving sim's, its important to use gears and throttle combined to corner properly, the auto box on 99% of all games is just too stupid and gears before you hit max torque.
Same in real life; you loose driveability and performance with automatic gearboxes.

You would actually become a better driver if you tried to learn stick.  I'm 100% serious on this.

@topic: I drive a 6-speed manual, but I am intrigued by the appearance of the CVT.  I test drove a Nissan Versa CVT recently, and found it to be very responsive and predictable, unlike auto slushboxes.

Manual (really clutchless semi-automatic) in games typically doesn't simulate a manual gear box in a real car that well, but it depends heavily upon the way the individual game was coded.

Generally, those who drive a manual in real life will drive with button shifting in games since they're used to downshifting into corners and shifting up in the straightaways. If the simulator's done right, driven properly, the car's engine should stay in the peak torque range for optimal engine response and acceleration (rare). If not, it really doesn't matter much.

Automatic in real life: better transmission for stop and go traffic or if you live in the hills with stop lights and stop signs. Manual: a more connected driving experience when matched with a good engine. But unless the engine is responsive and/or (preferably both) produces respectable torque, it doesn't make a significant difference for daily driving.

New automatics in top tier sports cars can currently outshift even professional car drivers. Unfortunately, these are not like the automatic transmission in your car.

Daily driver: FF automatic.
Weekend racer: Nissan S14 with S15 spec SR20DET/6spd transmission tuned in the range of 350-400HP at the rear wheels @ 18lbs of boost via GT2871R turbo and 740cc injectors.

CVTs sap power transfer worse than traditional ATXs, but do so in a way that essentially eliminates that "rev searching" most ATXs are known for. They are great for daily drivers, but will never see the light of day in performance oriented cars. Dual clutch and clutchless shift semi-automatics are what's being used more and more in top performing sport exotics.

And yes, learning to drive manual is the BEST way to learn how to communicate with a car's engine. Otherwise, you learn to tune out engine speed and rev response.  And you can never be anything more than a regular novice driver if you are not connected with your engine. 

auto