Putting the 'man' in manual

Last week, we had the automatic versus manual transmission talk, and I impressed upon you why men prefer manual cars. It appears as if the debate on digital and analogue cannot be transferred to the motoring scene. Those who love analogue (read manual) cars say the beauty of driving is in the shifting of gears.

Rallying enthusiasts have been keen to remind me that rally cars are always manual. Why? Because the driver must carry his fate — to lose or win, or even to live or die.