Depends on lots of factors. Where you do most of your driving, the type of car, what the car will be loaded with, your age. For me its automatic I'm too old and lazy to shift anymore, I don't have heavy loads and I drive an old small suv. But I do miss the fun of shifting, double clutching around corners and up and down hills in the right car of course.
My idea is to buy a used SUV, van, or camioneta. I know it's 2013, but also know the advantages of carros mecanicos. In either case, the vehicle is going to be challenged with load and with uneven offroad and steep incline terrain.
Although my premise is that standard vehicles will be less vulnerable under these conditions, can I expect that mechanics have sufficient know-how and access to parts for standard transmission vehicle maintenance and repair?
Both pros and cons sell both auto and manual transmission cars.What are the pros and cons of automible transmission choice in DR?
I wonder how many of you so called "mechanics" really know what you are talking about.
Mechanics? know-how? maintenance? Where?
Anyways...
A driver of a public car claims he saves 500 pesos a day after converting his auto trans to a manual in his corolla, maybe his auto trans was sick. 2 others I know have done this conversion to manual trans in their cars. Less problems, Car handle heat issues better, more economical, you can push start if battery dead, but a pain in heavy traffic.
Note: If you do your drivers test here in an auto, you are only licensed for an auto. If you do it in a manual, then you can drive either.
And really you shouldn't have a problem finding someone that knows how to fix it.