learner driver automatic?

Humphrey10

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

Passing an auto test restricts you in the future.

No it doesn't. At any time I could take another test and get a manual license. Just means a little delay while waiting for the test.
I could even drive a manual with L plates now (if there is someone with a full driving licence in the car) if I wanted.

jeannieblue

Freedom of choice LittleMiss Aspie - means just that. The OP should have the freedom to choose to drive an auto without criticism from any of us. The OP originally asked a valid question - and hoped for constructive advice re running costs etc. We've all strayed off the point really.

goldspanners

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Not posted on here before, but had to reply to this really stupid post. I can drive what ever car I want, if I want to only automatics that's nothing to do with you. If I wanted ot restrict myself futher and say I'd only drive eg red cars, that's also nothing to do with you.

Why on earth do I need to 'leave my options open'? Automatic cars exist, they will always exist, so I'll always have cars to drive.

People I spoke to when I was deciding what sort of car to drive said equally stupid things eg 'driving a manual is so much more fun!' 'a manual car feels so much more powerful!' 'I feel so much more in control in a manual' 'it feels like I'm going faster in a manual so I prefer those'. It's a car, not a toy, it's a way of getting from one place to another, not something that exists to make me feel big and powerful.

congratulations mr humphrey,we would like to offer you the job you applied for come in on monday to sign your contract and collect the keys to your company car we have waiting for you.( i wonder if its auto or manual?) if its auto then great you can take it away that day,if not then you will need to sort out getting a new driving test and then passing it,im sure your new boss will be happy with this.

i wasnt directing this post straight at you, just pointing out a scenario which will occur for some folk.
i hope you never need to hire a van to move house on your auto licsence either.

buy and drive whatever car you like, i dont care, just take the manual test to cover all bases,why on earth would anyone be happy at having to go and resit thier driving test to drive a manual car,never mind having to spend extra money on the test and lessons before hand. surely a money saving point,which is why most folk are on this site.driving lessons are expensive.

goldspanners

jeannieblue wrote: »

Freedom of choice LittleMiss Aspie - means just that. The OP should have the freedom to choose to drive an auto without criticism from any of us. The OP originally asked a valid question - and hoped for constructive advice re running costs etc. We've all strayed off the point really.

my post above covers a few points about costs and money.:p

Sirbendy

i'd also disagree that the auto test limits you...

From a different viewpoint. Cars are becoming cleverer. Semi-auto/Steptronic/DSG/easytronic, call it what you will...the 3rd pedal and stone-age cable technology have lost the stranglehold they had in the ever more inventive race to create more efficient vehicles.

All these vehicles have 2 pedals...all are legal for me to drive as they have no 3rd pedal. As a person who used to drive disabled adaptations and "test" vehicles with gearlever mounted "push release" electric clutch actuators and the like, I can honestly say I've never found a lack of pedal 3 limiting.

Several of those vehicles were converted manuals, with the clutch pedal cut off..and I thought "BLOODY good idea"...and indeed, 10 years down the line - it's becoming common and factory fitted.

I'm not limited to car choice...when I looked at this Astra, I had options for Merc, Smart, Vauxhall, Rover, SAAB and the rest, and all derivatives and shapes too..I could see plenty of autos, semi-autos, DSGs and CVTs, I really was spoiled for choice, even with a max fictitious limit of £2000 to spend. Even rental markets do auto now.

My mother even borrows an auto for holidays..heh..she drives a manual focus every day, yet for the hols we borrowed a 1.8 cavalier auto..and she sometimes borrows mine too.

I'm not limited by range or bad economy..in fact this Astra-G impresses me every day. I'm not limited in power, it'll wheelspin on takeoff with minimal throttle (it's only a 1.6!)..I can't say I've ever felt in any way "limited".

The only legacy limitation has been engine CC...until the last few years, autos were by and large a minimum of 1.6 litres..but there are plenty of 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.0 and even 500cc autos out there now qualifying for low tax etc.

My brother has recently bought himself a Mercedes SLK auto Diesel...I shook my head, but it beats ME for economy! He does commute a lot, and loves driving from Devon to Shropshire to see us..he won't go back to manual now. It's quite impressive, shame about the badge..;)

I can't see future hybrid/electric vehicles being manual...in fact to be fair I could almost see the demise of the engine and transmission as we know it looming...it's old technology now..

And GoldSpanners...If I was ever offered a company car, I'm not sure it's compulsory...I know a lot of people that use their own and just get paid the mileage..and car pools can and do order autos..it's not as draconian as all that! Fleet hire services also do autos..that's where the loan DSG came from..ditto moving..there ARE autoboxes for Transits and vans, and a lot of bigger vehicles are semi-auto as an option now too...I could drive our school minibus if I'd sat the PCV test you have to do...;)

Also, never a bad plan to get a towbar..as one who'll be moving early next year (again) with a small child in tow this time, I can't see anything in this flat a car/trailer combo can't shift...did it last time with an auto corsa, an auto Astra, and no trailer. Heh. Same the 2 times before. Of course, you could just hire a van with a driver...or like me have an ex-army mother in law who's got a license to drive trucks etc..;)

Humphrey10

goldspanners wrote: »

congratulations mr humphrey,we would like to offer you the job you applied for come in on monday to sign your contract and collect the keys to your company car we have waiting for you.( i wonder if its auto or manual?) if its auto then great you can take it away that day,if not then you will need to sort out getting a new driving test and then passing it,im sure your new boss will be happy with this.

i wasnt directing this post straight at you, just pointing out a scenario which will occur for some folk.
i hope you never need to hire a van to move house on your auto licsence either.

buy and drive whatever car you like, i dont care, just take the manual test to cover all bases,why on earth would anyone be happy at having to go and resit thier driving test to drive a manual car,never mind having to spend extra money on the test and lessons before hand. surely a money saving point,which is why most folk are on this site.driving lessons are expensive.

I'd have to be an idiot to apply for a job that said I needed a full manual licence, why on earth would I do that if I didn't have one? I'd hate to have a job that involved driving.

I'd never hire a van to move house, that's what removal companies are for?

Driving tests are not expensive, only about £60 iirc. And not many lessons would be needed surely, all you'd need to learn would be how to change gear, you'd already know about road signs, speeds, distances etc.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Not posted on here before, but had to reply to this really stupid post. I can drive what ever car I want, if I want to only automatics that's nothing to do with you. If I wanted ot restrict myself futher and say I'd only drive eg red cars, that's also nothing to do with you.

Why on earth do I need to 'leave my options open'? Automatic cars exist, they will always exist, so I'll always have cars to drive.

People I spoke to when I was deciding what sort of car to drive said equally stupid things eg 'driving a manual is so much more fun!' 'a manual car feels so much more powerful!' 'I feel so much more in control in a manual' 'it feels like I'm going faster in a manual so I prefer those'. It's a car, not a toy, it's a way of getting from one place to another, not something that exists to make me feel big and powerful.

Calm down Humphrey, those of us who expressed opinion that the OP would be well advised to pass a manual geared test if possible were only trying to make it easier for them for the future.

Who knows what the future may be for any of us, the OP may be desperately short of money and may need to buy or hire a car at short notice, and being only able to drive auto without the time consuming hassle of retaking a test will be a big PITA.
Or indeed in a future career move have to be able to use company pool cars/vans for example, another PITA.

I'm not biased against auto's, so don't jump on me, we have 2 vehicles and both are proper auto's, you couldn't pay me to go back to manual (unless of course you treated me to a rather nice all expenses paid for...like MP's...BMW M5)..:cool:

I really hope the OP does go for the full manual test purely to make their own motoring lives easier for the future.

They can then buy any car they want.

I don't know about you but i'd hate to retake my test now, chances of me passing are remote to say the least.

No post here is stupid by the way, we all have an opinion, the OP asked for those opinions, they are all valid.

moneymabel

I am 37 and only learned to drive 5 years ago-I didnt get on with gears but had a lot of lessons trying to learn-keeping being told'oh it will just click soon' .
£20 a time lessons kept mounting up so I gave up and bought a auto nissan micra-2 months later i passed my test, only one minor. I had all the usual comments but ignored them-so what-i can drive ,autos are easy to find, not usually that much more expensive and my nissan is more reliable than the manual Merc that the OH has got.
In my opinon autos are safer as you have both hands on the wheel 99% of the time.

Humphrey10

Sorry if I came across as rude, but I have just passed my test and am so fed up with people going on and on about how I should have done a manual test, and I really feel for the poor OP who has had the same on this thread.

I could only get people to stop going on about it when I told them I'd been diagnosed as dyspraxic (which is true). I shouldn't have had to have a reason to do an automatic test, it should just be personal choice.

Yes I could pass the test again, though to be fair it was only a month ago I passed it!

Sirbendy

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Who knows what the future may be for any of us, the OP may be desperately short of money and may need to buy or hire a car at short notice, and being only able to drive auto without the time consuming hassle of retaking a test will be a big PITA.

again, disagree. Had my auto written off at 5pm, one call later I had the Golf 1.6FSI with the 6 speed DSG delivered to my door the next morning. According to the bloke from Albany Fleet Services, they're VERY popular.

There's no need to retake for hire cars now, just ask for an auto. Ditto purchasing at short notice - I went from my 1997 MK3 Astra through finding and sorting and pondering, to viewing, settling on and driving away my 2000 Plate one in 7 days.

If I'd needed one urgently, I could have had a 1998 3 door for £500, a Merc A140 for £1000, or my pick of the big old battlecruisers with a big engine as a temporary runabout until I found one I wanted, picked up the same day..:) There were lots about within a decent radius..some nails, some thrashed, but all OK for a stopgap measure while looking.

Shortage of supply, lack of choice..er, not in the last 5 years to my knowledge..heh. Besides, do we not have Taxis for emergencies? Or partners, or family members? Or even work colleagues?