Why choose to drive manual? :)

notanewuser

Because sometimes I want to hit the red line before changing.

Oldfatgrumpy

I've driven automatics in the past, not always good on ice as when in drive I've known the driven wheels to slip even at idling speed when releasing the brakes. Also I come from the generation which accepted the occasional need to bump-start a car as normal, can't do that with an auto box. On the plus side, left-foot braking is great.

Cornucopia

I'm driving a Citroen C4 1.6 HDi with EGS electronic gearbox. This is a 6-speed box with an electronic clutch. You can operate it either fully auto, or as a no-clutch manual.

I cannot fault it as an almost perfect combination of power, economy and flexibility. The only small niggle is the slightly lurching performance in traffic jams.

Iceweasel

MarcusAurelius wrote: »

Hi, with automatic boxes being almost as efficient as manual why do people still choose to drive manual?

I don't believe cost is an issue.

You're wrong - they are not almost as efficient as manual - they are more efficient than manuals.

That's if you look at the mpg figures on the latest BMWs for example. (Other marques are available)

They now have 8-speed auto-boxes.

And they accelerate faster than manuals too.

Very few even the most dyed in the wool gear-stick wagglers would be happy having to juggle with 8 gears.

I was a late convert to auto-boxes, having been put off through bad experiences with Ford and M-Benz 3-speed boxes of the 70s and 80s.

As an ex-rally driver I always thought that I could do better than any auto-box.

How wrong I was - I've driven nothing but autos on my personal cars for the last 12 years or so and I'll never buy another manual.

Almost every auto has a manual select option - called Steptronic or Tipronic or some such name.

Most of the time mine is in fully automatic as I've tried to beat it with my own decisions but the car can do things better than I can.

It's hard to admit - but it does - only on Alpine hairpin bends do I take some degree of manual control - and I mean by hand.

On the road I can control which gear the car selects by using the accelerator - takes practice but you can change up or down at will.

As for the famous 'kick-down' stamp hard on the pedal to get max acceleration - I never need it.

For those who have never tried an auto - go for a test run soon - you may well be surprised.

They don't break down any more often than manuals either.

DUTR

notanewuser wrote: »

Because sometimes I want to hit the red line before changing.

Then simply stick it in sport mode.

MarcusAurelius

CharlieRabbit01 wrote: »

Admittedly I've never driven an auto, but I always choose a manual, I enjoy driving and I like changing gear when I want to do, I feel that I have more control to choose a lower or higher gear that I want.

Which you can also do when driving an auto

Zeitgeist

Manuals still have some advantages over automatics:
* They are cheaper to manufacture, so the car is cheaper.
* They are lighter (e.g. 30kg for a manual 'box versus 100kg for an auto).
* Automatics usually have a higher CO2 rating, so your vehicle excise duty may be higher.

Automatics are fabulous though, and are easier to drive and in stop/start traffic are a lot easier on your left leg!

MarcusAurelius

Iceweasel wrote: »

You're wrong - they are not almost as efficient as manual - they are more efficient than manuals.
...
They don't break down any more often than manuals either.

Love the easy motorway cruisin' using just the buttons of the cruise control.

Feel safer too as you have to leave a longer distance between the cars.

MarcusAurelius

Zeitgeist wrote: »

Manuals still have some advantages over automatics:

I hear if you have a left knee op you have to declare it to DVLA and
refrain from driving manual :-P

force_ten

I have always owned manual cars but have driven and like driving autos

a friend of mine who lives and works in london would not drive a manual car end of, he says that driving a manual car in stop start traffic for hours on end is a killer

hopefully my next car will be an auto but if it had to be a manual then it wouldn't really be a deal breaker