Why choose to drive manual? :)

Aquamania

Iceweasel wrote: »

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)....

No they are not, and you cannot compare the figures in that way; they can only be used to compare like with like.

That is because the figures are based on laboratory test conditions. For a manual car, the drive cycle is fully defined, including which gear to be used when. Obviously that cannot be the case for an automatic car, so the car is able to choose the optimum gearing.

Aquamania

DUTR wrote: »

...4) Aren't the F1 cars auto?

No, not fully, they use paddle shift technology

gilbert_and_sullivan

Aquamania wrote: »

No they are not, and you cannot compare the figures in that way; they can only be used to compare like with like.

That is because the figures are based on laboratory test conditions. For a manual car, the drive cycle is fully defined, including which gear to be used when. Obviously that cannot be the case for an automatic car, so the car is able to choose the optimum gearing.

Agreed.

For years lorries have been moving towards automated manual gearboxes, almost all full sized European made lorries are now auto boxed, indeed new lorry drivers can now from January this year pass a test on an auto and gain a manual pass certificate, i'll leave you to draw your own conclusions and to cause and likely future effect.

For drivers who don't care, have no interest, don't know how or were never taught how to drive properly the auto box is usually more fuel efficient and kinder to the clutch, that is undoubtably true.

But this is lowest common denominator progress at work again, many of us can (and take a pride in doing so just for the hell of it) beat the auto box for fuel as well as progress (and clutch wear) by overriding the machine and driving manually...the machine cannot (yet) see the road or terrain or traffic ahead and make the right judgements, it can only respond to pre programmed inputs from various sensors.

anotheruser

Funny how in America the cars are predominantly auto, while here int he K they're manual.

Maybe we just haven't caught up, but then with the twisty windy ever smaller roads we have here, for me personally, a manual gives me more control of the vehicle.

anotherbaldrick

I have both, a manual and an automatic ( proper auto not a DSG). It does not bother me which I am driving. I do not even have to think which, it happens naturally. I think I prefer the manual because it is more involving, snicking up and down the box getting the best ratio for speed and conditions. Mind you it is a beautiful silky box which makes using it a delight.

colino

I know I should be on the side of the Spanish gearbox because of driver control, feel of the road, blah, blah, but thinking about it, it's years since I actually had one as a personal car.
Execs should always be automatic (why pay to drive a luxury car and change gear yourself?) and beware chancers trying to sell you a manual version because of its "rarity and desirability".
Regular town driving can be ball-achingly tedious too, with no thrill of actually driving.
Tiny micro cars (yes, you at the back driving i10s etc.) are either shopping trolleys on wheels and ideal autos or terrible compromises if you want to use them s a general car.
Still can't get my head round a super sports being auto. As it really isn't for everyday use, It would be the few occasions my left ankle is woken from its slumber.
Overall, your money, your choice.

gilbert_and_sullivan

colino wrote: »

and beware chancers trying to sell you a manual version because of its "rarity and desirability".

Isn't that the truth, buy a proper Mercedes (RWD) with a manual box and you'll be stuck with it forever.

MB auto boxes are so smooth and so reliable (oil changed ever 40k or so) and so lovely to drive that you would never dream of ruining such a car by sticking a manual box in it.

Control?, perfect control at any speed.

Hintza

Funny how on here when there is a thread about speeding most never speed yet when we have a thread on auto boxes most want to redline it.....:rotfl:

As for me I prefer an autobox as it keeps me calmer. Not that I drive much at rush hour these days, that is when I found the auto really paid off.

I have only ever driven big cars though with TC boxes so I'm unsure about the pros and cons of DSG and other new alternatives.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Anyone who suggests that you lack control in an auto simply has not driven a decent box made in the last 15 years or so and in reality long before that. The only autos to avoid are those where the engine is too small for the job which is typically on budget hatchbacks, presumably targeted at the auto only licensed driver.

You have all the control you need. The only situation you might want to intervene is on a steep descent. Having followed many a car down hill it is clear that changing into lower gears is a lost art on manual as well as automatics. You can play with the gears if you want, but again the only real scenario where you might get some benefit is to hold a lower gear on a windy section of road for an extra bit of control through the accelerator. Having driven the winding roads of Wales, I've rarely found a road where the extra control was helpful.

Then look at scenarios like driving round motorway intersections where you will end up wanting to change gear on a bend which is considered to be something of a no-no, but not an issue in an auto.

The control argument is a myth perpetuated by people who have not owned an automatic. In 20 years of driving automatics (and still quite capable of driving a manual) I've never had an incident where I have thought "Phew! I wish I'd been in a manual, that wouldn't have happened." I have had plenty of times where I've wished I've been driving an auto.

wildincrawley

Just the fun of the manual for me, the feel of a mechanical change, the connection with the car, and the pleasure of learning to do it as well as possible in each situation I encounter.