Why choose to drive manual? :)

zayn

I have a Audi A1 - with S-tronic previously know as DSG., It has been fantastic and i will never be going back to a Manual again. The Dual Clutch system is silky smooth..

Clive_Woody

Hintza wrote: »

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.

Agree when I drive my manual Ocatvia vRS I find myself driving with much more 'enthusiasm' which really does not help with fuel economy.

When I drive my wife's Golf auto I drive in a much more sedate manner. There's a lot less BHP but I settle into a much more calm style of driving very quickly.

The worst auto I ever drove was a courtesy car which was a 0.9l Chevy Matiz auto. I think the 0-60mph was well over 20 seconds and it handled terribly. I was very happy to hand that back and get my manual car back.

hgotsparkle

Zeitgeist wrote: »

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!

OH and I have the same car, well his is a van. Mines a 1.6 auto astra 5dr and his a 1.7tdi manual astra van and we both pay the same car tax

londonTiger

I dont spend a lot of money on cars so I but 10+ year olds. A automatic is more stuff to go wrong. A manual is a bit more robust as it is you just directly working with the gears - an auto will have computers which are more prone to malfunction.

gilbert_and_sullivan

londonTiger wrote: »

I dont spend a lot of money on cars so I but 10+ year olds. A automatic is more stuff to go wrong. A manual is a bit more robust as it is you just directly working with the gears - an auto will have computers which are more prone to malfunction.

Not all, my Mercedes 4 speed box is entirely hydraulic, silky smooth and still completely trouble free @ 18 years of daily use.

True there are some best avoided, eg Audi VW auto boxes are not long lived, won't be many of those untouched at that age.

londonTiger

Anyone remember the saab auto with the joystick (i beleive). Parking on a hill was ridiculous hard on top gear. Something to do with not being able to hold the car in neutral with brakes down as it would only go forwards or backwards.

londonTiger

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Not all, my Mercedes 4 speed box is entirely hydraulic, silky smooth and still completely trouble free @ 18 years of daily use.

True there are some best avoided, eg Audi VW auto boxes are not long lived, won't be many of those untouched at that age.

sure there are exceptions. The mercs you're talking about are fantastic and were built to last. Apparantly the new stuff coming out today aren't brilliant as far as reliability goes.

I think as a general rule it's best to stick with a manual though.

notanewuser

anotheruser wrote: »

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.

Their fuel costs are about a third of ours...............

Twiggy_34

IanMSpencer wrote: »

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.

I think you're misinterpreting the point, certainly in my case anyway. I'm not suggesting you have less control in an automatic or that there are many/any situations where a manual would provide better/more control, it's merely a question of preferring the knowledge that I have the option to be in full control of what gear I want my car to be in, at any time, under any circumstance - even if the gear is inappropriate to the situation, I'm in control and it's my decision! :rotfl:

DUTR

Aquamania wrote: »

No, not fully, they use paddle shift technology

So they have an auto clutch.