Automatic v Manual?

Grumpy_chap

I would still suggest to anyone learning to do so in a manual.  Simply because if you ever need to borrow / hire a manual you can if you have the manual licence.

400ixl

Grumpy_chap said:

I would still suggest to anyone learning to do so in a manual.  Simply because if you ever need to borrow / hire a manual you can if you have the manual licence.

Agree, best to keep options open if possible, but becoming less important.

Car_54

Northern_Wanderer said:

I have never driven an automatic. I am very resistant to switch to automatic although it is getting more tricky when looking at changing your car to something newer. I feel that I like to be in control of my car, I change the gear, I control the gas - basically - I drive my car! To me, it seems like the fun of driving is being removed in automatic/ newer cars with all the tech that I do not want or need. And I do get a bit concerned that the tech can fail. Also, a new generation of drivers are not really being taught how to drive/ control a car properly because they are learning in a nanny car..... I feel like new tech makes people stupid and less skilled. Sorry, I am becoming quite resistant to new tech and I'm still young! Will drive a manual ICE car for as long as I can and if that means driving classic cars then I will!

The "new tech" auto gearboxes have been around for the best part of a century.

Iceweasel

Northern_Wanderer said:

I have never driven an automatic. I am very resistant to switch to automatic although it is getting more tricky when looking at changing your car to something newer. I feel that I like to be in control of my car, I change the gear, I control the gas - basically - I drive my car! To me, it seems like the fun of driving is being removed in automatic/ newer cars with all the tech that I do not want or need. And I do get a bit concerned that the tech can fail. Also, a new generation of drivers are not really being taught how to drive/ control a car properly because they are learning in a nanny car..... I feel like new tech makes people stupid and less skilled. Sorry, I am becoming quite resistant to new tech and I'm still young! Will drive a manual ICE car for as long as I can and if that means driving classic cars then I will!

As an ex rally driver I used to think like Northern Wanderer - probably based on my experience of 1970s autos like Ford and BMC who used 3-speed boxes.
I too liked to be 'in charge' and perhaps big-headedly held the opinion that I could do better than any auto box could.
How wrong I was - I have more control using pressure on the acceptor than ever before.
More gears (my current car has 8) faster changes, better accelation and fuel economy.
The latest autos are also fed info from the sat-nav, even if no destination has been set - so the box changes down ready for sharp bends, roundabouts and slip roads.
One also needs to think about why marques like Ferrari only make autos.
Ferrari last offered a manual in 2012 - but only two people bought one - that tells us a lot.

WellKnownSid

MINIs auto only now I believe

badmemory

I've always avoided automatics since an awful lot of years ago my brakes failed going downhill at 70 & the half shaft came out when I was just below 60, so no brakes at all including the handbrake (car less than a year old so not a banger).  Slammed the car into a lower gear & I do mean slammed, slowed then turned off the engine.  How would I have stopped an automatic then & would it be different now.

Northern_Wanderer

WellKnownSid said:

MINIs auto only now I believe

And Honda, sadly

Ayr_Rage

Northern_Wanderer said:

WellKnownSid said:

MINIs auto only now I believe

And Honda, sadly

Nope, you can still have Honda fun!

https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/civic-type-r/overview.html

Johnmcl7

I much prefer the feel of a manual car plus mechanical simplicity compared to something like a DSG box and never driven an automatic I liked the feel of although I rarely do any stop-start driving, if I did a lot of the latter I'd probably favour an auto.  It's one of the main reasons I've not changed to a newer car because pretty much all the suitable replacements are auto only.

Northern_Wanderer

Ayr_Rage said:

Northern_Wanderer said:

WellKnownSid said:

MINIs auto only now I believe

And Honda, sadly

Nope, you can still have Honda fun!

https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/civic-type-r/overview.html

Oh stop teasing me! 329ps! Would love a Type R, just don't like 2018+ Civics. Thought Honda had gone Hybrid or whatever on everything. Will have to save my pennies! Saw a very nice 2012 Type R Civic, was tempted....