Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 11 12 13 14 15 16

Original poster

To think most folk still drive manual cars

399 replies

Bambambini · 14/04/2015 13:23

Curious to know how many here drive manual or auto. Also how many have never even tried an auto. Sort of mini poll as having words with a yank on another site. Your participation will be appreciated if not rewarded!

OP posts:

Christinayangstwistedsister · 16/04/2015 20:41

Auto...wouldn't go back to a manual, and I love my sports box! Definitely shit off a shovel....

BolshierAyraStark · 16/04/2015 20:43

Manual, both DH & mine.
DH used to have an auto which I did used to enjoy driving, especially through the city-it was a high powered performance car though so that probably made a difference.

richthegreatcornholio · 16/04/2015 20:47

Auto...wouldn't go back to a manual, and I love my sports box! Definitely shit off a shovel....

That doesn't make much sense, what's a 'sports box'?

SAHD63 · 16/04/2015 21:30

Manual for both cars here and love them both. Lived in the USA for a while and was mostly autos - good in the right car, mediocre in most. A lot of my American friends could not understand my love of 'stick shift' but freely admitted that autos were convenient/lazy ways to drive.

ProbablyJustGas · 16/04/2015 22:34

There are probably more accidents in America because the driving tests are less demanding (mine never involved the superhighway, only suburban driving and parallel parking ... and who actually reverses around a corner in real life?). The drunk driving laws in most states are way more lax. Aggressive driving isn't really penalized (at least, not in the state I'm from ... at all). And it seems to be much easier for recent immigrants (of which we have a lot, both legal and otherwise) to get on the road with a car of their own, regardless of whether they know the rules.

Strokethefurrywall · 16/04/2015 22:36

Live in Caribbean and most cars are auto here, currently driving one. But by christ I miss a manual gear box!

Even when we come back to the UK for visits, I'm desperate to drive one but all the rental cars seem to be auto as well which is best for the amount of driving we do, but means I feel like I'm driving a bumper car. No joy to driving when it's an auto frankly.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 16/04/2015 22:36

Probably - I reversed neatly around a corner only yesterday!

ProbablyJustGas · 16/04/2015 22:38

Well, you'd certainly want to after all the effort everyone puts into learning how, wouldn't you? :-p

GiddyOnZackHunt · 16/04/2015 22:44

Katy1368 · 16/04/2015 22:46

I have a manual license but have just got an automatic car, I will never go back to manual ever, hated it. I drove for 2 years after getting my license but gave it up for several years due to how much I hated gear changing and the constant fear of stalling. Having an automatic has been a revelation for me, I actually enjoy driving, feel in control of my car and can concentrate on road positioning. I honestly can't understand why anyone would choose to drive a manual!!

Cavort · 16/04/2015 22:52

I have a manual licence but mostly drive an automatic. It had a tiptronic gearbox though so I can take it out of automatic and change gears manually using a paddle on the steering column which is handy sometimes, but 99% of the time leaving it in automatic is fine. I definitely prefer it to previous manual gearboxes.

BooChunky · 16/04/2015 22:52

My car has that but I've never used it. Why would you need to take it out of automatic to change gears? What do you use it for?

BigBoobiedBertha · 16/04/2015 22:57

We have manuals and wouldn't change them. DH had an auto once. He won't have one again and nor would I - it was dull and slow.

I would recommend one for my mother though. I think they are good if you aren't much of a driver any more and you have physical problems that make driving with a clutch difficult.

I don't think I know anybody who has an auto at the moment.

TheChandler · 16/04/2015 23:19

BooChunky My car has that but I've never used it. Why would you need to take it out of automatic to change gears? What do you use it for?

For instance in snow, you might want to stick to a very low gear. Or put it into neutral if you're skidding.

Otherwise, I can't see the point in manual cars. Auto for me. I don't care about being "lazy" when I'm driving, driving to me is a lazy thing to do because you're not getting there under your own steam.

RedSoloCup · 16/04/2015 23:19

I drive a manual but have had a couple of autos and love them.

I wouldn't buy a car based on it though.

TrevaronGirl · 17/04/2015 00:43

I have a manual Alfa Romeo 159.

I do drive mum's automatic Land Rover Discovery sometimes, it's lovely around the back streets of St Ives or Penzance in heavy traffic and especially in 'Emmett' Summertime but I do prefer to change gear myself when out of town ...

unnaturalmakeup · 17/04/2015 00:52

Auto. Funnily enough, I really enjoy driving through, and across, Central London, day or night :-) Manuals can be fun, but meh, I prefer to have an easy and relaxed life now. There are plenty of thrills to be got elsewhere.

Some autos are very sluggish, but not all. Some are even really fun to drive and have outstanding gearboxes.

richthegreatcornholio · 17/04/2015 06:54

For instance in snow, you might want to stick to a very low gear. Or put it into neutral if you're skidding

In snow you would usually use a higher gear and on what planet would you put a car into neutral whilst skidding?!

TheChandler · 17/04/2015 09:13

ridethegreatcornholio In snow you would usually use a higher gear and on what planet would you put a car into neutral whilst skidding?!

1 or 2 is a lower number than 4 or 5, no?

And putting a low speed skidding automatic car on snow is apparently what you are meant to do. As opposed to trying to brake.

BigBoobiedBertha · 17/04/2015 09:18

When you are trying to slow down the engine you go into a lower gear but not to get moving if you are stuck.

No you don't brake when skidding but you don't have to put the car into neutral. You would lose control in a manual. How are you supposed to get back from the skid when the drift has stopped if you are in neutral.

HappyUncleMump · 17/04/2015 09:46

Current car is automatic. Old shogun was an automatic. Automatic is my choice but the majority of people I know drive manuals.

Dunkling · 17/04/2015 09:52

Auto.

I love love love my car, a little Figaro and wouldn't change it for anything now, but I wish it had a stick! I miss driving.

takemeuptheeiffeltower · 17/04/2015 10:00

As soon as I read your title, I thought this person is American. Am I right?
(Most Brits drive a manual/shift, not many drive automatics) but I believe it's the other way round in the States.

takemeuptheeiffeltower · 17/04/2015 10:01

Whenever we've hired a car in the States, it's always been Automatic. There's never been a choice.

richthegreatcornholio · 17/04/2015 11:07

1 or 2 is a lower number than 4 or 5, no?

You should be in as higher gear as possible in the snow.

And putting a low speed skidding automatic car on snow is apparently what you are meant to do. As opposed to trying to brake.

And this doesn't make much sense - are we talking skidding in a straight line under braking or oversteer/powerslide?

Flip

1 2 ··· 11 12 13 14 15 16

Swipe left for the next trending thread