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AIBU?

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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:
Mitzimaybe · 14/04/2015 16:46

The cars I've owned have all been manual. When getting my next car, I'd certainly consider an automatic because I'm doing a lot more commuting in heavy traffic now and an automatic would probably be better, as I have a gammy left knee. I wouldn't be prepared to pay a lot more for one, though. Most friends and family have manuals or semi-automatic (whatever that is.) I know only two who drive automatics.

I struggle to change gear with my right hand in a left-hand-drive car, so I book an automatic if I can, when hiring a car abroad. Easy in the US, but sometimes difficult to find in Europe (or prohibitively expensive.) I've hired cars a few times in the UK and they've always been manual.

Branleuse · 14/04/2015 16:46

I can only drive auto. Dp has a manual van and an auto car. Most people I know drive manuals, but i do know a fair few auto drivers too. Theyre pretty easy to get hold of now

seekingthesun · 14/04/2015 16:48

Manual. I honestly find them a lot easier to drive than automatics...

MrsKoala · 14/04/2015 16:49

Flowery, just a question i'm curious about, but do you change down gears when you slow down? (This may be why i failed 4 driving tests Grin ) - but i was taught you didn't have to anymore and it was an 'old fashioned' way of driving. Due to modern cars being better.

Psipsina - i'd happily drive a manual in an emergency. I still work my left leg and wiggle my fingers automatically when i would have changed gears if i were driving a manual. However, your mum sounds like me and my mum - like she hates driving. In an emergency a taxi is a possibility if only 4-5 miles away. Last year i was pregnant and rushed to hospital with heavy bleeding. Mum had to drive on the M25 at midnight because dad was pissed. Altho i did offer to pay the taxi fare (about £100). Some people just are terrified of it and shouldn't really be encouraged to be on the road (i am one of them).

Tobagostreet · 14/04/2015 16:51

We have a manual car and an automatic and both DH and I switch between them regularly.

Don't have a preference either way.

BarefootShirl · 14/04/2015 16:55

Manual here and I prefer it but will drive auto if needs be. I feel more "involved" with manual - but the I love cars - yes, I knowHmm, but I am very girly in other ways Smile

Only1scoop · 14/04/2015 16:56

Manual here but so prefer an automatic....want one next time.

RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 14/04/2015 17:02

Op, I've tried automatics, I don't feel like a have the control and connection of a manual - and I want one that can tow good loads.

Foreverlurking · 14/04/2015 17:08

Don't drive ATM, though will probably go auto. Lazy? Maybe. But I don't have the coordination or patience :p

JadziaSnax · 14/04/2015 17:29

Another manual driver here. Have driven an auto once, never again. I found myself looking for the clutch then hitting the brake accidentally. I'll stick with what I know and like.

Gillian1980 · 14/04/2015 17:32

Manual.

I have driven automatics - in the states and also a couple of company cars that I've used. I much prefer a manual personally.

I've one friend who only has an automatic licence as she struggled to get to grips with a clutch. I've another friend who has an automatic due to disability. To the posters who are surprised that people know their friends and families transmissions - I've found it quite common for people to chat about their cars with one another!

Eastpoint · 14/04/2015 17:35

We have 3 cars, one manual, two tip-tronic both of which I only drive in automatic. DH drives one in manual. The manual has a little arrow on the dashboard if you should change up or down a gear.

CaptainHammer · 14/04/2015 17:55

Manual, never driven an auto.

Hygellig · 14/04/2015 18:08

We had an automatic for several years (a Prius). Now we have a manual Zafira but I sometimes wish we'd paid extra for an auto as I find them easier to drive. On the other hand I was worried about writing myself off as a non-manual driver.

My mum learned in an auto for some reason in the 70s then took a test in a manual some 15 years later, but has only ever driven automatics since.

I have one friend who has an automatic (just what they happened to get I think) but other friends and family seem all to have manuals.

I sometimes wonder why it is that most cars are manuals here whereas in the US and Canada they mostly seem to be autos.

alltherightfriends · 14/04/2015 19:40

Manual for me. My dad and dp's dad both have automatics. Mine because he fancied it and dp's dad because he is a taxi driver and has a dodgy knee Grin
I drove my dads automatic up to Skye once when my car had to go I to the garage and it was quite weird having nothing essential like gears to think about on a long drive!

SockQueen · 14/04/2015 19:46

Manual, never driven an automatic.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 14/04/2015 19:47

Have a manual license but own an auto as DH prefers them. Not sluggish at all - it's a turbo. We live in London so it's easier in the stop-start traffic plus it is so busy in our area with cyclists, pedestrians, buses etc that I'd rather concentrate on observation than gear changes.

When I worked in TV production all the cars were auto as they're easier in city traffic.

My family OTOH are rural dwelling petrol heads so it's Manual or Death.

FeijoaSundae · 14/04/2015 19:49

We brought our manual over with us, but our second car is an auto.

I don't know what the figures are, but I suspect the vast majority of people drive autos here. Rental cars all seem to be autos. It's so hilly, and even our main state highways are hilly and twisty, and the constant gear changing is a pain in the arse.

City driving in a manual is annoying, even in a flat city.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 14/04/2015 19:57

So as promised. The European market is currently running at about 80% manual and the UK is roughly in line with that. That's decreased in the last 5 - 8 years so on the road probably nearer 90% of cars are manual overall.

Handsoff7 · 14/04/2015 20:00

2 autos here and not sluggish at all they are both a lot faster than the manuals we've owned.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 14/04/2015 20:04

MrsKoala - changing down through the gears used to be the standard and in my old car you had to or it got grumpy. DH learned after me and tends to change down two gears at a time but that makes me twitchy. I think current standards are different again. I have an idea it might not involve changing down as much and coasting more but I'd be delighted to be corrected by someone who's done a test less than 30 years ago!

ControlShiftEscape · 14/04/2015 20:30

Got one of each, a manual with what's widely considered among car geeks to be one of the best gearboxes ever made and a fairly modern 5 speed torque converter auto. Both have their place.

There are a few different types of automatic gearbox but I think it is fair to say that the technology has moved on in the last 10-15 years whereas manual gearboxes haven't really advanced at all. I'd say drive an auto if you get the chance, particularly if your previous experience is based on some horrible 3 speed clunker with its roots in the 1950s.

TenerifeSea · 14/04/2015 20:37

I drive an auto due to my physical disability. Being able to drive has given me a new lease of life. :)

Grantaire · 14/04/2015 20:40

The changing down in the gears versus use of brakes think is often argued about and it's worth bearing in mind that brakes and component parts are much cheaper to replace than clutches! Using gears to slow down is old practice and not good for cars according to my instructor. However, I've passed my test in the last 2 years and you are assessed on your environmental driving skills. I try not to brake too much BUT I don't use the gears to slow down, I use natural engine braking. It's better for the car and far more fuel efficient. For example, I drive home from the school run from a main A-road which is 60, round a roundabout and onto a 60 B road which then changes to 40, 30 and then 20. I try not to use my brake to do any of this and rarely need to. I was taught this way. I ease off the accelerator and allow natural engine braking, change gear as it becomes appropriate to do so. Has the benefit of always ensuring you're in the right gear for speed too.

Similarly, when changing up the gears you are encouraged to skip gears now (most often 3rd to 5th ime) which is not something taught years ago when cars were less efficient.

I'm also surprised on here to read of people driving through slow areas such as a 30 but not being in 3rd. I was taught that too because it's better for the car, environment and prevents accidental speeding.

AlmaMartyr · 14/04/2015 20:48

I don't know anyone that drives an automatic and we both drive manual. I have tried an automatic though (hire car) and it was fab. My car has an automatic handbrake which I do like and will struggle to give up if I ever have to.