Automatic or Manual????

[tobyjug]

That's because you dont like cars.

It is because I am disabled.

 

[soulman]

Only driven an automatic once and didn't like it. Seemed like a lazy way of driving unless you have a disability that prevents you from using the gears.

 

[strung out]

Only driven an automatic once and didn't like it. Seemed like a lazy way of driving unless you have a disability that prevents you from using the gears.

What's wrong with being lazy?

 

[Spion]

could be cos some peeps actually have a powerful knob to hold on too

I'm sorry, but tinted windows and a Max Power sticker on your Fiesta doesn't bring more BHP

 

[tobyjug]

Only driven an automatic once and didn't like it. Seemed like a lazy way of driving unless you have a disability that prevents you from using the gears.

Formula one and rally cars have as near as damnit is to swearing automatic gearboxes.

 

[soulman]

Formula one and rally cars have as near as damnit is to swearing automatic gearboxes.

So what

 

[tobyjug]

So what

It isn't boring driving a formula one or a rally car.

 

[soulman]

It isn't boring driving a formula one or a rally car.

I didn't say boring I said lazy.

 

[tobyjug]

I didn't say boring I said lazy.

I fail to see why it is lazy, one can concentrate far more, on driving and more to the point in hazardous driving conditions keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.

 

[soulman]

I fail to see why it is lazy, one can concentrate far more, on driving and more to the point in hazardous driving conditions keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.

I prefer to have the control of the vehicle that a manual gearbox gives, especially in hazardous driving conditions. If you can't drive without having two hands on the wheel at all times you shouldn't be driving at all.

 

[tobyjug]

I prefer to have the control of the vehicle that a manual gearbox gives, especially in hazardous driving conditions. If you can't drive without having two hands on the wheel at all times you shouldn't be driving at all.

I have one hell of a lot of driving experience, (I started with agricultural tractors at the age of 10, I also did around 700000 miles in group one HGVs in the 1070s)
Yours is the sort of arrogant macho view of driving that causes accidents.
It is a bloody sight safer to have both hands on the wheel than one.

 

[soulman]

Yours is the sort of arrogant macho view of driving that causes accidents.
It is a bloody sight safer to have both hands on the wheel than one.

There's nothing arrogant or macho about preferring to have the control a manual gearbox gives you. If you have a problem steering a four wheeled motor vehicle I suggest you stick to driving your moped.

 

[newbie]

How many extra cc does an auto require over the equivalent manual?

 

[Spion]

There's nothing arrogant or macho about preferring to have the control a manual gearbox gives you.

But it is ignorant to believe that a manual box gives you control and an auto doesn't. You have as much control with an auto box and the term automatic is a misnomer to some extent. The difference is that you change gear by varying the pressure on the accelerator.

 

[soulman]

But it is ignorant to believe that a manual box gives you control and an auto doesn't. You have as much control with an auto box and the term automatic is a misnomer to some extent. The difference is that you change gear by varying the pressure on the accelerator.

Nothing ignorant about it. As I said it's a personal preference.

 

[Velouria]

How many extra cc does an auto require over the equivalent manual?

Think that used to be the case with some autos years ago cause the gearboxes were inefficient, but tend to find that most autos and manuals are same size of engine. However, it is also true that in general people seem to favour automatics for large luxury cars, so that would skew any attempt to work out figures...

 

[tobyjug]

There's nothing arrogant or macho about preferring to have the control a manual gearbox gives you. If you have a problem steering a four wheeled motor vehicle I suggest you stick to driving your moped.

There is something macho and VERY arrogant in thinking it necessary to have a manual gearbox to control a vehicle. I would suggest you would shit your self on the first corner with my usual means of transport. (Some very macho power rangers have declined the offer of a test ride).

 

[liquidlunch]

Can anyone explain the statement that a manual gearbox gives you more control over a car than an auto does
To my way of thinking it is the steering,the acceleration and braking that controls the way your vehicle behaves.

 

[MikeMcc]

Having driven both I tend to prefer a manual, though the main reasons for dis-liking automatics have now become a bit academic as automatic gearboxes have improved. The main reason I prefer them is that it's MY decision on what to do. If there's a mistake, it's MY mistake, not the machines. I feel that that manuals allow me to stay in lower gears for longer to allow me to get up to speed quicker. Given that I live in a relatively rural area that has quite a bit of traffic, this is important as I am often joining roads that have either poor visibility or can have a lot of relatively fast moving traffic.

 

[rubbershoes]

Can anyone explain the statement that a manual gearbox gives you more control over a car than an auto does
To my way of thinking it is the steering,the acceleration and braking that controls the way your vehicle behaves.

the amount of power you get from a car depends on how much the engine is turning over (ie how much you're on the accelerator) and what gear you're in. with a manual you obviously choose which gear you're in. with an auto, the car chooses for you .

lets say you want to overtake a lorry going uphill and you don't have long to do it. in a manual, you may drop down a gear( if necessary), put your foot down and shoot past. in a ( cheap) automatic, you put your foot down and wait wait wait for the auto gearbox to change . by the time you start to increase speed , you're at the top of the hill but haven't managed to get past the lorry

 

[Pie 1]

its a lovely car (audi A4) and i must admit i like going up in the gears,, but i cant get on with stopping and starting in traffic,, or round-abouts, i seem to stall(sometimes),, cant get the clutch control right,,

It's actually pretty common though, for Audi's to be quite tightly sprung on the clutch front. Everyone else who drives mine, stalls it without fail the first time they drive it.
& Mrs Pie's dad has an A6 Quattro that even I stall occasionally when I use it

 

[*Miss Daisy*]

It's actually pretty common though, for Audi's to be quite tightly sprung on the clutch front. Everyone else who drives mine, stalls it without fail the first time they drive it.
& Mrs Pie's dad has an A6 Quattro that even I stall occasionally when I use it

well thats a relief to know, i have got better at not stalling, dont think i have for about a week,, but its always there in my mind,, i still think auto's are better tho,,

 

[subversplat]

right then,, i dont get on with manuals,, i learnt to drive in an Auto,, now that car has died and my b/f bought a new car 2 mths ago, thing is he's bought a manual, so now i'm back trying to drive the thing, its a lovely car (audi A4) and i must admit i like going up in the gears,, but i cant get on with stopping and starting in traffic,, or round-abouts, i seem to stall(sometimes),, cant get the clutch control right,,
Auto:
quick to pull off
no messing about in slow traffic
no thinking about the gears(or crunching them)
no worrying about a round-about approaching
no worrying about the bastards behind when i stall or am abit slow to pull off
can smoke a fag

Manual
nice going through the gears
faster - i suppose

does anyone else not get on with manuals, and is there any pro's/cons that i've missed,, and does it really get easier???

Are you even licenced to drive a manual? Anyone taking their test in an auto can only drive autos from then on.

Manual Pro: Engine breaking

 

[*Miss Daisy*]

no i haven't taken my manual test, i have a friend to sit with me, when i'm in the manual, she sits and files her nails whilst i get stressed.
i passed my auto test 3 yrs ago(i think) so i have all the knowledge of driving(mirror,signal and maneuver)
is engine breaking where you drop a gear and the car makes a funny strainned noise and shunts abit, do you use the break aswell? doesnt engine breaking damage the gear box, clutch or what not,, brake pads are cheaper,,
also does putting your foot flat on the clutch whilst breaking stop you having control of the car??

 

[subversplat]

Well almost Engine breaking is where you drop down a gear, match the revs before releasing the clutch and then use the horsepower of the engine to gradually bring you down to the speed you want. Breakpads must be cheaper, but I've generally only driven 20 year old scrap heaps (Hippie Traveller wagons, mostly) where you want to rely on the breaks as little as possible

Putting your foot on the clutch does indeed reduce control (although tbh I do it when I'm driving little 1.x things) as you're allowing the wheels to go into freespin and take on forward momentum, ideally I suppose you'd just use the clutch as the vehicle was coming to a stand still and about to stall.

 

[Pie 1]

It is because I am disabled.

Forgive me toby, as I don't know what your 'disabitity' involves.
I'm not sure however, that I quite understand how it prevents you from driving a manual car, yet allows you to tear around on a motorbike in a manner that would make people "shit themselves on the first corner"


PS - "Is it because I is disabled", surely?

 

[iROBOT]

It is because I am disabled.

Sorry toby hadnt known....although your statement makes less sense now 'cause you CANT go back to manuels.

Also F1 cars with paddle gear shifts are semi automatic and the cheapest car you can buy with that system is around 70.000 pounds....hardly for everyone.

 

[han]

There are pros and cons to both, as peeps have said....

I'd generally go for a manual though, as you have more control, and you're more in touch with what the car's doing.

Automatic can be great for long journeys though, and is bloody great in London traffic where you're stopping and starting all the time. Automatics are much more common in the US and on the continent, and also in Africa and Asia.

My van Japanese import van is an automatic, took a while to get used to as I'd been driving manuals before, but it's so much more relaxing to drive it.

If you want small and nippy - better choose a manual.
If you do mainly long journeys - go for automatic.

ie. pros and cons to both!

Certainly better to learn on a manual, though, then you can drive both and also have a much better understanding of what is actually going on in the engine when you change gear.

 

[Roadkill]

Formula one and rally cars have as near as damnit is to swearing automatic gearboxes.

No, they're semi-automatic. The gearshift is controlled electronically, but it's still the driver who chooses which gear to be in at a particular time.

 

[votisit]

That's 'cos you were driving a crap underpowered car, not because the transmission was automatic. My kickdown charges me past anything I need to and in "Sports" mode it'll practically wind you!

hehehe sounds like mine. I have a Saab 95 Aero and it goes like shit off a shovel. Pulls away faster than almost any other car on the road and still kicks down at a very high speed.

I've driven manuals all my life and this is my first automatic. Obviously I'm spoilt because this car is a top notch auto, but I wouldn't like to go back to a manual. This car is so much more relaxing to drive.