General / Off-Topic [Cars] Manual Vs Automatic

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Why is it, in England, most of us seemingly choose to drive a manual car?

I learned to drive in a manual, and kept driving manuals, turning my nose up when anyone said "automatic!", until I went to America the first time.
I drove an automate Mustang. It was so nice just cruising around, not needing to change between 1st and 2nd gear every time there was traffic. No stalling, no clutch control on hills. It was awesome.

When I came home, I went back to driving my manual car, but no longer actually enjoyed driving it.
A second trip to America, and another automatic, and I was basically hooked.
Later on, I got a job as a van driver. And the vans were automatic too.

Driving my annoying manual became a complete chore. So I brought myself an automatic Saab.
SO MUCH WIN! Road trips were fun, traffic wasn't annoying, I could eat or drink and go around roundabouts at the same time.
My Saab then died. So I'm I need of a new car, and I want another automatic.

But they're so rare!

I don't get it, it's like choosing to have manual windows, or an manual choke, or a crank handle. Lol

Loads of people I work with say "ooohhh, I couldn't drive an automatic!" despite them driving the same vans I do... Lol
People even ask "how do you drive an automatic, isn't it harder?"

It's not. You put it in D (for y'know, drive), and you go!
When you stop, you put it in P, for park.

Yet it baffles people...



There's loads of upsides to automatics. The biggest one is they're usually cheaper, and have less miles, and in good condition, because they're usually driven by old people.

What do you drive, and prefer?

 

[metatheurgist]

Manual, because I like having full control over power application. But the autos are getting better with that. When it's all electric or when they get variable transmission it wont matter anymore.

There are benefits to driving manuals in America. One guy almost had his Ferrari stolen, except the thief couldn't drive stick so didn't know what to do.

 

[Robin of Spiritwood]

Eyeopener post there.

It's nigh impossible to find a car in Trinidad that is manual. Back when I was a learner driver and cinemas still showed Westerns, they were becoming rare, and the various driving schools were buying them up. The law hadn't changed yet to permit automatic only drivers permits, so they were being converted to dual control to train drivers.

Manual driving permits like mine are becoming historical. If you are using a manual transmission, you can leave it anywhere unlocked, because the car thieves are all under 40 and they can't operate it. There are still some old Land Rovers that survive from the 80s, and maybe some Bedford trucks that have manual transmissions that are still on the roads.

The only new vehicles that still come in manual are pickups.

 

[EUS]

Ideally, for me, manuals are more fun.
In practice they're not, as I spend most of my driving time in traffic, which, when using a clutch, is about as much fun as a root canal.

 

[Sir.Tj]

Manual all the way, used to have Autos when I had Jaaags.

Manual, more control, more finesse.

I am quite happy with a Auto but you always feel disconnected from the driving.

 

[Ian Phillips]

Manual all the way, used to have Autos when I had Jaaags.

Manual, more control, more finesse.

I am quite happy with a Auto but you always feel disconnected from the driving.

So, tell me about handbrakes.....

 

[Winterwalker]

So, tell me about handbrakes.....

Important because apparently if you get out, with auto car in gear, and forget the 'parking lock' .. damn thing will drive off without you! 'Matics Out.

Manuals are better in climate of floods. Slip clutch, over rev and stop the water getting in through your exhaust pipe - it's proper dramatic, heroic and impresses the ladies, even if it hasn't rained for weeks!

 

[GJ51]

New transmission technologies are making it ever more difficult to argue in favor of a manual transmission.

Back in the day... a manual transmission was capable of better power delivery and better gas mileage.

Those days are long gone now that most automatic transmissions have many more gears (just looked at a new Honda Accord with 10-speed automatic) and even the CVT transmissions have selectable ranges that allow gear selection to mimic manual control.

I have a Nissan Murano and it has an acceptable sense of control over the transmission which I regularly exercise in the hills of western Pennsylvania.

I'd rather have a "real" gear driven transmission over a CVT, but it's getting harder to find a reasonable priced V-6 anymore in just about anything regardless of transmission as manufacturers seem to be enamored with turbo 4 cylinders. Getting anything over 300HP seems to put you into the high priced category of BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porche, etc.

I prefer the lower rev better torque multiple gear conventional transmission V6 powered vehicles for mountain terrain driving, but they are getting harder to find at a reasonable price point.

The new 2019 Chevy Blazer may be an exception to the trend.

https://www.chevrolet.com/upcoming-vehicles/all-new-blazer

 

[verminstar]

Manual only...used to drive automatics fer work years ago and hated every second of it. I prefer having control of what I drive and consider it safer because of this to the point where now, ye couldnt pay me to drive an automatic.

As fer what I drive...depends on my mood as I own three cars. One is being restored to be fair and not fer me, Ill sell it when its done...also have a vauxhall astra estate that I use fer practical purposes and when discretion is required, and my pride and joy Alfa Romeo which is my weekend hobby car which Ive owned from brand new and will never sell doesnt matter what price Im offered.

I learned to drive before I was legally allowed to and Ive been driving a long time and burned through a lotta cars...to me, automatics are what old folks drive and drivers who werent very good to begin with...wouldnt be seen dead in an automatic nowadays ^

 

[Winterwalker]

I learned to drive before I was legally allowed to and Ive been driving a long time and burned through a lotta cars...to me, automatics are what old folks drive and drivers who werent very good to begin with...wouldnt be seen dead in an automatic nowadays ^

A little family legend for you;

My Gran had two brothers but when a car was bought for the farm in the early 1930's, niether of those two were interested. So horse and cart with great Great Grandad into Shrewsbury, 25 miles away. 'That's the brake to make it stop. That pedal makes it go. Here's the keys, thanks very much and bye bye.'

She never did take a test and drove it home but it wasn't a big issue. She didn't meet another car either.

 

[Chevy66]

American cars with fairly big engines and automatics were always pretty good, but small engined cars with automatics used to be horrible, The transmission sapped a lot of power when you didn't have much to start with and they would be constantly changing up and down gears.

Modern ones are a lot better.

manual are more fun to drive fast on a twisty road (not that I do that much anymore)

Autos are way nicer to drive in stop/start traffic

 

[Dural]

Manual, much more involving. I like the whole taking part in operating the machine thing. Cars and bikes have always been about more than just transport. I have used cruise control for literally 5 minutes because it didn't do anything I couldn't do.

No problems using an automatic, I've hired a few autos and got on fine, never owned one. If all I was doing was choosing the least effort setup for a car to take me slowly from A to B I'd certainly consider an auto and especially if the traffic wasn't flowing. I feel I have more control in a manual but maybe that's just because I'm more used to it. Not sure what you can do in an auto if the brakes give out, at least you can bang it down the box in a manual.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

My 1.9 TiD Saab was nice as an automatic (when it worked).
And I test drove a 1.6 petrol Mini the other day, that was also very nice to drive, as well as a 1.8 petrol Mercedes C Class Sports Coupé. All very nice.

Our old Iveco work vans, with "automated manual" gearboxes... utter crap. Lol
Here's a list of what those gearboxes were good at;

• ...

And here's a list of what they're bad at;

• Changing gear. Takes about 6 seconds ...! May also decide that's the wrong gear, and change again.
• <5mph creeping. They just bounce.
• 56mph (limited). Constantly changing between 5th and 6th.
• Uphill. Always in too high a gear. Will then attempt to change gear, but take so long you come to a halt, requiring it to change to 1st gear again.
• Downhill. Always in to low gear.
• Corners. Always, always changing gear on corners.
• Pulling away quickly. Will change to 2nd when you're moving too slow for 2nd, which means it'll change back to 1st. Then 2nd again.
• Rain. Doesn't understand this. Usually just stops working.
• Snow. See above.
• Reverse. Putting it in reverse will often just tell you to put it back in neutral after 5 seconds. Reversing up hill causing the clutch to overheat.
• Stopping on a hill. Leaving in park, drive, or reverse does nothing. Engine off = neutral. Pray your handbrake works (they generally didn't).

So I'm mostly against automated manuals based on that experience.
But "proper" torque converter automatics. Yes please!
Most of those gear changes are better than my own, and I'm pretty smooth, or was... Lol

 

[K M Butler]

Learned to drive in a Volkswagen Thing (181 for Euros). Much prefer automatics. Possibly because clutches and klutzes don't really mix. These days I see a lot of ads for cars that seem to blend the two.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Not sure what you can do in an auto if the brakes give out, at least you can bang it down the box in a manual.

Most autos you can still change gear manually. Plus you have a handbrake.

The most annoying thing about an automatic gearbox is if you have a low or flat battery, or iffy alternator. They often cant change gear anymore. Lol
When my Saab's alternator went, I was stuck in 5th gear.
Luckily it was an almighty diesel, so it could still pull away.

Any other car would have been a recovery job.

 

[Winterwalker]

Two old boys were chatting in the pub. 'How big do you reckon your old farm be then butty?'

'Oh, well I dursn't tell ye in acres. But if I get up in the marning and start walkin', I d'reckon I'd be round him by about lunch time. 'Ow about yers then?'
'Oh, well I dursn't tell ye in acres. But if I get up in the marning and start walkin', I d'reckon I'd be round him by about .. tea time.'
'Well there we are then.'

It so happens there's a Texan touring the old country and in the pub too. He stands up, puts on his ten gallon hat and introduces himself, 'Gentlemen I couldn't help but overhear ya'lls conversation. But back home in Texas, I could get in my truck, go all day and all night and I still wouldn't be halfway around my ole ranch yee ha.' So one old boy, looks up from his cider and says, 'You know, I 'ad a car like that once.'

Coat?? Got it.

 

[MottiKhan]

What do you drive, and prefer?

I prefer automatics. Most of my driving is in the city with all the stop signs and traffic lights. It makes the chore of driving easier.

When I lived out in the country, things were a bit different. Driving was enjoyable and I had both automatic and manual cars to pick from depending on my mood. But now, they'ere all auto.

One of these days, I'll get a self-driving car and be done with it.

 

[Chaparral]

I'm an Amerrrican. As a young man, I did some rallies, did a fair amount of off road camping. Always had manual.

I'm a bit older now, do commute driving on sometimes clogged freeways - so I'm dedicated to the automatic. The computer control of automatic transmissions has significantly improved their performance and efficiency.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Its a funny one. In theory autos beat manuals all the way.

However, i've just got my first car with power steering, and i really don't like it. I feel so disconnected from the wheels. I think the same applies to the transmission. With manual you know your input has a direct correlation to the output, and in a way that is related to the gear you are in, you have the control.

Of course, letting humans be in control of things isn't always the best idea, but from a driver's perspective, there is definitely something to be said about manual (and also about non-power steering).

Basically all these features that make driving "better" do make driving better, while at the same time taking something away from the experience.

 

[The Lawful]

Manual for me, for I want to be in control. Plus, it's more fun IMHO. That said, my last automatic car was a Smart (450) and that thing was about as bad as it can get. Ever. Corners in particular. It always drove around them in 4rd gear or so, but just as you wanted to accelerate again, it suddenly started to think for 2 seconds and began its shift-down procedure.

Lol, and in 3304, all-DC it is for me

O7,
[noob]