Manual or Automatic car?

Another vote for automatic. Always drove manuals until 2007, then switched to auto. Would not go back to manuals now.

I’ll keep that in mind GSM!
Thinking back, my big sports car was automatic but the next, a convertible from the same manufacturer was manual. Probably the right car at the right price at the right time.

Automatic - couldn’t get on with manual, failed my test 5 times 😂- so decided to change to automatic and passed

welbeck

i guess i feel that driving should not be too easy.
that driving a manual makes ones more aware of the vehicle and how it is operating.
so being more engaged, and alert, active in the driving task.
being too comfortable could lead to complacency, that what i feel.
also that if one cannot cope with manual, then maybe one is no longer competent to drive to the required standard.
i know you will not agree with me.

I don't agree. I can confidently drive a manual or an automatic, but with an automatic you can focus all your attention on other traffic and your surroundings, keeping alert to changing situations. You can always tell who's in a manual in very slow moving traffic queues..... the driver who won't keep moving by changing up and down the gears but waits until there's several car lengths gap before closing it again.

welbeck

i guess i feel that driving should not be too easy.
that driving a manual makes ones more aware of the vehicle and how it is operating.
so being more engaged, and alert, active in the driving task.
being too comfortable could lead to complacency, that what i feel.
also that if one cannot cope with manual, then maybe one is no longer competent to drive to the required standard.
i know you will not agree with me.

I felt the same as you but I’ve changed my mind. I feel in control when I drive the newer automatics

I had to get back into driving after my husband’s death and went for an automatic. I have got a self charging hybrid now and I love it. Modern automatic cars are so smooth and have enough power to cope with anything. I don’t find myself getting too comfortable welbeck as don’t forget to always watch what other drivers are doing.

nanna8

I’ve never driven a manual, wouldn’t know how. I got my license in 1975 and was pleased that most cars here are automatic. I’ve just bought a hybrid Toyota, it’s lovely, very quiet.

When we visited family in Australia my husband was shocked that there was no manual to hire so he had to get used to an automatic. Did so easily despite almost shooting me through the windscreen once or twice at first.

I drive both as Mr P loves an automatic. I deliberately chose a manual when I renewed my car as I didn't want to become deskilled and forget how to change gears. However, I do like to drive the automatic as it is so easy and my next car will probably be one of those.

I too drive both and switch between with no real preference as they both have pluses and minuses.

I am about to buy a new car and although I am a bit nervous of driving an automatic, after 48 years of driving with a manual gearbox, I will be buying a hybrid, which of course will be automatic. This is on the advice of my RA consultant, who says it will make life easier for me.
DH has a hybrid and says he wouldn't go back to manual.

Germanshepherdsmum

Automatic for me too - and it’s a sports car Georgesgran! Much easier for arthritic knees!

💚

Suspect automatic would be easier on the knees in long slow traffic queue.

If I were to win lots on the premium bonds I would buy a hybrid automatic 😊
I happily change gears now but if the greener cars are automatic I’d give it a go.
I knew someone who slammed the accelerator on instead of the brake, in a manual car. So I don’t think that’s a factor .

I've driven automatic cars for over 30 years and would never go back to manual. I think having an automatic car means you can concentrate more on road traffic situations as you don't need to go up and down gears. It's like driving a dodgem car at the fair! Start and stop! No pressure on wrist or foot. I now have a hybrid and very happy with it. Good luck on your choice

Automatic definitely. No hill starts are a boon and knees appreciate it too. If you happen to need a new left hip or knee you can still drive fairly soon after, especially with a hip hop.
No contest.

Most people I know with automatics would never go back to manuals. My OH won’t drive my geared car, prefers his automatic. I like his better too, and I will definitely opt for automatic when I change, It kills me driving my car in queues because my knees are stiff.

Definitely automatic, following surgery on my spine an automatic was much more comfortable to drive.

Yes * farznaha* I've forgotten how difficult being in a traffic jam can be. Your leg aching and cramping using brake, gears and accelarator

I can see that people with arthritic knees would prefer an automatic, but changing gear in a manual car is for most people a subconscious act when you’ve been driving for years, I never even think about doing it, I just do it automatically. I’d be more interested in lots of other features when I was choosing the car than I would be in the gearbox.

I just do it automatically
🤣🤣🤣

Whoops, I never thought of that!

I drive both; the manual is an effort as it is temperamental and you need all your wits about you to stop it stalling - it's very old - but the automatic wins hands down. So much less tiring when you're driving in traffic. My driving instructor said you must be able to drive your vehicle without thinking about it, and have all your concentration on other road users. That's what an automatic enables.

Definitely an automatic. Next month I shall have been driving for 64 years and for over 30 of those years I have had an automatic - I certainly wouldn’t want to go back to a manual.

It depends on how much you drive and how quickly you get used to new ways of doing things. Also, one thing to consider is if you hit something in a manual car the car will stop. If you hit something in an automatic the car will continue moving. I have experience of this when someone hit our wall and the car continued moving forward hitting our garage wall and ended up half way down our garage until the driver took their foot off the accelerator.

Automatic. I’ve had an auto for more than eight years and wouldn’t go back to a manual. I disagree that driving an auto makes you feel disconnected from the car. In my opinion, it leaves you free to concentrate on the traffic and means you’re being as economical with fuel as possible because you’ll always be in the correct gear.

As for the experience of having to travel in second gear - we’ve twice had cars where the manual gear stick has just come off in the driver’s hand! No car of any ilk is guaranteed never to break down.

Once cars are fully electric they’ll all be automatic anyway so people may as well get used to it. On the topic of hybrids, though, my dd has a manual car. It’s a version known as a mild hybrid. She can commute to work and locally on electric and have the ICE for long journeys.