Manual or Automatic car?

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 .

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

Germanshepherdsmum

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

💚

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Definitely automatic. I bought my first two years ago. I love it and would never choose manual again

Both my son and DIL, my sister and her OH. Now my chums are all getting Automatics.
My DH has driven one for years, I finally got mine 2 years ago.
Easiest car you could drive .

I passed my test in a manual and I’m glad I did, but I am now on my second automatic - a twelve year old Nissan Note with less than 40,000 miles on the clock - and would never go back to a manual by choice. I have never been a particularly confident driver and use my car for local A to B journeys, so it is ideal.

Automatic every time for me as well now, and my husband! 🚘🚘

I think the main advantage for me is it is easier to pull out onto busy roads

I've always had a manual but I've recently got an automatic for my daughter's carers to drive and I am a complete convert. They are so much nicer than old automatics

Kitty is right, all hybrids and evs are automatic. Had ours for about a year, after many years of driving manuals. Would never want to go back to a manual car now. They are so easy to drive.

I’ve driven both, often on the same day, but it’s automatic for me now, unless I win the lottery and get a flash sports car!
Driver error in not knowing which pedal does what, to me means they shouldn’t be driving either!

www.fieldfisher.com/en/injury-claims/insights/smaller-and-older-drivers-more-likely-to-experience-pedal-confusion

We have both, I switch seamlessly between them with no preference.