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Manual or Automatic car?

(163 Posts)
welbeck Sun 25-Feb-24 13:35:51

www.quora.com/How-do-some-elderly-drivers-mistake-the-accelerator-for-the-brake-pedal

tanith Sun 25-Feb-24 13:29:32

I’ve driven a manual car for 45+yrs never wanted to change although I did drive automatics through my work. I just got sick of sitting in heavy traffic changing gear every 2 seconds and finally bought an automatic last year. I wouldn’t go back it just makes driving in heavy traffic so much simpler.

welbeck Sun 25-Feb-24 13:27:59

so many cases of elderly people stamping on the gas in automatics, thinking it's the brake.
i was nearly impacted by one such years ago, as it mounted the pavement and literally described an arc, embedding itself into a lamp standard.
if it was a manual, it would lurch and then stall, but autos just keep on going . . .
if they survive, the drivers say, believe that the brakes failed.
examination of the vehicle proves there to be no mechanical fault, rather it was driver error.
something goes wrong, they try to brake, get flustered, press the gas in error, then press it harder, as the car is still moving . . .
i have driven autos , for work, and can see they might be easier, but i wouldn't buy one.

1summer Sun 25-Feb-24 13:23:16

Definitely an Automatic. Our first one was about 8 years ago, I really wasn’t sure but husband’s arthritis in his knees was getting worse so an automatic was easier for him to drive.
I don’t think I would go back to a manual now.

keepingquiet Sun 25-Feb-24 13:14:49

Whatever makes life easier- go for that choice!

Septimia Sun 25-Feb-24 12:54:24

I wouldn't touch an automatic if could help it. Years ago my father referred to an automatic as a "woman's car". Since he was, at the time, teaching me to change the wheel, clean the plugs and set the points, the thought put me right off automatics! (I'd like to point out that he wasn't really a misogynist, just an engineer!)

What set the seal on my opinion was the time my friend's mum took us out for the day - in her automatic car. Something had gone wrong and it wouldn't move out of second gear for miles, leaving us chugging along at about 20mph.

Like all the gadgets now being fitted to cars (including the computerised stuff in manual geared cars), it seems to me to be just another complication to go expensively wrong. Once upon a time you could lift the bonnet and stand a fair chance of sorting out the problem yourself...

nanna8 Sun 25-Feb-24 12:12:41

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.

kittylester Sun 25-Feb-24 12:04:06

Plug in Hybrids and electric cars are all automatic as are self charging hybrids (I think) It seems to be the way forward.

We are looking at getting a new car and will definitely get an automatic.

ginny Sun 25-Feb-24 12:03:37

Automatic every time.

Mollygo Sun 25-Feb-24 11:57:36

I’ve had both, currently driving manual, but I’d love an automatic again. Being able to drive both makes it easier to rent a car abroad.

Faierynan Sun 25-Feb-24 11:54:17

I'm 74 and have just ordered a new Yaris automatic. Went for a test drive and loved it. Never had automatic before but it was so easy. Didn't think I would ever get an automatic as I love 'proper driving' but I would suggest you test drive different automatics and see if it suits you. In my search for a new car I have found the sales people have stopped being pushy these days and felt no pressure from any of them.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 25-Feb-24 11:50:35

Automatic for me every time. I wouldn’t go back to a manual.

Chrisks Sun 25-Feb-24 11:46:56

Im approaching 70 and am about to buy a car, maybe my last, lol!
Undecided whether i should go for a manual or automatic.
Any views on the subject?
Thank you.