Manual or Automatic car?

JaneJudge

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

👍
Particularly if you’re a fast driver like me. Automatic every time.

SueDonim

Marydoll

I came home last night to a note through the door from the postman. Nice car!, it said. 🤣

This morning I am going out for teh first time, I am a nervous wreck!

Ho, there’s your invitation to an affair right there, Marydoll! 😂

He actually said I couldn't have an affair, because this car was as distinctive as the previous one and there was no hiding place in our town! 😂

Marydoll

I came home last night to a note through the door from the postman. Nice car!, it said. 🤣

This morning I am going out for teh first time, I am a nervous wreck!

Ho, there’s your invitation to an affair right there, Marydoll! 😂

I am loving it, but can't quite come to grips with the automatic braking system. I don't trust it yet! 🤣

Good for you marydoll. Enjoy your new car. I'm sure you won't regret driving an automatic

This has been very helpful!

I've driven a manual car for 40 years and am just beginning to contemplate one last vehicle. It'll be second hand, can't afford a new one; plus I fancy a Mercedes Smartcar, and they've stopped making them. I'd never considered an automatic but it seems sensible from the future proofing point of view. 🚘

Automatic. I do have a manual licence but haven't driven manual for years. We had an automatic when both my daughters got to 17 and learnt to drive. As they practised on our car they both passed an automatic test, so only drive automatics themselves and I am a named driver on both their cars

I came home last night to a note through the door from the postman. Nice car!, it said. 🤣

This morning I am going out for teh first time, I am a nervous wreck!

Have fun, Marydoll! 🚗 🚙

I have weighed up the pros and cons. I am happy I have changed to an automatic. Horses for courses.

welbeck

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.

I agree with everything you say. Whenever you see a report in the media about somebody ‘losing control’ of their car and driving through a shop front or worse, into a bus queue you can just guarantee they were driving an automatic.

Completely agree Marydoll. Happy motoring.

I picked up my new automatic today and after forty five years of driving manual cars, I wish I had changed years ago.

I've only ever driven manual cars (40 odd years) but did once have a test drive in an automatic. I hated it, the seeming lack of control and of course I kept reaching for the gear stick. As another poster said, I like "proper driving" and I enjoy it.

However, if my knees give up then I can totally see why an automatic is favoured by older drivers. Horses for courses.

Our last two cars were automatic, the second one a hybrid. DH set his face against automatics for years (we hadn’t had one since the late seventies) until I eventually persuaded him it would be easier on his legs on long journeys. I had never driven an automatic until he became ill and I had to step up to the plate in our CRV hybrid. Loved it! I now have a Mini Cooper automatic and it’s a joy to drive. I particularly like the way you can hear it moving throatily up through the gears! Gives me a buzz!

My new car is a quite distinctive bright blue. I really should have picked a black one, like DH always does.

One of my previous cars was a two seater Renault Wind covertible, it was very unusual, but not very practical especially if you were having an affair.
I do like a quirky car.

I have a yellow car and a private registration! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
People always wave as I drive past, no hope of an affair. Anyway, I can't be bothered.

Talking about love affairs and yellow cars, my friend thinks that private number plates are also a curb to shenanigans. Better behave if you have one of those Marydoll.

My 11 year old automatic fiesta is bright blue, not so unusual but rare enough to stand out. Saves 😱

I like yellow cars

When I was buying my new car last week, DH was panicking, when he saw me looking at an orange car! It certainly would stand out!

It does help to have a car which stands out colourwise, making it easier to spot in a crowded car park

Chrisks

So many replies to my question! Thanks everyone.
I test drove an automatic yesterday and loved it!
Always liked a Honda Jazz so I’ll be the proud owner of a shiny black automatic one next week!

Mine’s a Jazz - but I picked a colour that'd be easy to spot in the car park when I’ve forgotten where I left it!

Automatics take some stress out of long trips too.

I’ve had both, and at times used to swop between them, no problem.

My current newish (well, newish 3 years ago!) is a manual, but dh would go for an automatic every time. I’m honestly not bothered, though admittedly an automatic is easier if you often drive in heavy urban traffic.