need some help, auto or manual?
- Thread starter unwashed potato!
- Start date
R124/LA420 said:Oh, I've just understood the question!
I now think he means auto / semi/ auto perhaps?
I dunno!
i was thinking that also, but wanted to make sure that I have not missed some car being released with a clutch pedal that can be used as an auto!
i think the law is basically a case of whether the drivers uses a clutch manually. no clutch = auto, which i would hope also includes SMG / DSG etc.
Morba said:
Quoted for truth. My dad had a P reg Clio with a semi auto box (gears but no clutch) and when that went they wanted £1200 for parts, then labour on top. Needless to say the car got traded in for another,and that was just a clio, never mind an exec car like a bimmer.
Soldato
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I learned in a manual but tend to only drive auto's nowadays. If you do loads of miles in traffic or around town then an auto is a great choice.
Modern auto's, especially japs will do well over 100,000 miles usually without giving any horror stories.
It is also worth mentioning that most auto's from about the mid 90's were at least 4 speed with many being 5 speed. Thankfully long gone are the days of the old 3 speeders that gave poor performance, MPG and reliability.
I personally think it is only worth learning in an auto if you are either having trouble with gear shifts or are absolutely insistent you will only ever drive an auto.
Modern auto's, especially japs will do well over 100,000 miles usually without giving any horror stories.
It is also worth mentioning that most auto's from about the mid 90's were at least 4 speed with many being 5 speed. Thankfully long gone are the days of the old 3 speeders that gave poor performance, MPG and reliability.
I personally think it is only worth learning in an auto if you are either having trouble with gear shifts or are absolutely insistent you will only ever drive an auto.
Automatics disgust me. Even the sound makes me feel unwell.
Note : I am not referring to super duper Ferrari/Aston/whatever semi-auto paddle shift DSG hyperdyper automatics, I'm talking about everyday run-of-the-mill auto hatches and saloons.
Even big GT's with automatic boxes don't do it for me, they feel sloppy and I don't like the way they behave under heavy braking on entry to a corner.
Note : I am not referring to super duper Ferrari/Aston/whatever semi-auto paddle shift DSG hyperdyper automatics, I'm talking about everyday run-of-the-mill auto hatches and saloons.
Even big GT's with automatic boxes don't do it for me, they feel sloppy and I don't like the way they behave under heavy braking on entry to a corner.
Associate
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If you can't manage to use a manual gearbox maybe you'd best not be on the road lol.
It's hardly the most taxing part of getting through the test.
It's hardly the most taxing part of getting through the test.
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thanks for the help guys, didn't expect so many replies.
tbh though im still really unsure what i should do.
I know manual is a smarter choice to learn but i really can't see me using it ever, i think manual cars are so stupid and are much harder to use then the simple accelerate and brake that autos have which allows me to watch the road more.
I will have to think about it more and see what i decide.
is it hard to find an auto teacher and are they any more expensive then a manual teacher?
tbh though im still really unsure what i should do.
I know manual is a smarter choice to learn but i really can't see me using it ever, i think manual cars are so stupid and are much harder to use then the simple accelerate and brake that autos have which allows me to watch the road more.
I will have to think about it more and see what i decide.
is it hard to find an auto teacher and are they any more expensive then a manual teacher?
If your having problems with a manual, forget about lessons for a few days. Find a friend or family member who can take you to a quite car park, industrial estate ect. When no one is there.
Stick it in 1st gear and practice clutch control and learn the biting point.
Once you start getting the hang of it find a small hill and practice slipping the clutch, although don't do it normally it great for practising.
Then learn to go threw the gears. If you take your eyes of the road, or even concentrate on the gear change, your not there yet.
an hour doing the above and you wont look back. A manual license is what you need, even if you drive autos.
Stick it in 1st gear and practice clutch control and learn the biting point.
Once you start getting the hang of it find a small hill and practice slipping the clutch, although don't do it normally it great for practising.
Then learn to go threw the gears. If you take your eyes of the road, or even concentrate on the gear change, your not there yet.
an hour doing the above and you wont look back. A manual license is what you need, even if you drive autos.
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Soldato
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Once you actually learn how to use a manual changing gear becomes totally second nature. For some people it feels very natural and they instinctively know exactly when to change gear. It sounds like you are having trouble getting to grips with it. Just stick at it, it really isn't difficult!
Mammalian said:
get some more lessons in a manual
come back to this once youve got a bit more experience. Honestly your reasoning shrieks "ive not driven cars a lot"
because to a non driver, it does seem a little stupid. Why do the work if you can get a car to do it for you ? its a bit like having indicators but still putting your hands out the windows isnt it ??
thing is, once youve got more experience you'll realise that theres more to driving an automatic than just a manul with less work. Its not just a question of "Im not changing gears so i can pay more attention to the road". With an automatic theres every chance you're going to get caught in the wrong gear and have an accident. Young drivers manage to have accidents through inexperience in manuals, and thats before they're in a car when they go to pull a manoevre they've not fully experienced in and find the car in the wrong gear.
You say "i wont do that" but every young male driver says that. Yet they still manage to have more accidents than just about any other age group. I know, ive been there done that, got the insurance premium. I had 3 of them. And how many others on this forum have done the same thing .. You say you wont but you will.
You've got enough on your plate being a young inexperienced driver let loose on motorways and NSL roads without supervision, without adding the complications of an automatic.
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If you are having issues with a manual then you need far more experience, you will not even think about gears after a bit, at first it is a lot to take in for some people.
It is the biggest cop out doing an Auto only test, and I do think that if you can't learn to drive manual you will make a poor driver overal. There is so much going on when you drive and if you can't manage what is a simple part of driving then how are you going to cope with things like losing traction on ice, aquaplaning etc
Far to many people hold a licence when they shouldn't
So prove yourself mate, don't fail before you have even started
It is the biggest cop out doing an Auto only test, and I do think that if you can't learn to drive manual you will make a poor driver overal. There is so much going on when you drive and if you can't manage what is a simple part of driving then how are you going to cope with things like losing traction on ice, aquaplaning etc
Far to many people hold a licence when they shouldn't
So prove yourself mate, don't fail before you have even started
