Poll: Poll please: Do you drive an auto or manual car?

[Zip]

manual here I just prefer it, I don't find it a huge hassle round town to change gears myself. Otherwise what would my left foot do? It would feel all left out.

I do like auto boxes for long distance cruising though it's just easier

HT

Long distance cruising in a manual is easy, just get it up to 5th and drive. There is no need to touch the gears unless you have a really sharp bend a really slow car in front or if you have to over take. Its not really that much harder

 

[Burnsy2023]

Manual, I'd get bored in an Auto and my left leg would have periodic spazams.

Burnsy

 

[Firestar_3x]

Long distance cruising in a manual is easy, just get it up to 5th and drive. There is no need to touch the gears unless you have a really sharp bend a really slow car in front or if you have to over take. Its not really that much harder

Unless your stuck in stop start taffic (Motorway jam for example) then an auto would be great

But i drive a Manual its just more fun

 

[Dolph]

Currently drive a manual, don't have too much problem with autos when paired with the correct engine/car style.

Depending on my exact choice for next car, it could be a manual or an auto, it will largely depend on engine choice.

 

[Zip]

Unless your stuck in stop start taffic (Motorway jam for example) then an auto would be great

But i drive a Manual its just more fun

The only time i find a manual to be a pain in the arse is if you stall it at the traffic lights in rush hour

 

[ramirez]

auto convert here - suits a car with bad turbo lag

 

[Morba]

Long distance cruising in a manual is easy, just get it up to 5th and drive. There is no need to touch the gears unless you have a really sharp bend a really slow car in front or if you have to over take. Its not really that much harder

not sure if its the same in oz, but motorway jams etc arent uncommon here.
i generally hit a few when doing a 300mile journey, its in the tailbacks n stuff that an auto becomes priceless

 

[Rotty]

always been odd as what to class mine as , obviously is a manual based gearbox but as it has no clutch pedal some may class it as an auto

certainly would not buy a conventianal auto

 

[Sputnik II]

Long distance cruising in a manual is easy, just get it up to 5th and drive. There is no need to touch the gears unless you have a really sharp bend a really slow car in front or if you have to over take. Its not really that much harder

I agree, I prefer to use the auto for round town and the manual for when I'm going out in the sticks. However the fuel economy for the auto is really bad round town

 

[richolmes72]

In between cars, 1 auto, 1 manual.

Depends a lot on the vehicle, on my Peugeot, the clutch is so hard, that in the traffic on the hill into uni, it can really start to get quite painful in my left leg. Although i didn't have that issue at all in my Dad's ford.

I've switched to an auto now, but probably not for long, as the thing drinks petrol and is so long, its difficult to fit into tight parking spaces. But i am loving it at the moment, the gear changes on the box are so smooth, and if you're just wafting along, you don't even notice them as the engine is silent at low revs.

For really spirited driving though, nothing beats the sheer control and feeling of a manual car though.. i agree with that.

 

[Morba]

always been odd as what to class mine as , obviously is a manual based gearbox but as it has no clutch pedal some may class it as an auto

certainly would not buy a conventianal auto

yeah, thats why i put the stipulation of no clutch, for those with SMG etc

 

[Rotty]

yeah, thats why i put the stipulation of no clutch, for those with SMG etc

yep , saw that but I don't class mine as an auto , SMG always causes confusion especially come insurance time

 

[Morba]

yep , saw that but I don't class mine as an auto , SMG always causes confusion especially come insurance time

how is it classed for insurance and license?
do they class it as auto so its covered under an auto license?

 

[Rotty]

how is it classed for insurance and license?
do they class it as auto so its covered under an auto license?

no one seems to know re a licence , for insurance some companies list manual or smg as options and some list manual or auto , as there is no true auto I think it is safe to assume that they are classing smg as auto

 

[Scania]

I have a Semi Auto Car, "Steptronic" gearbox as BMW call it.

That said, I do have 14 gears in the day job, so, I reckon I'm excused.

Clutch pressing is no fun after a 15 hour day in an HGV.

The only auto cars I've ever had have been large, my BMW 7, an old Ford Granada Scorpio 2.9 and an even older Granada 2.8i Ghia.

Auto's in small cars seem wrong imo.

 

[oweneades]

Manual here.

I have no choice though. To quote my fiancee 'I learnt in a manual so I will drive a manual'

Although she wants a Volvo XC90 which IIRC only come with auto / semi auto boxes.

As for me I have never driven an automatic although I can see the appeal they have to long commuter drives and also how much of a advatage they are to people who maybe can't drive a manual car.

 

[Garrett]

Manual E46 M3, but I only ever hear praise for the SMG 2 auto box, personally I'm glad I went for the 6 speed manual.

 

[Enfield]

Manual or "stickshift" as Mr MickeyD says

I've never driven a automatic before. I don't think I will either till I'm retired and too lazy to change gear.

 

[Rotty]

Manual E46 M3, but I only ever hear praise for the SMG 2 auto box, personally I'm glad I went for the 6 speed manual.

with the exception of hill starts the SMG2 is fantastic

 

[Nozzer]

All my cars are manuals and it feels very odd driving an auto now, constantly reaching for a clutch pedal as I pull up etc...