Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: Colin C No.3 on October 24, 2021, 04:44:57 pm

Title: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Colin C No.3 on October 24, 2021, 04:44:57 pm
I learned to drive in a pre 1962 Ford Prefect with only 3 forward gears & have only ever owned & driven manual gear shift cars.

I class that as ‘proper driving’. With a clutch & your own choice of gear you’re in total ‘command’. I’ve driven the odd automatic over the years & the number of times I’ve heard folk say “Ah, once you’ve driven an automatic you’ll never go back to a manual”.

Well I have & it’s a manual shift every time for me.

Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Janso on October 24, 2021, 04:47:05 pm
Only ever driven automatics on the odd occasion I've had to use a company car. No thank you.

Not looking forward to having to get an electric vehicle as I think they're all automatic.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Filo on October 24, 2021, 05:53:03 pm
My last car an X3 was automatic, I loved it, my present car a Kuga is automatic and I like that too, makes towing the Caravan easy
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: idler on October 24, 2021, 05:54:55 pm
I've had a Mokka automatic for 6 years and find it ok.
I can't bend my left leg too well so it makes driving a lot easier.
I can change to manual when I want but never bother.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: glosterred on October 24, 2021, 06:00:56 pm
Driven automatics only occasionally, the hard part is when you’ve only driven manuals is trying to remember not to put the clutch down to change gears when moving off or coming to a stop, as the people behind are scared shitless when you do stop very quickly!


Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: River Don on October 24, 2021, 06:21:03 pm
Electric cars only have one gear, so need for a clutch and stick.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on October 24, 2021, 06:29:29 pm
Our Peugeot Rifter is an automatic with eight gears, you can't tell when it changes gear it's that smooth. You can't even hear it changing gear.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on October 24, 2021, 06:33:17 pm
First time I drove an automatic was in a hire car in the States a few years back.

Instant convert. I have no desire ever to go back to a manual gearbox anymore than I would want to go back to a horse and cart.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Janso on October 24, 2021, 06:36:50 pm
Driven automatics only occasionally, the hard part is when you’ve only driven manuals is trying to remember not to put the clutch down to change gears when moving off or coming to a stop, as the people behind are scared shitless when you do stop very quickly!

Aye. The company I used to work at provided all milk, coffee, tea etc, but someone had to make the trip to the shop to collect it. And they were dead paranoid about us getting in an accident on the journey as it could be considered a business trip, and if you're not covered by business insurance...

Anyway, first time I ever did this, I nearly sent two pints of milk through the front window pulling into the car park.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Superspy on October 24, 2021, 06:47:32 pm
Only time I'd ever go automatic by choice is if I was buying a very high performance car where a manual wasn't an option, or an electric car as they don't have a gearbox. Beyond that, manual all the way for me.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Dagenham Rover on October 24, 2021, 06:50:04 pm
I only drive autos now and have done for about 8 years due a pretty serious back injury, my own is a volvo s40 auto  2.4 diesel and the company got me an auto van after the medical reports, currently its a new vauxhall combo  8 speed auto tbf the van is spot on even for a vauxhall :)  and as for my dirty great volvo I love it. Both vehicles you can drive in a manual mode and go up and down the gears yourself obviously without the clutch work. Even if my back was good I wouldnt go back to a manual
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: scawsby steve on October 24, 2021, 08:25:46 pm
Driving with a manual gearbox is just an unnecessary inconvenience. The Yanks have never wanted to know them, and neither did I when I used to be a motorist.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: SydneyRover on October 24, 2021, 09:36:04 pm
Auto's for me, I driven plenty of both, but a modern automatic is so much simpler and proper too, aye Colin.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: KeithMyath on October 24, 2021, 11:52:56 pm
I’ve just gone from a 3 series auto to a 3 series manual, preferred the Auto but can live with the manual. I’ve also gone from x drive to just rear wheel drive, and can safely say I am missing the traction more than the auto gearbox.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Ldr on October 25, 2021, 07:07:45 am
Always had manual until the last 2 cars, both hybrid and would say I prefer automatic now
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: keyser_soze on October 25, 2021, 08:21:22 am
I had a DSG Golf GTi for my previous car, didn't set out to buy it but was a good deal at the time, went into it with an open mind and in the end was disappointed to see it go. Dual clutch so fast gear changes, sports mode where it really hung on to the low gears (that I never used) and a sequential option (that i did use on country lanes etc) if you want to control the gears yourself (but without the need for a clutch you just keep your foot on the accelerator). Great fun, and makes going back to a manual feel like a step back in time.

Would definitely choose one of those again given the option.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Batleyred on October 25, 2021, 04:02:58 pm
Only time I'd ever go automatic by choice is if I was buying a very high performance car where a manual wasn't an option, or an electric car as they don't have a gearbox. Beyond that, manual all the way for me.

Agree with that, I’ve gone from old cosworrths to a 605 bhp Audi rs6. I drive it everywhere with the flappy paddles in manual and motorway in auto,
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: River Don on October 25, 2021, 10:32:25 pm
There's something about the old manual and heavy stearing, proper driving. Enzo Ferrari used to make a great virtue of it, the racing driver being a very masculine thing.

I took a look at a Hyundai Ioniq 5 today. All electric. It's an impressive thing, it's got a future retro look, very 80s, a touch of the original Golf, Audi Quattro or Lancia Delta. But lots of LEDs and very modern details. More 2080 than 1980 I think.

I don't know how it performs but visually I don't think I've seen a mass market car with as much 'presence' since the original Audi TT.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/hyundai-ioniq-5-review
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: mushRTID on October 25, 2021, 10:52:20 pm
I’d never driven an automatic until I picked my new company car up in Manchester this summer.
I was over at our office all day waiting for it’s arrival, it turned up at 4pm.
I had to drive from Manchester on a Friday 4pm to Donny, I was bricking it to be fair!

Was a bit nervy to begin with but soon got the hang of it and now love it. Wouldn’t go back to manual now.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Axholme Lion on October 26, 2021, 09:27:32 am
Manual every time for me. Autos seem to be taking over though. The latest version of my Subaru is only available as auto, i think i'll hang on to it for a while yet.
The problem with autos is if they go wrong it can be really expensive to repair/replace.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: keyser_soze on October 26, 2021, 11:22:53 am
Manual every time for me. Autos seem to be taking over though. The latest version of my Subaru is only available as auto, i think i'll hang on to it for a while yet.
The problem with autos is if they go wrong it can be really expensive to repair/replace.

I'd agree with that. My aforementioned Golf suffered from a 'ticking sound' - which the main dealers diagnosed as a faulty dual mass flywheel, which needed replacing. I asked for a second opinion and it actually turned out to be the fuel pump!
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Filo on October 26, 2021, 11:40:28 am
Manual every time for me. Autos seem to be taking over though. The latest version of my Subaru is only available as auto, i think i'll hang on to it for a while yet.
The problem with autos is if they go wrong it can be really expensive to repair/replace.

I'd agree with that. My aforementioned Golf suffered from a 'ticking sound' - which the main dealers diagnosed as a faulty dual mass flywheel, which needed replacing. I asked for a second opinion and it actually turned out to be the fuel pump!

Manuals have dual mass flywheels as well

Auto’s like my Kuga 2.0 TDCI Titanium Powershift has a dual clutch, the Powershift gearbox needs regular servicing, 3 years or 36k miles to prevent gearbox malfunction
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: GazLaz on October 26, 2021, 11:47:55 am
No contest, automatic.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Axholme Lion on October 26, 2021, 02:48:44 pm
Manual every time for me. Autos seem to be taking over though. The latest version of my Subaru is only available as auto, i think i'll hang on to it for a while yet.
The problem with autos is if they go wrong it can be really expensive to repair/replace.

I'd agree with that. My aforementioned Golf suffered from a 'ticking sound' - which the main dealers diagnosed as a faulty dual mass flywheel, which needed replacing. I asked for a second opinion and it actually turned out to be the fuel pump!

Manuals have dual mass flywheels as well

Auto’s like my Kuga 2.0 TDCI Titanium Powershift has a dual clutch, the Powershift gearbox needs regular servicing, 3 years or 36k miles to prevent gearbox malfunction

Failing to service the DSG box on VWG cars is a ticking time bomb.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: RobTheRover on October 27, 2021, 08:26:18 am
Always had manuals until my last 2 cars.  I'm in no rush to go back.

My missus has a Mini Cooper S manual, and it's great fun to romp about in, but the refinement of my auto Merc trumps it.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: GazLaz on October 27, 2021, 08:45:11 am
Always had manuals until my last 2 cars.  I'm in no rush to go back.

My missus has a Mini Cooper S manual, and it's great fun to romp about in, but the refinement of my auto Merc trumps it.

My last two cars have been automatic Mercs. The gearboxes are brilliant.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: silent majority on October 27, 2021, 09:42:38 am
Both our cars are automatic, it was a nightmare when we had one of each! But like others I would never go back.

Had the unfortunate experience of having to drive a hire car around Ireland last week, it just felt so impractical.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Filo on October 27, 2021, 09:50:46 am
Always had manuals until my last 2 cars.  I'm in no rush to go back.

My missus has a Mini Cooper S manual, and it's great fun to romp about in, but the refinement of my auto Merc trumps it.

Would n’t have thought there was much room in a Mini, to have a romp about in
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: big fat yorkshire pudding on October 27, 2021, 09:51:27 am
Both our cars are automatic, it was a nightmare when we had one of each! But like others I would never go back.

Had the unfortunate experience of having to drive a hire car around Ireland last week, it just felt so impractical.


I have one of each and it's a pain. I have stalled once or twice forgetting the clutch (I drive the auto more).

When I replace the manual I will want an automatic, so much better and so seamless when driving on the battery too.
Title: Re: Automatic v Manual.
Post by: Axholme Lion on October 27, 2021, 01:18:03 pm
To me autos take away the interest in driving. I can understand the easiness aspect but i like to feel more involved with the machine.