Manual / auto
hubby going from manual to Auto car. Has anyone done it ? Was the transition easy ? Even on the test drive he hit the break thinking it was the clutch 
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I have never driven an Auto but have a lot more time to get used to it than he has
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I've done it. I drove manual cars for almost 40 years then changed to auto. It only took a day or two to get used to it and i wouldn't change back now. Is seems hard work when i do occasionaly drive a manual car. I hope you both find it as easy as i did.
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First of all you don't use your left leg at all, in fact, you can toss it out of the window
. You just thrust the lever into "Drive"
or "D", and put your foot on the accelerator and away you go. So easy peasy. You do have gears, usually marked "1" or "2" if you wish to drive up a long hill. You more than likely know this, but because Auto is so easy, and you pass your test on an automatic,
you have still to pass your test on manual, whereas, when you pass your test in manual, you can drive any car whether manual or auto. In future, just rest your left leg, it doesn't do anything, and certainly don't use it to brake0 -
Driving an automatic is easier than Driving a manual. One pedal to make it go faster and one to make it go slower. We have had one automatic and one manual car for about 17 of the last 20 years and never had a problem. I have got to say I have never hit
the brake with my left foot thinking it was the clutch. What I have done more than once if I'm honest is forget to change gear in the manual car and then wondered why it is shaking its self to death when I am slowing to a stop at traffic lights Cars don't
like doing 5mph in 5th.0 -
Driven auto cars for the last 11 years, would not go back to manual through choice. Our last two tow cars were auto Sorento's, when we got the motorhome I traded the Sorento in for an auto Kia Venga which is cleaver little car. Just wish the motorhome
was automatic!!!David
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....I forget to change gear in the manual car and then wondered why it is shaking its self to death when I am slowing to a stop at traffic lights Cars don't like doing 5mph in 5th.
Like wise or jab the throttle to try to make it change down ....
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How do you do hill starts with an auto? How do you hold the car still on a hill just using the clutch and accelerator? (I know its probably bad for the clutch)
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How do you do hill starts with an auto? How do you hold the car still on a hill just using the clutch and accelerator? (I know its probably bad for the clutch)
I’m on my second auto tow car and hill starts are no different to flat road starts, you just press the go pedal. Both cars have had automatic hand breaks and hill start assist. Soooo easy.
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How do you do hill starts with an auto? How do you hold the car still on a hill just using the clutch and accelerator? (I know its probably bad for the clutch)
I’m on my second auto tow car and hill starts are no different to flat road starts, you just press the go pedal. Both cars have had automatic hand breaks and hill start assist. Soooo easy.
automatic hand breaks? seriously how do they work?
(I'll still double-de-clutching but someone did mention a synchromised gearbox is now avaiable)
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Simple. When the car comes to a stop the handbrake automatically engages, when you are ready to go press the go pedal, the handbrake automatically disengages. No driver involvement.
There is an override if you ever want to use it, the only time I have is when reversing and I’ve left the seat belt off to aid looking behind, the automatic handbrake won’t go off without the seatbelt fastened.
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Simple. When the car comes to a stop the handbrake automatically engages, when you are ready to go press the go pedal, the handbrake automatically disengages. No driver involvement.
There is an override if you ever want to use it, the only time I have is when reversing and I’ve left the seat belt off to aid looking behind, the automatic handbrake won’t go off without the seatbelt fastened.
very interesting - thanks
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Can’t wait for the Google self-drive car that can tow a caravan and reverse perfectly to the peg.
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Due to a back problem I have been driving an auto for thirty years now, the only problem is it is difficult now to return to a manual. Hubby drives a manual for towing. I wouldn't ever buy a manual car again. Never use the left leg, just keep it tucked out
of the way.0 -
As others have said, forget the left leg completely would be my tip. The real trick to driving autos well, particularly when towing, is knowing when to take over and stop the gear changing as it wants, this is probably most important when approaching a
steep descent, when a manual selection/hold of a low gear will make the descent a lot safer. It's better to select it early, rather than scrabbling to do it when the car starts to 'run away with you'. As with any new skill, have a practice at working the
'manual' gear selection, so you can do it without having to look for controls etc.0 -
I regularly switch between a fully auto Volvo, a manual Nissan Mirca and a semi automatic motorhome. It becomes second nature. About the worst thing I have done is forget that I have to change gear in a car with a manual gearbox. I definitely prefer automatic
gearboxes whether full or semi.peedee
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We swopped from a manual to an automatic just over a year or so ago and we love it. Apart from caravanning, it's just a lovely easy drive.
You might have to think about manoeuvres for a little while but you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt and never look back.
I was told "tuck your left foot under the seat".
My own little motor is a manual but I can now easily go back and forth without any problems.
Good luck making the transition Roobz.
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Speaking of manoeuvring the one oddball thing that threw me slightly was the position of drive and reverse on the stick. You have to pull the stick back to select drive (forward), and push it forward to select reverse. Not a big thing but I’m sure it could be configured to be push the stick forward to go forward and pull the stick back to select reverse. This has been the same on both my auto cars and they are different manufactures.
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How do you do hill starts with an auto? How do you hold the car still on a hill just using the clutch and accelerator? (I know its probably bad for the clutch)
hill starts are the same as you would with any car, assuming normal handbrake just release it as you press the throttle. But as said above, a lot of cars these days have fancy gimmick electric handbrakes & some kind of hill assist. Did we ask for all this
electrickery & uneccessary complication?And balancing a car on the clutch just wears out the clutch faster ... especially if you have a box on the back ... you see it so many times
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What hubby done on test drive returning back to showroom was push his left foot hard to the floor while pressing the brake with his right
I
thought someone had gone into the back of us salesman just laughed hubby was really embarrassed 0 -
do people think that we will ever be at the point where manual cars are the minority? like in the USA?
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Yes corners I do, even though we are changing late in life so to speak the research hubby has done certainaly shows that once you have done it there's no going back, even the young ones are being encouraged to learn in Autos
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One thing that might put people off paying the extra for an auto is that some manufacturers don't offer them on the lower spec cars. I was looking at one of the smaller SUV's this evening and whilst the base prices is £18000 the first price point with an
auto box was £25000. I know auto boxes are generally more expensive but not £7000!!!David
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could well happen, We had some visiting american teachers a few years back, they were amazed by the amount og manual cars and in the minibus they are leaned forward to watch me change gears.
just out of interest what is the extra price for an automatic?
Post edit - sorry David you posted as I was writing, so they cost will have to come down before we'll all be auto, £7000 can pay for a lot of nights on site
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Well it's D Day today , will let you know how our first day has gone later
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Automatic / manual it matters nought. Having had company cars most of my working life, some Auto some Manual, I fail to see any problems.
Auto is great for town and city driving and being stuck in tailbacks on the motorway. Also for people who are not mechanically minded. Nice and relaxing.
Otherwise on the open road, manual is as good, It gives better MPG, more control when towing and the road tax is much less.
It's down to everbody's personal choice.
K
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he done o k wasn't sure what to do with his left hand on occasion's ( no gear stick ) when braking but yes we had a good day , as for road tax
I
beg to differ just got rid of 1300 fiat £30 year road tax, new one mercedes Benz 2200 only £20 yr road tax as for running cost fiat 50 mpg combined if we were lucky new one two short trips on motorway going and returning from supermarket shows us 64 mpg both
cars diesel0 -
Glad you got on okay with the new car. This time next week you will never want to drive a manual box car again
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Does anyone know why geared vehicles are more fuel efficient than auto's? Mine(gears) is 5mpg more than the same auto version. I would have thought the auto would shift at the optimum time & make it better mpg-but it doesn't
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