Is it easy to drive from a manual to an auto car?

Diesel · 31-05-2006, 07:43

Considering test driving one today, but I've never driven an auto!!
Is it easy to drive?
Ta

bestphoto · 31-05-2006, 07:59

An auto is really easy to drive, but you have to remember that your left foot has nothing to do, I mean nothing at all. If your left foot comes out, its game over, hit the break pedel thinking its the cluch at speed then you're in for some damage! But once you've got over the compulsion to use your left foot an auto is very easy and comfortable to drive. What auto car are you going to test drive?

Jan39 · 31-05-2006, 08:04

I first drove an automatic in 2001 after driving a manual for 20 years, and am still with an automatic and definately wouldn't go back. at first it is strange you have to remember to keep your left leg tucked away, as it is just stop and go with your right one, I think most people make the mistake of putting both feet down together at some time, but you only do it the once. it is more econmical as you're always in the right gear, and they are fantastic when roads are busy, and you're in que's.

H.O.D. · 31-05-2006, 08:09

it's a doddle - like driving a dodgem!

Cyclone · 31-05-2006, 08:25

always in the right gear, unless you want to be in a different one

driving one is easy, but not everyone likes them.

neeeeeeeeeek · 31-05-2006, 08:26

Auto's are great, you just cruise along, much more relaxing... Also if the car is quite quick you might find it's easier to stay with in the speed limit as your not constantly changing gear. Get one, I don't think you will go back. Lot's of them haev a manual option as well, Geartronic, Tiptronic, both let you drive the car like a manula if you fancy a change. There is a thread about it somewhere.

pete_jim · 31-05-2006, 09:00

Auto's are brilliant especially in all this snarled up stop go traffic we get now. Some driving 'experts' reckon you should use your left foot for braking but I've tried and just can't get the hang of it. Tuck the left foot away and enjoy looking at the faces of people IN YOUR MIRROR when you are first away from the lights!

viking · 31-05-2006, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by H.O.D.

it's a doddle - like driving a dodgem!

But do you remember when "Dodgems" used to be called "Bumping Cars"?

lizzmobile · 31-05-2006, 09:17

I hated 'em. I like being in control of the machine.

Cyclone · 31-05-2006, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete_jim

Auto's are brilliant especially in all this snarled up stop go traffic we get now. Some driving 'experts' reckon you should use your left foot for braking but I've tried and just can't get the hang of it. Tuck the left foot away and enjoy looking at the faces of people IN YOUR MIRROR when you are first away from the lights!

One thing autos aren't known for is being quicker than manual cars... So chances are everyone else just isn't flooring it to make a quick dash to the next set of lights.

pete_jim · 31-05-2006, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone

One thing autos aren't known for is being quicker than manual cars... So chances are everyone else just isn't flooring it to make a quick dash to the next set of lights.

I know this but people aren't usually expecting you to go so quickly, you don't have to scream away either, you just don't spend all that time changing gear.

brummieade · 31-05-2006, 10:30

be careful not to slam your left foot onto what yu think is the cluth in an auto car - it will really be the brake and you will emergency stop the car!!!

killerbabe · 31-05-2006, 10:36

I have an auto.....its great, i wouldnt go back to a manual one! Its much more relaxed and u dont have to think about changing gear! Fantastic!

*Turbo* · 31-05-2006, 10:38

depends on your gender. If your a woman you will find it hard. If your a man you will find it easy.

Hope i've been some use

Yes it is a sexist comment. Yes it was said in jest

sTaGeWaLkEr · 31-05-2006, 10:41

I've got a manual and an auto. I find it easy to adapt between the two.

Auto's are obviously less work, but there's something wonderful about getting on the open road with a gutsy manual

Stagey x

muddycoffee · 31-05-2006, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone

One thing autos aren't known for is being quicker than manual cars... So chances are everyone else just isn't flooring it to make a quick dash to the next set of lights.

Actually,
I have driven some pretty fast Auto Cars, and I don't think I could have accelerated any faster had they been manual.
Much of the stuff about Auto being slow goes back a few years when heavy Auto boxes which were designed in the USA as scaled down gearboxes originally for huge capacity engines were put on to british 1.6 and 1.8 litre cars, and they were pretty sluggish. Modern auto boxes are much, much more lively.

The main advantage in my opinion of Auto is when you are doing lots of driving in heavy traffic day in day out. Auto is much less painful on the legs. When I used to do heavy milage I had a painful knee on my clutch leg.

Cyclone · 01-06-2006, 07:58

They still take some power to run.

If you check out pretty much any car where there's an auto/manual choice and the same engine, the manual is normally faster in it's 0-60 times.

The difference isn't huge anymore, and if you do lots of city driving in traffic then I can see why they'd be very useful.

KenH · 01-06-2006, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone

They still take some power to run.

If you check out pretty much any car where there's an auto/manual choice and the same engine, the manual is normally faster in it's 0-60 times.

The difference isn't huge anymore, and if you do lots of city driving in traffic then I can see why they'd be very useful.

I wouldn't take too much notice of those figures. The manufacturer can use a racing driver on a track and try to get the figure a quick as he can. Alternatively, he can massage the figures so that the speed fits within the model range. I only drive automatics and tested 4 before I bought my present one. The one I chose was not on my shortlist because its published 0-60 fro something like 15-16 seconds and I thought that it would be too slow. I was persuaded to test drive one and tested it myself, getting a 0-60 of about 11 seconds. After some investigation of similar models (and even brands with the same engine/gearbox) I deduced that they were publishing speed figures to fit into a family of such figures as part of marketing not reality.

With an automatic, you simply press the pedal as hard as you can and you get to 60 as fast as the car will go, without having to understand the power curves and changing gear at the optimum time. In my case I don't do much pressing the pedal hard as I never rush and find an automatic far more relaxing. I have a diesel automatic, which are few and far between, but I managed 58mpg yesterday on a round trip to and from Grantham and suspect a manual wouldn't have been much better, again because it relies on the human changing gear in the most optimum way.

muddycoffee · 01-06-2006, 09:54

I agree with ken here.
After actually driving some automatic cars, I would say that in general acceleration is the same as Manual, although you always get it dead right in automatic, whereas even after passing my car test and driving for more than half of my life I sometimes find that I could have changed gear better.

Maybe a manual is faster for a rally driver, but not for mere mortals. Even formula 1 cars are semi automatic these days.

shoeshine · 01-06-2006, 10:01

I have an automatic. I bought it 18 months ago. I wouldn't go back to manual box unless forced.

I had my first automatic in 1968, a Corsair with 3 forward gears, stick change on steering column. Traded it for a manual car after a couple of years and have driven manual cars ever since, until this one we have now.

The latest autoboxes are computerised and "learn" the driver's own parameters and your general driving demands.

Brilliant.