Manual v Automatic cars

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NortonExile

Well-known member
Firstly, I am not a car person at all and I am sure there will be a perfectly good reason for this but why would someone buy a manual car over an automatic?

I have always driven a manual car as i’ve believed that was the “usual” thing but I have recently been given an automatic company car and it does everything a manual does but saves on faffing around with gears, clutch etc. So why do the majority of people drive manual cars when the technology is available to have less stress-free driving?
 
NortonExile said:
Firstly, I am not a car person at all and I am sure there will be a perfectly good reason for this but why would someone buy a manual car over an automatic?

I have always driven a manual car as i’ve believed that was the “usual” thing but I have recently been given an automatic company car and it does everything a manual does but saves on faffing around with gears, clutch etc. So why do the majority of people drive manual cars when the technology is available to have less stress-free driving?
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'Why' certainly is the question. Even living amongst petrol heads in Texas for a few years, only the odd balls preferred 'stick shift'.
 
Bought a car last year. Lovely motor and couldn't wait to take it down to Weymouth and then up to Dartmouth. Drove it around for a week - loving it. Then, hit traffic on the way to Weymouth and also on the way up to Dartmouth. It was at that time that I wished that I had done a little more research and got an automatic. My left calf wouldn't have been killing! After 24 years of driving, you'd think I'd have worked it out by now. Still love the car but the next one will be auto.
 
petrio said:
Bought a car last year. Lovely motor and couldn't wait to take it down to Weymouth and then up to Dartmouth. Drove it around for a week - loving it. Then, hit traffic on the way to Weymouth and also on the way up to Dartmouth. It was at that time that I wished that I had done a little more research and got an automatic. My left calf wouldn't have been killing! After 24 years of driving, you'd think I'd have worked it out by now. Still love the car but the next one will be auto.
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Lavverly motor 👍🏻
 
Had a few manual - switched to auto when leasing - currently bought a motor and it is a manual - I miss the ease of an auto to be honest. Lets face it all new EVs etc are going to be auto in type as they are just driving electric motors. Best get used to it.
 
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Loved manuals, but now drive an ‘automatic’ with flappy paddles, gives you the same control as ma al but without as much effort.
 
sambaDTR said:
What are the automatics like in the snow and ice nowadays?
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The Mercedes I had was fine - that was 2016-2020 so a fairly recent model, but the winters have not exactly been whiteouts in recent years so not sure the frost and ice have been that challenging.
 
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So many good things about an automatic, such as the ease of driving which leads to less stress (maybe). Technology has improved with automatics so that it’s fair to say that literally anyone can drive an automatic.

Ok the so called purist will want the thrill of ramming the gear stick but the new cars have the paddle shift now (no clutch) which can be a good substitute.

As for driving in bad weather I believe also that an automatic has the edge over a manual shift but it’s just my opinion. I just favour having less distractions in bad weather such as a gear stick and an extra pedal all of which increase the risk of making a mistake.
 
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I think a lot of people are falsely under the impression that automatics are less responsive and often pick the wrong gear or change gear at the wrong times. The technology has massively improved over the years like every other component has, so it’s not really an issue. The flappy paddles allow you to select a gear manually anyway but 99% of people will rarely or never use them. As others have said, EV’s are basically automatic anyway so manual vehicles will be a rare sight on the roads in 20 years. New drivers won’t have the licence to drive them if they wanted to.
 
sambaDTR said:
What are the automatics like in the snow and ice nowadays?
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That’s where they fall down, especially if you live in an area with hills. I prefer my auto for the majority of the year but if we have snow it’s manageable but rubbish compared to a manual. You can’t forcibly change it up a gear for more traction unless your doing the minimum speed it wants you to be for that gear change. So if your struggling to get started you can’t set off in second.
 
Priv said:
That’s where they fall down, especially if you live in an area with hills. I prefer my auto for the majority of the year but if we have snow it’s manageable but rubbish compared to a manual. You can’t forcibly change it up a gear for more traction unless your doing the minimum speed it wants you to be for that gear change. So if your struggling to get started you can’t set off in second.
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On the newer versions of vehicles there’s a system called traction control (ATC) which kicks in during extreme weather conditions. Granted this isn’t consistent throughout the vehicle world but I’ve found on Honda’s especially, it’s very effective. Newer models have better traction control but those who prefer stick shift probably won’t be persuaded by tricks of a control system.
 
I had Auto in my last car but changed back to manual as I enjoy driving that way. No other answer. It’s definitely easier in an auto but I don’t feel the drive the same.
 
Expat Smoggie said:
On the newer versions of vehicles there’s a system called traction control (ATC) which kicks in during extreme weather conditions. Granted this isn’t consistent throughout the vehicle world but I’ve found on Honda’s especially, it’s very effective. Newer models have better traction control but those who prefer stick shift probably won’t be persuaded by tricks of a control system.
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I turn that off in the snow as it stops you being able to go up steep hills, as it kicks in as soon as your wheels start to slip stopping the car and losing your momentum.

I prefer my auto for 11 months of the year, but we have a lot of steep hills near us and a manual is a lot better for it. I also use good winter tyres in winter.
 
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