Difference between Manual & Auto in a driving test.
- Thread starter PeteXXX
- Start date
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Just remember, keep your left foot planted in the carpet.
Else be prepared to headbutt the steering wheel 👍😂
Marchrider
Über Member
Yes DAF have / had an automated box that was called (i think) AS-Tronic, it was known humorously by drivers as arsetronic due to its slow and unpredictable shifting
Marchrider
Über Member
we have an Auto car and a Manual van and I will drive both most days (have done probably all this century) and for reasons that I have never understood, I never get mixed up in what transmission I am driving - have terrible problems with indicators, wind wipers washers, lights, even opening the windows (van still has winders). but never look for the gearstick or forget to press the clutch
And I can't say driving an auto is anything special (maybe in heavy town traffic) but generally I'm just as happy with a manual
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
This is why daughter won't drive the Aygo, that is seriously hard to stall even with an old fashioned set up.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
The most impressive auto-manual mix up story was from my uncle. His regular car was an auto, but the garage had given him a manual for the day whilst they were giving his own car a service. No problem at all as he was happy driving either, particularly as my aunt's car was always a manual which he'd occasionally use. The issue was at the end of the day after he'd picked up his own car, and whilst driving home had a bit of a brain fart and thought he was still in the loaner, so tried to "change down" for a bend, shoved the selector lever forward as if he was changing into third, jamming it into reverse (or maybe park?). There was a huge crunch, the wheels locked, and he spun the car and ended up facing the wrong way. Luckily there was no one else on the road, and also luckily he stayed on the road. He re-started the car, gingerly put in drive and amazingly it seemed no harm had been done to the works. He still can't fathom why he did it, as there wasn't even a clutch to press, and he was generally a sensible capable guy, rather than than one of those people this sort of thing seems to happen to a lot
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rogerzilla
Legendary Member
Standards have been slipped and you are allowed to sit with your foot on the brake now, warping the discs if they were hot and dazzling the driver behind.
New cars with EPBs usually have Auto Hold, which effectively holds the footbrake - not the parking brake - on for you with the same disadvantages.
I blame Americans, who never touch a parking brake of any kind. They either use the footbrake or Park on the gear selector.
New cars with EPBs usually have Auto Hold, which effectively holds the footbrake - not the parking brake - on for you with the same disadvantages.
I blame Americans, who never touch a parking brake of any kind. They either use the footbrake or Park on the gear selector.
Why Americans, they are relatively small importers to the UK or European countries. This design either originated in Europe from the Germans most likely . I remember Audis many years ago being one the first with electronic parking brakes.
rogerzilla
Legendary Member
It's Auto Hold I'm talking about, not the EPB itself. Auto Hold generally only comes with EPBs, although it doesn't actually use the EPB to hold the car. I suppose you could have Auto Hold with a manual handbrake but I don't think anyone has done it.
IME Auto Hold works well with automatics but can be hit or miss with manual gearboxes as it doesn't really know when to let go. I could never use it on my manual Mazda CX-5 as it invariably dragged and wore the clutch, but it was flawless on the automatic Mazda 3 I had.
There are only about a dozen new cars available with a manual handbrake now (I have one of them, much simpler than electronic crap that may or may not work).
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Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I l'm dreading ever having to drive an automatic. They sound bloody complicated. Not to mention weird. No handbrake?
They're so easy, relaxing, especially if move over to EV. The come to full stop feature without using brakes is a breeze to get your driving skills around.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I don't believe that driving any kind of motor vehicle could ever be described as "relaxing". Especially not in SE London. Hopefully there are a fair few years left in my current car so I'm safe for a while.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Some still have a handbrake. In the van contraption I bought, I went for the latest model from VX who had the electronic hangbrake - the Pugs/Citroen's didn't and that just adds complexity to the operation when you are specifically buying an automatic. It's so easy. You've just got to remember three things when stopping. Stop )of course) apply handbrake switch, dial auto knob to Park then press Start/stop. Forget these and the car will bong at you and tell you what a silly sausage you are. Do not open the door or it really swears at you.
As for putting your head through the window - that was more to do with massively upgraded brakes compared to our older cars. Both Nissans and the Aygo have similar brake feel. Not the van. It's feather touch. I've not driven the others since doing in my hip, and I suspect I'll think they are broken when I get in them.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Believe it or not, much easier in traffic as your concentrating more on the road, not having to work clutch and gears. My baptism of the van was to drive into Manchester daily due to my poorly hip. It's a doddle once you get over the size. Quite pleasant. Still not a patch on cycling in.
