Once you go auto, you never go back?
Discussion
I saw an interesting video on this, and I wonder if it's true at all.
How many of you have driven manuals for years, then bought an automatic, and have bought cars since?
Did you go for an auto or a manual?
Obviously this is skewed slightly by the limited choice of manuals and autos (if you want a hot Ford or Honda hot hatch, it's got to be a manual, and if you want a big 4x4, it's got to be an automatic, etc)
So how many of you have gone manual -> auto -> manual, and how many of you have done manual -> auto -> auto?
Obviously I'm not really talking about people who can't drive manuals anymore for medical reasons, I'm more keen to see what those of you with the freedom to choose, choose.
Also, as a sidenote, if you want an automatic, surely a hybrid or EV makes more sense? One of the main reasons I don't like EVs is there's no manual. And is there a big difference between normal ZF-type automatics, DSGs, PDKs, CVTs and EVs, beyond the way the rev needle moves and the noise? If I put you in a car with 2 pedals, gave you noise cancelling headphones and covered the dials, could you work out what sort of transmission it is?
How many of you have driven manuals for years, then bought an automatic, and have bought cars since?
Did you go for an auto or a manual?
Obviously this is skewed slightly by the limited choice of manuals and autos (if you want a hot Ford or Honda hot hatch, it's got to be a manual, and if you want a big 4x4, it's got to be an automatic, etc)
So how many of you have gone manual -> auto -> manual, and how many of you have done manual -> auto -> auto?
Obviously I'm not really talking about people who can't drive manuals anymore for medical reasons, I'm more keen to see what those of you with the freedom to choose, choose.
Also, as a sidenote, if you want an automatic, surely a hybrid or EV makes more sense? One of the main reasons I don't like EVs is there's no manual. And is there a big difference between normal ZF-type automatics, DSGs, PDKs, CVTs and EVs, beyond the way the rev needle moves and the noise? If I put you in a car with 2 pedals, gave you noise cancelling headphones and covered the dials, could you work out what sort of transmission it is?
Over the years I have owned 3 autos, the each time the next car was a manual. I even bought manuals whilst I owned the autos. To me some cars are suited to autos some are suited to manuals.
But If I had to drive through city or largish town type traffic everyday I would have autos. Luckily I don't see a lot of traffic where I tend to drive.
But If I had to drive through city or largish town type traffic everyday I would have autos. Luckily I don't see a lot of traffic where I tend to drive.
For a while we ran a manual MK7 Golf R, a DSG MK7.5 Golf R estate and a manual up! GTI. I didn't like the DSG much at all, even preferring the manual in the up! I've also had a BMW with a ZF 'box, and again I wasn't keen. Driven lots of PDK Porsches and although it's incredibly good, I'd still choose manual where possible. I think it all depends on application, fun car has to be a manual for me, family car has to be an EV.
I bought my first auto in 2016 after 30 years of manuals - a BMW M240.
Current Jag F Type is auto.
Tesla is auto.
MX5 is manual and is fun on a Sunday morning drive.
I am not too bothered either way but would try and have an auto for the every day stuff. Flexible on the sporty car but both the BMW and Jag autos are brilliant when coupled with the paddles
Current Jag F Type is auto.
Tesla is auto.
MX5 is manual and is fun on a Sunday morning drive.
I am not too bothered either way but would try and have an auto for the every day stuff. Flexible on the sporty car but both the BMW and Jag autos are brilliant when coupled with the paddles
As car enthusiasts I think most of us would always be happy spending time in a manual regardless of how many autos we drive. Personally I'd never want a manual daily driver, but I'd also never want an auto weekend / fun car. Once most non-car people switch to an auto they've got no reason to go back. I know that was the case for my Dad after 50 years of driving.
Always had manuals, then an auto, couple of manuals, couple of autos the a couple of manuals. Wife and daughter both have autos, I’ll happily flit from mine to theirs. Makes not a lot of difference what I drive, but would prefer manual - we’ve always had not very powerful cars which means the kick down in an auto is just too slow for any meaningful acceleration when you want it.
First automatic car I owned was a Mercedes E class estate replacing a Saab 9-5 aero estate in 2017, since then had another auto E-class, an auto 335D, now an electric Polestar 2. My partner only drives automatics, she had a Kia SUV thing when I met her, then a Mercedes CLK, now an ID.3.
Even if I didn't need my other half to be able to drive it, even if I didn't want an electric, I'd not have another manual daily. Conversely, if something happened to the Elise or the Z4M, I would be looking to replace with a manual. Wouldn't really give serious consideration to an Alpine or 4C or a PDK Porsche for that reason.
Even if I didn't need my other half to be able to drive it, even if I didn't want an electric, I'd not have another manual daily. Conversely, if something happened to the Elise or the Z4M, I would be looking to replace with a manual. Wouldn't really give serious consideration to an Alpine or 4C or a PDK Porsche for that reason.
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Auto
Auto
Manual - (had this one for a year before deciding I needed an auto again)
Auto
Auto
Auto
Auto
Auto
These are all regular daily drivers, not sports cars. they take me to work and back and the later ones for family duties. autos just work, easy to commute in when there is normally lots of traffic and are generally effortless, all the recent ones have almost unnoticeable smooth changes .
In the unlikely event that I were to have a road going sports car. I am not sure it would be a manual either. some of the newer sporty flappy paddle semi-auto/auto gearboxes are supposed to be brilliant - Just my choice and I have no issue with anyone desiring a sports car with clutch and gearstick.
Manual
Manual
Manual
Auto
Auto
Manual - (had this one for a year before deciding I needed an auto again)
Auto
Auto
Auto
Auto
Auto
These are all regular daily drivers, not sports cars. they take me to work and back and the later ones for family duties. autos just work, easy to commute in when there is normally lots of traffic and are generally effortless, all the recent ones have almost unnoticeable smooth changes .
In the unlikely event that I were to have a road going sports car. I am not sure it would be a manual either. some of the newer sporty flappy paddle semi-auto/auto gearboxes are supposed to be brilliant - Just my choice and I have no issue with anyone desiring a sports car with clutch and gearstick.
Mr Ben said:
For me at least depends entirely on circumstance/use.
Doing 25K pa on work/general family duties I d only ever consider auto
When it came to my fun car would only ever consider a manual (with a big loud engine) which is why I bought a TVR
Similar. Doing 25K pa on work/general family duties I d only ever consider auto
When it came to my fun car would only ever consider a manual (with a big loud engine) which is why I bought a TVR
My cars at the moment are a lotus excel and a Porsche boxster (986). They share daily driver/fun duties, but if I was going to get something to just be a daily I'd probably go auto EV
My first Automatic car was my Discovery 4 (6 speed) which seems a fairly good gearbox, so I wouldn't be averse to another auto. I'd always want a manual car though - currently that is my E34 5 series.
I've driven quite a few autos and for those against them it would be unfair to tar them with the same brush - ZF8 in my uncle's old 640d was good, as was the 7 spd auto in my friends A6.
The 7spd auto in my wife's Mercedes C220 is quite good, but manual override is laggy - there's about a second after selecting another gear before it actually engages. It doesn't feel like a mechanical problem as engagement is still smooth. By contrast the gearbox in the Discovery changes gear the moment another is selected.
I've driven quite a few autos and for those against them it would be unfair to tar them with the same brush - ZF8 in my uncle's old 640d was good, as was the 7 spd auto in my friends A6.
The 7spd auto in my wife's Mercedes C220 is quite good, but manual override is laggy - there's about a second after selecting another gear before it actually engages. It doesn't feel like a mechanical problem as engagement is still smooth. By contrast the gearbox in the Discovery changes gear the moment another is selected.
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