Why bother with a manual everyday car?

[SuperHangOn]

I've just gone back to a manual and I must be honest- I'm finding it a right chore after my previous automatic barge.

I'm all for manual on cars you can enjoy but a Mondeo tdci for crawling around the M25? I'm regretting it and I can't believe most people who have no interest in cars bother.

Cool story I know.

[drophead]

I drive a 325ti with a 6 speed box.

It is a riot. But, it also gives me great touring mileage when I slap the cruise control on and leave it in 6th.

Having a decent manual does not make me want an automatic at all!

[Vibein]

Think of all the muscle gains to your left leg

[kambites]

Personally, I enjoy the act of changing gear.

[Davey S2]

Auto all the way for a commute car!

[SuperHangOn]

Vibein said:

Think of all the muscle gains to your left leg

Well I have cut down on smoking and eating bogeys.

[dingocooke]

Or you could just as easily ask why not? Personally I believe the manual/auto question is taste and personal preference; there is no right or wrong answer surely?
The major motor manufacturers are moving away from manual, especially on bigger cars (try buying a new quality 3 litre diesel coupe with manual; only choice BMW330D coupe, and I am guessing that will disappear with the 4 series coupe; it's all about emissions testing)
I've driven well over a million miles in the last 20 years, pretty well all bar 40,000 of them in a manual, I just like changing gear I guess!
Steve

[CraigyMc]

SuperHangOn said:

I've just gone back to a manual and I must be honest- I'm finding it a right chore after my previous automatic barge.

I'm all for manual on cars you can enjoy but a Mondeo tdci for crawling around the M25? I'm regretting it and I can't believe most people who have no interest in cars bother.

Cool story I know.

Because not everyone lives in traffic jams.

/thread.

[james_gt3rs]

SuperHangOn said:

Vibein said:

Think of all the muscle gains to your left leg

Well I have cut down on smoking and eating bogeys.

Remember, not everyone has a horrid commute.

For steady motorway miles though, you stay in top gear constantly though?

[Crook]

Or

CraigyMc said:

Because of the bits before and after the traffic jams.

/thread.

[Krikkit]

SuperHangOn said:

I've just gone back to a manual and I must be honest- I'm finding it a right chore after my previous automatic barge.

I'm all for manual on cars you can enjoy but a Mondeo tdci for crawling around the M25? I'm regretting it and I can't believe most people who have no interest in cars bother.

Cool story I know.

I agree - a car reserved solely for drudgery (and especially one in stop/start traffic) could be an auto and I would find it a lot more relaxing. I always think "why don't normal people buy autos?", surely most folks, who couldn't give a toss about actually driving, would be better off in an auto?

[Gad-Westy]

Davey S2 said:

Auto all the way for a commute car!

Never thought I'd say it but I agree. Have two BMW's at the moment. Largely similar cars but one is auto and one is manual. For commuting in stop start traffic, auto every time and frankly as much creature comfort and detachment from the outside world as possible. If I had a remotely interesting route, I'd maybe be different.

[anonymous-user]

I love autos for a daily driver but if you're shed motoring it's one massive and expensive point of failure, particularly the newer 5 speed and up boxes. At 100k+ pretty much all modern boxes seem to be on borrowed ground unless they've had fluid changes, usually against manufacturers recommendations.

[HustleRussell]

SuperHangOn said:

I've just gone back to a manual and I must be honest- I'm finding it a right chore after my previous automatic barge.

I'm all for manual on cars you can enjoy but a Mondeo tdci for crawling around the M25? I'm regretting it and I can't believe most people who have no interest in cars bother.

Cool story I know.

I didn't like the combination of TDCI engine and manual 'box either- mine was a six speed and it was a lot of effort. I was also constantly concerned with preserving the flywheel. If I was going to do diesel again I'd definitely consider Auto.
Instead I 'downgraded' to an old BMW 525i- lovely five speed 'box, lovely tractable engine which'll happily pull 5th from 25mph to 145ish. Much nicer!

[Chris71]

Davey S2 said:

Auto all the way for a commute car!

Assuming you're unfortunate enough to have a commute like mine.

Just bought my first auto - for reasons beyond my control, I might add - and my god it's relaxing.

As a competent driver who's more than happy to swap gears and control a clutch manually I never thought I'd get any benefit from an auto, but I was wrong. If it wasn't for fear that I'd forget how to drive a proper car I'd stick with an auto for as long as my commute remains this dull.

Of course, if you're the sort of jammy git who commutes to work across Snowdonia then I wholeheartedly support the idea of sticking with a cheaper, more economical, more involving and more reliable manual gearbox. But for shuffling around suburbia it's just so much more chilled out. I don't want to be involved in my commute, frankly.

[pilchardthecat]

Not everyone drives to work on the motorway! 25 miles of mostly rural A and B roads for me.

[Baryonyx]

pilchardthecat said:

Not everyone drives to work on the motorway! 25 miles of mostly rural A and B roads for me.

Same here. Not everyone crawls in traffic either. Out of all of my shifts, only the early day shifts involve driving in heavy traffic (and then only on the commute home). The rest of it, the roads are either quiet or empty! So having a manual is a joy.

I used to commute in my A8. A wafty, comfortable barge. It was superb. But it definitely didn't stir my soul and provide the tactile enjoyment of my 106 Rallye. The Rallye is a bit of a chore in traffic, much like my MR2 Turbo was. But that is part of the charm of it. And the exhilirating contrast as the road opens up and the car comes alive! Yes, manual all the way for me thanks. I can't see why you would bother with an auto, really. I'd have had a manual transmission in my A8 if I could have. So much more satisfying!

[fourwheelsteer]

Krikkit said:

I agree - a car reserved solely for drudgery (and especially one in stop/start traffic) could be an auto and I would find it a lot more relaxing. I always think "why don't normal people buy autos?", surely most folks, who couldn't give a toss about actually driving, would be better off in an auto?

The odd thing is that I know some non-enthusiasts who are distinctly anti-auto. They know they must change gear even if they don't understand why and have only a rudimentary understanding of when. Given an autoomatic they find it unfamiliar; it doesn't necessarily change gear when they would and might kick down where they would stay in a high gear. The unfamiliar must be wrong, they reason, and so they keep kicking clutch pedals and moving levers because they are happy with what they know.

[Gad-Westy]

fourwheelsteer said:

Krikkit said:

I agree - a car reserved solely for drudgery (and especially one in stop/start traffic) could be an auto and I would find it a lot more relaxing. I always think "why don't normal people buy autos?", surely most folks, who couldn't give a toss about actually driving, would be better off in an auto?

The odd thing is that I know some non-enthusiasts who are distinctly anti-auto. They know they must change gear even if they don't understand why and have only a rudimentary understanding of when. Given an autoomatic they find it unfamiliar; it doesn't necessarily change gear when they would and might kick down where they would stay in a high gear. The unfamiliar must be wrong, they reason, and so they keep kicking clutch pedals and moving levers because they are happy with what they know.

Always wondered this myself. My mum couldn't give two hoots about driving and her gear changes are coarse enough to break your neck and yet she insists on having a manual.

[300bhp/ton]

SuperHangOn said:

I've just gone back to a manual and I must be honest- I'm finding it a right chore after my previous automatic barge.

I'm all for manual on cars you can enjoy but a Mondeo tdci for crawling around the M25? I'm regretting it and I can't believe most people who have no interest in cars bother.

Cool story I know.

Amazing how you manage to put enough effort in to steer and push the brake pedal too....