Should I still buy a manual or are autos the way forward?

[Leicesterdave]

2016 A4- Used to a manual but I'm told manual is dead! It's a diesel so not a sport car but I do like changing gears!

Should I perhaps consider auto as manuals are clearly getting less popular.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Drive what you want

[300bhp/ton]

What an odd thread.

[cerb4.5lee]

I love manuals and I've currently got 2 manuals and 1 auto. For me personally though I think that an auto suits a diesel engine better than a manual does.

I had a manual BMW 520d and the gearchange was fine but I think it would have worked better as an auto. The auto keeps it more in the short powerband, and the auto helps to disguise the roughness of the engine a little better too.

[markyb_lcy]

Test drive an auto and decide for yourself?

Who cares what’s popular, use what you want to use. Not like you’re going to lose friends over it, is it?

Don’t think I’ve ever once sat in a queue of traffic or been pulled out on by an obvious auto and said to the Mrs ... “look at this wally in his auto box. What a cock”

[anonymous-user]

If you spend more of your time on motorways and I'm cities - auto.

Twisty b-roads - manual.

Even in something not sporty like an A4.

[AmosMoses]

For daily driving an auto is perfect, but for a Sunday blat you have to have a manual.

[Monkeylegend]

Like the thread title

Reverse is also available in both manual and automatic.

[cerb4.5lee]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've currently got a Volvo XC90 with a 2 litre petrol engine(the same size engine that I have in a Mini!) as a courtesy car...and I keep laughing about the small engine/big and heavy car combination. Who thought that was a good idea?...a 2 litre petrol engine powering a 2 tonne SUV!

So for me there is still room in the market for a nice and torquey 6 cylinder diesel engine for sure.

[M4cruiser]

markyb_lcy said:

Don’t think I’ve ever once sat in a queue of traffic or been pulled out on by an obvious auto and said to the Mrs ... “look at this wally in his auto box. What a cock”

I remember years ago cars used to have an "automatic" badge, alongside the engine size and trim level.

[Kolbenkopp]

XIII said:

If you spend more of your time on motorways and I'm cities - auto. Twisty b-roads - manual. Even in something not sporty like an A4.

Think for those that don't have a real preference, it's even easier. Manual -- as long as you don't have to drive in heavy traffic on a regular basis. Cheaper, less to go wrong and lighter.

[M4cruiser]

In 25 years time there won't be any manuals.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Drive both & decide - sometimes it's the car, sometimes its the roads

I have a Range Rover with an 8sp auto box which is sublime - you can hardly feel the change & suits the car perfectly

I also have a Mini Cooper S with a manual box - and it just feels right - I only ever blat about in it and an auto would feel wrong

I can't ever change gear as smoothly as the RR auto though....

[Kolbenkopp]

M4cruiser said:

In 25 years time there won't be any manuals.

Not quite accurate I think -- 15 years before the ICE ban in the UK, plus 10 years during which most of the boring stuff will get scrapped. The survivors are likely biased towards driving enjoyment and should, percentage wise, have more manuals.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

M4cruiser said:

In 25 years time there won't be any manuals.

In 25 years I don't expect there will be many humans driving cars - so no manual steering wheels either......

[Jimmy Recard]

I have a diesel Mercedes ML with an automatic gearbox
I also have a petrol Mazda MX-5 with a manual gearbox

That’s just how they’re suited. Don’t worry about other people saying that one or the other is dead - just buy what you want

[Cold]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

M4cruiser said:

In 25 years time there won't be any manuals.

In 25 years I don't expect there will be many humans driving cars - so no manual steering wheels either......

I'm not sure if covid19 is that serious.

[donkmeister]

markyb_lcy said:

Don’t think I’ve ever once sat in a queue of traffic or been pulled out on by an obvious auto and said to the Mrs ... “look at this wally in his auto box. What a cock”

Clearly you are not one of those who posts about being blinded by the searing brakelights of stationary automatics in traffic

[Skyedriver]

M4cruiser said:

In 25 years time there won't be any manuals.

He was from Barcelona you know!

On a serious note, I have an auto Merc, bought it last year, first auto I've had in 50 years of driving apart from a few hire cars in the US.
Not a fan, can't put a finger on it (no pun intended) but I prefer the immediate response when dropping down a gear in a stick shift. Merc currently up for sale.

[cerb4.5lee]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I would too if I had a 5.0 V8!(I used to have a 4.8 V8 petrol SUV)

It still baffles me how a 4 cylinder 2 litre petrol ends up in something so heavy though. It is a laughably bad idea for me...not to mention that it is a £55k car(basic) with such a puny engine.