Manual cars and driving tests

[wjwren]

With the change over to hybrid and electric which are all automatics, how would a young person taking their driving test in 2030 be able to learn in a manual and thus drive his grandads classic car? The driving instructors are not going to be able to buy a new manual Fiesta petrol diesel or elec etc soon. So all new drivers will be automatic only.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

There will still be manual cars for years after 2030.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

..and then I suppose as the old cars become less there will be an exception, a bit like no MOT or £0 RFL.

[Darth Paul]

I’ve been wondering this. Guess it’s depends on how much the government wants old cars off the road. They could just say past your test and drive anything, manual or auto. This is how the cbt works currently for bikes. You can take the course on a rev and rip, then jump on a geared bike, although there was talk of changing that. Think US licences are the same. Driving ‘stick’ is just something you teach yourself. Or they could stick with auto license is for autos only, so eventually force old cars off the road by stealth.

[croyde]

In the US they take their tests in autos yet are allowed to drive 'stick' manuals.

When I bought my Mustang GT manual I frequented US forums where the question was quite often asked 'Hi guys, picking up my new GT V8 tomorrow but have never driven stick, any advice?'.

The answer was usually get the dealer to deliver it then find a quiet road to practise.

I find the idea of someone using a clutch and gears for the very first time with a 400 odd bhp V8 RWD, a bit frightening.

[BlackLabel]

You would just have to take the test in your own car.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-test/using-your-own-car

[anonymous-user]

Let’s be honest, in 10 years time, the number of people who will pass their tests in an EV then want to drive a manual car at some point will be absolutely tiny.

There are already driving instructors with EV’s.

This guy has been using Nissan Leaf’s since 2011. He did 126,000 miles in his last one, and the only thing needed in that entire time was a windscreen wiper motor and tyres.

Nothing else, including brake pads, needed any attention. He says he has saved a fortune.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nissan/101039/electr...

Apparently there are now 10 driving schools in the UK who only use EV’s, so still a small number, but I imagine the cost savings will tempt many more.

Interestingly, I read that the EV driving schools say that they are attracting a demographic of youngsters who “wouldn’t have learned to drive if they couldn’t do it in an EV” due to environmental concerns.

So it may end up being a case of driving schools have to move to EV, otherwise a good portion of their potential customers won’t use them.

Interesting.

[Sheepshanks]

croyde said:

In the US they take their tests in autos yet are allowed to drive 'stick' manuals.

Must be quite amusing / terrifying at car rental places at UK airports when a yank turns up and is given a manual!

[GordonL]

I know of two cases where the American concerned shoved the rental car into 3rd gear and drove away happily from Inverness to Fort William without touching the gear lever again.

[BlackLabel]

GordonL said:

I know of two cases where the American concerned shoved the rental car into 3rd gear and drove away happily from Inverness to Fort William without touching the gear lever again.

Lol.

[Tom Logan]

I remember a few years ago a story about some dizzy bint (nationality unknown) who drove all the way from London to the west country in 2nd gear totally wrecking the engine and transmission. I wonder how many times she stopped for fuel?

[red_slr]

Already applies for some classes of licence in the UK.... can take in auto but drive a manual..C1, C, C+E tests can all be taken in an auto.

[LunarOne]

Tom Logan said:

I remember a few years ago a story about some dizzy bint (nationality unknown) who drove all the way from London to the west country in 2nd gear totally wrecking the engine and transmission. I wonder how many times she stopped for fuel?

I can't see why staying in 2nd gear would wreck anything apart from fuel economy, unless she was bouncing off the red line the whole way. Even then I can't see why it would trouble the gearbox. Even the engine should be okay unless there wasn't much oil in there?

[Tom Logan]

LunarOne said:

Tom Logan said:

I remember a few years ago a story about some dizzy bint (nationality unknown) who drove all the way from London to the west country in 2nd gear totally wrecking the engine and transmission. I wonder how many times she stopped for fuel?

I can't see why staying in 2nd gear would wreck anything apart from fuel economy, unless she was bouncing off the red line the whole way. Even then I can't see why it would trouble the gearbox. Even the engine should be okay unless there wasn't much oil in there?

I wouldn't like to put it to the test in a car of mine.

@ 300 miles in 2nd gear at motorway speeds?

[EXMX5]

Darth Paul said:

I’ve been wondering this. Guess it’s depends on how much the government wants old cars off the road. They could just say past your test and drive anything, manual or auto. This is how the cbt works currently for bikes. You can take the course on a rev and rip, then jump on a geared bike, although there was talk of changing that. Think US licences are the same. Driving ‘stick’ is just something you teach yourself. Or they could stick with auto license is for autos only, so eventually force old cars off the road by stealth.

CBT on a twist and go means you can’t ride a manual motorbike. My CBT pass clearly says geared, whereas the other chap did it on a scooter and had an automatic gearbox pass.

[essexd]

EXMX5 said:

CBT on a twist and go means you can’t ride a manual motorbike. My CBT pass clearly says geared, whereas the other chap did it on a scooter and had an automatic gearbox pass.

https://www.rideto.com/blog/should-I-learn-auto-manual#:~:text=One%20thing%20to%20note%20%2D%20whatever,to%20buy%20a%20manual%20motorcycle.

[Eyersey1234]

red_slr said:

Already applies for some classes of licence in the UK.... can take in auto but drive a manual..C1, C, C+E tests can all be taken in an auto.

D, D1 and D+E also but only applies if you hold a manual car licence

[98elise]

croyde said:

In the US they take their tests in autos yet are allowed to drive 'stick' manuals.

When I bought my Mustang GT manual I frequented US forums where the question was quite often asked 'Hi guys, picking up my new GT V8 tomorrow but have never driven stick, any advice?'.

The answer was usually get the dealer to deliver it then find a quiet road to practise.

I find the idea of someone using a clutch and gears for the very first time with a 400 odd bhp V8 RWD, a bit frightening.

I remember watching a video of a guy in the states driving manual car for the first time. His mate (the one videoing) was so impressed, he felt it warranted YouTube video to show the world how good the guy was.

One of the comments was song the lines of..."99% of Europeans manage this first time they drive a car"

[Esceptico]

My daughter is about to learn to drive and I’ve been wondering whether she should bother learning in a manual car. The UK is very backward in still having lots of manual cars but in many countries eg here in NZ at least 90% of cars are automatic. EVs only going to make that number higher.

[fido]

Does anyone find driving automatics tricky after getting used to manuals? And there are many ways to select gears in a DCT/auto - for instance, I prefer to use the stick than the flappy paddles as it's tricky to find the paddles mid-corner!