FabSwingers.com forum: driving advice time.....

By *abio OP Man
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

okay.... as you lot know... had a few driving lessons..... and i have come across an issue....

the rest of the family drive automatics, after I pass, whatever i do it in I am going to flee for an automatic anyway...., I am finding learning in a manual to be very frustrating.....

Should i just flee for an automatic now... or stick at the manual.....

I am more and more tempted to just flee for the automatic now.......

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Stick to manual and learn how to drive properly

Go the easy route when you've passed

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

100% stick to manual until you've passed your test.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you pass in an automatic you can only drive an automatic. If you pass in a manual you can drive either. Learning to drive a manual gives you a much better feel for the road with regards to inclines, declines, weather conditions etc as you have to make the decision as to which gear to be in, not the car.

Once you've found your 'wheels', as we drivers say, you can opt for an auto if you find them easier to drive.

Good luck Fabs.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *uss PussWoman
over a year ago

east cheshire

Stick with the manual, if you cant change gear you cant drive

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Learn to drive in a manual car, once you have passed, you will have the freedom to choose whatever car that takes your fancy.

Personally, I find driving automatic cars boring, manuals are far more fun!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ixson-BallsMan
over a year ago

Blackpool

if you pass your test in an automatic,thats all you'll be allowed legally to drive...pass it in a manual and you got the best of both worlds...saying that a female friend of mine had a similar problem,finding gear changing,clutch control etc and she took the automatic route and passed with flying colours,drives an automatic and never looked back...i'd give it another months worth of lessons,then if you're really struggling,at least you got an alternative...good luck with whatever you choose

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've always driven a manual, once you get the hang of a manual, it's not problem..Ok we've all stopped at the lights or junction, and forgotten to change back into first..Lol, i'd say stick with Manual.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Persevere with the manual. Aside from anything, decent automatic cars are harder to get hold of, so unless you're off to the showroom to buy brand new you won't have as much choice.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true."

Aren't they semi-automatic? With paddles?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Stick with what’s best for you, and only you can answer that one, oh and good luck on the test whatever you decide.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"okay.... as you lot know... had a few driving lessons..... and i have come across an issue....

the rest of the family drive automatics, after I pass, whatever i do it in I am going to flee for an automatic anyway...., I am finding learning in a manual to be very frustrating.....

Should i just flee for an automatic now... or stick at the manual.....

I am more and more tempted to just flee for the automatic now......."

If you have an automatic licence then you are not legally able to drive a stick shift so its something you have to think about. And most of the flashy cars are manuals.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

and manuals are a lot more fun and entertaining to drive..especially if you're caning it

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true.

Aren't they semi-automatic? With paddles?"

They are but you can drive semi automatics with an automatic licence

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true.

Aren't they semi-automatic? With paddles?"

Not really. They are more semi-manual if anything.

There's no clutch pedal, and if you don't flick the paddle it will change gear itself.

It's mostly a marketing gimmicky type thing to give middle aged wankers the feeling they are Schumacher as they tool down the road listening to Brachman Turner Overdrive...

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 03/09/10 11:32:08]

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

From a slightly more practicle side, automatics (second hand and new) tend to cost more, and in certain classes of car (A and B) are a lot harder to find second hand and often have a much longer waiting list if you buy new.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true.

Aren't they semi-automatic? With paddles?

Not really. They are more semi-manual if anything.

There's no clutch pedal, and if you don't flick the paddle it will change gear itself.

It's mostly a marketing gimmicky type thing to give middle aged wankers the feeling they are Schumacher as they tool down the road listening to Brachman Turner Overdrive..."

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd say do the manual test, all the reasons

folk above have given are sensible. Consider

there are far less automatics around so

finding a cheap second hand one is harder.

Most of your mates will probably drive

manuals so if you're automatic you won't be

able to borrow their cars or share the driving

if you go on a long trip in their car. If you are

in an accident and your car is off the road its

not always possible for the insurance

company to replace your car with an

automatic in the same time frame they'd be

able to provide a manual.

And automatic gear boxes are very

expensive if there's a problem with yours

and it needs replaced.

I'm good with manual and automatic. Can

use my hand or my vibrator. I'd feel I was

missing out if I could only use the vibe

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *-and-KCouple
over a year ago

Back of Beyond

Spoken like a true yank Fabio

Leave the easy option in the U.S and learn to drive like a real man (or woman)

Seriously there is only one way to learn and that is the manual option. After that drive whatever takes your fancy.

By the way, as was once told me by an instructor. I am teaching you to pass a test. You only learn to drive after you get your license and are out by yourself.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *harpDressed ManMan
over a year ago

Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else

"By the way, as was once told me by an instructor. I am teaching you to pass a test. You only learn to drive after you get your license and are out by yourself.

I was told this too. Although my licence is British...;-)

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

Yeah, C'mon Fabio - You'll be a legend back home when they find out that you can "drive stick" as they say in the good ol' U S of A.

The girls will come a runnin', trust me!!

On a more serious, but related note, if you can't drive a manual car you will not be regrarded as a real man. Anywhere in Western Europe.

You can DO it big guy, 'cos your 'Merican, and 'Mericans kick ass...

(apart from when they get their asses kicked in wildly misjudged foreign policy "initiatives", but that's a whole other series of threads)

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *abio OP Man
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

I am leaning more and more towards an automatic....it is the yank in me and I know what car I am after so just a case of twisting the bank managers arm... or you all chipping in to the "_abio driving tour".... promise to all let you have a go of my toyota prius when i pass (yes i know a)hippy wagon... and b) the issue they had in the past!)

seriously though.. feel a lot more confident in an automatic than i do in a manual.. so working out what is best for me now.......

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

[Removed by poster at 03/09/10 12:38:35]

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ensualfire88Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

"I am leaning more and more towards an automatic....it is the yank in me and I know what car I am after so just a case of twisting the bank managers arm... or you all chipping in to the "_abio driving tour".... promise to all let you have a go of my toyota prius when i pass (yes i know a)hippy wagon... and b) the issue they had in the past!)

seriously though.. feel a lot more confident in an automatic than i do in a manual.. so working out what is best for me now......."

This isnt about what's best for you.

It's about what WE WANT!!

Seriously, pass your test in a manual, you will never regret it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Learn to drive in a manual car, once you have passed, you will have the freedom to choose whatever car that takes your fancy.

Personally, I find driving automatic cars boring, manuals are far more fun!

+1 driving auto's is very dull.great for towing though

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

seriously though.. feel a lot more confident in an automatic than i do in a manual.. so working out what is best for me now......."

If you are confident in a manual do it, if your more confident in an auto then do that. As long as you pass there are plenty of both available.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

im afraid i have to dissagre with most of the posters about this one.

modern autos are far better than they used to be and lets face it driving today you are either in traffic, in which case the advantages of a manual are outweighed by the ease of a auto, or on a motorway, in modern life an auto will be the best option, however take your test in the manual just incase, you never know when you will need to drive one.

for instance a rental car or loaner from the garage when yours is in for repair.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ollie_JCouple
over a year ago

London

If you plan long term to stay in the uk go with the stick, thinking of going anywhere else go with the auto

It is a dilemma i faced to, i learnt to drive at 32 and seriously thought about an auto because manuals were just to difficult

I decided to bite the bullet and go with the manual.. The first year of driving i did 43000 miles and have been doing roughly the same since

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ugby 123Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

O o O oo

seriously though.. feel a lot more confident in an automatic than i do in a manual.. so working out what is best for me now......."

When I first started learning I struggle big time with the manual for some reason and nearly swopped to an automatic......one day when driving I stopped thinking about them and it just clicked and they were not a problem anymore. I would advise to stick with it.

As others have said, you can drive both then.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *urreyfun2008Man
over a year ago

East Grinstead

How many lessons have you had?

It takes a while to get used to a car, and as has been said getting a manual licence makes life so much easier later.

The first few lessons are always difficult, as so much seems to be happening at once, and the sweat factor is immense.

Practice, practice. With dual controls the instructor should be able to help show you where the biting point is for the clutch.

Also ignore the dickheads behind you, they had to learn once, they've just forgotten all about it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i passed with manual, but drove automatics for over 15 years then changed to manual.....after 15 years i had forgotten how to drive and had to start from scratch again. so i would say.....stick to your manual

good luck

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *onny BonesMan
over a year ago

a block away from heaven

If you intend on driving autos then change now. I learnt recently that of the four drivers in my office, only I have a manual, the others can not re-adapt to manual cars.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

pass with the manual otherwise you will limit your employment and hire car options in the future

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You could always sack it off completely and get a push bike

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Probably won't be such a thing as a manual car in 10 years time

hope they'll run on water too

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd go for the manual. Gives you more options. You never know one day you many need that manual licence. I find driving an automatic boring especiall on motorways.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *etillanteWoman
over a year ago

My present car is a Vauxhall Zafira easitronic, you can drive it as either a manual or an automatic

I had previously only driven manuals, other than when in the States.

I thought well, I'll try driving it as an automatic and then go back to manual and perhaps use the automatic for long boring motorway journeys.

Err think I've driven it in manual twice

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Most super cars are automatics, never heard many people say driving a Ferrari Enzo or Bugatti Veyron are boring.

But yes better having a manual licence, but still getting an automatic, unless of course you don’t mind 300 gear changes and a stiff leg, and that’s just going to the local shops, just too much traffic jams, roundabouts, speed bumps and traffic lights these days.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

seriously though.. feel a lot more confident in an automatic than i do in a manual.. so working out what is best for me now......."

stop being a fud and learn to drive the real way!!

manual is for amatuers!! x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You canny drive a manual in 4” heels either

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *plpxp2Couple
over a year ago

Middlesbrough

The main problem with automatics is the nut behind the wheel

Seriously another factors are: increased costs, depreciation, less fun and higher fuel costs, manuals every time.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Stick to manual as you will have a greater sense of achievement when you pass as its a challenge for you at the moment. If you then decide auto is more for you then you have a choice .

Good luck

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"You canny drive a manual in 4” heels either

oh yes you can *knows*

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I ended up with an automatic hire car recently on a business trip to France, I have to admit using the automatic a lot more frustrating and annoying than driving on the wrong side of the road!

Best of luck with your test, you'll be fine.

Paddy

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ruitWoman
over a year ago

near kings lynn

Deffinatel stick with the manual as it means you can drive manual and automatic. If your in this country it is better to be able to do both.

We all struggled when first learning so dont take the easy way out.

Also hire cars and work veichles will be harder to get when you have limited yourself.

You get a job and the company car is manual, you tell the boss you can only drive an automatic!

Stick with it hunny. Most people do it that way for very good reasons.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yep got to agree learn on manual,

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If you learn (and pass) in an automatic it means you have a limited license, or at least that's how it used to work.

i.e. in the future if you ever have to drive a manual car for what ever reason you will be breaking the law.

I'd persevere if I were you. I don't think they make automatic Ferrari's

It's actually quite rare to find a Ferrari that isnt an auto these days...strange, but true."

Yea they do make them, my Dad was on the design team to develop the gearbox for the first Ferrari auto

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Manual

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

Hoop and stick. Can be used with either hand. And set to auto down a steep hill.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *umpkinMan
over a year ago

near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack!

"im afraid i have to dissagre with most of the posters about this one.

for instance a rental car or loaner from the garage when yours is in for repair."

After years of driving mauals, I bought an diesel automatic Discovery, not because I wanted an auto but because the manual Discoverys have more gearbox/transfer box problems.One thing`s for certain. Driving in traffic is a breeze and it tows like a dream. The one big surprize was the performance and fuel consumption. It`s almost as fast as the old petrol V8 Range Rover it replaced and it`s far more economical too! I recall a journey back home from Beauleiu one cold spring afternoon. I was cold, hungry and tired and wanted to get home yesterday. During my lead footed journey, I was aware of the fuel guage actually moving

I worked it out at about 8 to the gallon running solo!

But to go back to the bit about hiring a vehicle, I do occasionally hire but I find it nearly impossible to hire autos and anything bigger than a car is a definate no-no for an auto.

I know you`re sold on the auto Fabio, but the reasons I`ve just written, do the test on a manual. You never know when you`ll need it, especially if you`re called on to do a driving job for whatever reason.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *abio OP Man
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

can i thank you all for all the differing opinions..... I am going to think about what I am going to next......

still not sure...

sean xxxx

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good luck for your test whenever/whatever you decide.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Being a purist, stick with manual and get rear wheel drive.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *histler21Man
over a year ago

Ipswich

I thought automatics were more expensive, more to go wrong, try to change gear at the wrong time and deliver worse fuel consumption than their manual counterparts.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *onnyb0yCouple
over a year ago

north wilts

Drive a truck then you can double clutch.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

if your going to have a automatic you may as well learn in on its much easier and quicker

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread