#21

Well, I’m not advocating that people should drive when more responsible alternatives exist.

Still take the tube or bus or cycle or walk if they’re available.

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#22

You don’t get bored.
You drink a coffee with your left hand.
Eat a burger.
Crisps.
Whatever.
I mostly eat in the car.

#23

I LOVE driving a car with gears. You can accelerate much faster with gears. Also, you can read the road ahead and know which gear you’ll need to be in.

Don’t get me wrong, automatics are much better than they used to be, but you need one that’s much more powerful than a manual to get similar performance (which is why there was no complaints from me about the Ford Mustang we hired in the states a few years back)

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#24

I spent over a grand learning to drive, passed at the third attempt and haven’t driven a car once since in over ten years.

#25

Manual is one with a clutch and gears.
Automatic is just you put it in drive and you just press the go pedal or the brake. Nothing else to worry about. Free left hand for coffee drinking.

#26

It’s the gearbox. Automatic changes gear for you so there’s no gear stick/clutch

#27

Dunno. We saved 4k on ours compared with an automatic – 2k extra for the transmission and 2k for the more powerful engine it required

but newer manual cars are a lot different e.g. no need to balance the clutch for a hill start

#28

the best way to do it imo would be to try and find someone you know with a car that can let you spin about an industrial estate / car park to get the basics of moving the car, changing gear etc etc. then go to the instructor for actual lessons

the operating a car bit is pretty easy to understand, you just need lots of practice to get it. the instructor will be great at it, it’ll just be £££. after the first lesson you won’t be ‘learning’ anything more, ie taking in more information, you just need practice time

#29

Don’t like eating in a car. Smell in a confined space does me in for some reason

#30

if you pass before your third test then have you really passed? no.

#31

There’s going to be some serious automatic/manual beeves in here in about two minutes.

#32

Nah its fine. It’s nice for people who can’t drive to still be able to drive imo

6 Likes
#33

I think my car is quite powerful cause I ALWAYS win the races at the lights.
BYE GRANDMA!!! :wave: :wind_face:

Whenever I go abroad, always get an automatic. US doesn’t really have manual cars to rent.

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#34

I wouldn’t suggest learning in an automatic. It restricts your choice if you’re wanting to hire or buy vehicles, plus automatics are more expensive.

(I also think that people who have learnt on a manual tend to be better at driving, but maybe that’s just because the threshold for passing the test is higher)

#35

I need to learn to drive, as does my GF. Looking at taking my theory test and then starting lessons later this year.

It’s, unfortunately, necessary at this point for me. My parents live in rural Tipperary and are only getting older and I will have to travel there to look after them later in life. I’m a musician and need a car for transporting gear. Also, my GF and I just want to have the freedom of having a car.

#36

Each to their own.

I’d argue learning to drive a manual car’s a skill comparatively, but whatever suits the driver.

#37

Just got a automatic and it is great, but I have become a bit complacent as there is so little to do, and though everyone says they are much more efficient now etc. etc. I am sure it uses more petrol.

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#38

But in London, you’ll be DEAD driving a manual. It’s stop start constantly. You’ll not wanna buy a manual anyway so why bother doing all the hassle.

I don’t think manual drivers are any better than those who learnt on automatic.

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#39

Oh yeah, totally. But pre-car I’d be getting the bus back from Homebase with bags of compost and silly things like that. We still mostly walk/cycle/tube.

#40

My sister passed on her 14th test :neutral_face: at least she didn’t give up?

2 Likes