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1. SaxonRider - Member 

   In North America, I would guess that about 95% of cars are automatic, and a majority of drivers don't know how to drive manual. Here, of course, almost the opposite is true.

   I used to care what I drove, and although both of my vehicles are manual, I would happily buy an auto if that's what was available to me - providing it was from a manufacturer that had a history of building auto transmissions. Mrs SR, on the other hand, has no interest in driving auto.

   Which do you drive? Is it a choice, or is it just what was available? Do you generally have a preference?

   Posted 32 minutes ago #
2. wwaswas - Member 

   Auto, most of the model I wanted to buy 2nd hand came with it.

   Doubt I'd buy another manual as an 'everyday' car.

   Posted 31 minutes ago #
3. simon_g - Member 

   On my fourth automatic now. Dual-clutch systems and even modern torque converter ones like the ZF 8-speed are pretty amazing, smooth or fast shifts as you want and usually better efficiency and performance too.

   If my commute was (as it was many years ago) 10 miles down quiet twisty roads I'd still prefer a manual. If you spend any time in traffic an auto is just so much easier.

   Posted 25 minutes ago #
4. plyphon - Member 

   I bought an auto one time because I needed a car at short notice and within a mileage and £££age budget and it fit the bill, it just happened to be an auto.

   To be fair, I quite enjoyed it. Yeah, there was some lag at times and all that but i'm not Tiff Needell so didn't worry that I couldn't "work up through the gears" and the engine was still big enough to "make progress" so it never bothered me - the upsides of never having to change gear far outweigh those downsides.

   So I enjoyed it so much, when I had a bit of a bigger budget I bought a VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI with a DSG box, complete with flappy paddles. Now THAT was seriously a fun drive that allowed me manual control over the gears so I could go back to "Working my way up through the gears" and allowed me to "make some serious progress" when the road conditions allowed for progress making. Even on those twisty country lanes it performed amazingly, much progress was to be had.

   The DSG was a vast improvement over the first box, with a lot of lag eliminated. A much smoother drive. I don't own a car currently (moved to city) but if/when I buy another one I wont hesitate to get another auto.

   Sitting in traffic is much simpler without having to bugger about shifting all the time, also.

   Posted 24 minutes ago #
5. wiggles - Member 

   Manual all the way for me...

   Don't like driving auto just feels like something is missing! In general I just prefer cars that make me do things rather than doing it for me.

   I can see why people drive them I just don't like it.

   Posted 24 minutes ago #
6. trail_rat - Member 

   I'd have an auto if they were more common.

   Spares availilibility is something that's important to me....

   Was going to buy auto until Chrisdiesel pointed out a replacement 6 speed electronic auto box was 11grand......

   Posted 23 minutes ago #
7. weeksy - Member 

   currently manual, must admit, i do like autos though. Not really sure why i bought a manual this time, possibly it was just what was available at the time.

   Posted 23 minutes ago #
8. pondo - Member 

   Normally I'd say manual all the way but had a brief spin in an RS3 with a flappy paddle auto box and that was FUN!

   Posted 22 minutes ago #
9. newrobdob - Member 

   I've always had manuals but I had driven a couple of autos and loved them. My wife wasn't keen on them but when she drove our Volvo (4sp torque converter) she loved it and I do too. Our new day-to-day car will be an Auris hybrid which is basically a Prius and that'll be a CVT gearbox and I can't wait, I just get bored of changing gear, especially when driving for 1.5-2hrs a day in heavy traffic like I do.
   if I bought a sporty car I'd want a manual so I could learn some stuff my dad can do (he used to rally drive) like heel and toeing but for everyday driving an auto is my choice now. I'd only be wary of complex paddle shift autos which haven't been maintained properly or are know to be a bit weak.

   Posted 21 minutes ago #

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10. P-Jay - Member 

    Manual, I've only ever had one auto and it was horrible, but it was old, and old design and frankly a bit frustrating.

    I've always preferred manual, I actually enjoyed driving (most of the time) and changing gear is part of that, I wouldn't want an auto MTB for example, I want to be involved in the process (no I don't want an manual choke or to advance the timing on the move before anyway asks).

    But my next car will likely be auto/DSG or whatever they're called these days, I can see the way the wind is blowing, the modern ones are better, they make the can more efficient and actually a tiny bit quicker, before the opposite was true. Couple that was roads that are busier than ever and spending far too long sat in sub-5mph queues there's little point of a 3 pedal car any more.

    Posted 21 minutes ago #
11. stevedoc - Member 

    I have a manual the wife who spends most of her time in traffic in Manchester has an auto, I wont have another manual after spending time driving her car, less hassle less stressful just simply push and go ..and boy does it go DSG smiles

    Posted 16 minutes ago #
12. philjunior - Member 

    I've always driven a manual.

    I'd consider a good auto (including a twin clutcher), though all my recent autotrader searches have been for manuals (I don't have the money to buy a good auto!).

    Posted 15 minutes ago #
13. freeagent - Member 

    I've just ordered a new company car, and after much deliberation went for a manual.
    However, my colleague has just taken delivery of his (same car, but with an 8-speed auto) and hasn't stopped raving about it.
    I think this'll probably be my last day to day manual car.

    Posted 13 minutes ago #
14. bencooper - Member 

    Always drove manual until the latest car, and now I've decided I'm not a boy racer (it's a Volvo estate) so I really don't miss all the faffing about.

    It does have a manual mode - tried it once in the spirit of "what does this button do" and didn't like it.

    Posted 12 minutes ago #
15. DezB - Member 

    Auto. Really can't comprehend wanting to change gear, messing about with a clutch.. Especially when queuing. Massively irritating and driving is shit enough as it is.

    Posted 8 minutes ago #
16. Cougar - Moderator 

    I'd wager that like many people your wife is against automatics because they haven't driven one built in the last ten years, if at all.

    I used to think the same thing, the same arguments as others have posted here. Disconnected from driving, lag, etc. But they are misconceptions. Modern autos have come along way, they change faster than you can do so manually and are responsive to whether you're driving in an eco or road warrior style.

    The first auto I had for any length of time I decided to use it in semi-auto and change gears myself. Inside of a fortnight I'd given up on that, just stick it in drive and leave it to it.

    What would I choose? Speaking as someone who actually enjoys driving rather than using it simply as a tool to get from A to B, I don't think I'd overly care either way. I took out a lease on a new car last month and chose a manual as emissions were lower, but I didn't really give it a vast amount of thought.

    Posted 5 minutes ago #
17. molgrips - Member 

    Auto every time, if it's a decent one. Easier to drive of course but also a lot smoother. No matter how good you are you cannot change gear with out interrupting acceleration - but the DSG can. And once you get used to it even smooth manual drivers start to become annoying and feel really uneven.

    I've noticed (relevant to the OP perhaps) that because North American drivers are used to crap autos they don't care, so the car companies keep making the cheap crap ones to sell over there. VWs came with crap old fashioned autos in the US long after DSG was the only option here. We hired a new Toyota Camry some years ago and the car was nice but the box was terrible. Not only are they used to that but of course the roads don't demand anything other than getting the car moving, so it's not even an issue.

    Posted 4 minutes ago #
18. ourmaninthenorth - Member 

    Current car has a Spanish box.

    Would have gone for the semi-auto but, because it's a lease, I had no desire to pay for the total retail cost of the option over the 2 year period of the lease.

    Posted 2 minutes ago #

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