Why mostly manual cars in UK

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by KWIL on 04/12/2019 15:08:13:

More expensive to buy, more expensive to repair, more expensive on fuel. Is there another reason?

Yes, they are worth it – does not matter to me how expensive to repair – it doesn't fail.

Not much more expensive to buy and not much more expensive on fuel but, FOR ME, worth it.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

The reason we have manual gearboxes is because we know how to drive.

OK I,ll get my coat

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 05/12/2019 16:45:47:

 

The advantage of driverless cars is no-one needs to learn how to drive. Anyone can have a car, whether disabled, blind, drunk, foreign, nervous, clumsy, uninsurable or underage.

 

And the most important reason of course, because you are too damned old to drive safely. I've reached the point already where I don't like driving at night if I can avoid it and it's only down hill from here….

(Just to brighten everyone's day!!)  

IanT

Edited By IanT on 06/12/2019 09:39:06

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I do a lot of towing and there is nothing worse than an automatic when you are on a muddy slippery field, you need to feel what the car is doing and that cant be done without a clutch otherwise the wheels spin up and make things worse, a manual box everytime for me.

Martin P

[File HandleParticipant @filehandle]

Previous car was automatic only the second that I have owned. Didn't really want it but my wife liked it. Now back with a proper gearbox with 6 gears. Did like overdrive when I had a car with it.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Toeing and heeling, anyone?

Neil

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Posted by martin perman on 06/12/2019 10:15:23:

I do a lot of towing and there is nothing worse than an automatic when you are on a muddy slippery field, you need to feel what the car is doing and that cant be done without a clutch otherwise the wheels spin up and make things worse, a manual box everytime for me.

Martin P

Quite agree been on many rally fields towing a caravan

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I got a chance to drive a Land Rover Freelander at a test track near Honiton in Devon. It was automatic, and had a number of push button options for driving on slippery surfaces. I was impressed at the difference gained just by pushing a button. I drove it down a 1:3 slope covered in loose pebbles and dirt, completely safely and commented to the instructor that I would not have been happy riding my Beamish Suzuki down there.

Edited By old mart on 06/12/2019 20:06:21

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Discussions about cars are always the same so it's best to maintain a sense of humour. You get the 'experts' who've never had an automatic tearing them apart. You get people who have tried them many year's ago and preferred a manual, and you get owners of modern automatics singing their praises.

I've owned many automatics since the '60's and definitely know which I prefer. I've towed boats and a caravan and never experienced the problems other's have mentioned here. Rover 3500 pulling a boat up a wet slipway….no problem. 2.9 and 3 litre Granadas towing a caravan on many difficult camp sites…..no problem, and the modern 8 speed sport auto box which I have now really does behave itself in snow (not that we get much nowadays).

Modern boxes learn your style of driving and select the optimum gear for the right condition. Mine also works with the sat nav and selects the right ratio before entering a corner. With 8 to choose from the change is usually quite undetectable.

Modern roads are so cluttered with umpteen signs, heavy traffic, pedestrians and cyclists….auto boxes really do reduce the workload and make life so much easier! For those who have never driven one I highly recommend a trial. But there are always those who resist any change, maybe they still use a starting handle?

Edited By RMA on 06/12/2019 20:34:00

[VicParticipant @vic]

Once EV’s have largely taken over, Young’s folks will say “what’s a gearbox Dad”?!

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by RMA on 06/12/2019 20:32:47:

Discussions about cars are always the same so it's best to maintain a sense of humour. You get the 'experts' who've never had an automatic tearing them apart. You get people who have tried them many year's ago and preferred a manual, and you get owners of modern automatics singing their praises.

I've owned many automatics since the '60's and definitely know which I prefer. I've towed boats and a caravan and never experienced the problems other's have mentioned here. Rover 3500 pulling a boat up a wet slipway….no problem. 2.9 and 3 litre Granadas towing a caravan on many difficult camp sites…..no problem, and the modern 8 speed sport auto box which I have now really does behave itself in snow (not that we get much nowadays).

Modern boxes learn your style of driving and select the optimum gear for the right condition. Mine also works with the sat nav and selects the right ratio before entering a corner. With 8 to choose from the change is usually quite undetectable.

Modern roads are so cluttered with umpteen signs, heavy traffic, pedestrians and cyclists….auto boxes really do reduce the workload and make life so much easier! For those who have never driven one I highly recommend a trial. But there are always those who resist any change, maybe they still use a starting handle?

Edited By RMA on 06/12/2019 20:34:00

RMA,

There is one thing that you forgot to point out and that is some of us will never be able to own and drive an eight speed auto sport and have to give our experiences based on what we can afford to drive, me included.

Martin P

[RMAParticipant @rma]

I take your point but this thread is primarily a debate about pro's and con's of automatic gearboxes versus manual. The difference in cost has reduced massively in percentage terms compared to many other extra packages available today.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 06/12/2019 18:53:10:

Toeing and heeling, anyone?

Neil

. . . and what about double de-clutching? Synchromesh is for wimps

Russell

[VicParticipant @vic]

On at least two occasions in years gone past I’ve had to drive a manual with a broken clutch cable. It’s quite exciting starting the car in gear in traffic and adjusting engine speed to change gear without the clutch.

There’s not a lot to go wrong in a manual gearbox. I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

[vintage engineerParticipant @vintageengineer]

That's OK until one of the ABS sensor fails and then you are up to you neck in the brown sticky stuff! I will stick to my Jeep with manual diff locks rather than rely on dubious electronics!

Posted by old mart on 06/12/2019 20:04:31:

I got a chance to drive a Land Rover Freelander at a test track near Honiton in Devon. It was automatic, and had a number of push button options for driving on slippery surfaces. I was impressed at the difference gained just by pushing a button. I drove it down a 1:3 slope covered in loose pebbles and dirt, completely safely and commented to the instructor that I would not have been happy riding my Beamish Suzuki down there.

Edited By old mart on 06/12/2019 20:06:21

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I've been driving automatics for 30 years.

Modern auto boxes are quite amazing.

Why anyone would want to have to mess around with gears is a mystery to me……

Jim

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Posted by Vic on 07/12/2019 10:03:29:

On at least two occasions in years gone past I’ve had to drive a manual with a broken clutch cable. It’s quite exciting starting the car in gear in traffic and adjusting engine speed to change gear without the clutch.

There’s not a lot to go wrong in a manual gearbox. I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

Statistically auto boxes are extremely reliable….no human being to crash the gears or ride the clutch etc! Same with any gearbox, if they're serviced correctly they go on and on. Repair costs would be about the same as any gearbox. It's labour costs these days and some hourly rates are horrific!

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

You probably wouldn't, as increasingly manufacturers are not making parts available to repair them, just supplying complete new gearboxes. In the case of the CVT gearbox on the Toyota Avensis I had that was £4500 + fitting costs around 5 years ago. I had requested (twice) that they change the gearbox oil, but on each occasion the dealer (who had quoted a price to do this) subsequently declined, saying that Toyota said the gearbox was "sealed for life" & didn't require an oil change. When the gearbox bearings started whining at around 80k miles, I was then told about the "no parts" policy. A local auto gerabox specialist had managed to source Chinese made pattern parts to repair a similarly affected Avensis private hire car, but he was still looking at £1500 for the repair. So the Avensis went & I won't buy another Toyota.

The torque converter auto Kia Carens that replaced it did 75k miles without a problem – hopefully the 7 speed DCT Hyundai that has recently replaced the Kia will be as trouble free. The DCT has a different "feel" to the conventional auto, but I am enjoying putting around 10 litres a week less in the tank (mid-50s average, compared to mid-40s on the Kia. Both turbo diesels).

Nigel B

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The clutch went on my sons car, he was about 8 miles from home so dad to the rescue, a quick diagnosis and then explained how to drive without a clutch, he was home before me! The idea that this would be a good practical lesson in replacing a clutch soon fizzled out, once again I was rolling around under a car with spanner’s in hand. My enthusiasm has rather waned for working on cars, I used to quite enjoy it but now I just let the local garage get on with it, they are genuine and reasonable charges.

Mike

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Posted by mgnbuk on 07/12/2019 10:46:54:

I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

I had requested (twice) that they change the gearbox oil, but on each occasion the dealer (who had quoted a price to do this) subsequently declined, saying that Toyota said the gearbox was "sealed for life" & didn't require an oil change.

Nigel B

This is pretty common with main agents these days, they would rather make more from a new box than a few litres of oil. A good independent would have done it for you, good oil is key in all things and extremely important in auto boxes. 60K is the usual change time for most makes I've had/got.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Volvo don't recommend an oil change, unless used as a taxi……

Jim

[RMAParticipant @rma]

I'd still change it if it's physically possible. I know Volvo made things difficult when Ford took over…..not sure how they are now under new ownership, perhaps they now have a dipstick again? Car makers don't produce the oil, I'd rather take notice of what the oil people recommend!

[vintage engineerParticipant @vintageengineer]

Jaguar autobox fluid is £100 a litre!

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Maybe if it's got the Jaguar logo on it. For my 22 year old XK8 I can get full spec fluid for around £10 per litre. The problem is getting the old stuff out! Fortunately several Jag forum members have sussed it and put the process on the forum. It will be a while before mine wants changing for the mileage, but I might change it because of age.

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

Posted by jimmy b on 07/12/2019 10:20:32:

I've been driving automatics for 30 years.

Modern auto boxes are quite amazing.

Why anyone would want to have to mess around with gears is a mystery to me……

Jim

I've been driving manuals for 40 years. I now have an 8 speed automatic and it's magic, will never go back to manual. Absolutely suited to our massively congested road systems.

[Author]

Posts