Manual or Automatic

[cromwell]

I drove manuals from 1979 when I passed my test, until 2008 when I bought an automatic 3 litre Peugeot 406.
I liked it and our cars have been autos ever since, like Jan.
As Suff says, low down they don't "pick up" as quickly as a manual, but after that the acceleration is quicker.
I have driven a manual for a week or two whilst our Honda was being mended, but there was a fair amount of "bunny hopping" going on when setting off from rest.
MrsC wouldn't want to go back to a manual now.

[cruiser2]

I passed my first test on a hand change motor bike. The gear lever was on the side of the petrol tank. It was a 250 cc BSA side valve which my brother had.
Got my own motor bike, A BSA A7 Star Twin. Had a foot change.
Then I passed my test to drive a car with a manual gear box. That was in 1955 befor there were many automatic cars.
In Germany in the RAF used to drive 3 ton trucks. Had to double de-clutch to change gears.
Had manual cars until two years ago. The car I had developed a major fault so got a good second hand two year old Toyota Auris Hybrid automatic.
I love it. Would not go back to a manual. The only thing I miss is heated door mirrors.

Never driven a tracked vehicle or a bus.

[miasmum]

It seems we are all happy with a manual until…… then we wouldn’t go back. I certainly wouldn’t

Yes at some point we’ll all be driving autos anyway

Luke’s qashqai is a hybrid. All the engine does is charge the battery, the rest of the time it’s electric

[jenniren]

It seems we are all happy with a manual until…… then we wouldn’t go back. I certainly wouldn’t

Exactly that, I happily drove a manual for years, but love my automatic and would never go back.

[Suff]

I only bought an automatic because it was the available version of the vehicle I wanted.

I'm probably going back to manual when I replace it as I want the fuel economy.

I won't go hybrid, either full electric or not at all.

I had a Ford Galaxy automatic for 7 years, went back to Manual. Mrs S has had auto vehicles but went back to manual.