Do you drive a manual or auto?

[diy_fun_uk]

Mods, I'm hoping you don't move this to the cars section as it's more of a GD question, albeit vehicle related

I've only ever driven manuals (been driving 36 years) bar one time years back.

However, I've bought myself an auto.

Re your main car/vehicle, is it a manual or auto? Which do you prefer?

 

[Mottie]

Manual Golf, Auto hybrid Tucson. I prefer the Tucson.

 

[Highway Man]

We have switched both cars to Auto now. We wouldn't ever go back to manual as Auto gearboxes have really come on leaps and bounds.

 

[Murdochcat]

We have 3 manuals and 1 auto (mine) and I’m not sure I would buy another manual

 

[Tigercubrider]

Always owned manual, might go auto (or electric)
I am mid 60’s - many older drivers who switch to auto later in life seem to have trouble and have accidents so would hesitate to switch past 70.

 

[crystal ball]

Auto car & camper, manual van, drove autos in Australia in the 80s

 

[MNW67]

Everyday driving auto so much better , ripping about country roads hood down manual better for red lining

Yes, indeed. Manual is more fun. But automatic is best in traffic.

 

[fillyboy]

Drove a few autos in the 70's, Cortina I think, wasn't overly impressed, (3 speed Borg Warner from memory), very clunky. Our first auto was the wife's discovery, 9 speed I think, a pleasure to drive. The van's manual but I still enjoy driving it.

 

[securespark]

If the UK is going electric, everything (new) will be auto.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

My van is a manual, one of those short dash mounted cable operated jobs. Things got a bit imprecise at around 100K, but a set of new cables soon sorted that out. The Mk2 Carlton I sold couple of years ago had the slushmatic. Lovely thing to drive, very relaxing and smooth. Was my first auto, but driven plenty of autos in Mercs and Jags family owned.

 

[MNW67]

However, I've bought myself an auto.

My grandma taught me to drive automatics. She told me to tuck my left leg under the seat until I got used to it.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

If the UK is going electric, everything (new) will be auto.

It's an interesting one. Couple of YT journalists talking about environmentally friendly fuel that can be used in ICE vehicles. Used already in F1? One of the YT guys already runs one of his cars on it.

Currently produced in too small quantities to be financially viable for wide commercial use, however the manufacturers are saying cost would be comparable with ICE fuels if produced at scale.

Near zero emissions I think

However if governments are hell bent on the EV route, said fuel will prob not see light of day in wider sense.

Still lots of debate about lack of EV uptake.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

My grandma taught me to drive automatics. She told me to tuck my left leg under the seat until I got used to it.

That's what I did when test driving the car. However took it out again on my own and didn't need to, got used to it pretty quick.

 

[MNW67]

It's an interesting one. Couple of YT journalists talking about environmentally friendly fuel that can be used in ICE vehicles. Used already in F1? One of the YT guys already runs one of his cars on it.

Currently produced in too small quantities to be financially viable for wide commercial use, however the manufacturers are saying cost would be comparable with ICE fuels if produced at scale.

Near zero emissions I think

However if governments are hell bent on the EV route, said fuel will prob not see light of day in wider sense.

Still lots of debate about lack of EV uptake.

Thanks. I had never heard of that. Apparently, they are called E-Fuels.

But the flaw I spotted is that they are only carbon neutral if renewable energy is used to produce them. And I then did a quick Google on that point and got this answer:

AI Overview

Replacing fossil fuels entirely with e-fuels would require a massive, multi-fold increase in global renewable electricity generation, with estimates suggesting the demand could be several times the world's current electricity output. The conversion of electricity into e-fuels is highly energy-intensive and inefficient, requiring 3 to 5 times more electricity than powering electric vehicles (EVs) and significantly more energy than the fossil fuel itself provides.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

If the UK is going electric, everything (new) will be auto.

Some are fighting it.