Learner Drivers Choosing To Use Automatics.

[tinfoilhat]

3 hours ago, El Cid said:

When my workplace got auto vans, every single one of them had gearbox  problems, numerous times.

They soon changed back to manual, it must have fost them a fortune.  There was probably over 30 vans, all went faulty, my van was one of the last ones to breakdown. I put that down to me being a smooth driver, not setting off too fast.

I looked at some L3 H2 vans and they want over £60k for them!

[Rockers rule]

20 hours ago, L00b said:

 

 

With transitioning to autoboxes full-time, I've found myself driving much more smoothly (as in, less aggressively)

 

Try taking  an Audi S6 out to play L00b (or anything with that luvly 4ltr V8 of theirs) and not drive aggressively - LOL

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The question has to be WHY, if it is true there are more learner drivers wanting to only gain the entitlement to drive Auto.

The question has to be are they ready for the road when they do pass their test.

The standard of driving out there has deteriorated so much so over the years best of luck to them what ever method of transmission they chose.

 

I could wax lyrically over how even the little Auto's are good now a days & nothing compared to say your Grandads Morris Oxford (Oop's I just have).

If the reason for Wanting to drive an auto is because its less to worry about while avoiding everything that's going on around you while driving begs the question should they really be out on the road? Being scared to drive or don't feel confident enough to drive in the first place doesn't bode well to rest of us out there in driving land.

 

Yes I'm Old Skool and would probably say go for the full manual test to then choose afterwards.

 

My worse Auto, a Mk 1 Granada - nice car but no guarantee you were going to overtake anything the thing were so sluggish.

My favourite auto's. both Vauxhall's Carlton and Senator were as good as perfect.

 

The best Auto i've driven (so far) a Ford Fairlane Hearse - LOL.  Smooooth. 

 

[L00b]

8 minutes ago, Rockers rule said:

 

Try taking  an Audi S6 out to play L00b (or anything with that luvly 4ltr V8 of theirs) and not drive aggressively - LOL

 

 

I find the 3.0 V6 engine of the F-type plenty enough, 'ta 😉

 

340 horses, and all of them to the rear axle. Yet with the 8-speed autobox, as tame and easy to drive as a 0.9 Yaris...most of the time 😆

[RJRB]

2 hours ago, Rockers rule said:

 

Try taking  an Audi S6 out to play L00b (or anything with that luvly 4ltr V8 of theirs) and not drive aggressively - LOL

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The question has to be WHY, if it is true there are more learner drivers wanting to only gain the entitlement to drive Auto.

The question has to be are they ready for the road when they do pass their test.

The standard of driving out there has deteriorated so much so over the years best of luck to them what ever method of transmission they chose.

.

 

The best Auto i've driven (so far) a Ford Fairlane Hearse - LOL.  Smooooth. 

 

Happy to say I’ve never been in one of those,but will bear it in mind🤔

[Rockers rule]

1 hour ago, RJRB said:

Happy to say I’ve never been in one of those,but will bear it in mind🤔

Time will come RJRB - hopefully not too soon. 

3 hours ago, L00b said:

I find the 3.0 V6 engine of the F-type plenty enough, 'ta 😉

 

340 horses, and all of them to the rear axle. Yet with the 8-speed autobox, as tame and easy to drive as a 0.9 Yaris...most of the time 😆

Check out this for an Audi Auto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp3MzgBsjCo

 

or the longer version

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAgac9UAd_g

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

[Janus]

On 02/09/2020 at 09:57, Rockers rule said:

 

The question has to be WHY, if it is true there are more learner drivers wanting to only gain the entitlement to drive Auto.

The question has to be are they ready for the road when they do pass their test.

With the majority of them, I would say it is another example of 'instant gratification'.

 

There are many examples of that in society these days. People are not prepared to wait or put the effort in. 

 

[ECCOnoob]

1 hour ago, Janus said:

With the majority of them, I would say it is another example of 'instant gratification'.

 

There are many examples of that in society these days. People are not prepared to wait or put the effort in. 

 

I feel that overly harsh.   

 

Lets be frank, who wouldn't if they had the chance take the easier option if offered.

 

I think it far more likely that the clear decline in people taking manual tests is reflected by the clear increase in purchasing and selling of vehicles which are automatic by default.   That trend is only ever going to go one way and certainly for the next generation of drivers - electric vehicles will be standard.   

 

So, I think some might be perfectly entitled to argue, what is the point of them learning some archaic dinosaur method of driving  that they are never going to use.

 

[max]

On 02/09/2020 at 09:57, Rockers rule said:

 

The question has to be are they ready for the road when they do pass their test.

 

 

I don't understand the reasoning here.

 

It could be argued that people are far more road aware having learnt in an automatic due to not having to have part of their brain engaged with gear changing.

 

I passed my UK driving test with the Post Office and the colleague I shared the instruction with ( 2 x 43 hour weeks, one car, one instructor, two learners) would look down at the gear lever whenever he changed gear. He got into this habit and even a year after passing was still doing it. 

 

I've been driving an automatic and a manual for several years now and don't have a favourite but find that turning out of, and accelerating away from, junctions is a lot easier in the auto.

 

[Rockers rule]

5 minutes ago, max said:

I don't understand the reasoning here.

 

It could be argued that people are far more road aware having learnt in an automatic due to not having to have part of their brain engaged with gear changing.

 

I passed my UK driving test with the Post Office and the colleague I shared the instruction with ( 2 x 43 hour weeks, one car, one instructor, two learners) would look down at the gear lever whenever he changed gear. He got into this habit and even a year after passing was still doing it. 

 

I've been driving an automatic and a manual for several years now and don't have a favourite but find that turning out of, and accelerating away from, junctions is a lot easier in the auto.

 

 

Hello Max.

My reasoning if you read #24 again was that if the reason for wanting to pass in an Auto was because of being scared of having to deal with a manual gearbox as well as everything else that is part and parcel of daily driving 'were they ready for the road'.

I drive other peoples cars for a living as well as a recovery truck (terrible job for a bloke but someone has to do it I know - LOL)

Choice I don't think I have one. At one time I had a 3ltr Vauxhall Senator auto, a rare 3.2 manual (straight 6 not the horrible V8) Jag and my 1965 Reliant Regal all on the road at the same time and could never decide which one to chose they all had their merits.

The manual Jag was a darn sight better than any auto Jag I've owned or driven and was great fun while i owned it although the clutch was probably the heavist in any car i've had.

A lot depends on the car a manual Carlton was a different beast to an auto Carlton / Senator as is the same with the big Audi Auto's and the equivalent 6 speed manuals, as a personal choice i'd go Auto Audi every time.

We all have habits I probably hold on to a gear leaver for too long but hey ho !

Not sure about the auto being any easier pulling out at junctions.

Its a crazy world in driving land whatever your driving that's for sure.

The main thing is to enjoy what your driving and fully believe a car has to have soul.

The kids wouldn't have liked some of those early autos thats for sure even my favourite motor Fords mk 3 Zephyr (Z cars) Automatic were pretty lack lustre.

I'd like to see some of the kids deal with crash box's and double d clutching - happy daze.

 

Keep safe.

and remember a car is more than A to B