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How fast do you drive on the motorway?
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GearJammer
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Its like trying to get a politition to answer a question ain't it, they'll say ANYTHING except the answer to the question.
We must've beaten Jeremy Paxman by now... Just for good measure though, Zoe - do you drive?
90019
Established Member
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Just in case there is any doubt, she is reading this. Right now.
Lay off a little though guys, huh? It's not like she's defending Nick Griffin...
Lay off a little though guys, huh? It's not like she's defending Nick Griffin...
Why can none of you seem to accept a reasonable proposition that some people may have problems with gears? Never stalled, have we? I occasionally miss gear when changing, and I am fairly well co-ordinated.
In what way does that help? No one has yet answered my suggestion that learning on an auto might free the novice to concentrate on the road, and improve standards that way. What is it about petrolheads that the common assumption is that automatics are the next stop before hell? This question is so banal as not to warrant more than a couple of replies, and yet many of you are ganging up on a complete stranger who has expressed a mildly different opinion. Too much petrol fumes, perhaps?
I thought you spoke for more than one single person? And if they have an automatic licence, they can't drive a manual at all.
So, presumably this person had problems when learning and gave up. With some perseverance, I am sure they would have been fine.
Someone opting to pass in an automatic to get an automatic licence is a world apart from claiming manuals are harder to drive, and many people struggle to use them while concentrating on driving.
And you still seem to have missed my post!
BTW, autos are not the next stop before hell. Anyone can choose to drive an automatic, and autos are convenient too. So, no problems there. I think the whole issue was the claim that someone might struggle to drive AND change gear at the same time. That sets alarm bells ringing about how alert someone might be to unexpected situations if even changing gear can cause problems.
Of course I've stalled, and crunched through the gears. That's not always down to lack of concentration. I've managed to slip off the clutch before, and tried to pull away with the handbrake on more than once. But, it hasn't caused me to panic and lose control.
Yes I know more than one person where this is the case but there is one I have met personally. The point is that for them gears were too difficult so they passed in an automatic and got a licence to drive automatic cars. I don't see why people have an issue with this. If they can safely drive an automatic but not a manual then why should they be banned from having a licence at all? Doesn't the system we have now work well? You pass in an automatic and you are allowed to drive automatic cars. Striker was suggesting that if you can't drive a manual as you find gears difficult then you shouldn't be allowed to drive any car.
If you choose to drive an automatic that's fine. If you prefer to drive an automatic that's fine too. Those that never wanted to learn to drive a manual may have their reasons, so fair enough (and they may well have been perfectly able to drive a manual too!).
If you actually pass in a manual, then can't drive confidently when changing gears, YES there is a concern. Can you not see that?
I think you're continually twisting things. Nobody is saying automatic gearboxes are bad per se.
If you actually pass in a manual, then can't drive confidently when changing gears, YES there is a concern. Can you not see that?
I think you're continually twisting things. Nobody is saying automatic gearboxes are bad per se.
90019
Established Member
It's not the problems with gears as such, it's people who cannot drive the car whilst they're changing gears - if they're not capable of doing that, then it doesn't bode well for how they'll cope in more difficult driving conditions.
I have nothing against autos - my dad drives one, and I've been considering buying one recently.
No they are not but it is the case that some people that find gears difficult decide to go for an automatic licence. If you read Striker's posts, I believe he is saying that if you find gears difficult then you shouldn't have any licence.
Some people. One person. All of North America.
Come on, at best it's YOU that has a problem with a manual gearbox.
Even the 'one person' you actually know only has an automatic licence, so can't actually drive a manual legally anyway (well, perhaps as a learner with someone else in the car, and L plates, but for all I know you'd need to apply for a provisional manual licence and start over).
Come on, at best it's YOU that has a problem with a manual gearbox.
Even the 'one person' you actually know only has an automatic licence, so can't actually drive a manual legally anyway (well, perhaps as a learner with someone else in the car, and L plates, but for all I know you'd need to apply for a provisional manual licence and start over).
I know some people through the internet that have difficulty with gears. Some of these are North American. One of these people I have actually met in person. If they have an automatic licence then I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to drive automatic cars. If they have difficult with gears and have an automatic licence then the restriction should be as now that they are not allowed to drive a manual. I believe Striker though was suggesting that if they find gears difficult then they shouldn't be on the road at all.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
Zoe, are you a driver?
90019
Established Member
Have they ever actually recieved any training in how to drive a manual?
Or are they like most North Americans who only ever learn how to drive an automatic?
In some cases yes they have tried manuals and find them too difficult so changed to an automatic.
What cars were they learning in?
I say that because manuals are quite rare Stateside (and I believe more expensive; the reverse of over here), so I can't imagine many driving schools offering a manual in the first place. I do wonder how they got the chance to try them, then found them too difficult and changed back.
In fact, I'd have thought an American would only even try a manual car if they wanted to drive a specific car - either an import, or a sports car. And if they wanted a fancy sports car then they'd surely make the effort to learn?
I say that because manuals are quite rare Stateside (and I believe more expensive; the reverse of over here), so I can't imagine many driving schools offering a manual in the first place. I do wonder how they got the chance to try them, then found them too difficult and changed back.
In fact, I'd have thought an American would only even try a manual car if they wanted to drive a specific car - either an import, or a sports car. And if they wanted a fancy sports car then they'd surely make the effort to learn?
90019
Established Member
They tried a manual first and then changed to an automatic. Seeing as they passed their test to get an automatic licence it should be obvious that they first tried a manual. You can't "try" a manual unless you are driving one as a learner unless of course you have a full manual licence but then you wouldn't be a learner in any case.
Royston Vasey
Established Member
Do you mean they took one driving lesson and decided they would never drive a manual again, based on that experience?
They had a few lessons and were just unable to cope with the gears. They then changed to an instructor with an automatic.
I've just recalled a memory I had obviously tried to block. I was going down to Cardiff to sort out my mother-in-law, and hired a small car to get about when I was there. Passed test on manual, but had driven only automatics for years. Nonetheless, I thought it would be no problem; I would probably have clutch trouble at first, but it would all come back. Picked up car, and set off across the front of Central, stalling every few yards.
What I hadn't reckoned with was that Prince Charles was just arriving on the Royal Train, and the place was swarming with heavily armed police. Every time I stalled, half a dozen sub-machine guns were rapidly pointed in my direction - which did not help my clutch control at all. I gave up, handed the keys back and got a taxi!
What I hadn't reckoned with was that Prince Charles was just arriving on the Royal Train, and the place was swarming with heavily armed police. Every time I stalled, half a dozen sub-machine guns were rapidly pointed in my direction - which did not help my clutch control at all. I gave up, handed the keys back and got a taxi!
I notice this as well.
Ferrari drivers, Lamborghini drivers, Porsche drivers.....all in lane three!
Yet the X registered Citroens are doing 100mph in the fast one!
I don't understand. Really.
You should see the speeds my mum gets up to in her Corsa! She makes a point of hitting 100 on certain sections, just to make sure she can. Although even she might not manage to overtake a Eurostar at full speed (done by an Italian showing off in what looked like an F50).
I suppose going over 40 with the roof down gets a bit hair-raising.
The Corsa is a classic! I'd love to give one a thrashing down the A1(M), I've seen so many owners do the same!
90019
Established Member
The Corsa is a classic! I'd love to give one a thrashing down the A1(M), I've seen so many owners do the same!
I swear Corsas must be breeding, there's more Bs and Cs around now than ever!
I thought about buying one (a 1.3CDTi, because the fuel economy is so good), but I don't particularly like them.
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