Driving Lesson #14

[bugshaw]

This morning I had my 'taster lesson' in an automatic car. The driving experience took a little getting used to; the car keeps running while the brake is not pressed, so the relation of gas pedal to car speed is not the same as in a manual. I found it hard to keep a steady speed, typically wavering by 5mph.

I found junctions and roundabouts much easier. When the car is in Drive, it cannot go backwards so you don't need to worry about rolling backwards into a too-close vehicle when setting off. Roundabouts are suddenly all about observations and finding a gap, with no fiddling with gears and handbrakes. You just drive!

I did have to sit with my foot on the brake a fair bit, but that's a lot less work than the clutch. At the end of the two hours my back ached but it was a couple of inches higher than usual and central - no stabbing pain in the left sacroiliac joint!

A cautious Win for the automatic, but I'll persevere with trying to pass the test in a manual.

Comments

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

I regularly swap between the two - I have a manual but my Dad has an automatic, which I use when I'm in Liverpool. It generally takes me a few moments to get my mind into the right mindset when I get into one type after driving the other for a while. Much like swapping between right-hand-drive and left-hand drive.

It sounds like an automatic would be much better for you, but I agree entirely with your decision to take the test in a manual. So much more flexibility if you ever need to hire a car.

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the dark side :-)

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

I have a learner's licence that only allows me to drive an automatic, because of my arms/hands. It's not the pedals, it's the stick that I can't manage, certainly for long drives. I love them, and drove one in the US, but it's very easy to speed when you're on a clear road.

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

My father insisted that we all take our tests in a manual transmission car. He said that any idiot can steer a machine, and he wanted to be sure that we actually knew how to *drive* a car. Most of my cars have been manuals, but I have finally broken down and bought an automatic. The knees just aren't what they used to be.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

My last two speeding tickets were in automatics. In the meanwhile, I drove over 100,000 miles in a manual - but getting the MG, I had a ticket within 500 miles.

Yes, the cues you have as to your speed are much reduced in the automatic.

What hasn't been mentioned is one good reason for passing in a manual: hiring a car. There's not only more flexibility, but in quite a few markets, automatics cost a lot more to hire than manuals. The bunch we hired from in Ireland is an example: I think they reckon that locals will always want the manual, whereas it's (only?) rich Americans who'll want the automatic.

[hnpcc]

My main problem in automatics is remembering that unless your foot is firmly on the brake the damn thing will go forward if you're sitting in Drive. Which is how I managed to run very slowly into the back of the car in front - I was reaching back for the melways and my foot came off the brake enough for the car to move, but slowly enough that I didn't notice it. Dammit!