Driving a manual makes you a better driver?

Dom1n8tr1x said:
My dad always says and I totally agree with him:

"To be a good motorcar driver, you first have to be a motorcycle rider."

Being a good driver comes with age, experience and using more than just two brain cells.

I'm not an automatic driver, I hate automatics and believe that they are either for lazy people or people who can't drive a manual vehicle. I find manual and automatic drivers to be equally bad drivers.
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your dad was correct! its not the type of gearbox or car that makes a good driver - it's their awareness around them!
 
spiff said:
its not the type of gearbox or car that makes a good driver - it's their awareness around them!
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+1

The argument that people who drive automatic vehicles are old/lazy or don't enjoy driving is getting really old. If we were living in the 1980's then yes, those old school automatics were pretty lousy and sluggish but the auto boxes of today are no longer like that.

My car has a multitronic transmission and I love driving her. It's the first "automatic" car I've ever owned and one thing is for sure....I'll never buy a manual ever again. Maybe if I was a natural windgat behind the wheel and wanted to ruin my car with tyre burnouts, wheel spins, donuts etc. automatic wouldn't be for me but luckily I'm not like that.

I just prefer comfort over crazyness.....oh and riding the clutch is highly overrated...:whistle:

I will say though that learners/beginner drivers should stick to manual only. I think it's better overall and it trains your brain to do more things at once behind the wheel.
 
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HiToKiRi said:
+1

The argument that people who drive automatic vehicles are old/lazy or don't enjoy driving is getting really old. If we were living in the 1980's then yes, those old school automatics were pretty lousy and sluggish but the auto boxes of today are no longer like that.

My car has a multitronic transmission and I love driving her. It's the first "automatic" car I've ever owned and one thing is for sure....I'll never buy a manual ever again. Maybe if I was a natural windgat behind the wheel and wanted to ruin my car with tyre burnouts, wheel spins, donuts etc. automatic wouldn't be for me but luckily I'm not like that.

I just prefer comfort over crazyness.....oh and riding the clutch is highly overrated...:whistle:

I will say though that learners/beginner drivers should stick to manual only. I think it's better overall and it trains your brain to do more things at once behind the wheel.
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Cool story ending in an acknowledgement.
 
Pho3nix said:
Morning all,

As the title suggests what do you think?

More of an opinion piece then a question but I've recently noticed that most people that drive automatics don't drive very well compared to their manual counter-parts.
My uncle and a couple people I personally know are why I'm making the statement and while it's a generalization I believe it to be correct.
Thoughts? Are you a automatic driver?
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It's definitely a generalisation, or even worse, perhaps a stereotype.

I drive an automatic, but that's because my Merc is an automatic. I do love driving manual, but it won't make me drive better.
A friend's father is an insanely good driver... but both his Porsche are automatics.
I can think of quite a few more examples.
 
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Electric said:
Cool story ending in an acknowledgement.
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My "story" as you put it was directed at those making a generalization that people who drive automatics are lazy or don't enjoy driving which IMO is false.
 
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In my experience I would say manual drivers, as the need to concentrate more by changing gears, which makes them more aware of their driving.
 
srothman said:
I've actually been told to start training myself to do left-foot braking in a controller environment, seeing as I'll be getting an automatic car in the next couple of months.
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When driving auto you use your right foot only...gas or brake. Maybe use your free foot to kick the idiot who gave you the stupid advice, in the nuts?

My Land Rover is auto and makes it a pleasure to drive on of off the road. Also makes it much easier driving with a beer in my hand or when using the cellphone, especially when having to pull away at a traffic light or stop street. No pesky gear lever to manhandle...
 
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MightyQuin said:
My Land Rover is auto and makes it a pleasure to drive on of off the road. Also makes it much easier driving with a beer in my hand or when using the cellphone, especially when having to pull awauy at a traffic light or stop street. No pesky gear lever to manhandle...
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I've seen manual drivers do this as well. :erm:
 
Nangi said:
Better driver in what way? When I'm in a manual i tend to drive a lot slower than I would in an auto. Drive mom's auto Merc every now and then, and its "gap, accelerate" all the way (which some might view as bad driving). On the other hand I have to think twice in a manual (which gear, how high the revs are, etc.)
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Look a manual is for driving miss daisy basically. The only reason i avoid it is because i drive fast and aggressively but safe(i don't do anything stupid, either i make the move or i don't) and within the limits unless i know there is no fine to come. Why i like driving a stick is because it has got me out of many situations due to the ability to drop gear and speed up. Driving from randburg to to garankuwa via rustenburg when i change from 6th to third i literally take off past the car i am over taking.

I drive with my hand permanently on the stick. Sometimes breaking isn't the best way to avoid and accident and being able to react instantly has saved me so many times.

If i was chilled and drove slow i would go auto for sure.
 
Got a courtesy car that was automatic when mine went into the dealership. Almost put my foot through the floor trying to change gear.
 
MightyQuin said:
My Land Rover is auto and makes it a pleasure to drive on of off the road. Also makes it much easier driving with a beer in my hand or when using the cellphone, especially when having to pull away at a traffic light or stop street. No pesky gear lever to manhandle...
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My Range Rover is also auto. There is just not a lot of ways to put all the power from a V8 4.6lt on the road via a manual gearbox. Same goes for most big performance cars.

But a manual gearbox does give you better feedback on whats going on with the car.
 
Experience makes you a better driver, not the type of gearbox.
 
spiderz said:
My Range Rover is also auto. There is just not a lot of ways to put all the power from a V8 4.6lt on the road via a manual gearbox. Same goes for most big performance cars.

But a manual gearbox does give you better feedback on whats going on with the car.
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+1.

Drove in a [manual] RS4 last year and yeah, shifting that thing is not exactly easy.
 
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