Manual OR Automatic Licence

[Iggypoppin']

Ban autos?? What, so the people who are unable to operate a clutch due to spine and leg injuries can just walk? Jeez, I love manuals and hated having to buy autos, but they are especially handy for those who are NOT enthusiasts and just need a commute vehicle. And taxis, especially, cannot be manual. The drivers driving them now would never pass a manual licence test!

[sleek7]

I remember doing my first 6 months or so of my Ls driving an auto (Falcon EA, god that thing was huge) and then learning to drive manual from there on (mums corolla before she rolled into a ditch... ....[she actually walked away with only a scratch, car was WO] and then her camry).
Have a manual license today and have never been restricted to driving autos.

[BLSTIC]

I got my license in my neighbors manual barina. Honestly if you can't practise in your own car, find someone who knows that their clutch is exchanged for taxi rides when you do eventually get your license...

That said, I got my license in the good old days when P-Platers didn't have to show plates, and could drive anything anywhere. Seriously, cops actually advised me NOT to put the plates on because people seem to find flaws in P-Platers driving (whether they exist or not) and stress themselves accordingly.

[BPXR6T]

Learned to drive a manual by googling it the night before delivering a car from Canberra to Melbourne. Now my daily is a manual. I'll personally never buy another auto again, manual is too much fun.

[galaxy xr8]

I got my manual license because I wanted to be able to drive a manual and had a manual vehicle at the time, where as I have mates that only got an auto license, because they only intend to drive auto's, that's their decision.
I drive a manual vehicle as a daily but I find myself wanting an auto as a daily driver as I get older.

[Iggypoppin']

I learned to drive manual in a bloody top loader. Nightmare it was. Went from that to a 97 mondeo, big world of difference! Ahh the joys of being a youth again...
Like shifting a wrench in a bucket of river rocks. To quote sourbastard.

[Bucknaked]

I learn't in an Auto. I don't like manuals and would sooner have an auto. What is the point on changing the gears yourself, when theres a box that does the same job. It's ones less thing to worry about when driving. Unfortunatley, both my car and bike don't have an auto option, otherwise I would have taken them in auto. Driving either doesn't make you a good or bad driver. Acceleration, breaking and steering are more imnportant than whether you can move a stick up and down and press a pedal at the same time. Takes more talent to rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time.

[Riksta]

Don't seem to be able to vote in the poll but when I got my L's, parents made me learn in a manual so I can drive anything I get into if the need arises.


Edit - first post in this thread dated 17-09-06, 07:32 AM - somebody played this card I think!!!

[burnz]

i dont think it matters any more.
ppl get their licence in autos then manuel trans later on....

[irish2]

Originally Posted by burnz

i dont think it matters any more.
ppl get their licence in autos then manuel trans later on....

Sounds a lot like double handling to me!

[BLSTIC]

I find driving a manual gives me more of a connection to my car.

When my EF was auto I used to guide the car through the streets, slightly detached from the car. Once manual it was more involving, I could feel the immense torque, the coarseness at high revs, and the slight light-load missfire that signalled the end of the head gasket. The auto dulled the torque and muted the vibration of the missfire and natural vibrations of the engine.

Kind of like the differenc between a kids ride horse and a racehorse really. The car still had most of the same bits, but was a completely different animal.

It's worth noting that in every car I have driven in both auto and manual form has had a similar story behind it. Except the naturally aspirated subarus didn't feature the extra torque bit...

[SuspectEB]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

I could say the same thing about 18 speed Road Ranger's... People who want full synchro box's are lazy

true, but I can drive Road Ranagers fine now. But My first time in the training Semi was in Peak hour. Talk about thrown in the deep end.

And Im curious as to why people cant drive manual? I know some manuals are heavy as, but If ya can use a break pedel, then chances are ya can use a Laser/Focus Clutch.

[Iggypoppin']

Ask SNBXR suspecteb. He is a user on aff and is unable to operate a clutch. He must drive autos.

He suffers from a medical condition that he has spoken about in other threads. His right leg is fine for accelerating and braking but I don't think his left leg is usable.

[SuspectEB]

thats fair enough then. I just woundered. I got a mate who likes to use that as an excuse for not having a manual Turbo. but he seems to drive my EB fine.

But some people as you said may actully have a proper reason.

[Iggypoppin']

No problems. It's not common obviously but it does happen. Fortunatly for many ford owners, the current 6A is pretty darn good!

[BA Baracus]

The physical licensing is pretty irrelevant. In the event of a life and death situation where you need to drive a manual you'd just drive it regardless of what the plastic card in your wallet says. If the police pull you over that's a good thing, ..they're good people to help with the life or death situation.

..and what about people with no licence at all in a hypothetical emergency situation. A better argument then 'auto licence holders should have to have manual licences' would be 'every physicaly capable person must have a licence' in general.

[sk8xr8]

Originally Posted by jabba

I am very surprised that there are members here that can't drive a manual car. Maybe I am a little harsh, but in my opinion if you can not drive a manual competently then you should not be on the road.. It is a basic driving skill... My wife's 80 year old granny drive a manual,, How bloody hard can it be....

Note: I am not condoning driving auto's. I just seriously believe that all driving test's should be done in a manual gear box car.

agreed, just the same as i believe that everybody should be doing a defensive driving test as part of getting their licence, just shows their car control and responses are suitable for the right to drive...

I would make allowances for people with some disabilities to drive auto though...

[Ford_The_Win]

Automatic for me :(
I learned to drive a manual when I was a kid, so it's not that I can't drive a manual, but when I was on my L plates it was more important for me to have a licence rather than worry about whether it was automatic restricted. We were a one-car family and that car was automatic, and I didn't know anyone who had a manual (and would have let me drive it).