Manual / auto

What hubby done on test drive returning back to showroom was push his left foot hard to the floor while pressing the brake with his right  I thought someone had gone into the back of us  salesman just laughed hubby was really embarrassed 

do people think that we will ever be at the point where manual cars are the minority? like in the USA?

Yes corners I do, even though we are changing late in life so to speak the research hubby has done certainaly shows that once you have done it there's no going back, even the young ones are being encouraged to learn in Autos 

One thing that might put people off paying the extra for an auto is that some manufacturers don't offer them on the lower spec cars. I was looking at one of the smaller SUV's this evening and whilst the base prices is £18000 the first price point with an auto box was £25000. I know auto boxes are generally more expensive but not £7000!!!

David

could well happen, We had some visiting american teachers a few years back, they were amazed by the amount og manual cars and in the minibus they are leaned forward to watch me change gears.

just out of interest what is the extra price for an automatic?

Post edit - sorry David you posted as I was writing, so they cost will have to come down before we'll all be auto, £7000 can pay for a lot of nights on site

Well it's D Day today , will let you know how our first day has gone later  

Automatic / manual it matters nought. Having had company cars most of my working life,  some Auto some Manual, I fail to see any problems. 

Auto is great for town and city driving and being stuck in tailbacks on the motorway. Also for people who are not mechanically minded.  Nice and relaxing.

Otherwise on the open road, manual is as good, It gives better MPG, more control when towing and the road tax is much less. 

It's down to everbody's personal choice. 

K 

he done o k wasn't sure what to do with his left hand on occasion's  ( no gear stick ) when braking but yes we had a good day , as for road tax  I beg to differ just got rid of 1300 fiat £30 year road tax, new one mercedes  Benz 2200 only £20 yr road tax as for running cost fiat 50 mpg combined if we were lucky new one two short trips on motorway going and returning from supermarket shows us 64 mpg both cars diesel  

Glad you got on okay with the new car. This time next week you will never want to drive a manual box car again

Does anyone know why geared vehicles are more fuel efficient than auto's? Mine(gears) is 5mpg more than the same auto version. I would have thought the auto would shift at the optimum time & make it better mpg-but it doesn't