Are automatic cars responsible for creating shit drivers?

[tsoob]

My 2 cents...

Drivers that never have the concept of using a clutch, gearbox etc, Never really grasp the whole 'feel' of driving, and as such just point and shoot without being aware of other cars on the road.

With a manual you have to think about up and down shifting, so you are conscious of your distances, and when someone is sitting on your ass.

[MAC_HATER]

yup i agree - not sure how to explain it - but every time ive been in a car with someone else and they are in the "i only know autos" basket - their driving is almost always somewhat absent minded

on the other hand though - if the driver knows manual's well and goes to an auto - i don't see a change - their driving still is at a good standard - they even use the auto selector to bring it down the gears and engine brake unlike the auto only guys that just drag on the brakes all day D:

[1I1]

Had to pick the middle choice - shit drivers regardless of what they drive are going to be shit.

[Grrrrrrr!]

Depends what sort of shit driver you are talking about..

Auto = absent minded, putting on makeup/testing and paying no attention to road type.

Manual = More likely to be a chronic tailgater, random swerving thru traffic type of numpty.

[spoonza6]

would kinda disagree in a way

i learnt my road awareness from driving in an auto, didnt have to worry about changing down, gears n what not

jus focused on traffic around me, stop and go

not too long after that i started driving a manual and after mastering the clutch and gear changes i am now fully aware of surroundings when driving without the added concern of clutch n gears

so, im with the guy who said the middle one, shit drivers gonna be shit regardless of the transmission in the car

[Lloyd]

Middle. Auto/manual has nothing to do with how someone drives.

[Bling]

Being a shit driver isn't based on the transmission of what you drive imo.

I drive both on occasion, my driving doesn't really change. Perfect driver in both cases

You'll get auto pilots in autos, and you'll get just as many hoons in manuals. Evens out. Lol @ female driver dig, it's usually the guys on the road ignoring all the rules and not giving a shit who they give way to. Probably just as many guys out their that can't drive manual too.

[sergei]

Lack of alternative is the main cause for shit drivers.
Most of people drive because it gets them from A to B, they don't care how they drive, and consider it another chore.

Basically they drive as carelessly as I take out my rubbish bag every Thursday.

They don't try to perfect it or learn from it.

I realised how bad it is in NZ to be without a car when I was in Wellington for a day. Took Taxi to a datacentre (Tawa, cost $85), decided to see the town and use public transport, nearest bus stop was in 2km... Then I waited for 1 hour.
Then after a scenic drive that lasted about 1 hour (They call it Airport Express) and sitting next to a weird warlock who decided to sit next to me in an empty bus, I ended up in Airport. The bus was $12.95, not bad compared to taxi, would I do it again? No, I would insist on rental.

The only way to reduce amount of bad drivers in NZ is make d/l very strict and efficient and affordable public transport.

[iOnic]

Driver education has more to answer for than automatic transmissions.

[Grrrrrrr!]

Driver education.. you mean the scratch and sniff licence test?

[sergei]

Driver education.. you mean the scratch and sniff licence test?

No no, now days it you click things on the screen

[Lith]

It doesn't create shit drivers, it just helps them realise their potential.

[BZG Wagon]

My girlfriend was a terrible driver when we first started dating. Would change right down to second or even first gear coming to a stop or a give way sign. Terrible through the gears. Hill start on everything. Didn't know about pulse braking or how to control a car in a skid.

Got her an auto and her driving instantly improved.

Taught her how to drive a manual properly in my GTT a while later and also gave her a few lessons in skid control and braking (the latter no longer matters with ABS in her new car).

I know plenty of people that drive manuals and are useless - riding clutch, not changing down properly, jerky, don't blip gas between down shifts - I'd rather they drive an auto.

[Bling]

You blip the gas every time you change down a gear?

Shit I must just be lazy

I bet you don't even double clutch though.

[DRFTIN]

dont we have synchros so you dont have to give it a rev downshifting?

i think most people who are useless drivers in autos would be worse in a manual, would concentrate less on the road
no you dont have to look at the gear lever to get it to select
which is why i also think people should either learn to drive in an auto or a paddock. learning a manual on the street is bad

[Lloyd]

My girlfriend was a terrible driver when we first started dating. Would change right down to second

People don't change down through gears?

[BZG Wagon]

I'll change as low as third when slowing unless I'm driving fast. Certainly never first.

I don't blip on every downchange, but I do when driving fast or dropping down a couple gears, or even a gear at speed to overtake. I know a lot of people that will just drop their car into 3rd at 80 - 100kph and it feels terrible.

Only double clutch when driving older cars when they need it. Heal-toe often but again, only when driving with a bit of pace.

May dad taught me that other then the sound of the engine, nobody should be able to tell that you're driving a manual. Smooth changes or I'd get yelled at (seriously).

[Bling]

Gears and speeds will depend on car. I'd usually end up in 2nd before a stop / give way. I'd also be in 3rd for overtaking at that speed.

[rolla_fxgt]

Yeah shit drivers are shit regardless of the tranny they use.

But I do think driving a manual makes you think a little more about how you drive. But I don't think the transmission choice matters, its more symptomatic of their view on driving.

Yeah I'd only be in 3rd for passing at that speed, and would drop straight down to it from 5th if i'd been sitting behind them for awhile, its all about least time exposed/max acceleration. Sometimes It'd even be into 2nd, but that'd be the exception to the rule, and would always reqire an upshift while overtaking, which is just annoying.

Current auto/triptronic car I do find nicer in traffic, not having to use a clutch, but I don't think I drive it too differently to a manual, well apart from its gutlessness on hills, and its into second to keep up a decent speed.

As to whats better, well it depends on the car, engine, gearbox, and situation combo. Sometimes a manual would be better, but its not like I hate having to drive a triptronic at the moment. If it was a full auto, then I would be less impressed.


Perhaps trirtronic may be a middle ground, and encourage a better class of auto drivers?

[iOnic]

Most cars will do 60km/h in 1st, what's so bad about downshifting into 1st when slowing down from 20-30km/h? I generally don't bother but in the Evo I downshift into 1st when I get down to almost idle speed in 2nd - the brakes squeal like $&#$% under light braking so I generally avoid using them to slow down unless I have to. Passing at 80-100km/h I used to drop down to 3rd in the Euro-R. That brought revs up to around VTEC engagement and gave quick acceleration. No need to downshift to pass in the Evo. It really all depends on the car. In the Corolla I used to get audible knock if I tried to plant foot in 4th/5th to pass at ~100km/h so no choice but to downshift to 3rd.

None of the above makes a person a bad driver though - just different ways of driving different cars.