Are automatic cars responsible for creating shit drivers?

[Looonie]

I'm torn between the first two options, but in the end picked A because I agree, generally if everybody had to drive a manual vehicle they would pay more attention to the task of driving, instead of putting on their makeup, masturbating, perving at the chick driving next to them, reading the paper or stuffing their face... all while occassionally glancing at the road in front (let along the rear view mirror or whats next to them when they opt to change lanes without indicating).

[BZG Wagon]

I do reckon if everyone drove manuals traffic wouldn't be as bad. When you're in a manual you think about starting and stopping, so tend to keep a continious speed and pay more attention to the car in front.

I also hate when you stop at lights and all the auto cars in front suddenly bunch up leaving a massive space between you and the car in front. Suddenly you feel obliged to drive forward a couple meters and stop again.

[rollaholic]

the trans has nothing to do with it, its all about the motivations behind the decision to buy the vehicle in question. autos are easier to drive so people who are shit / dont give a toss tend to pick them. manuals tend to be owned by people who are at least somewhat interested in driving - particularly with modern cars, manuals are getting harder and harder to find - and this shows in the way they drive (ie the pay more attention etc)

there are obviously exceptions in all cases.

[tsoob]

masturbating,

Wow your keen!

[jacobrjett]

tbh this might come across as sexist but ive always believed this, because female and males think differently ive thought males mind allows them to understand dynamics and engineering better then most females, so they catch onto how a stick transmission works, traction control etc. much faster and they learn the flow of the road and traffic better, wherelse females are more like "well the book said..." and "omg were skidding lets slam the brakes to make it worse!" (altho one time my mrs was driving and we got some massive oversteer around a corner and she counter turned it perfectly I was proud) also why most mechanics and engineers are men etc.

I always have respect for a girl that can drive a manual properly though and there are some chicks out there that are very good drivers

but front wheel drive automatic cars have their place IMO. Its all down to the drivers.

[spoonza6]

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.

Would of thought you'd use first gear when stopping at a stop sign?

Remember stop means stop.

[jacobrjett]

i think he means coming to the stop sign, not at the stop sign. i sometimes shift into second as well, but a lot of the time im lazy and just shift into neutral and then coast to whereever im going to stop

[2LTR Rona]

Are automatic cars responsible for creating shit drivers?

Answer: No, existing bad drivers with bad habits teaching new learner drivers their bad habits create shit drivers

Along with a driver licensing system that’s far too easy

[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.

Would of thought you'd use first gear when stopping at a stop sign?

Remember stop means stop.

Not to engine brake. 3rd gear to an almost stop, clutch and brake to a halt and shift into first for taking off again.

[Bling]

Third gear to almost a stop?

Just as bad as everything you listed as being a bad driving habit IMO of course. Can't be good for the engine to be about to stall everytime you stop. Unless of course you can take off in third without stressing the engine? Even the work van I drive wouldn't like almost stopping in third

[Simon K]

After a couple of years driving a manual for work, going to an auto was such a huge improvement.

"Horses for courses..." or however the saying goes, it's no sports car but that's not what I needed. Brilliant for day to day stuff.

[BZG Wagon]

Third gear to almost a stop?

Just as bad as everything you listed as being a bad driving habit IMO of course. Can't be good for the engine to be about to stall everytime you stop. Unless of course you can take off in third without stressing the engine? Even the work van I drive wouldn't like almost stopping in third

The engine doesn't stress, doesn't pink, doesn't shudder at all. Doesn't drop under 1,000 rpm. Almost a stop is probably an exageration - but like I said you shouldn't feel any changes when driving a manual and I'm more then confident when I'm driving, you don't.

[Leon]

After a couple of years driving a manual for work, going to an auto was such a huge improvement.

"Horses for courses..." or however the saying goes, it's no sports car but that's not what I needed. Brilliant for day to day stuff.

around town courier work is a bit of an exception though. Lets face it, if you tried to drive around town in a manual, you'd keep dropping your PSP or your tequila. This way, with the auto you can work, drink, drive, and game all at the same time.

[Akane]

TL:DR.

Since I started working at where I'm working now, we do people profiling.

Basically, a non technical minded person will ALWAYS be non technical minded. This include driving.

You can not make a good driver out of a shit one.

You can probably make a good driver out of a shit one for a very short period of time because you're telling them to do so. But they'll lose that train of thought and go back to being a shit driver.

Being auto or manual has nothing to do with anything.

[rollaholic]

you dont need a technical mind to be a passable driver. you just need observation skills, situational awareness, and some focus.

being awesome at changing gears or catching oversteer is a tiny part of driving on the streets. the situationally aware driver probably wouldnt have needed to catch a spot of oversteer because they would have realised they needed to slow down more for the upcoming corner or w/e.

anybody can be a safe, competent driver if they put their mind to it.

[Mr Revhead]

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).

So he taught you to slip and ride the clutch?

I've seen that many bad drivers in manuals I cannot possibly see how trans choice has anything to do with skill and/or lack of.

Where does the majority of our cars come from? Jap imports. What's it like to drive in Japan? Traffic! Hence why there are so many autos around.
The problem is NZ has virtually nil driver training. You do not need to know how to drive to get a license.

[BZG Wagon]

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).

So he taught you to slip and ride the clutch?

Nope and I don't. That would have ended in a beating.


A good gear change is when the engine and gearbox are meet at the same speed. Too fast or too slow through the gears on the up change and it's jerky. When changing down give the car a tiny bit of throttle and it's smooth. You shouldn't need to ride the clutch on either scenario. Not that difficult.

Come round; I'd be more then happy to teach you.

[Mr Revhead]

But that sounds nothing like an auto

[Mr Revhead]

oh wait... it's late and I read that with half closed eyes.... nevermind