Manual V Automatic?

Question

Hi, I have shortlisted a couple of cars I'm looking into buying:

Vauxhall Corsa. 01+ (M/A)

Toyota Yaris (M/A)

Nissan Micra 52+ (M/A)

Peugeot 206 (M/A)

Anyway, my question is:

How hard is it to drive a manual?

Why are automatics a lot more expensive?

Can you give a beginner any tips?

Which one is best to drive?

* Looking at buying my first car, never had a lesson, only ever sat in the drivers seat!

Thanks.

Answer 1

An automatic is a thousand times easier to drive than a manual: Most people find the coordination between clutch & gears the most difficult aspect of driving.

Bear in mind that if you pass your test in an auto, you won't be able to drive a manual without another test. A manual test covers both manual & auto cars.

Automatics are more expensive because they're more complicated and, as a rule, more sought after.

Have a couple of lessons in a manual & see how you get on: It's useful to be able to drive both & don't even consider buying anything until you've passed your test & have a bit more idea of what you do & don't like in a car.

Answer 2

I wouldn't think about buying a car until you've had some lessons to see what you like. You limit yourself a lot if you just take lessons in an automatic as you'll have to take another test to drive a manual.

Driving a manual isn't easy but once you get the hang of it it's fun to drive. I have a manual Corsa and I love driving it, but as someone above said it has a lot to do with where you drive it. If you're always going to be in heavy traffic then automatic will be easier as constantly changing gear can be annoying.

But it just depends what you prefer to be honest.

Answer 3

i passed on manual but now on  automatic. Manual is harder to learn and it is fun to drive. Besides, if you passed on manual u can drive auto too. Auto... well, riding a bike is harder than drive auto :)

Answer 4

i feel like i have more control of a manual car...mind you automatics come in handy for rolling joints on the move....

Answer 5

Small automatics have allways been dearer,manual is cheaper on fuel and you can have more control of the car,auto is nice to drive if you always sit in traffic save keep going up and down the gears.Its really what you fancy i have had both.

Answer 6

Get ready for all the manual answers.

Both are great boxes and both feel nice to drive in different ways,auto's are not as boring as people expect and make out they are,after all driving a manual car doesn't make anyone a racing driver.

And to be honest i drove a friends fiesta manual the other day and due to the the car being a low cc i had to change up and down and and down all the time.and was sick of it.

Auto's can be harder to drive sometimes due to no gears to brake with and unexpected changes on corners and in slow traffic.

Which one is best

Without owning the models is hard to say but owning a few makes Vauxhall is good is mileage is low as i have owned a good few vauxhalls which suffer into high miles.Peugeot are good but expensive.Toyota and Nissan are good cars and looked after will see some silly high miles,parts of expensive for these two but go wrong a lot less.

as said both boxes are fun not matter what people say and each have enjoyment in different ways.best advice is try both cars with there boxes as each car feels different to everyone.

Answer 7

I've been driving a manual for years.  Before you buy one though, you have to assess what kind of driving you do.  Are you in stop-and-go rush hour traffic a lot?  If you are, all that 1st, neutral, 1st, 2nd, neutral, first ... etc. can get annoying and cramp you clutch calf.  I know, because that's my life 5 days a week. Still though, driving a stick has its benefits too.  Driving around the city in 5th gear is very econimical as the engine is barely straining at all and using less gas is good!  It's also a lot more fun that just putting the car in drive and aiming.

There is a learning curve on driving a manual.  You'll probably stall a few times right off the bat, and you'll more than likely do it an an intersection when it's your turn to go! That can be very stressful.  But after a couple of weeks you get the hang of it and it becomes 2nd nature. Call a local driving academy and take a lesson or two.  Learning with a friend, on thier car can lead to very unpleasant encounteres ... trust me, I tried once to teach my wife!

Answer 8

hi. automatics are more expenisve because of  couple of reasons: the first being that people dont need a full licence to drive one and secondly because (in my opinion) they are soght after because its less hassle to drive. i have driven all the models you stated, here are my opinions (if you are interested):

vauxhall corsa- good car, altho basic, small boot

toyota yaris - toyota very good, reliable make

micra - small car with small ideas, altho reliable

peugeot - overpriced and more exp for the insurance

i hope this helps, get your lessons!!

Answer 9

Many years ago I drove an automatic for 2 years which I disliked somewhat - as I felt less in control!

For me I have far more contact and control with a manual (irrespective of the price).

I now have a Jaguar X Sovereign (manual) which is great - and my wife agrees!

Because one has greater control it is easier to drive a "manual".

Good question - thanks!

Answer 10

HELLO

FIRST OF ALL

IF YOU PASS IN AN AUTOMATIC YOU DO NOT GET FULL MANUAL LICENCE, IF YOU ARE HAPPY DRIVING AUTOMATICS YOU CAN TAKE THE MANUAL ONE LATER IF YOU WISH TO (YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO BUT YOU  WOULD HAVE TO DO AS A LEARNER)

FOR THIS REASON I WOULD SAY STICK TO MANUAL AS WHEN YOU PASS IN A MANUAL YOU ALSO GET THE AUTOMATIC LICENCE

AUTOMATICS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE AS THERE ARE LESS OF THEM AND NON STANDARD

IF YOU GO TO AMERICA THE AUTOMATIC RULES SO THE MANUAL IS NON STANDARD AND DEARER

TO BE HONEST I WOULD PREFER TO START IN A AUTOMATIC THEN WHEN USED TO USED TO THAT CHANGE TO MANUAL. THIS MEANS NOT HAVING TO LEARN ALL AT ONCE WHICH IS EASIER.

BUT REAL LIFE YOU WOULD PROBABLY LEARN WITH A DRIVING SCHOOL. THEY MAT ASK IF YOU WANT MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC OR MAY JUST ASSUME YOU WANT MANUAL, AND YES THERE ARE FEWER WITH AUTOMATIC CARS.