Learn to Drive in a Manual..... Should it be Mandatory ?

[EB#]

Given the events like....

- The Ford bloke stuck in cruise control
- Toyotas with sticky throttles

In incidents like those above, the option of throwing the car into neutral does
not occur at all for these people. It's my feeling that a manual driver may have
more understanding of the actual car, vehicular dynamics and thus
options for an emergency. Basically, I think manual drivers make better auto
drivers.

Just wondering what are others' thoughts are on an issue like this ?

Hypothetically, do you think it should be mandatory that learner drivers must
learn and then pass their test in a manual car ?

[Jack91]

YES. If you cant drive manual, you cant drive.

[hydraulicmonkey]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

YES. If you cant drive manual, you cant drive.

+1

My missus who only has an auto licence has no idea what gear the car is in at any given time. For me its just second nature to keep in mind what gear the car is in. This flows on to all other aspects of driving.

[aussie muscle]

honestly i think the manual gearbox's days are numbered. Most people have autos nowadays and eventually manual will be an enthusiast's device only. it's mandatory to learn stick if you are into old muscle cars.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

honestly i think the manual gearbox's days are numbered. Most people have autos nowadays and eventually manual will be an enthusiast's device only. it's mandatory to learn stick if you are into old muscle cars.

In Australia maybe, not in Europe.

Every car I rent in the UK is a manual. 90% of rental cars there are manuals.

[buickman]

Who would by a manual car nowadays with the modern automatics? Unless you want a cheap **** budget car to get from point A -B.

As for getting a manual licence if a person wants to be mobile and has no real interest in cars what’s wrong with an auto licence as most cars sold today are autos.

My 1st car had vacuum wipers and no syncro in 1st with drum brakes all round only because that was the norm for 18 year olds in the 70's as most cars from the 60's had manual gear boxes that broke syncros fairly easy

Times have changed

[Kaan]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

honestly i think the manual gearbox's days are numbered. Most people have autos nowadays and eventually manual will be an enthusiast's device only. it's mandatory to learn stick if you are into old muscle cars.

That is only in Australia mate. In Europe you can see 1 auto car in probably 5000 cars. Very hard to see auto. It's been said before but I say it again. if you can't drive manual, you can't drive.

[kinksta]

Originally Posted by Kaan

It's been said before but I say it again. if you can't drive manual, you can't drive.

What about the guy who has never owned a manual in 40-50 years of driving, and never been in any sort of driving altercation? can't he drive? well if not he's fluked it bloody well. Driving manual in no possible way makes you a better driver.

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Kaan

That is only in Australia mate. In Europe you can see 1 auto car in probably 5000 cars. Very hard to see auto. It's been said before but I say it again. if you can't drive manual, you can't drive.

That may be the case in Europe, but I would say the majority of members would do the bulk of their driving in Australia. I would then have to agree that the majority of regular A to B cars on the road, excluding mining & agricultural vehicles would be an auto derivative.

Driving a manual or an auto is a decision of the purchaser of a vehicle. I tend to believe that the views of a dedicated Public forum dominated by drivers of performance vehicles, would tend to be a bit biased towards a manual variant - for obvious reasons.

Manual - does it make a better driver, I don't think so.

For my 2c worth, driving a manual wouldn't make a huge difference - better drivertraining and experience in my book tends to make a better driver.

[My poor XF]

Originally Posted by Kaan

if you can't drive manual, you can't drive.

Thankyou so much for pointing out my complete inability to operate my car. I can now hand my license over knowing i'am making the roads safer. :

What a crock, the transmission in your car has no bearing on your ability to drive. Its all down to attitudes and training.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Kaan

That is only in Australia mate. In Europe you can see 1 auto car in probably 5000 cars. Very hard to see auto. It's been said before but I say it again. if you can't drive manual, you can't drive.

And Europe is quickly moving to DSG transmissions with centrifigal clutches.
Give it 5- 10 years and manuals will only be available on genuine Trucks and heavy Duty off road 4WDs

[b0son]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

YES. If you cant drive manual, you cant drive.

If you owned a model T, would your comment be 'if you cant crank it over by hand, you cant drive' ?

The manual gearbox's days are numbered.

[mrbaxr6t]

something that really gets my goat (have 2 manuals as I type this) is auto drivers stopping right up your tailpipe at lights and stuff I mean they really do stop close behind you - then freak out when you rollback a cm or so before you get forward momentum - much worse on hills ofcourse but this really peeves me off that everybody ASSUMES every other car is automatic which is not true is it - please show some consideration and dont stop up the rectum of other cars in a que it may be a manual whos bumper you are right ontop of that MAY rollback should the driver make an error.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

something that really gets my goat (have 2 manuals as I type this) is auto drivers stopping right up your tailpipe at lights and stuff I mean they really do stop close behind you - then freak out when you rollback a cm or so before you get forward momentum - much worse on hills ofcourse but this really peeves me off that everybody ASSUMES every other car is automatic which is not true is it - please show some consideration and dont stop up the rectum of other cars in a que it may be a manual whos bumper you are right ontop of that MAY rollback should the driver make an error.

You're supposed to use a handbrake if there's a chance you are going to roll backwards. Peeves me when the vehicle in front rolls back when they start off. How far back are they going to roll I wonder?

Pull up on the lever keeping the button in, so you can then ease it off when you get going again. I'd bet not many drivers driving manuals really know how to do this correctly every time, especially on a steep hill.

Thats one reason why it should be mandatory for drivers to get a manual endorsement before they can drive manuals. I believe here in Vic after a while with an auto licence you can then drive manuals.

[kinksta]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

You're supposed to use a handbrake if there's a chance you are going to roll backwards. Peeves me when the vehicle in front rolls back when they start off. How far back are they going to roll I wonder?

Pull up on the lever keeping the button in, so you can then ease it off when you get going again. I'd bet not many drivers driving manuals really know how to do this correctly every time, especially on a steep hill.

here here, it's annoying how people have the whole stigma that surrounds manuals as being cool. it isn't, it frustrating as a passenger. stop giving passengers whiplash!

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

You're supposed to use a handbrake if there's a chance you are going to roll backwards. Peeves me when the vehicle in front rolls back when they start off. How far back are they going to roll I wonder?

Pull up on the lever keeping the button in, so you can then ease it off when you get going again. I'd bet not many drivers driving manuals really know how to do this correctly every time, especially on a steep hill.

Thats one reason why it should be mandatory for drivers to get a manual endorsement before they can drive manuals. I believe here in Vic after a while with an auto licence you can then drive manuals.

This is very hard to do with dash mounted handbrakes. Maybe auto drivers should just leave some room on very steep hills. My opinion stays, if you dont have the co ordination to drive a manual, then you dont have the coodination to drive an automatic. In tassie, it isnt printed anywhere on your license whatsoever (P1,P2 open) any transmission restriction. thepistonhead on here is on his P1's and got tested in an automatic car and can go drive a manual car legally, imo thats just stupid.

[Copie]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

You're supposed to use a handbrake if there's a chance you are going to roll backwards. Peeves me when the vehicle in front rolls back when they start off. How far back are they going to roll I wonder?

Pull up on the lever keeping the button in, so you can then ease it off when you get going again. I'd bet not many drivers driving manuals really know how to do this correctly every time, especially on a steep hill.

Thats one reason why it should be mandatory for drivers to get a manual endorsement before they can drive manuals. I believe here in Vic after a while with an auto licence you can then drive manuals.

And if your keen enough you dont even have to use the h/brake, you can right foot both the brake and loud pedal and modulate them, its what i do when im driving the 28 pallet trucks at work.

[castellan]

No. driving a manual is no big deal.
But advanced driving course should be on the cards to get an open licence.

I was invited down to norwell driving center and i was shocked to see how many of the people with nice fast cars, lack of skill to drive in the coarse.

But the gov wont support advanced driving course. why! because they are stupid ignoranimous fools.
Who can't drive jack them self. and that is why it just happens to ends there with them.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

YES. If you cant drive manual, you cant drive.

That's what I say.
If you have a full licence or unrestricted licence, then should be able to drive manual, tank Fairlanes, 3 tonne trucks, etc.

Only people who should be allowed to get an auto licence, are those with a medical condition!

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

That's what I say.
If you have a full licence or unrestricted licence, then should be able to drive manual, tank Fairlanes, 3 tonne trucks, etc.

Only people who should be allowed to get an auto licence, are those with a medical condition!

Here here

[03wrx]

It does take more concentration from a learner to drive a manual. The initial stuffing up with letting out the clutch to early etc, and bunny hopping the car, and then gradually progressing onto smoother shifts must do something to enhance the cerebellum.

[Fev]

Most old Muscle cars are Auto's lol

but Manual mandatory would be good - but it's impractical. Not all families own manual cars. Mine didn't when I was learning

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by Fev

Most old Muscle cars are Auto's lol

but Manual mandatory would be good - but it's impractical. Not all families own manual cars. Mine didn't when I was learning

There wasn't a manual car in my family when I was on my Ls either. I made sure I took lessons in a manual driving school car and got my manual licence.

Funnily enough in my 13 years of driving once I got my licence I've never owned a manual and have only driven a manual car about 5 times since.

Maybe there should be mandatory emergency training (what to do in an emergency) for lerners.

[left]

Originally Posted by Fev

Manual mandatory would be good - but it's impractical. Not all families own manual cars. Mine didn't when I was learning

+1. I learned to drive - and sat my test - in an auto Budget rent a car. Two days total driving experience. Shortly thereafter I, funnily enough, nearly totalled my brand new Excel leaving the dealership ...and I only lived (literally) across the street

NB: I have improved since then!

[ROLLI]

Yeah I think you should have to learn to drive manual. They just give you a manual license in VIC when you get your full license. Dont know why that is? Its not like you get any experience driving manual if you have an auto license lol I have some mates that cant drive manual and they have passed up some nice cars to buy beacause of that reason.

[kinksta]

I've never driven a manual (properly). Dad always has had Fairlanes and now Caprice's. I have had 3 auto cars, but I understand how they work. I know I'm a minority, but I believe this will become more popular with auto becoming better and better. And yes aussie muscle i agree manuals will slowly be fazed out, maybe not completely.

I dive in manual mode alot though hahaha...

[chevypower]

yeah i used to think that, but not any more. Manuals are getting pretty rare.

[pottery beige]

Life would be so boring without manual's.. Dropping big fish hook's/rollback's.. Big flatty change's into second.. Manual's = FUN!!..

[Franco Cozzo]

All our cars are manual, but my parents got me lessons in auto to start off to learn some basic stuff, then we switched to manual and at first I hated it and didn't want to do it, then eventually when I started getting good at it, I hated auto haha. Though, I'm still trying to perfect my 1st - 2nd shift to get it smooth from WOT to change gear without making it jerk.

I reckon make everyone learn manual, and car manufacturers should only be allowed to sell auto's to people with disabilities with a free disabled kit thrown in.

[SLO AU XR8]

I was told by my parent's when I was on my learners that I was getting a manual licence or nothing. It is stupid to think that just because you can't coordinate 3 pedals with two feet that you can do 6 other things at once, but adding a 7th makes it too hard.