Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Learning on automatic

  • 30-04-2019 1:22pm
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭


    Just wondering, bar not being able to drive a manual, what's the problem with automatics? Is it just a snobbery thing?


Comments

  • #2
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    There is no other problem.

    Here is an unexpected benefit :)


    It's not a snobbery thing.
    Long time ago only higher end cars came with automatic, so auto box were considered fancy or for old folks.
    Funnily in US autos was always the norm.

    These days autos are common everywhere so feel free to learn on an auto box if you don't mind being restricted in your purchasing or hiring cars.


  • #3
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,038 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Deleted User wrote: »
    ...what's the problem with automatics? Is it just a snobbery thing?
    It's more the restriction than a snobbery thing.. If you do the test in an auto, you're restricted to autos whereas with a manual licence, you can drive either.

    (It can also restrict job opportunities).


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    It's more the restriction than a snobbery thing.. If you do the test in an auto, you're restricted to autos whereas with a manual licence, you can drive either.

    (It can also restrict job opportunities).

    I work freelance, so would be using my own car, good consideration to have though.

    Is there any difference in insurance?


  • #5
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I work freelance, so would be using my own car, good consideration to have though.

    Is there any difference in insurance?

    I would doubt it.

    I'd always say to people that you should do your lessons in a manual car, you might be surprised how little thought gears take once you have some practise. If you decide after your lessons that you would rather do the test in an auto then that is absolutely fine. A further lesson or two in an automatic car is all that would be required.

    Automatics are indeed becoming more and more popular, and I would wager the days of the manual car are somewhat numbered. But it does still impact when renting cars on holidays and the likes, and when buying cars at the lower/older end of the scale as a lot would still be manual. It could also happen that you need to drive a friends car which is manual etc. Perhaps these aren't important to you, but worth considering.


  • #6
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,038 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    ... It could also happen that you need to drive a friends car which is manual etc. Perhaps these aren't important to you, but worth considering.
    ...or act as an accompanying driver for a learner. If you have a full licence which is restricted to autos, you can't act as an accompanying driver for a learner in a manual vehicle.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Posy
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,753 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    I want my first car to be a small hatchback with a low engine size and under 5k. If I was restricted to an automatic licence, I'd find it a lot harder to find one. If I had more money, I'd probably get an auto!
    Definitely glad I did my test in a manual though, to give me the choice of either.


  • #8
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    Posy wrote: »
    I want my first car to be a small hatchback with a low engine size and under 5k. If I was restricted to an automatic licence, I'd find it a lot harder to find one. If I had more money, I'd probably get an auto!
    Definitely glad I did my test in a manual though, to give me the choice of either.

    You'd be pretty much looking at Micra's if it is a small automatic you are really after.


  • #9
    zepman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭zepman


    biko wrote: »
    Funnily in US autos was always the norm.

    When I used to live in the US almost a decade ago, one of my friends specifically looked for and bought a manual car while everyone else was buying the more easily available automatic ones. He claimed that it was more engaging to drive (sure he had other reasons).

    I never drove in the US myself or an automatic anywhere, so I am curious to find out how it feels to drive one some day.


  • #10
    BIGT4464
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 191 ✭✭BIGT4464


    The auto boxes today are totally different for the old auto boxes in US cars, a totally different beast. It was/is not a problem for the Americans to have inefficient auto cars as their fuel is dirt cheap.
    Todays 'auto' DSG tiptronic ect... boxes on modern cars are in actuality a manual box controlled by a computer, they can be considered Semi-Auto, as opposed to the old full auto box torque convertor type. These were mainly 3 or 4 speed, useless yokes on fuel.


Advertisement