The Caretakers' Forum

Automatic vehicles are good but remember to still sit in the driver's seat, just in case.

thecaretaker wrote: ↑29th Feb 2024 at 1:19pm So maybe I should not have ticked automatic as my car doesn't have to change any gears so isn't technically an automatic.

You can change your vote if you so wish

ALL my cars bar one have been automatic, my present car (14 years old this year) is automatic, never had any problems with box or transmission, contrary to all the predictions of unbelievers

Had fun as a 18 year old driving cars to the auction house (mostly Brighouse BCA)
A friend in college who's dad owner a car showroom paid us to drive at the weekends.
Most were absolute bangers and barely made it there but it was fun and I got to drive a lot of different cars and get paid.

We would very occasionally get to bring some very nice Vauxhall motors back as well (dealer was a Vauxhall franchise).

That was until one member of the gang driving an Astra GTE back got to the bottom of the very steep ramp leading to the showrooms and car park and instead of rolling up onto the ramp and use momentum he decided to stop at the bottom and give it some "Revs" to get up.
Whilst we all stood aghast as he left black lines and smoke all the way to the top and timed it to perfection as the boss (friends dad) stepped out of the showroom..
Can still see his face even today.

Dragonrider wrote: ↑29th Feb 2024 at 3:16pm I've only ever owned Manual transmission cars, Fords, Renault and a recent model Skoda.
However, I have driven several Automatics for work. I used to work for a certain dealership here in Ilkley which specialised in, shall we say, rather nice motors! I had the pleasure of collecting some automatic Jaguars, including an awesome XJS, what a motor! Then I used to pop down to Crewe to collect brand new Rollers, now, THAT was a privilege!

I had a few jobs over the years that involved driving alongside owning some of the following as well. I've driven Mercedez (cars and vans), Skoda, Saab, Vauxhall, Ford, Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, Fiat, VW's, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and a few others as well. Believe it or not I'm quite happy with my Duster, does what I need it to do. Some have been automatics and some manual. Drove my mates Mk1 Granada years back with a stage one race tuned 3.1ltr lump in it mated to a 2ltr gearbox. It would do an indicated 110mph in third gear (on a private road of course). Once drove a very weird Saab with no clutch but a manual gearbox. Drove an ancient Mercedez van that was so slow I was overtaken by a milk float. Even drove a left hand drive Mk1 Escort at one point.

My last wagon in the Army - automatic.
All my cars - manual.
Works van - EV, so like automatic.

I like them all.

Some modern auto's are so good these days,

The VW group DSG box brilliant, and also the BMW 8 speed ZF box is just amazing.

Neck and neck currently, that surprises me I thought auto would be in front.

Keyolder wrote: ↑1st Mar 2024 at 11:00am Neck and neck currently, that surprises me I thought auto would be in front.

I thought it would be manual that was more popular.

My wife can only drive an automatic car, due to a congenital dislocation of the hip, therefore in later life when we had 2 cars, it seemed logical that I had an automatic car as well. Since we retired we have only 1 automatic car, and I would never go back to a manual box.