End of the manual gearbox in cars

[Bald Rick]

Predicted that within 5 years new cars won't be offered with a manual gearbox.
Change driven by rise (& legislation) of EVs but also by new drivers opting to learn only on automatics.

Be a bit sad IMO as it's a pleasure & a skill to match gear changes to revs but with flappy paddles, I have come to appreciate autos.

Thoughts?

 

[GeorgeK]

 

[Hill Ground]

We've got an auto truck that the mrs drives. Everyone says they're better for towing, I hate it!!

The engine braking isn't as effective as you can't force it to change down, and just revving it numbly to try and get it to pull out of a junction quicker makes me feel like a learner driver!!

I know the computers are meant to stop them spinning the wheels in wet gateways, but that's not my experience either....just rev-rev-stuck!!!

 

[icanshootwell]

What about kids learning to drive, they should learn in a manual to fully understand how to drive a car.

 

[Cotlandfarmer]

I have an auto pickup and love it, but there is nothing like a manual to teach you how to control a vehicle.

My children will be learning in a manual.

Tin foil hat time, electronic controlled auto gearboxes to stop you driving if your social credit is low or you haven't paid your milage tax.

 

[trebornella]

If someone passes their test in an automatic, can they legally drive an old school tractor MF 135 / Ford 4000 ?

 

[Lincs Lass]

When I drive my friends manual car ,I detest it , got so used to autos , I wouldn't go back to a manual box yet all of my early life , everything was manual .
Got spoilt using telehandlers .

 

[zero]

Is it just because manufacturers don't want to send a bit extra making a smooth manual gearbox, alot seem notchier than I remember? Definitely prefer driving a manual though..

 

[Bald Rick]

What about kids learning to drive, they should learn in a manual to fully understand how to drive a car.

I have an auto pickup and love it, but there is nothing like a manual to teach you how to control a vehicle.

My children will be learning in a manual.

Tin foil hat time, electronic controlled auto gearboxes to stop you driving if your social credit is low or you haven't paid your milage tax.

But that's the point ... a lot of youngsters either don't/can't/wont learn to drive (mainly those that live in towns & cities) or are opting for Autos as manuals are "old school" and they (probably rightly) think that autos or stepless as in EVs are the future

 

[spin cycle]

automatics are 'work of the devil'.....I can't drive one....I don't feel I have control

 

[Dry Rot]

I learnt to drive on a car without synchromesh......and drove a drunk friend home in his own Mini Copper thinking the floor mounted dip switch was the clutch pedal! I didn't crunch the gears once.

 

[Clive]

dual clutch autos are brilliant would never spec a manual for a daily driver

but i still love a manual for a Sunday drive, good ones will be worth serious money one day

 

[Johnnyboxer]

What about kids learning to drive, they should learn in a manual to fully understand how to drive a car.

No need anymore
They teach them to use the brakes to stop and block change 5/4 to 2nd and then into 1st to pull away again

 

[Clive]

But that's the point ... a lot of youngsters either don't/can't/wont learn to drive (mainly those that live in towns & cities) or are opting for Autos as manuals are "old school" and they (probably rightly) think that autos or stepless as in EVs are the future

the steering wheel bit will be auto within a decade as well

 

[gone up the hill]

Predicted that within 5 years new cars won't be offered with a manual gearbox.
Change driven by rise (& legislation) of EVs but also by new drivers opting to learn only on automatics.

Be a bit sad IMO as it's a pleasure & a skill to match gear changes to revs but with flappy paddles, I have come to appreciate autos.

Thoughts?

EV sales are falling off a cliff and unlikely to recover, most country's are now backtracking about forcing an increase every year of EV's sold % of cars sold as sales/ charging points etc are just not there to introduce widespread EVs.

No doubt our Gov will plough on thou and still ban sales of all cars etc unless EV by 2035 like they intend but unless the Gov is going to pay trillions to install charging points for every parking space on streets in the country etc then EV's are just not feasible for millions of drivers.

 

[Kidds]

I learnt to drive on a car without synchromesh......and drove a drunk friend home in his own Mini Copper thinking the floor mounted dip switch was the clutch pedal! I didn't crunch the gears once.

I only drive manuals and as often as not don't use the clutch. Most are synchro of course but not all.
Clutch cable snapped on a Bedford TL and I still drove it through Manchester and back during rush hour.

 

[ford 7810]

We have two isuzu de max auto and VW tigwan auto double clutch ,double clutch is fantastic,pickup good but especially manoeuvering with trailer on and general driving but heavily loaded trailer on very poor up and down and cornering roads its a bit up and down the gears but wouldn’t go back to manual. but bloody hate auto in a tractor.

 

[vantage]

 

[ford 7810]

Mate came to see use on Saturday with his mother in his new smart car looked a bit like a mini but bigger.no gears just electric extremely smooth he took me for a ride went round the corner outside our house then literally just buried his foot to the floor. I am not kidding you. I think my chest is still hurting the acceleration was unbelievable i’ve never experienced anything quicker off the mark I said to him what did your mum think of that she cried he said.

 

[Wellytrack]

Been driving autos for 7 years now and have no desire to return to manual. Why make extra work.