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Why do British people have such a dim view of Automatic cars? (feddit.uk)
submitted 2 years ago by Oneeightnine@feddit.uk to c/askuk@feddit.uk
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I've been driving an automatic since I passed nearly a decade ago. In that time whenever I tell anyone I drive auto, it's usually met with some level of derision. I think that attitude is changing, but I'm still kind of confused by it in the first place.

Why?

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[–] dragontamer@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

American manual/stick driver here.

Manuals are cheaper, more responsive, lower maintenance than wet-automatics. So even here where automatics are common, knowing that my skill gap vs you is literally saving me thousands in maintenance costs is definitely a big portion of my superiority complex.

However, with the dawn of CVT automatics, this is no longer true. CVTs are nearly maintenance free, have instant response, ideal power delivery.

So technology has changed, but not everyone recognizes the new era of advanced automatic transmissions.

But I'll absolutely still look down on any old-style wet clutch / torque converter based automatic.

[–] GONADS125@feddit.de 5 points 2 years ago

Manuals are also an effective anti-theft measure here in the US, as most of us (myself included) don't know how to drive them properly.

I've read multiple stories of thiefs realizing they were stealing a manual transmission, and literally just giving up after driving a few feet. Pretty hilarious.

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 3 points 2 years ago

This answer hits the nail on the head.
Autos used to be really shit, in a country where fuel is expensive, and distances smaller, you'd only get an auto if you physically couldn't use the clutch.

Nowadays, they're much better.
If I don't end up fully electric on the next car, it will definitely be CVT.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Define "instant response"

[–] dragontamer@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

CVTs are always "in gear", and quickly adapt to whatever torque vs RPM band your engine needs. At no point is your engine every "out of gear". Their "noise is wrong" to anyone used to older transmissions, but their performance cannot be denied or ignored. I'm very impressed with their tech. Its just a matter of getting used to it IMO.

Manual transmissions can "shift ahead of time", so with enough brainpower and paying attention, you should usually be in the correct gear for any situation. But any particular gear-shift takes time to accomplish. The exception are 0-60 kind of drag-races (erm, 0-100km/hr for yall Brits), where the manual effort to gearshift is unavoidable, but typical driving with a manual is very pleasant because normal roads are far more predictable and no one is trying to drag-race around every corner on public roads.

Traditional Automatic transmissions all take time, and the clock starts after the user pushes the pedal (unlike manual which starts when the driver notices that another gear would be useful, often ahead of time).. So automatic transmission is always slower.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 6 points 2 years ago

0-60 kind of drag-races (erm, 0-100km/hr for yall Brits)

Brits still use miles per hour. You might be thinking of the Irish, they use KM/H.... although they don't like being called Brits 🫠.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 2 points 2 years ago

And yet any time you change throttle input they change gearing and have horrible "lag". While they may be always engaged they're never in the right "gear".

[–] Fudoshin@feddit.uk 2 points 2 years ago

How many dragons have you tamed?