I have been driving manuals for 11 years and recently I went on a business trip and they loaned me an Automatic Chevrolet Cobalt Automatic. For some reason, I make many driving/traffic errors. I thought it was just me but last week I brought my car in for a recall fix on my Hyundai and they loaned me an Automatic Hyundai Sonata and again I made several driving errors. It seems like with a manual transmission car, I pay more attention to my surroundings and I have better concentration. For some reason, I feel safer in a car with manual transmission. Any of you manual transmission drivers feel the same way?
Trouble concentrating with Automatic cars?
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Interesting observation. I kind of notice the same pattern. Whenever I drive my fiance's slushbox, I tend to make more mistakes. I never linked it to the fact that her car has an auto transmission, but maybe there's something to it.
When I drive the HL, which is an auto, I pay less attention than the Accord, which is manual. But, the motorcycle is the only time I know everything that is happening around me.
So I would agree that more involvement demands more attention, in a world where distraction is the largest safety issue that's probably a good thing.
So I would agree that more involvement demands more attention, in a world where distraction is the largest safety issue that's probably a good thing.
Possibly, but it also could be due to driving a different/unfamiliar car, too.
I make more mistakes when driving a manual. If its anything but a straight shot on the highway, manuals get my blood boiling.
Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
I make more mistakes when driving a manual. If its anything but a straight shot on the highway, manuals get my blood boiling.
I agree with this guy too. I tend to alternate vehicles when I buy; if I'm driving an automatic my next car is usually a manual, and vise versa. But after many years I've concluded: I MUCH prefer the automatics and keep them MUCH longer and enjoy them more. A couple years in a 5-speed in Chicago-area traffic ceases to be fun. I feel with an automatic, I'm driving the car, but with the manual, its driving me.
I make more mistakes when driving a manual. If its anything but a straight shot on the highway, manuals get my blood boiling.
I agree with this guy too. I tend to alternate vehicles when I buy; if I'm driving an automatic my next car is usually a manual, and vise versa. But after many years I've concluded: I MUCH prefer the automatics and keep them MUCH longer and enjoy them more. A couple years in a 5-speed in Chicago-area traffic ceases to be fun. I feel with an automatic, I'm driving the car, but with the manual, its driving me.
I tend to agree that I drive better with a manual, because it requires I pay more attention. I noticed that I've had more close calls (especially in stop and go traffic) with automatics than manuals.
Originally Posted By: opus1
Possibly, but it also could be due to driving a different/unfamiliar car, too.
I also agree with the being unfamiliar with the vehicle. My Mazda3 is an automatic and the Rx7 is manual. Because I am familiar with both vehicles, I do not have any trouble concentrating while driving in either one.
Possibly, but it also could be due to driving a different/unfamiliar car, too.
I also agree with the being unfamiliar with the vehicle. My Mazda3 is an automatic and the Rx7 is manual. Because I am familiar with both vehicles, I do not have any trouble concentrating while driving in either one.
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Ihave said this for years because I grew up driving in Germany with a stick shift. The problem is that when you do not have have to shiftt he car your mind is not engauged in driving any more. When driving a manual I seldom have to use my brakes compared to when driving an automatic because I look ahead and use the engine to brake so I am thinking ahead of the car. Downshifting when I need to. In an automatic you drive it and brake when you think you need too their is no engine brakeing no need to select the right gear so your mind isnot as engaged in driving.
I have said since H.S. that automaticse make people drive like idiots. First since they have no worry of stalling and they do not need to make a shift while still in a turning manuaver the car they will pull out in situations most people driving a manual would not dream of and often they come close to getting hit. Next they are not looking at the up coming curve and thinking about a down shift or what spped they want to exit at and what gear theyw ill use after wards etc......You do not make this type of decision on the concious level not after you have been driving a manaul for a few years but the sub concious is doing this sort of thing.
You will almost never see someone driving a manual transmission talking on the cell phone around town on the HWY sure but around town almost never. They can not afford to get that distracted or they will end up in the wrong gear lugging the engine or stalling it. Automatics make people drive dumb!
I have said since H.S. that automaticse make people drive like idiots. First since they have no worry of stalling and they do not need to make a shift while still in a turning manuaver the car they will pull out in situations most people driving a manual would not dream of and often they come close to getting hit. Next they are not looking at the up coming curve and thinking about a down shift or what spped they want to exit at and what gear theyw ill use after wards etc......You do not make this type of decision on the concious level not after you have been driving a manaul for a few years but the sub concious is doing this sort of thing.
You will almost never see someone driving a manual transmission talking on the cell phone around town on the HWY sure but around town almost never. They can not afford to get that distracted or they will end up in the wrong gear lugging the engine or stalling it. Automatics make people drive dumb!
+1
I have a theory that if everyone drove manuals, stop and go traffic would have far less stops and more constant speed.
Personally, I don't find any difference in my level of attention driving a manual or automatic.
I do pay more attention when I have the trailer loaded behind my Tracker as it becomes more important to plan ahead and consider the road itself and not just the other traffic on it.
I have a theory that if everyone drove manuals, stop and go traffic would have far less stops and more constant speed.
Personally, I don't find any difference in my level of attention driving a manual or automatic.
I do pay more attention when I have the trailer loaded behind my Tracker as it becomes more important to plan ahead and consider the road itself and not just the other traffic on it.
It's not your vehicle that makes you lose concentration, it's not the type of transmission, type of engine or anything else associated with the vehicle.
It's simply a lack of focus. No matter what the transmission type you should still be looking ahead, know what's happening on all 6 sides of the vehicle and making driving your first mental priority when sitting in the left front seat.
Following your theory truck drivers should be some of the most focused, error-free drivers on the road.
They're not.
It's simply a lack of focus. No matter what the transmission type you should still be looking ahead, know what's happening on all 6 sides of the vehicle and making driving your first mental priority when sitting in the left front seat.
Following your theory truck drivers should be some of the most focused, error-free drivers on the road.
They're not.
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Following your theory truck drivers should be some of the most focused, error-free drivers on the road.
They're not.
Truck drivers sit behind the wheel for extended periods of time. Your level of concentration goes down with time. So it's not fair to compare a typical 30 minute commute to 8 hours behind the wheel. It's hard to stay perfectly focused for so long, no matter how good of a driver you are.
Following your theory truck drivers should be some of the most focused, error-free drivers on the road.
They're not.
Truck drivers sit behind the wheel for extended periods of time. Your level of concentration goes down with time. So it's not fair to compare a typical 30 minute commute to 8 hours behind the wheel. It's hard to stay perfectly focused for so long, no matter how good of a driver you are.
I think the mind is very in tune with pitch and it's addicting. People like their powertrain/ tire noise to slowly gain, IE get faster. This is easier with an automatic; I think it encourages a gain in speed. Especially in a quiet torquey V8 barge. Try going 85 like 97tbird for a few minutes then slowing back down to 65, you'll think something's wrong with the car its so quiet.
When going faster one winds up tailgating, braking late, etc.
When going faster one winds up tailgating, braking late, etc.
Ive never had a problem maintaining a speed I want in any vehicle. If I am speeding its because I made a conscious decision to.
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In an automatic you drive it and brake when you think you need too their is no engine brakeing no need to select the right gear so your mind isnot as engaged in driving.
While I don't necessarily disagree, it takes time to get engaged to that level with an automatic since most of the common tools you have aren't there anymore. Instead of downshifting, it's coasting from a different distance ..etc..etc. Instead of upshifting (clutch, lever, etc.) it's how much throttle you apply. You have to get connected through different means.
Switching after an extended bout with the other can have you disoriented on how to react.
In an automatic you drive it and brake when you think you need too their is no engine brakeing no need to select the right gear so your mind isnot as engaged in driving.
While I don't necessarily disagree, it takes time to get engaged to that level with an automatic since most of the common tools you have aren't there anymore. Instead of downshifting, it's coasting from a different distance ..etc..etc. Instead of upshifting (clutch, lever, etc.) it's how much throttle you apply. You have to get connected through different means.
Switching after an extended bout with the other can have you disoriented on how to react.
I get engine braking. I hit "O/D off" and bam engine braking down to about 40. If Im going down a hill I have manual 2nd and 1st at my disposal as well.
We have two sticks and two slushboxes in the current fleet.
The sticks are always more fun to drive. A four cylinder Honda was meant to have three pedals.
I don't really find myself driving any better with one transmission vs the other.
What I do find is that you really have to adjust your coasting distances between the two.
Braking merely converts kinetic energy into heat, and should therefore be minimized. Coasting in gear also shuts off fuel flow in most OBD II cars.
An auto will coast a great deal farther in gear than a stick with feet off all pedals.
In traffic situations where the stick might require only that you ease out of the loud pedal, the auto might require that you brake, at least until you adjust to the automatic's greater willingness to coast.
The sticks are always more fun to drive. A four cylinder Honda was meant to have three pedals.
I don't really find myself driving any better with one transmission vs the other.
What I do find is that you really have to adjust your coasting distances between the two.
Braking merely converts kinetic energy into heat, and should therefore be minimized. Coasting in gear also shuts off fuel flow in most OBD II cars.
An auto will coast a great deal farther in gear than a stick with feet off all pedals.
In traffic situations where the stick might require only that you ease out of the loud pedal, the auto might require that you brake, at least until you adjust to the automatic's greater willingness to coast.
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