Difference between Manual & Auto in a driving test.

[Profpointy]

Believe it or not, much easier in traffic as your concentrating more on the road, not having to work clutch and gears. My baptism of the van was to drive into Manchester daily due to my poorly hip. It's a doddle once you get over the size. Quite pleasant. Still not a patch on cycling in.

Autos are really tiring to drive as you have to really concentrate to avoid doing an emergency stop when you try and press the clutch

 

[CXRAndy]

Just like that, my driving instructor days are over.

My youngest has passed her manual driving test.

I think I've had enough now, taught seven family members to pass.

Think I'll take up

🏌️. ⛳

 

[wiggydiggy]

I've never driven an automatic but this might be helpful

The following points of driving technique are common to all automatic systems:

• the parking brake should be applied for temporary stops, for example, waiting at a red traffic light, a junction, or in a traffic hold-up, if they are likely to be of a long duration

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-driving-examiners-carrying-out-driving-tests-dt1/7-particular-types-of-vehicle-and-adaptations#:~:text=The following points of driving,be of a long duration

There's more blurb in there about automatics and the driving test.

I learnt Manual but have now gone Auto, the only problem with this advice is that if I don't know the sequence of lights it can take me by surprise and whomever is behind me starts getting pissy that I haven't set off before the light has finished lighting up green. Indeed the first time I drove it solo I forgot I had to engage the foot brake before it will go into gear and someone got very annoyed on their horn behind me whilst I fumbled around wondering why my new car wouldn't go. Electronic parking brake too.

In my old car, it was a lot quicker despite being fully manual and I regularly sat with the parking brake on, far more relaxing.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

How do instructors/learners cope now, with the electronic handbrakes & 'stop-start', etc??

IF the instructors cars are so equipped, are there issues (legal/DVLA?) about going to a 'old school' car?

Surely the traditional 'hill-start' is out of the window??
(unless the electronic handbrake auto-function can be turned off?)

Up to the recent cars, all of ours have been 'old school'
The last of such was my Octavia estate (March 2012 - May 2021) ‘twist-key'/manual handbrake

Toyota C-HR - hybrid (2018 -2021) was push-button/electronic hand-brake

My Kodiaq (May 2021 - present) push-button/electronic handbrake (first thing I do when I start it, is turn the 'stop-start' off!)

Q3 (sold) 'twist-key & electronic hand-brake (manual disengagement)

Yaris Hybrid (2020 - present) push-button & manual hand-brake