Gear Changing 5478

Yes indeed - manual cars are cheaper than autos - and 1.3's are cheaper than 2.0 litres - both to buy and to run, and bottom of the range cars are cheaper than higher spec cars. And smaller cars are cheaper than bigger cars - both to buy and to run. Where do you draw the line? Taken to its extreme we'd all be driving around in Peroduas ! Most people are prepared to pay a bit extra for extra facilities. Air con has an effect upon economy. Do you turn your nose up at that? Finally, I consider all this talk about 'greater control' to be so much waffle. Greater control to do what? I was a police officer for 30 years and spent much of that time on traffic driving fast manual cars. I have now been driving autos for around ten years and wouldn't give you tuppence for a manual. They're just a pain in backside. I can't think of any occasions when the thought goes through my head, "Oh, I wish I'd had a manual gearbox in that situation." I accept that everyone has their different ideas but I've come across an awful lot of people who spout off against autos and who either have never driven one, or have only driven one in the distant past and it turns out to have been a poor 3-speeder. Modern autos are smooth, responsive, and are rarely caught out in the 'wrong' gear. Most motorists who switch to autos do not switch back!

Kev