Manual versus automatic driving

When considering getting your driving licence, your first thought might be manual or automatic? To help you with your decision Homer’s Driving School have put together a number of pros and cons to get you on the right road.

In the UK, the popular choice is a manual car transmission.  It is estimated only 40,000 out of the 720,000 driving tests taken by UK learners are automatic tests. Although statistics recorded between 2012 and 2017 have revealed that sales of automatic cars within the country have apparently doubled.

Let’s compare the Pros and Cons

Manual transmission

Pros

• On Average, it’s recorded that manual vehicles cost less than an automatic.
• Once you have passed your manual driving test, this allows you to drive both manual and automatic cars. More choice.
• With manual gear shifts, you have complete control and speed from your engine.

Cons

• Can become tiresome within urban traffic. If your daily commute is stop-start, there and back.
• Some learners find it difficult to master the hand-foot co-ordination needed to drive a manual

But is there any worth in considering driving an automatic?

Automatic transmission

Pros

• Automatics, in general are far easier to drive.
• It’s important to remember that automatic vehicles can be much better for those with any limited mobility or disability as they are easier to control and easier to learn in.
• Drivers have less to worry about, thinking of what to do with the feet and hands, which allows them to concentrate on the road instead.

Cons

• You cannot drive a manual car on an automatic licence.
• Is known to take the fun out of driving.
• Automatic cars consume more fuel, insurance premiums are generally higher due to repairs being more expensive with automatics being complex cars.

Your choice

For complete control of a car and better fuel economy (with older vehicles), a manual transmission is the answer for you. A manual licence in the UK will allow you to drive both manual transmission and automatic transmission cars.

But, if the thought of driving and constantly changing gear doesn’t get you excited, the easiest option by far is automatic. Choosing the path for an automatic licence, you will learn quicker, letting the car do the legwork for you, so you can concentrate on the road.

Get in touch with our friendly instructors.

Areas Homers’ Driving School cover are Wolverhampton, Bewdley, West Bromwich, Dudley and Oldbury and more!