Taking a driving test in auto?

Over by there

No problems reversing in an auto or going slow here, I prefer it. Not everyones cuppa though.

What I really like with the auto is cruise control, made for each other. No need to shift at hills.

Manuals are fun though when out, er, enjoying the scenery.

DOBLY

With a manual you have to concentrate and pay attention to what the engine is doing, which to my mind, makes you more alert all round.  Driving some automatics makes me feel lazy and not fully engaged in what I am doing.  Sure, an auto is easier, but doesn't involve the driver fully.  I see a frighteningly large number of drivers that are distracted because they don't have enough to focus on - they are just sitting there rather than actually driving the car.
I have driven a few modern autos that have shift paddles for a manual mode, but haven't used the paddles much, probably because they weren't in the kind of car that I would have chosen to buy.  
I'll reserve judgement until I own an automatic.  Maybe I never will, as my next daily driver will likely be electric!

outoftheknow

Another thing different and possibly “better” here. You can get L plates at 15 and 9 months. Kids do the computer based road ready course at school in year 10 for free (well tax pays for the education I guess!) but allowing them to learn early seems to be a good thing here. Can’t get the P plates until 17 so a good period to learn. Don’t need to do a test either. Do a log book with a licensed instructor who marks off skills at each lesson as you do them to their satisfaction. Once all done (final lessons are a complete check of all skills) you get a piece of paper to get your Ps. Or you can do the test if you are ok with the pressure that places on you as a young driver.

nabby

And you can always run over the venomous spiders and snakes that are out to kill you at every opportunity

nabby

Any electric car will be automatic by default.  And once cars go autonomous then things will have to change again wrt licences.

mjn

Paddles are handy for when driving the B roads, can keep both hands on the wheel.

Over by there

Tried the paddles, didn’t get on with them, lever never really strays to M. Personal choice.

Auto can be dire on snow though, that is the times I will use manual.

outoftheknow

Already I think the old terminology needs updating. Automatic used to mean the gearbox. The plate type clutch with release pedal was replaced by a fluid clutch (torque converter) so engine drive was connected at all times to the driven stuff. This was called “automatic” referring to the “automatic gearbox”.

Modern things like DSG, CVT and fixed ratio gearboxes between the driving power and the driven wheels means the driver still either has a clutch pedal or doesn’t to poke a foot at to disconnect the drive train.  Modern “automatic” licenced really mean no clutch pedal or no driver operated means to disconnect the drive train.

EVs don’t forget have gears. I don’t believe any exist with a direct drive motor connected to a wheel with no gears at all. Technically feasible but for cars almost 100% impractical. Even then the driving power source and driven thing cannot be disconnected by the driver and there is no “clutch pedal”.

Automatic now means no clutch pedal or means for the driver to disconnect driving and driven things whether there are gears in the drive train or not.  Also irrelevant if the driver can change gear by pedals or lever or whatever if they don’t have a means to disconnect the drivetrain. It’s “an automatic”.

I suspect the legislation has already changed to mena pretty much that. Try turning up to driving test in an EV and ask for a manual licence. Or DSG or CVT. The gear type or even presence no longer matters.

outoftheknow

Agree but if you mena the manual change lever or paddles, bear in mind many cars have a winter button or similar. The system then starts off in 2nd and alters where it changes gear so it isn’t in high rev wheel spinning territory most of the time. Traction control and ESP and ABS and a million other letters always help as well of course.

Some drivers can do a better job but the majority can do worse than using the feature where fitted and leaving it in D - IMHO.

Over by there

Winter button would not cut it, dropping to manual and it was fine. Once the wheel spun the auto box brain does not know where it is.

Edit. Thinking about it, our manual was OK on the same day but it (last March beast from east cold so no real warming between uses).