welshpom

You can blame the breaking thing more on cruise control (available on manual cars too) than auto boxes.

Auto boxes are great, inefficient but great. Manual shifting is soooo 20th century

Once car makers figure out how to do CVT (continuously variable transmission) properly (as with Audi's multitronic), the clutch pedal will be consigned to the museums.

jayr

I'd never driven an automatic before coming to Oz and found it very strange when getting a hire car. I was going to buy a Ford Maverick but found it it wasn't even available in manual! I want to change gear when I want to, not when the car decides for me! And that braking thing, why do people do that? Presume it may be something to do with automatic cos you see people braking down hills all the time (I live in hilly area) when all you have to do is shift down a gear. Braking on the motorway (for no apparent reason) is the worst however.

hamiltonnz

Thanks for the info on expenses. Power sounds cheap over there. We are a big family, its winter time and run a spa pool and dryer as well and my power bill last month was $346 - no its not a mis print - thats one month. Average last year has probably been $250 per month. and theyre saying power prices could take a big hike upwards over the next 2 years. At least my wife will get down to a size 12 no probs. Wont be able to afford to eat if I stay here. Wife wont give up the spa tho. Graham in NZ

Ceri

I knew someone would comment on that... an automatic driver . There are people here (and in Britain too) that can't pass their test in a manual.. if you can't pass in a manual it really does show that you have no control over the vehicle. I knew a woman once (my mums friend) she failed her driving test 7 times... she then tried for her test in an automatic... she passed easily. By the way she is a terrible driver and should not be on the road.

cheers

P.S give us a gear stick anyday.. I prefer driving a real car .. not a toy go-kart

jayr

I reckon my annual power bill willl be around $1000 or so (I hope no more). Got a bill recently for $250 for six weeks and was shocked, they corrected it down later. I think it probably avaerages around$100/month including running pool, dryer, WM, electric heaters and air con (on reverse cycle anyway!) for my 4 bed house.

welshpom

Do you also like adjusting the air-con or fan every few minutes rather than let climate control do it for you ?

jayr

Unforuntaely I have to as don't have climate control. Anyway, doesn't feel like your driving if you don't change gear manually.

karawara88

Who wants to be changing gear every two minutes ? Driving in Perth city centre in a manual would drive me mental.

Auto's are so much more civilised.