Hacker News Reader

Comment by Valgrim | Hacker News Reader

I learned to drive with a manual transmission so I'd feel comfortable driving any car in Europe, where manual transmissions are far more common. The transition was stressful but after a few hours it became easier and after a few days, it became second nature—just as easy as driving an automatic.

Today, my own car has a manual transmission, which I prefer for the added control. It lets me use different levels of engine braking on downhill stretches (very useful depending on where you live) and manage my speed more precisely in heavy traffic.

View on HN

I moved to Europe after driving in Australia where automatic is the norm. Most people in Europe should not be driving a manual. Almost daily I'll see and hear people make basic mistakes when driving. It's baffling why they stick with manuals.

This is one thing I enjoy so much about my Kia Ev6.

For accelerating, I just use the go-pedal (which I still call the "gas pedal"). It gives me precise gentle control for normal driving around town, especially with passengers, or immediate zoom-zoom when I need it in a traffic situation or just for fun. I don't have to think about gears or any of that.

For slowing down, there two paddles on the steering wheel to select the regen level, just like the paddle shifters on some gas cars. A higher regen level is like a lower gear that gives you more engine braking.

Regen level 0 is like coasting. Level 1 is like being in "drive" with an automatic transmission. 2 and 3 are like downshifting further. There is also "auto-regen" and "i-pedal". I tried them all and found level 2 is my sweet spot.

If I'm going downhill and need to slow down even more, I can either go to level 3 or just use the brake pedal. If I do use the brake pedal, I won't be engaging the friction brakes. It just tells the car to pump energy back into the battery, unless I really mash down for an emergency stop.

I’m convinced learning on an automatic first and moving to manual from that is the right way to learn. Clutch control and gear shifts are extra mental load for new drivers, and pretty natural for experienced drivers.

In a car I learned manual first and it was a mission, on a bike I learned automatic first and switched to manual from that, and it was much easier.

That's what I did for learning to drive and it worked beautifully for me. I also got my license later than most, so when an opportunity came up to get lessons I just wanted to pass the test to get my provisional license ASAP so I could actually get around by myself with the intention to learn manual later. I did have a go at learning manual at first but it was going to take me a lot longer. I just needed to get my P plates! Where I am you don't need to retest for manual once off your provisional license which is great.

When my husband and I needed to replace his car (a little manual shitbox, god bless it) I suggested we replace it with an another manual, and I wanted a hot hatch. Proper hot hatch wasn't really in the budget so we got a (luke)warm hatch instead lol. A suzuki swift, manual, which I have delusions of upgrading so I can take it on track days now that it's my daily driver. He's got the CVT gig car for his daily driver now.

Anyway, I highly recommend learning automatic first and learning manual later. It's such a good skill to have anyway. I live in a bushfire prone area so knowing that if I have to evacuate I know I can confidently drive any car I have access to is nice. As long as it's synchromesh lmao

Reply on news.ycombinator.com