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Driving a manual is safer

By Karl Peskett |

Well, that’s what we’ve gleaned from a CBS news story in the U.S.

Two would-be attackers in Linthicum, Maryland, approached a man who was talking to friends at a service station, both wearing masks and one brandishing a gun. They tried to steal his car from him, but the man had a trick up his sleeve – he could drive a manual.

When he informed them that his 2005 Volkswagen “had a stick shift” their brains’ clearly had a melt-down, and they ran off.

So there you go – driving a manual car protects you from car jacking.


 
  • FrugalOne

    *****PRIMO!*****

    I can’t drive a manual.

    • Trump

      Old auto commodores were very unsafe using the cruise control. I discovered this on the alpine way where it down shifted to maintain the set speed and almost went into a spin.

      • Paul

        Why would that affect old Auto Commodores ONLY? LOL

      • A

        I also don’t see how that is ‘unsafe’ you should have been driving correctly. Using cruise control on a road named ‘the alpine way’ seems like a silly idea to me. Correct me if I’m wrong, I have never been near said ‘alpine way’, it could be a 6 lane carriageway for all I know. But still, I think I have a valid point.

    • Primo

      That does not surprise us and nobody wants your old auto Daewoo frugalone.

    • Alex

      CA can we hav ethis poster banned?

      • Freddo

        I like him more than all the other posters

  • Jake Williams

    It’s safer in the US where no-one knows what a ‘stick shift’ is but here a lot of people at least have the ability to do so. You have more control with a manual – that’s why it’s safer!

    • Grammar Nazi

      Manual cars are generally safer because the owners know how to drive properly.

      • Wd

        Driving a manual forces you to pay more attention to the road so that you shift up and down to account for the road and traffic conditions.

        • Peanut

          You drive a manual Car, you only steer an Automatic car. There is a big difference.

        • http://www.facebook.com/priusfreezone Matthew Werner

          Those reasons are the same ones I use when arguing that everyone should have to do their L and P plate stints in manuals. Although I drive an auto now cause I’m too lazy to change gears 4 million times* each commute in traffic, my first car was a manual and I’m glad I learnt in that.

          * may be a slight exaggeration

  • Dan

    Manuals are better for skids!

  • Clem

    Auto is too boring!!! My 1st car is Manual and bought a second car recently still Manual. I just love shifting. Especialy FIA GT1 Cars, you can shift without clutch.

    • Paul

      On to your 2nd car hey??? LOL woohoo!

  • Opelman

    Manual is definitely the pick. Auto is just steering, and the computer drives the car. Whereas manual involves skill, and a human is the computer.

    Drive a manual, it’s much more fun, it’s engaging and it’s cheaper to service

    • AndyGF

      Until you need to change your clutch, then all the savings are out the window…

      Especially with modern cars, with their duel-mass flywheels, ect, a clutch change can be horrifically expensive.

      • Tom

        Doing pretty much anything to an auto is generally pretty expensive as well.

        • AndyGF

          True, thankfully they very seldom even need anything more than a ATF change (automatic transmission fluid).

          Even duel clutch automatic transmissions have incredibly long duty cycles before anything expensive needs inspection, mainly because they have wet running clutchpacks, rather than the hotter running (ie:cheap and nasty) dry clutches found in all normal manual cars.

      • Devil’s Advocate

        That would be interesting to watch, two flywheels at 20 paces fighting to the death! ;-)

      • Phil

        Clutch in my old BMW lasted to 250,000kms and cost $640 including fitting to replace.
        Factor in that it never had any servicing at all and the auto was a $4000 option, I think all the savings are still inside the window…..

        My freinds Mitsubishi Starwagon workvan had a clutch need doing at 190,000km. Cost $410 including fitting. no other servicing has ever been done on the gearbox.
        The automatic when new was a $2000 option. Against most of the savings still inside the window….

        Combined with the fact that the manual versions of both these cars are around 1.5 seconds quicker 0-100 and return better economy….

        • AndyGF

          Thats a tribute to BMW engineering and your good driving? Most people need to change their clutches at around 100,000-150,000km.

          And trust me Phil, a huge number of modern gearbox designs in new cars with manuals have duel-mass flywheels. Meaning you cannot skim the flywheel, you have to replace it when you replace your clutch (which costs a BOMB!) or else it will have a horrible bite and uneven pull off.

          I agree with you, in the old days Manual were cheaper, but these days they end up costing the same in the long run, especially if you keep your car for a while, which most price conscious buyers do.

    • Toxic_horse

      Opelman. im not sure what opel you have but i doubt its one where the ‘computer’operates your auto trans.

  • RD

    He probably remembered just how unreliable the 2005 Golf is and legged it.

    • Golfschwein

      Have you owned one or just ‘heard’ how bad they are?

  • http://CarAdvice The Salesman

    I blame playstation games abd the like. Kids today have no idea, unless they can just point and shoot they can not work it.

    • http://CarAdvice The Salesman

      and not abd. See, if i was a kid that would not have happened.

    • Zaps

      I’m going to have to correct you on that one; Myself, as a member of the often reprimanded “Generation Y” grew up with things such as PlayStation and the like, and playing games like Gran Turismo actually gave me a greater appreciation for driving.. Oh, and just to let you know, I drive a manual :)

      • http://CarAdvice The Salesman

        Wow, must have touched on a nerve there. Said in jest people. Obviously i thought my comments were in line with the article. How else do you explain how these guys couls not drive a manual car?

  • dadar

    Another thing that makes a manual much safer IN MY OPINION is because it requires that you pay more attention and be more alert to what you’re doing and how you’re driving.. Just generally be more alert as to what’s ahead of you, what gear you’re in, should I change up or change down, etc, etc. There’s more things going on in your mind when driving a manual.

    Maybe we’re not aware of it, but subconsciously there’s just simply more to it than driving a slushbox.

    Compared to an automatic, where tired minds can sometimes somehow go into an “autopilot” state, not fully alert to what’s going on around you, which is dangerous.

    Just my 2 cents there.

    Besides, manual cars are more fun.. =P

    • Bangel

      Dadar the best answer yet , you go straight to the top of the class , frugalone go back to driving school .

    • Clem

      I agree. Dadar has the best answer. If you read the news recently, people has been killed at their own driveway or garage because of AUTO Driver carelessness. Rather than pressing Brake the driver has accidental press the accelerator. Plus the Panic Mode came in; the driver press the accelerator even harder rather than Brake.
      Manual is the way. If anything happen, the first reaction for manual driver is clutch.

    • gasman

      ….and another thing– with all those recent car accidents involving the inadvertent pressing of the accelerator pedal in automatic cars, this highlights how dangerous automatics can be especially for inexperienced drivers.

      A manual transmission driver has full control of the car, as the driver (or more specifically, the clutch pedal) is the final ‘link’ between the accelerator pedal and the engine.

      • CRS200

        Agreed!

        And what about the great balance you geat from the Manual Gearbox in the twisty stuff, what a magnificent sensation it is.

        Not to mention the most important of them all Engine Braking, something Autos can’t manage and please Auto lovers spare me the; “Yes it does”
        I have driven an Auto and they don’t engine brake the same way as a manual!

        • CRS200

          Forgot to mention the tendency of Body Roll in Autos, due to the lack of engine braking.

        • Devil’s Advocate

          Depends if you move it out of “D” and/or use the “manual mode”. The “manual mode” on my wife’s car has decent engine braking, it also won’t change up gears and will just bounce off the limiter until you do “change up”. I also use this to “change down” and use the engine braking when going down steep hills etc. Seems to work ok to me. Not as “direct” in feel as a manual, but the engine braking still works perfectly fine.

          However I definitely agree there is nothing better than stringing some corners together with clutch/gearbox working in perfect harmony whilst practicing heel/toe!

    • http://www.facebook.com/priusfreezone Matthew Werner

      I had the “autopilot” driving this morning. Was talking to my sister about damage to her car after they hit a roo, next thing I knew I was almost at work and couldn’t even remember if I had gotten more green or red lights on the way. I need more sleep.

      The whole having to be more alert and aware of what is happening around you when driving a manual is a great thing

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

    Would have been funny if he didnt say anything and they got in and kept stalling it

  • Paul

    Row boats!!???… Even most trucks these days have semi-auto manuals… the only people who drive manuals are those who have never owned a torquey Auto… Once a manual driver figures out how to drive an auto (ie. without engine braking), they never go back… a manual, especially in city driving, is just way too…. MANUAL!! LOL

    • Tom

      Way too…what? If you have any level of coordination whatsoever, driving a manual is ridiculously easy, in traffic or elsewhere. And what do you mean ‘once a manual driver figures out how to drive an auto’? If you can drive a manual, you can drive an auto. I just prefer to drive manuals.

    • Sonic

      I currently own an Automatic (because I didn’t have a choice when buying that particular car), and I’ve previously owned two Manuals. I’m now looking into converting my car with a Manual gearbox, just because driving an Auto is such a mind-numbing experience.

      And what do you mean by “Once a manual driver figures out how to drive an auto”? There is a lot less thinking required to drive an Auto. People who actually go out and buy a brand new car with Automatic transmission are probably lazy, or find a Manual too difficult.

    • Car Fanatic

      You’re just saying that Paul because you’re an uncoordinated fool.

    • CRS200

      Engine Braking as you so underestimate is one of the most important things in Driving.

      I always engine brake and I mean ALWAYS, even stopping at the lights, you name it. You save on brakes and it’s more a securer way to reduce speed.

      But probably you don’t know how to drive a manual so I guess you will never understand…

      • Devil’s Advocate

        Well said CRS200. Plus it also keeps you in the right gear if you need to accelerate away etc to aviod something unexpected etc. I just shake my head when people in a manual just flick it into neutral or put their foot on the clutch and coast up to the lights. I have seen quite a few people do that. I even saw someone to that when going down a hill. I wanted to get out of the car there and then!

  • Commentator

    Especially if the manual Volkswagen needs to be reversed.

  • http://www.ozmazdaclub.com Tien – OzMazdaClub.com

    Manual FTW!!

    It’s just not right driving an auto, it seems too boring

  • Jon

    My first car is manual, 2nd car, 3rd car, 4th car and 5th car are still manual… I find driving a manual is better and less boring.

  • Andre

    Depends on what driving you do and on what type of car … I love both auto and manual cars but were it for a daily commute in the bigger capital cities I’d take an auto any day … Though, cruising the streets of Tassie….

  • save it for the track

    The majority of incidents of auto drivers hitting the accelerator instead of the brake are usually of the older variety, and generally in a Toyota of some type, like a Corolla or Camry..

  • KD

    It should be mandatory to learn to drive in a manual

  • m2m

    The only safety issue I can think of (as someone who is indifferent and love driving manual AND auto), is that when you’re approaching a give way in 3rd gear for example. I find that that you tend to take a little more risk in punching it to beat the traffic rather than stop. More for economies sake more than anything but I’m guilty of doing it quite often.

  • sam

    Or may be the guys thought that the Volkswagen would break down soon anyways and didnt bother to take it.

  • binladen

    I don’t understand what fun can u get in Sydney’s horrible traffic jam and in the horrible shopping center car parks? what fun is that ?

    • Toxic_horse

      Not every road in sydney is constantly jammed.

      I have heaps of fun owning VW golfs and supra’s with milo tin exhausts in my V8 all the time.

  • filippo

    I think autos serve their purpose, especially for all those poor sods who have to drive in peak hour every day, but i always opt for a manual and boycott makers that are trying to kill of manuals (hello vw).

    In any case, all able bodied people should at least learn to drive in a manual. I once had a girlfriend who could only drive an auto, and you could tell from the way she drove that she had no concept of gearing; the car would lunge forward, change gears, then she’d brake suddenly. It was literally one of the most nauseating experiences I’ve ever had.

  • Clem

    CRS200, well said. Did that all the time. Even my wife said why you didn’t brake?

  • Dan

    Used to change the gears manually in my auto and it stuffed the torque converter and was gonna cost me a grand to fix. Car only had 150000 ks on it and i only owned the car for about 30000. Unless the car is designed to do it its not worth it. Never owned a auto since.

  • Name (required)

    i’d take my zf over manual any days you can still drive a auto hard and its proven auto is faster