On power and control

[stephbg]

I've been putting it off, but today I finally took Husband's new wheels out for a spin. It's a 2006 Hyundai Elantra 2l 4 cylinder automatic. I've been driving manuals for about 17 years, with one or two brief exceptions. With the exception of cruising for a parking spot or navigating in heavy stupid traffic on twisty dark roads, I usually enjoy driving.



I confess I did get Husband to back the Elantra out of the drive for me, because he'd parked it with bent wheels and I didn't want my first act to be a meeting of car and garden wall.

The very first thing I did when I got in was extend my left leg to depress the absentee clutch. This was my usual method of assessing the seat position. Tsk, I told my driving brain. You'll have to pay more attention than that.

I started the engine without any trouble, and it rumbled quietly to itself. Right, I thought, here we go, and attempted to engage drive. It didn't want to engage drive. By way of an experiment I depressed the foot brake and released the handbrake. The car claimed a victory over humans and allowed itself to be put into drive.

I allowed myself a moment of academic satisfaction. No matter how many people I'd asked about driving an automatic, not one had mentioned this important little fact. I love cognitive psychology, it's so beautifully reliable.

I then went for a tour of the back streets, crescents and roundabouts before heading up to the freeway for a short stretch. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the drive was controlling my left foot when coming to a halt. Car motionless + foot motionless usually = stall = embarrassment at traffic lights.

The second most disturbing thing was the automatic transmission which was what I was there for. I hated it. Actually 2nd and third prizes are a tie between the transmission and the engine. Distant, whiny, powerless. Yes, the speedo told me I was doing 70 or 100 or 50 as appropriate, but I couldn't feel it in my seat, my hands, my brain, my heart. It was doing the job without me, and I didn't trust it to respond in an emergency.

It did accelerate on request, but it was hard to tell. What was the road like? Would it really give me the power I needed at a pinch? Would it sound like it was complaining all the time? Maybe the "gears" would give me that control, but I wasn't in the mood to experiment on Hepburn Road.

I got home, parked nicely and escaped as quickly as possible. I felt powerless and unclean. I grabbed my keys and leapt for my trusty 1996 Hyundai FX Coupe 2l 4 cylinder manual.

It immediately felt heavier, rougher, lower. It growled and purred like a hungry panther. I wound it up, settled in for the ride and took it for a fun little drive. The sound of the engine pleased me. The revs sang in the key of my choice. I felt the response of the machine through every part of my body. I knew where the road was. The car did exactly what I asked it to, and eagerly. I felt like part of the machine, yet all animal. I felt like a driver.

So, car hire company, next time you try to "upgrade" me to an automatic, you can shove it (*&*^%(^&..............................................................


We apologise for the loss of transmission

Comments

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

I think Pirelli may have been on to something :)

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

que?

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

It was they who coined the expression "Power is nothing without Control" :)

The first several times I borrowed an automatic I would when first slowing to a halt stab the brake as if it were the clutch. It makes for something of an abrupt halt.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I see. I'd hate to think how a big powerful V8 automatic would feel *shudder*. It's been a while since I tried, but I used to be quite bad at driving video games. Not enough feedback!

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

I've occasionally had to drive my parent's automatic and I'm right with you on that. The sense of not being in control is horrible, and my left foot also feels that it should be doing something. (They have a rest thing I can put it on and provided I keep it firmly on there it's not completely awful)

I learnt on manual, I drive a manual. I don't think I'll ever buy an automatic. (I believe manuals are at least currently slightly more fuel efficient anyway)

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

Husband does not share my love of the automobile and requested an automatic. I don't plant to drive it if I can avoid it, but I needed to know I *could* drive it if necessary.

[prk.livejournal.com]

So, car hire company, next time you try to "upgrade" me to an automatic, you can shove it (*&*^%(^&..............................................................

Amen.

prk.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

It happened to you?

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean:-( Paddington is the automatic driver here also (although he can drive a manual). But our next car will be automatic:-( The other features we're after aren't available in a manual:-(

[livelurker.livejournal.com]

In the car I drive every day, automatic. Why do I have to remember to tell the damn thing what gear it should be in? And the engine stops if you get it wrong? Especially as most gear changes are required near intersections, which is also where most accidents happen! If you want full control there should be a button on the dash to fire each sparkplug!

In a sports car, manual please. With nice clicky bushings.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I haven't stalled it in a very very long time, and the gear changes near intersections come attention-free at this point in my driving career.

Plus I think my left knee would lock if it didn't have enough to do.

[sassamifrass.livejournal.com]

Manuals rule! I had a very similar experience when I drove an automatic o_o