On 07/06/2021 12:35, NY wrote:
"R D S" wrote in message

I've never owned an automatic. The few times I've driven one as a hire
car when going on business journeys, I've found that I have to fight
them. Mind you, the last time I drove an automatic (Ford Focus) was
about 20 years ago, and technology has changed.

Similar timeframe, it's a completely different beast to what I recall
driving and the way my dad's cars behaved.

Automatics tend to change down as I increase the power, so I get a
sudden, unexpected surge of power.

I find i'm driving it gentler than I would my manual for partly this
reason, it *might* make me a 'better' driver. But i'm learning to
accelerate with less caning by progressively depressing the pedal.
I think it has an eco mode for gentler operation, I need to RTFM.

I'd be interested to try a DSB (automated manual gearbox) where I could
control *when* the car changed gear

I wondered if i'd be inclined to take over gear changes, it has a manual
mode.
I've had the car since Friday, been out a good few times (as you do with
a new one) used the manual side once briefly and concluded that I will
probably use it very rarely. Perhaps on hilly & bendy roads.