I'm not quite sure why you consider I should be great fun at dinner parties.
Yes I have used GPS. As you point out they are marvellous for navigating round strange towns. Anywhere else, I prefera map - that is assuming the person is able to map read....
What concerns me is the slavish attention given to GPS and the way it can stop you thinking for yourself....
Whose fault is it that "the flippin' car has a tinny little motor and six manual gears ..."
What concerns me is the slavish attention given to GPS and the way it can stop you thinking for yourself....
That's the whole point of them ... but I agree they are best used by intelligent punters, rather than toy-obsessed flippers (a bit like guns really).
And my partner - a wonderful person normally - is challenged and agitated by atlases and printed maps, but has more-or-less developed a good relationship with Tammie (the toffee-sounding sheila we have in our TomTom), so it's a win-win everywhere.
Whose fault is it that "the flippin' car has a tinny little motor and six manual gears ..."
The choice of a compact car is mine of course ... the fact that it was under-powered and over-geared was rather more outside my direct control.
I'm really enjoying this discussion. I have booked an automatic for our west-of-London mini-roadtrip in April. I grew up with manual transmissions and am comfortable driving with them. But I was afraid that with right-hand drive and everything being located "opposite" in the car and negotiating unfamiliar roads and -- gasp -- those roundabouts!, well, I'd rather not have the additional stress of clutching and shifting. The extra amount for automatic is worth it to me even though I agree it seems not to be warranted.
Not everything is the opposite way - clutch, brake, and accelerator are still the same - indicator stalk and windscreen wipers tend to be back to front.
But having driven a manual once on the other side in North America, I agree that with all the other things you will need to deal with, an automatic is probably worth the investment.
And multi-lane, multi-exit roundabouts are exciting, to say the least - always head left! GPS are really useful in these situations (and an improvement on a stressed partner | navigator).
Neither auto or manual are better than the other.
It's personal choice & besides, most modern auto's have manual override option anyway.
I have both manual & auto vehicles, both have their advantages & disadvantages. Neither is actually 'Better'.
I'd probably use the word "better" for auto if you're driving in an unfamiliar country, and using an unfamiliar side of the road to do it.
every couple should have a gps--it gives you a third party to blame when lost.
coming from north america, a gps is essential in britain because of the sheer whimsy used to put up street signage. no consistency at all.
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