thing is, my legs are about 2" longer than average for my height and it is leg length that is critical in getting into a driving seat. Back when I worked in Hampshire I was out and about just about every day, so when my car was in for a service (every 3,000 miles, remember?) I had to use one of the pool Minis - had to get out stretch my legs every quarter of an hour or so

Poor you Mike, 🤗 I'm the opposite, I have trouble reaching the pedals, the clutch in my Yeti is one that needs to be fully pushed down before the gear will change and it brings me too close IMO to the steering wheel. It's okay in the summer but when you have a thick jacket on in the winter it's a bloody pest.

Automatic for me.. Though I can drive a manual.

When I had an auto years back I swapped back to manual with no problems at all. When I put this auto in for a service I got a 6 gear courtesy car. I stalled it three times and never had a clue what gear it was in. When I stopped it scolded me and told me I hadn't been driving economically or something similar. I'm not surprised as I doubt I used higher than third gear but was still bombing along the dual carriageway. 

the Fiesta was a manual. To be honest, I normally ask for an auto, but I wanted to see if the gammy arm could cope with a manual if I had to. Thankfully, no problems - although the little car was so cramped for me I wouldn't want to drive it - or an equivalent - for more than, say, 20 miles at a time.

I once drove a Renault 4 with the gear lever on the dashboard !  it was great for hanging my handbag on.    I used to drive an automatic,  but I much prefer a manual car tbh, I don't know why, but I like changing gear

I've only had one automatic car, a VW Passat estate. Cracking car. Had it for 12 years, I refused to get rid of it untill it started to fall to bits and I went back to 4x4s.

Quote from: Alex on November 04, 2022, 10:12:36 PMI once drove a Renault 4 with the gear lever on the dashboard !  it was great for hanging my handbag on.    I used to drive an automatic,  but I much prefer a manual car tbh, I don't know why, but I like changing gear

When I first met her, Veronica had a 4 with that gear lever - weird! Only the French!

so true!

so true

I notice that Cliff Richard has been wheeled out and is doing yet another Christmas Album...
.. and bloody Jamie Oliver is showing us what to put in 'One Pot'..

Apparently we taxpayers are giving millions of pounds to China. It beats me.

Today I learned that  the original capital of the USA was Philadelphia.