Don't know about Japan or special licenses for automatics - but a British
friend was just telling me that somewhere in Europe (I forgot where, of
course) you can't drive a manual with a license for an automatic, and
licenses for automatics are roughly  one step up from learner's permits.

Joy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Eric Zeno
> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:21 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Auto Trans vs. Manual Trans
>
>
> "I find it keeps me in tune with what's going on around me"
>     This is all to true. I purchased my first automatic
> vehicle, (so that an X-girl friend would have a backup
> car), about 2 years ago.  I don't drive it much.  When I
> do, I find other things I'm easily distracted by, don't have
> a very good idea as to my speed.  I don't seem to have
> much "road feel".  I guess this was the idea.
>    Is it true that you need a special drivers license in
> Japan to drive an automatic?
>                               Eric
>
>
>
> tabe johnson wrote:
>
> >I asked this same question not too long ago when shopping
> >for a Westfalia.  It sounds like it's more a matter of
> >personal preference than anything else.
> >
> >The automatics are easy and relatively cheap to rebuild;
> >the standards are not.  It sounds like the RPM per
> >MPH are about the same at highway speeds for both the
> >manuals and autos.  Mileage on all vans is about the
> >same -- the overriding factor here is that you're driving
> >a big square brick around, not the relatively small percentage
> >of efficiency the autobox robs.
> >
> >For ME, I'm used to driving manuals.  (More than once,
> >when I've rented cars, I go to push the clutch in when
> >I stop, and accidentally hit the edge of the brake pedal!)
> >I prefer the control the manual gives me - if I see a
> >hill coming up I can downshift when I want to, and
> >when I'm going downhill I can choose a gear based on
> >if I want to speed up or slow down.  Also if you have
> >a dodgy battery or starter you can push start a manual,
> >not an auto.  I don't find shifting a chore; I find it
> >keeps me in tune with what's going on around me.  Also
> >at low speeds on back roads I can pick the most appropriate
> >gear.
> >
> >If you're a lazy shifter, I suggest the auto.  If you like
> >to shift, I suggest the manual.
> >
> >Good luck!
> >
> >--tabe johnson
> >xtabe @ yahoo . com
> >
> >PS Religion and all other personal details about listmembers
> >are completely irrelevant to our discussions.  Please make
> >this guy go away.  I'm so glad politics is hardly ever discussed
> >here!
> >
> >______________________________________________________________________
> >Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
> >
> >
> >
> >