AIBU automatic cars are easier?

We have auto because it’s electric, no manual choice and it’s is SO much easier! Felt a bit weird at first, but OMG is great… Anyone telling you that you need to be changing gear to really drive needs to STFU, most of the skill in driving is around observation and being safe etc. Not whether or not you change gears manually - we’re not driving around Silverstone, half the time we’re sat at traffic lights !

When I was learning to drive at 47, I took the automatic test. a friend of mine told me that automatics were for old ladies. I told him I am an an old lady!
Soon, no-one will have a choice as electric cars are all auto.
It's like all the people who say you aren't doing it properly if you use a sat-nav instead of a map.

When you test drive an automatic for the first time, it does usually take a day of driving to get used to them and not trying to press both pedals at the same time. Please do not do this as it's usually the first thing and person who is used to a manual will do. 😂

Pressing both pedals ends up in an emergency brake and feel like your going to go through the windscreen.

I mean I don't think automatics generally encourage you to speed, but you get the irony here, right ?

You certainly can damage clutches on automatics although nowhere near as easily as you can on manual cars.

Acceleration can be faster in a like for like manual, but it will be an incredibly small amount of drivers that can achieve this as you have to both get the revs right for maximum power and also shift quickly. My automatic has a "launch control" mode (which I've never used) which you just engage and floor the accelerator and it goes off as quickly as possible. I am sure it would beat 99% of manual drivers in an identical car. Sorry boy racers.

I don't believe automatics make it easier to exceed the speed limits, although there is probably some correlation between a person wanting driving to be as easy as possible and require as little thought as possible and accidentally going faster than the limit. The same sort of person who wants an automatic because "it's easier to control kids fighting in the back" like someone said on here earlier is probably the same sort of person who is not paying full attention to the road and the limits.

One clutch in 18 yrs suggests that you use the clutch properly. I know people who have their clutch replaced every two years. Clutch wear is very much down to driving style ( or rather crap clutch use).
In 40 yrs of driving I’ve never had a clutch replaced. Actually I had one replaced within a month of buying a brand new car, the clutch was faulty in that case.

I do. My Dh thinks I’m odd but I was taught to make sure that other road users knew what my intentions were.

Another advantage is that you can’t burn out the clutch. A significant number of drivers ride the clutch when stop start driving, we had a neighbour who left for work at 7am every morning, and every morning my DH would physically cringed and comment that she would be needing a new clutch. DH worked in the Motor Factor trade and their biggest bugbear when it came to warranty was having to replace new clutches. The mechanics would shrug and say it’s under warranty but then admit that the customer usually got through a new clutch every year.

A good mechanic will often suggest that a driver who burns out clutches regularly considers changing to an automatic.

@RampantIvy

We were driving round country lanes in rural Cheshire on Monday - no phone reception and therefore no Google maps! Not for the first time either. I’ve had similar problems on holidays in the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales, Devon….often National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty!

We have a satnav/information screen in our car, to tell us the speed limit of wherever we are

I get this on Google maps on my phone anyway. Everyone does.

Defo do what you feel comfy with

I have a Manuel but may swap when the time comes to get a new un

We have automatics, because we do a lot of motorway driving and found the constant stop/start in traffic jams tiring.

I don’t see why there’s more chance of speeding in an automatic compared to a manual? You use the accelerator in both the same way? It’s the gears and clutch that’s different?

We have a satnav/information screen in our car, to tell us the speed limit of wherever we are. We both use cruise control within the speed limit most of the time, according to the weather conditions, as we can’t afford to lose our licenses due to speeding points.

I switched to Autos a few years ago after getting one as a courtesy car.

I don't care if it's lazy, I like it. I borrowed my friend's manual car recently, and whilst I did quite enjoy it - having every limb engaged in driving like some kind of madly swimming frog - I was glad to get back to my automatic.

So I do warn you - if you switch, you'll not want to go back :)

You can get automatics with paddle gear shifts.Should you want a sporty approach to driving, you can have manual override to change down.

Automatics are better for less confident drivers. We’ve had Porsche 911s though. Automatic with manual options. EVs are surely all automatic? I’d just avoid very small engine autos as it sucks the power.

I have had an automatic car for 4 years as it is a hybrid. I had to drive a sick colleague home as we car share; I was like a kangaroo as I kept forgetting to put the clutch in at roundabouts and junctions! 🙈
I will never drive a manual through choice again. We are buying an electric car
So definitely won't go back

I passed my test in the 1970s on a manual.

I haven't driven one since.

Automatics are the only way.

I hate auto boxes with a passion. Takes away my control over revs which takes away some of my fun of driving.
OH's pick up truck is auto, and its so dull, certainly doesn't make me speed.

But i guess if you don't really like driving that much then it makes no difference.

I've gad both. However having driven manual for 20 years I found driving automatic vans at work challenging because I kept slamming the brakes on because my foot would instinctively go to the clutch to slow down

Automatics are so much better