Automatic car help! I can’t do it!

@DryTerryandJUNE that’s not what my VW Golf automatic is like, at all.

If it's a VW they seem to be impossible to edge forwards or backwards. End up lurching about and they have whiplash sharp brakes.
I absolutely hate them.

As everyone has said, it's because you're using both feet. I've driven both and hate being in an automatic.

After 45 years of driving a manual it took me some getting used to. Metaphorically pinning your left foot back helps.
I wouldn't go back to manual now though. Setting off is so smooth, hill starts, stop and start traffic are all better in automatic. Even my car mad DS is a convert.

Occasionally have to use DHs car and it's not pretty.

My previous and current car is automatic, as they are company cars, but I’d go back to a manual now if I had the chance.

Haha did make me laugh you put your left foot on the brake! I’d never go back to a manual car now. Driving an auto in traffic jams is so much easier

A lot of automatics have a little foot rest to keep your left foot out of the way.

Mine has the foot/handbrake as a third pedal where the clutch would be. Muscle memory had me reaching for it every time I would have gone for the clutch, so feel your pain.

Just remember with an automatic, always do everything with your foot on the brake. To Start. And to change between Drive and Park. And always put it in park before you turn the engine off or you'll likely lock the steering. It'll move as soon as you lift your foot off the brake, (but slowly until you accelerate) if its in drive or reverse. Hill starts are a breeze.

Took years for me to fully appreciate it but I do love it now.

I completely understand that it feels a bit odd to start with - I remember being freaked out that it was moving by itself, but I don’t even notice that now. Autos are so easy - far less faff.

I put my left on the rest plate. I did keep trying to change gears, but it didn’t last long. I have a brilliant camera when I reverse that even shows me where I’m aiming for. Love it now.

Muscle memory is going for the clutch when there isn't one. In a manual your right foot operates both accelerator and brake, and it's exactly the same in an automatic

I've never liked automatics, it's not like real driving but they are good in traffic jams. A colleague's FIL bought a new automatic car and put it into reverse instead of drive (or vice versa) and killed his wife.

I think it must be because you are using your left foot - hopefully if you just use your right you will have more control. I drive an automatic honda jazz and honestly it's like driving a go-kart. However - I tried to drive my late husband's manual car recently and it was like an alien spacecraft to me! Haven't driven a manual in about 16 years and now I just cannot get my head around it, even though I passed my test in one!

It’s like driving a go cart.

Once you get used to it you won’t ever want to go back.

As evidenced by the fact if you pass your test in an automatic you are restricted to an automatic but if you pass your test in a manual car you're permitted to drive either manual or automatic.

I've had an auto for a year now and would switch back to a manual in a heartbeat. I borrowed a 6sp manual for a trip last month and realised how much I'd missed the extra control you have.

Unfortunately it's getting harder and harder to find a manual gearbox now.

I remember flying to Florida on our honeymoon - it hadn’t even entered my mind the rental car would be automatic and I’d never even been in one let alone driven one. A couple of laps of JFK with new husband in an emergency crash position I went back to rental place and told them to take it back. The guy was so patient - took me on around 50 laps of their car park to build confidence and off I went , can’t say the nerves were completely cured but I managed and now drive an automatic and love it ! I often think there should be some sort of driving simulator you can visit before flying to US and develop skills on automatic

I got used to it in a day and drove it for about a year. Still went back to a manual when I had the opportunity.

I promise you once you've got the hang of it and driven it for a few days you will NEVER want a manual car again.

There should be a foot rest to put your left foot on. Put it there and do not move it…things will be a lot easier and you won’t even want to drive a non automatic again.

I routinely switch between our manual and automatic with no issues. If you’re trying to drive it like a go kart that’s probably the issue. Don’t use your left leg, it will feel really unnatural anyway as you wouldn’t brake with your left foot in a manual. I find the automatic much smoother to drive now. So much easier in stop/start traffic, pulling quickly out of tight junctions, across dual carriageways etc. Helps that mine is also an EV so goes like shit off a shovel

This! I first had an automatic 10 years ago and I wouldn't go back to a manual but it took a few days to get used to it. DH's car is a manual and when he drives mine he has to concentrate hard at first.

Driven one once and hated it. I just couldn’t get used to not having to change gears, and the brakes were so keen. I was seriously considering just dumping it in the middle of the road and walking the rest of the way

I think you'll get used to the automatic quite quickly. I find them a lot easier in heavy traffic and stop/start on hills. You just accelerate/brake with your right foot in exactly the same way as in a manual car.

Top tip OP, if you get in and the engine won't start, make sure your gear is in P.
Automatics won't start if you've left it in drive, had a couple of panicky moments with that one. Worst was on a motorway when I was stuck for half an hour, turned off the engine, when it all started moving the bloody engine wouldn't start because it was still in Drive !

There do seem to be regular occurrences of elderly people accelerating/reversing randomly. They’ve had to install heavy bollards in my parade of shops after two drivers accelerated straight into the shops. Before anyone starts shouting “ageist!” a lot of people driving round here are certainly rather infirm and imo should not be driving at all, and certainly not automatics. (Of course younger people have accidents eg Wimbledon school woman but round here at least it is very frequent.)