Changing from manual to automatic car.

[Bookaholic73]

Ok..I’ve never driven an automatic car before, always driven manual.
I’m getting a new car next year and it’s an automatic...how hard is it to learn?

It does have neutral gear as well but you never use it unless you're being towed.

Had one for a couple years before switching back to manual. Easy to learn

Love mine. Some cars have something called Auto Hold where you can set it so that you don't have to keep your foot on the brake when you've stopped.

DPs has it. Mine doesn't. I constantly have to remind him when he's driving my car or I fear he'll forget and roll in to the back of someone!

What type of car are you getting OP? We may be able to help with specific car tips. Mine is a BMW and the gear selector is not your standard Auto style (doesn't have 1-2 gears and don't stay in place when you move it - it goes back to the middle, like a joystick).

I looked out for You Tube videos of how to drive them before I got mine. Didn't want to make myself look like a wally when I couldn't figure out how to put it in gear!

I drove a manual for over 20 years before switching to auto last year. As with a PP I don't know why I waited so long. It's bloody marvellous! I don't think I'll ever go back now. I thought I would miss it, but I don't in the slightest.

So good if you spend a lot of time in traffic jams - not having to go from neutral, first, second and back.
Hardest thing is going back to a manual!

Chewbecca, I was thinking exactly that when sitting in a traffic jam an hour ago, that's why I also love the creep, plus my car gas stop/start.

It's just like driving a massive bumper car, but do avoid the other cars.

Loved driving an automatic, but DH insisted on going to manual.

Hardest thing is learning not to use the clutch because it’s an automatic thing to do. Once you get past that it’s fine and a lot easier than manual. Manual sucks.

I bought my automatic about two weeks ago - I changed from a manual because of hip/spinal problems.

My left leg stopped twitching to hit the clutch after about a week, and I'm still a bit hesitant at roundabouts. Honestly, it's so much easier than driving a manual - those with a manual license can drive an automatic, but people with an automatic license can only drive an automatic. You'll be fine.

I love my automatic. I'd never go back to manual.

I'm about to change to one, looking forward to it.

There is literally nothing to learn.

Hardest thing is the constant stalling if you ever swap back to driving a manual (looking at you, DH ).

Otherwise it’s point and press, like a go cart.

Thanks everyone, I can’t wait now!

But other than that for me a manual has no redeeming features.

I now have an auto, they didn't make the car I wanted in a manual. But there are lots of advantages to manuals. Better fuel economy used to be one but that's changing. I like changing gear down into a corner, being able to slow and almost stop a car without foot brakes in an emergency, more control in bad weather, instant, hard acceleration if needed. And, controversial, I think manual drivers tend to be better drivers.

Love mine too

MrsTerryPratchett
I think most people in the UK driving autos are, manual drivers.
I know I am, I switched for health reasons.

Every time I switch between the two I will be gently braking towards a junction when I will go to change down and stamp on the brake with my left foot whilst going for the non existent clutch.

So easy, you'll love it.

My next car will be an automatic. I go between an auto and a manual now with no issues, I don’t even look for the clutch with my left foot when I’m in the auto. Can’t wait to get a new car to get automatic!

I think most people in the UK driving autos are, manual drivers.

Me too as I said

Just jumping on this thread because my son is 17 in November and we were planning on replacing our old automatic car with a newer manual.

However, we'd quite like to get a hybrid, and the ones I am looking at online (Yaris) are all automatics. My husband passed his test on a manual and then only drove an automatic and my son isn't bothered, he is a real petrol head, yet can't see the point of manual cars.

So if hybrids/electric cars are the future, will everyone be driving automatics in a few years anyway? I am wondering if my son will be among the last people to do tests in a manual car, and in 10 years' time it won't be worth it anymore.

To go back to the OP, for a long time we had a manual and an automatic and I used to drive them interchangeably and in all the years we had the two cars I stamped on the non-existent clutch once.

Love my automatic car, so relaxing. Have a manual license but only use it when hiring cars on holiday. Very easy to make the transition, OP

All I’ve ever driven, husband too
I don’t know why we even bother with gears.
Nearly all American cars are automatics. I don’t know we keep making it difficult for ourselves

Fairweather - we're in the same boat, looking at a Yaris hybrid with teenagers who will be learning to drive in a couple of years. I have talked to friends whose children have learned to drive recently and they don't think its an issue, I also agree that auto will be the default option in not too many years with the rise of hybrids and electric cars, so we're going for it.

Have driven an automatic for years - so, so easy. Cannot understand why anyone wants to drive manual!