Hints and tips for going from Automatic to Manual

[NamechangeoutedbyMIL]

The back story is that I passed my driving test in a manual car 3 years ago, and ended up buying an automatic car 4 days later (not on purpose, it was the car we wanted with the best mileage and colour etc) then we upgraded to a hybrid a year ago which is also an automatic (plus all singing and all dancing with extra features).

Circumstances have changed now so we've decided to downgrade the car and bought an older, manual vehicle that we pick up on Monday.

Does anyone have any tips for making the transition from only driving an automatic car for three years to a manual one?

Plus any tips for parking without a self parking feature () or reverse camera?

Umm. If you actually need to ask this on an online forum then you shouldn't be on the bloody road.

Tips? Clutch is the one on the left....

You’ll just need to think a lot more about what you’re doing at least to start off with. Eventually, you’ll get used to it.

You will get used to it again. Definitely practice hill starts.

Shame you cannot carry on driving an auto.

I think the safest thing to do - for you, if nobody else - would be to have a couple of refreshers lessons with a driving instructor. If that’s not possible, an empty industrial estate / car park and practice.

I've driven a manual again at times. It should be instinctive to some extent

Wow, dick by name and dick by nature. Is there any need??

It's fine while you are concentrating.

Key moments are drawing up to a junction- remember the clutch. Actually driving along is fine as the car engine reminds you what it needs.

I'd recommend going out on your own and just manoeuvring around a quiet estate for half an hour. Get practice while you can focus, so that you are not driving with children talking (screaming) at you.

Honestly it won't take long- I've had several transfers back and forth and after the first ten minutes it's fine. The junction at the end of my road catches me out, that's all!

Thanks for the actual helpful advice, DP things it'll be like riding a bike and ill pick it back up in a day but I am a little nervous.

Thankfully one of my closest friends is a drivi g instructor so she has said if I struggle after the first day or so she can take me out to get my confidence up again.

I drove an automatic for about 15 years. (Moved to the US) and my hand still moved down for the gears (wrong hand!) I had barely driven before moving as I always lived in central London. I moved back to a manual a few years ago and after a few times stalling 🙄 it came back and now is the most natural thing in the world. You will be fine.

Tips for reverse parking:

Practice a few times with someone on the outside telling you when it's close, that will give you a feel for how far you can go.
Go very slowly. If the worst happens you won't have damaged any of the cars. But only in tight spots.
Use all your mirrors and place the side mirrors so that you can see the parking lines.
At night, the lights are a good indicator of how close you are.
Stop your car parallel to the kerb, so that you can reverse at a 90o angle.

Book some driving lessons, you really need to refresh as it's very different

Don't worry about stalling. Just restart again from first gear.

Do practice a bit restarting on a slope.

Remember to drop down gears before you start a bend or when you change direction. You'll have better control of the car and will pick up speed faster after it.

I feel like I can remember it all in my head, bite point, clutch down when coming to a stop etc etc but I just don't know how well that's going to play out in practise! Thankfully I have two weeks off to practise of an evening when it's quiet with DP who has been driving for 15 years so I don't have to jump straight into the busy morning commute

I've had an automatic for the last 4 years and was okay driving a manual courtesy car.
I would do a bit of practice on the drive or carpark where you can just leave the engine off and practice depressing the clutch and moving the gearstick into the correct place. That worked for me when I first learned to drive

Don't worry, think your dp is probably right it will become second nature again. I switch between manuals and autos on a regular basis and I still find the hardest part is the motorway service junctions and remembering when in a manual to change gear before the engine fluffs out.
You should try driving abroad next, without fail I reach for the seat belt over my right shoulder which makes my dp eye roll. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine 👍

I would also suggest having a refresher lesson with a driving instructor, just to get the feel of it again.

But after a few minutes in your new car you will start to get it.

Pity you're having to switch back, as the future is electrics and hybrids and they are all automatics.

Anyway good luck and enjoy your not-new car!

Practise in a quiet area for a while, especially if it's a petrol vehicle.

We decided to pick the not-new car up yesterday instead. It seems VERY MUCH MORE BLUE then it looked when we first saw it but anyway.

Went to a quiet estate and I managed okay, gears all fine, stopping fine, moving off was okay ISH, I didn't stall but I just wasn't very quick at it. Another couple of runs when it is quiet and I think I'll get it

Unfortunately, we (DP) did drive it with no lights on for 5 minutes bevause the other car had auto lights that came on when needed so thats another thing to remember.

what a moron