Why do people like driving an automatic?

[as141]

Waited a long time due to the pandemic for my new car to arrive and I'm not loving the automatic driving experience ☹️

Please try and sell it to me? Spent a lot of money and waited close to a year, really really want to like it

I honestly don't understand why anyone bothers driving a manual. I used to drive one, but once I'd switched to an automatic, there was no switching back!

I love automatics , OH prefers manual so hates having to drive my car.

My dad's automatic had a secret turbo boose button like KITT, the car from NightRider. Loved it.

They are the future btw - electric vehicles will see off manual gearboxes.

See this is a really interesting thread for me. I'm due an upgrade next year and I'm thinking of going automatic. I've developed bad anxiety around clutch control (thanks to a car that was in its death throes) being stuck in traffic or even worse on a hill with traffic sends me into a blind panic. So I have a question, how do you do a hill start in one?

Oh and if I’ve got one hand free it’s easier to do my mascara.
Just kidding

I've recently bought an automatic for the first time, out of necessity not choice (problem with my left foot) and I can kind of take it or leave it. I'm getting more used to it now but at first I found the lack of engine braking weird, and it's taken me a bit of time to trust it to change gear appropriately- especially when overtaking on the country roads round here when I would normally change down before starting to overtake. But I've now realised that whilst it obviously can't know my intentions in advance, the response is pretty much instantaneous so I'm ok with it now.
One thing that irritates me is that reverse is a forward push of the lever and drive is backwards. That seems completely counterintuitive and I have nearly come a cropper when parking a couple of times!
But I love the "creep" for parking, and it's good in slow moving traffic, plus hill starts are amazingly easy. And driving in slow moving traffic up steep hills, which is fairly common where I live is an absolute doddle compared to in a manual.

I love them. Would never drive a manual again.

I prefer driving automatics, I live in a city with lots of traffic and it is so much less faff stopping and starting. Also I live on a hill and don't have to worry about hill starts any more.

I always drove manuals but then found a car I really liked but it was automatic took it for a test drive and loved it.I would never go back to a manual (although I can use it as a manual car if I wanted too but never have)
I find I’m more relaxed driving an automatic and it makes driving more enjoyable

Cars seems have more power with straight/manual drive. My husband have a hybrid model (Kia) where he can do either straight drive or auto

I always swore I'd never have an auto, I liked the control you have on a manual. When I got my current car I couldn't find the one I wanted in a manual, and I felt very put off, but someone online told me to give it a go as I might be surprised, and I'm glad I took the advice!

It's a DSG rather than a "traditional" auto, it's more of a computer controlled manual than an auto, and I got on with it very well. I still drive manual cars for work, but I now prefer my auto. I wouldn't rule out having a manual again, but as PP have said with electric cars coming in I doubt I'll go back.

My DB switched to automatic as it was less strain on his back.
DD1 learned in an automatic as she has dyspraxia.
DD2 will learn in an automatic too for similar reasons.

I drive manual as they are more easily available / cheaper.

Driving in traffic is a lot less work
Audi hill assist
Everything really

I grew up thinking manual was better. All my friends and I did manual and thought automatic not as good.

Now I drive automatic and will never go back. Suits city driving, to me.

I have always driven an automatic, I have never understood gears. I feel perfectly in control, I have an accelerator to go faster, and a brake to go slower. Oh, and a steering wheel for direction. What more is needed?

@Onetraumaatatimeplease

See this is a really interesting thread for me. I'm due an upgrade next year and I'm thinking of going automatic. I've developed bad anxiety around clutch control (thanks to a car that was in its death throes) being stuck in traffic or even worse on a hill with traffic sends me into a blind panic. So I have a question, how do you do a hill start in one?

I developed clutch anxiety in a manual after my foot slipped. I then developed a weird shaky foot and would over compensate on hill starts.

The automatic cured that. Hill starts in an auto are a dream. It just does it for you. At first, I didn't trust that it would, and would always put the handbrake on, but now, just release the brake and it moves, however steep the gradient!

DH had an automatic - it was like a go kart turned up to 11 and brilliant on both short and long journeys. Currently have a manual but I’d happily go back to auto.

Mine is DSG and can do manual and auto.
In the ice, I used manual.

Onetraumaatatimeplease I have only ever driven one automatic so I’m not sure if it differs between cars. With mine there was a constant creep (as PP have said) forward and so that helped, when you take your foot off the break the car ‘wants’ to go forward. For a proper hill though I would have my foot on the accelerator giving it some power but with the handbrake on, then release the break and go. Similar to a manual but no clutch and and significantly less risk of stalling or slipping back.

It's an audi a3, it also driving me mad that I can't seem to figure out how to display the speed limit on screen - someone please tell me this is possible and how? Because at the moment I am using the navigation on my phone simultaneously.
Have I misunderstood? Why do you need a car to tell you the speed limit?

I have driven an automatic for years. Would never go back to manual as why would anyone want to keep changing gears all the time? An automatic is far less stressful.

We have an electric automatic and I love it. I was worried about de-skilling myself but I wish we'd changed sooner now.

I love how responsive the car and and how much easier it it to pull away quickly when you need too. It's less tiring when your in stop start traffic too.

We switched to automatic on moving to Canada. Stick shift is a rare beast here.
My Volvo has a ton of safety features which make long distance (8 hrs+) drives a great experience.

I have a bad back and sometimes changing gears can be agony. The automatic has made a huge difference to me.