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

Oh my God it’s amazing.

I got one for health reasons due to a gammy leg....I’d never go back and don’t know why people have manuals. In stop/start traffic in town it’s so great to not be having to swap,from 1st, 2nd, neutral, repeat, repeat. Pressing the clutch constantly, etc.

My automatic has some sort of manual mode where I can use the gearstick to change gears (no clutch) and I do even bother with that.

Hill starts are no bother due to the creep....Not that I ever struggled with them before but it’s still easier. It’s just so much simpler all round.

I freaking love using cruise control on the motorway, nothing to do but steer.

Dh hates them, but don’t think he’s ever really driven one.

Think they’re meant to be more economical. Dream to tow the caravan with.

Because i dont have to think about driving i can just do it. I dont enjoy the experience but want to get from a to b so automatical is ideal love it would never go back! I did learn in a manual

Because you can eat an apple and drive

I love my automatic, I've had manuals before and this is just so much easier, plus I can't burn out the clutch again
But I can take back control if I want to and change the cars gears myself, I haven't yet but glad to have the option!

@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?

Hill starts are easier. Have it in drive, take the handbrake off /foot off the brake and it’ll start going forward by itself....slowly. But shouldn’t roll back, I’ve not met a hill so steep that it would roll back. Obviously you do put your foot on the accelerator ASAP to get more speed..

I love mine. It's relaxing and it's quick. It has a boost button I don't really need. It never rolls back in a hill. Mainly it's fun like a go cart. Will never buy manual again.

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

I've never driven an automatic but this is what worries me, not being able to control the power when overtaking, but maybe automatics have moved on since I had this discussion with anyone. Also I might forget I'm driving and doze off!

Because it is far, far easier and more relaxing. I used to have a 34 mile each way commute to work. In my automatic it was easy. When my car was off the road and I had to use DW's manual, it was knackering. I was dead tired when I arrived at work and totally whacked when I got home at night. Eventually, I used the train (2 changes) rather than have to play with gears twice a day. Automatics love 'em!

Cars have so much electronics now I don’t know why anyone is wary of a bit of automatic transmission. I can’t wait to have self driving cars. Then I can do mumsnet on commutes.

One thing people taught me is with auto, you only use one foot for gas or brake. Never use both feet. Yes you need both for manual. But not auto.

Love mine. Never have to worry about changing gears so I can focus on the road. It’s the future. Control is exactly the same as a manual. I mean how can anyone like changing gears on traffic.

For hill starts, if you live in a really hilly area where the forward roll won’t stop you rolling back. Then I put my left feet on the brake and right on the accelerator. One on and one off at the same time. I’m sure the proper way is handbrake and foot on accelerator at the same time instead. But I used to live in Auckland and it’s really hilly. I figured this way because it’s faster.

I'm not keen on automatics either. Dh has had a few and I don't enjoy driving them. I like changing gear.

Infact I'm looking to upgrade my current car to a hybrid. All the hybrids I've looked at are automatics.

I love my automatic. I have to have one due to nerve issues in my left leg, but even if I didn’t I wouldn’t go back to a manual. Ours is an 8 speed DSG and DS1 bought himself one, too after DH picked him up once and they got stuck in traffic coming home. He noticed it was so much easier not having to change gears.

I couldn’t be arsed driving in a city, in a manual car during rush hour.

For hills, you just change it to drive 1 or drive 2 but I would be complete stop before I change the gear, let go the brake and drive. The gears will slow you down but it will help climb steep hills. Or downward but it is not meant to be climbing steep hills frequently

I think they just take a bit of getting used to. My DF always had automatics and I drove a bit fir him so I'm used to driving both. Think I would go fir an automatic myself next time.

I have a Mercedes automatic and it has a lever behind the steering wheel. No gear stick in the middle which gives me loads of room to lean to the left on my arm rest. I got so fed up with changing gears in stop start traffic and it was like an epiphany. Why I didn't by an automatic before is beyond me. 25 years of driving manuals 🤦🏼‍♀️
In your car does it have an internal manual on your information system? I found this valuable when I was stuck for how to use a feature.
I find driving more relaxing now. Give it time, especailly if you get stuck in traffic.

No pain in your clutch leg when stuck in traffic. Like driving a big go kart! Much more comfortable for town/city driving without having to constantly change gears.

@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

It is much easier in my joints when I have an arthritis flare up.

Driving in heavy traffic is much easier as you're not messing with gears and biting points.

I have have an automatic for a few years now and wouldn't go back.
Mine is also electric, as well as being automatic.

Driving uphill with automatic www.aamcocolorado.com/transmission-uphill-driving/

it does take a while and it is a completely different driving experience, I find it more relaxing but I do love a drivers manual car - nothing like it - but horses for course, my hybrid is auto as are all electrics - I call them milk floats lol but they are great for economic a to b driving

How can you not??
It drives itself practically
Didn’t set out to get an automatic but I never want gears Again now
Dh car is auto too
I’d be so confused by gears and stall all the time 😂

I don't understand the 'not in control' bit tbh.
I'm still in control of the speed, the turning, the braking, etc. just not changing the gears - electric so don't have any anyway.

Forgot to add above - we also live in a really hilly city, so,automatic is better for all the hill starts and means there's no potential clutch issues.

Dd drives an automatic and I hate it when I have to borrow it. Sluggish and dull

I was dreading our first automatic but now I’m a convert I love them now on my second. It’s never rolled back on a hill. DH hates it though says it’s not proper driving!