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Original poster

Why do people like driving an automatic?

200 replies

as141 · 22/03/2021 17:53

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

OP posts:
Mxflamingnoravera · 22/03/2021 19:26

Not rtt but in case you're still wondering... there is a switch on the bottom of the right hand paddle levers that switches through the display on the dashboard to show speed.

I'm an Audi auto convert. I would never go back to manual, this is my second automatic A4.

NiceGerbil · 22/03/2021 19:27

They are good if you do a lot of stop start congested journeys.

Easy like driving a go kart.

I have always driven one due to disability.

The way the engines perform/ gear switching etc varies so best to try before you buy (sorry too late for that for you).

If you like to accelerate fast they have a kick down thing so if you just floor it they go ok right and go into that mode and tick up through the gears.

The creeping forward with brake off thing is good in traffic and my mum says for hill starts Grin

I like the idea of being in control more and very much understand the appeal of manual though.

Other point is that if you cruise around and aren't heavy on the accelerator or brake they pick the right gear for the engine so it's not being stressed)/ is efficient.

I have a mini cooper it is a lot of fun to drive :)

willitgetworse · 22/03/2021 19:30

What isn't there to love?
I can only drive automatic so can't really speak for a manual, but I bloody love it.
I drive an octavia vrs auto and it's bloody quick.
So relaxing to drive, no faffing about with a clutch and gears.

TeckanandMultra · 22/03/2021 19:33

I learned on a manual but drive an automatic now. So much easier! Having to change gear is an absolute ballash.

Alsohuman · 22/03/2021 19:35

After driving a manual for 20 years I got an automatic 11 years ago. There’s no going back. I doubt I could drive a manual now and definitely don’t want to.

OhWhyNot · 22/03/2021 19:36

I spend much of my driving time in traffic and it’s much easier

My little car is very nippy perfect foe what I need it foe

DwangelaForever · 22/03/2021 19:39

I drive automatic because I had shitty money grabbing driving instructors when I was 17 who all taught me to drive differently resulting in me having panic attacks when trying to drive a manual lol.

The first one just kept making me do lessons to get more money, the second one said I was ready for my test then left the company and his replacement was a retired soldier who treated me like and started interrogating me as to why I was doing something (that was OK to do according to him but he wanted to know my thought process behind it - so much so I broke down in tears and told him I lost my job so I had to stop driving lessons 🤣) I stopped learning for 3 years and decided to try again automatically and I've been driving for 10 years now and love it.

EstuaryBird · 22/03/2021 19:49

Swore that I would never get an automatic after driving one many years ago that always seemed to lag on gear changes.

A few years ago I injured my left foot and will never be able to use a clutch without pain so reluctantly invested in a decent automatic. Life changer!

Driving is such a pleasure and it’s gear changes are immaculate. Gear lever on steering wheel, handbrake button, cruise control, max speed control...all great.

The only thing I don’t use is self parking..the car is very good at it but I still like to do it myself 😊

CovidCorvid · 22/03/2021 20:21

@Blueberries0112

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.
Yep. I’m currently non weight bearing on crutches but can still drive my automatic. Got some funny looks at the petrol station today though when I was hopping on crutches to the kiosk! 😆
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 22/03/2021 20:23

Its a much, much smoother drive and its so much easier.

FixTheBone · 22/03/2021 20:24

Always driven manuals no problem.

Had a diesel zafira automatic as a courtesy car for 6 weeks - utter trash, the gap between second and third on the motorway was appalling.

Now have a tesla model 3, no gears at all and regenerative breaking, marvellous. Single pedal driving, rarely even have to touch the brake, never mind a clutch.

murbblurb · 22/03/2021 20:25

Not for me due to reliability issues - if you buy 10 year old cars all the faults are with the auto version. ( And the diesels)

Btw if you aren't aware of the speed limit without it on a screen in the car - I hope you don't live near me!!

MissConductUS · 22/03/2021 20:28

In the US you have to special order if you want a manual transmission, and they are only available on certain models.

I learned on a manual and don't miss it at all. The new CVT's get better fuel economy than most people will get with a manual.

ZenNudist · 22/03/2021 20:28

Love mine. It's a BMW so has a lot of pokes maybe that's why its such a fun drive. I find automatic very easy for city driving. My previous car was stick but had automatic hand brake and I'd never want to go back to having to manually release a hand brake.

JudgeRindersMinder · 22/03/2021 20:32

Automatics got a bad reputation in the past for being sluggish and thirsty but that’s not the case now. I used to drive my dad’s automatics alongside my manual and really enjoyed his VW Golfs.
I got an automatic Merc last year when I turned 50 after driving manuals since I was 17, and I adore it....I have badly arthritic knees and feet and it’s amazing.
However I’ve gone from zipping about in my sporty wee A1 to Driving Miss Daisy in the Merc Grin

PurpleWh1teGreen · 22/03/2021 20:32

In queuing traffic it's no contest.

Gormless · 22/03/2021 20:33

I’d be reluctant to move from manual to auto as it took me so long to learn to drive a manual. I’d be scared of de-skilling!

ohhhhitsme · 22/03/2021 20:33

I drive my 20 minute route to work with a coffee in my left hand and very rarely have to put it down SmileBrew

RedcurrantPuff · 22/03/2021 20:37

@middleager

I made sure my automatic has a proper handbrake though.

Can't get on with handbrake switches or assisted hill start tech mentioned upthread.

Yes me too. I have a Volvo v40 and it has a proper handbrake. Hate the other ones
Veuvestar · 22/03/2021 20:40

You can change what you have on your dash display
Just cycle through the clicks on your left hand indicator

RedcurrantPuff · 22/03/2021 20:40

@Gormless

I’d be reluctant to move from manual to auto as it took me so long to learn to drive a manual. I’d be scared of de-skilling!
It doesn’t take long either. Every time I drive my husband’s manual I stall it, usually going over a speed bump or slowing down to go on a roundabout. I’ve been driving nearly 30 years and only got an automatic in October!
SoWhyNot · 22/03/2021 20:40

I love my automatic but driving a manual again makes me feel like I am a racing driver.

BackforGood · 22/03/2021 20:55

Interesting range of views.

I've never driven an automatic (been driving almost 40 years).

My dd has had over 50 hours of lessons and has really struggled. She is dyspraxic. I've kind of been urging her to keep at it and not 'limit herself' by giving in and only getting a licence for automatics, but I'm now wondering if that might be the most sensible thing for her to try ? If they can ever get back to having lessons, and then driving test backlog of course

Leftturnstraightahead · 22/03/2021 21:04

We bought a Tesla - love driving it - so responsive and smooth - we kept the manual as well and it really is a pig to drive.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 22/03/2021 21:10

I was going to say that I've been driving automatics for years and I wouldn't go back to a manual, but then you said that you had an A3 and I have to admit that out of all of my automatic cars the A4 was the one that I liked the least. It was fine on the motorway but I always felt like it was over-riding my decisions when town driving. And it was a bastard for roundabouts because of turbo lag, not all the time, just sometimes, so it was really hard to move onto the roundabout unless there was a huge space to move into. I've had a BMW 3 series, the bastard A4, a Tiguan, a Fiat 500, another Tiguan and now a hybrid BMW 3 series, all automatic and all great except for the A4.