which comes first?

[mireasunta]

I am finally taking the plunge to learn to drive. I did some lessons in my 20s and drove around with DH a little bit, but I never really put in the effort to learn and have put it off so many times. I haven’t driven at all in about 5 years. So, I am starting from scratch and want to get going before I talk myself out of it again.

I think I want to learn in an automatic. Our family car is a big manual Honda. I like the idea of a small hatchback.

Is it ridiculous to buy an automatic car when I have never driven one?

I don’t know anyone with one to try it, also I’d be afraid of pranging their car.

Of course I need lessons too, but I’ll need DH to bring me out in between lessons. So, should I try to get a car for that?

Would the lessons be “wasted” (for want of a better word) if I don’t have an auto to practice in? Or should I see how I get on before buying a car?

I tend to overthink stuff like this!

I would bite the bullet and take a manual test.
I honestly don’t know anyone who learned in an automatic

Automatic is wonderful.
Learnt to drive and took test in one..
No problem

I would try a couple of lessons first, before buying a car.

I'd still probably want a smaller car than DHs though, so should I be looking for a car before I start lessons?

A lot of the driving threads on here posters have automatic lessons and tests, I appreciate it is not as common as manual.

I know it will restrict me in that I won't have the option to drive other cars, but I don't have the option to do that now in any case.

I’d try and pass in a manual car, it gives you the option of driving both types

Oh cross posts - that was in answer to Mydogisagentleman

Do at least a few lessons before you buy a car, so you know what to look for.

I don't know anyone that had access to a practice car between lessons, though I appreciate some do, and we all passed.

As your DH has a manual, I'd try and take a manual test - there will come a time when he borrows yours because his is in for service and you want to pick up his car that afternoon to use a car...

I suggest you book an instructor and have a few lessons in a manual see how you get on. You'll probably find it's like riding a bicycle, you've retained a bit of the basics.

I learnt to drive without having a car to practice in because I was away at uni at the time. It also saves you falling out with family trying to "teach" you!
I wouldn't take lessons in an automatic and practice in a manual and if your second car is manual it would be useful to be able to drive it.
If you sit your test in an automatic your licence is only valid to drive automatic cars which could be limiting in terms of buying future cars, hiring cars, courtesy cars from the garage etc. That said, the future seems to be hybrid or electric and they're all automatic anyway!

I know people who have only ever driven automatics, it’s far more common in other countries like the USA and Australia. Nothing wrong with it at all OP.

I currently drive one after years of driving manual. It’s not as lovely a drive but it’s so much easier, I can 100% see the attraction and it will absolutely be easier to pass your test.

If you are committed to passing and buying one, I would have a couple of lessons to check you still feel that way and then go for it. We had an automatic Corsa before this one and I would definitely recommend.

Definitely try to pass in a manual if you can. I almost gave in and changed to automatic but I'm glad I didn't. I had no access to a car to practice in when I passed a few years ago.
I wouldn't randomly buy a car in preparation. You need to know what sort of car you are most comfortable driving.

I'm sure you're aware automatics tend to be much more expensive to buy and they also have more expensive costs when they go wrong. They're harder to get hold of and if you need to rent a car for any reason (I do occasionally for work), you'll find that they hardly ever have any automatics available.
My DP recently traded in his automatic as we knew it would need expensive work soon and we couldn't afford to replace it with another automatic. It was a Honda jazz and was a lovely car to drive even though I wasn't experienced with automatics. I have back problems and it made such a difference not having to use a clutch with my bad leg (my own car is very old and doesn't even have power steering).

I didn't do any practicing - all my driving experience was during lessons.
I can see why you'd want to get a smaller car but I think you should be able to drive the other one just in case. I'd get a manual license and then get an automatic car.

Long term most cars will be automatic because that's the default for electric cars.

However in the short term you may regret not being able to car swap as necessary with your husband (e.g. my battery died once just as I was about to go collect a click and collect from supermarket with a 1 hour time slot, being able to hop in my husband's car saved a lot of hassle even though I hate driving it) so I'd definitely recommend trying to pass as a manual driver in the first instance.

Thanks all, some food for thought here!

I guess my thinking is that the easier I can make this for me the more likely I am to stick at it - although I can see that it would be a benefit overall to be able to hop into DHs car and go.

I don't think lessons alone will be enough for me to pass, I'd need to put in some time in between. The last time I took lessons, I didn't do anything in between them, and I found that difficult. Each lesson seemed daunting, because I wasn't getting used to being in the car in the meantime, if that makes sense.

Some of the points made will not apply to me, but useful to think about all the same.

I learnt when I was 30 and learnt in a manual even though we'd just got an automatic. I'm 45 now, have driven automatic ever since. We'll never go back to manual cars but they do cost a lot more if you want to rent them and as a consequence DH ends up doing all the driving abroad because I've lost all confidence in a manual, having only done it for the test, and can't be arsed trying to get back into it for the sake of a short trip.

I guess my point is, if you want to have flexibility and rent cars then learn in a manual, and keep your eye in with it. If you're not bothered, go for automatic, so much more relaxing. Personally I'd just do automatic.

Thanks again, I think I am being a bit of a wimp about it to be honest.

Some of the experiences you've shared, like about hiring cars abroad, won't apply to us, but it is still good to have that insight. I hadn't thought about costs of servicing or parts, I wouldn't have realised they can be more expensive.

I pictured learning in a small automatic, while DH would still do the longer drives in the manual (which he is happy to continue doing), then progress to a bigger automatic with time that we could both drive and get rid of the manual. We don't need to be a 2-car house long term.