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Original poster

DD fairly new driver - should she get an automatic car?

105 replies

Dietingalways · 24/05/2022 19:50

DD hasn’t exactly taken to driving very easily, she passed her test last November but hates driving and will literally only go 2-3 miles around our local village and that’s only if she has to.
Ideally she needs her own car due to work commitments. She thinks an automatic will be easier as it’s one less thing to think about (gears).
Im not sure it’s a great idea, she’ll lose the skill of manual driving surely?

any thoughts? I’m tempted to let her do what she wants and get an automatic if it means she’ll get out and drive more

OP posts:
bellac11 · 24/05/2022 19:52

All cars will be automatic soon anyway so theres no 'skill' to lose

I drive an auto, learnt in a manual, took the test in an automatic once Id tried it, would never do anything else once Id tried it

No disadvantage at all

Anonnnnnnm · 24/05/2022 19:53

Yes, manuals will be phased out sooner than you think.

TheSmallAssassin · 24/05/2022 19:54

I agree, electric cars don't have gears, so it's not really a skill I would worry about losing in the long term.

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Driving & parking
Runkle · 24/05/2022 19:56

Let her do it, life's too short and she needs her independence so if this is something that will help then its a no-brainer!

fabricstash · 24/05/2022 19:57

I love my automatic and hope to never drive a manual again

sunnysaturdaydaffs · 24/05/2022 19:58

Deffo ! So much easier

Original poster
Dietingalways · 24/05/2022 20:03

Ah great thanks! A trip in her friends electric car was what made her see how much easier it is. You’ve made me see it in a better light.

OP posts:
MissMaple82 · 24/05/2022 20:05

How on earth did she pass her test! Thos is a terrible idea !

filka · 24/05/2022 20:05

I still drive both, but the automatics have come on in leaps & bounds so I can't see why you would want a manual these days.

Purplehonesty2 · 24/05/2022 20:06

I haven't driven a manual in ages as all our 4x4s are automatic.

It doesn't really phase me as I can't see us ever buying a manual again!

balalake · 24/05/2022 20:23

If you do, it will be difficult to go back to a manual. So probably rules out hire cars on holidays abroad, for example.

DailySheetWasher · 24/05/2022 20:26

It's not difficult to hire an automatic car.

How old is your DD, surely she can make her own decisions?

coconuthead · 24/05/2022 20:56

Auto is fine, but there are still loads of things to consider other than changing gear!

Runkle · 24/05/2022 21:37

It's not difficult to hire an auto at all and she passed in an manual so can hire one of them instead. But won't need to...

enjoyingscience · 24/05/2022 21:43

Like others have said, it’s no great loss as skills go, especially as electrics supersede petrol cars.

I’d be a bit sad she never got to experience the pure joy of changing gear in time with the music. That’s still a source of cheap thrills for me now.

BurbageBrook · 24/05/2022 21:44

Why would it matter? Auto is a great idea

Treecloudtree · 24/05/2022 21:46

I’m much more confident driving an automatic. Being able to pull away from traffic lights immediately, zip out of hairy situations (from other drivers) etc gives me a lot more confidence - and j wouldn’t call myself a nervous driver at all

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 24/05/2022 21:47

filka · 24/05/2022 20:05

I still drive both, but the automatics have come on in leaps & bounds so I can't see why you would want a manual these days.

I’m holding off anything electric or automatic for as long as I can. I actually like doing the driving rather than the car. I don’t even use auto wipers!

catsnore · 24/05/2022 21:53

I passed in a manual but only drove an automatic for several years as my mum has an auto licence only and I was using her car.

Down the line I needed to drive a manual again for work (pool car) and really struggled - I had forgotten how to do gears and it was unsafe! I had to have refresher lessons to relearn. I then bought a manual car to ensure I didn't lose the skill again.

And yes you can hire automatics - but it's often more expensive than a manual.

godmum56 · 24/05/2022 22:02

balalake · 24/05/2022 20:23

If you do, it will be difficult to go back to a manual. So probably rules out hire cars on holidays abroad, for example.

I skip happily from one to the other

CatDogMonkeyPOW · 24/05/2022 22:06

I think in 10-15 years time it will be very rare to have a manual.

Nothappyatwork · 24/05/2022 22:08

I lived abroad and absolutely nobody drives a manual any more. I absolutely love to drive in the automatic for the years that we were abored and came back to the UK and just went straight back to driving a manual as it never happened so you can switch between the two easily.

i’m gonna let DD2 take her driving test in a manual but my plan is to buy her an automatic just so that it’s one less thing for her to concentrate on.

Southlandssue · 24/05/2022 22:23

We are waiting for our first electric car and were just discussing the other day that our 9 year old will unlikely ever drive a manual (or probably even an internal combustion engine).

Once upon a time I would have said it’s a bad idea but not any more.

MrsElf · 24/05/2022 22:54

I think it’s ok as long as she has a manual to practise in regularly - my first crappy car was a manual, i just pottered about in it for a couple of months until it died. Second car was automatic, I loved it, went all over the place, but when after a few months I had to take DH’s manual somewhere, it was quite a shock how much I’d forgotten. After that I made sure to use his at least once a week. Umpteen years later I don’t bother, but it’s important until you’re confident and gears become second nature.

easyday · 24/05/2022 23:11

I prefer a manual but don't see any reason why not have an automatic.