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

[Dietingalways]

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

She has a licence - let her drive what she wants!

(Two car household here.. neither are manuals).

I drove a manual for 30 years, bought an auto 15 years ago and would never go back. I had a replacement manual just for a week and soon remembered what to do but others are right - manual cars will eventually be a distant memory. Oh, and as to hiring abroad, driving on the other side of the road is a much bigger challenge!

Definitely she should get an auto.
I've had two now, for five years and would never go back to manual.
Changing gears is just so pointless when you don't have to.

I don't think you can even hire a manual in North America? Buying one is a special order now.

Automatic all the way.

They have automatic cars abroad.

Learnt manual and have driven automatic ever since. Car hire has been automatic when we’ve been in America, Australia etc. Wouldn’t go back.

Yes, do it! I was a terribly nervous driver and basically never drove when we had a manual. I hated it and would feel sick any day I knew I had to drive. We changed to an automatic and after just one drive I already felt 100 times better about driving - I actually found it enjoyable rather than terrifying. Now I'm entirely independent, drive most days, and while I still don't like driving long distances or on motorways, I can do it if I need to.

Manuals seem needlessly complicated, why bother with something that takes more effort and concentration when you're already doing a dangerous task?

Automatic 100%

Go for it, I drove manuals for years, was very snooty about automatics not being proper driving, car controlling you instead of the other way round etc. Switched to an auto three years ago to go hybrid and how wrong was I, I had been talking complete nonsense. Love my auto now. I can still drive manual perfectly well but I did have 30 years of practice.

i always thought automatics were more expensive, more to go wrong

you should be able to go back to manual, just might crunch the gears occasionally

Autos are the future

Couldn’t she get an automatic and drive yours occasionally? (Assuming you have a manual).

I happily switch from one to another but haven’t just passed my test.

if it gives her confidence and freedom that’s all that matters

I have a manual licence but haven't driven a manual car for years. Got used to automatic when living abroad in a country where all cars are automatic, and then just couldn't see why anyone would choose anything else.

Manual cars will be obsolete in a few years anyway, so I wouldn't be worried about her losing the skill.

I'm learning in an automatic as a 40 year old. We have an automatic and will likely only ever have automatics.

I always thought driving was beyond me, so i never plucked up the courage to try until now, i have no desire to ever try a manual!

Why?

I can do these things in a manual - you just need to learn how to use the clutch.

OP as others have said we'll all be moving to automatic eventually so it probably makes sense but she really needs to get her confidence with driving though as nervous drivers are a hazard on the roads wether they're in a manual or an automatic.

Agree with the PP that said about music though - winding backroads were made for manuals & good music!

I passed my test in 2006 and haven't driven a manual since about 2007. I couldn't drive a manual now but that's never been an issue. I do like my automatic car but my DH's electric car is even easier to drive. I rarely if ever touch the brakes on the electric because it brings itself to a stop. That being said, the automatic is still much much easier than manual for me.

My first car was an automatic fiesta many moons ago I was lucky enough to inherit one, so was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! I think it was brilliant and allowed me to concentrate on my road awareness much more in those early days and months. I moved to a manual after 3 or 4 years and all was fine. Modern automatics are sooo much better, so I would say absolutely, she has the licence to drive both so if need be then she could do a refresher lesson at a later date. (For the record I enjoy driving a manual, but modern automatics really are a pleasure to drive too.)

My mum passed in a manual, then got an automatic and now can't drive a manual! She says she wouldn't recommend it to anyone so close to having passed their tests!

Can I derail slightly to ask a question?

How do you reverse slowly in an automatic? I rely on the clutch to do this in my car, and at Xmas I was going to move my BIL hire car but felt I was going to zoom it straight back into the road!!

Yes

@RausageSoul

On my car I put foot on brake to change to reverse then release the brake. It starts moving slowly, no need to use the accelerator in this scenario. Never been a problem 👍

I’d encourage anything that gives her independence