Driving an automatic for the first time!

[QuestionableMouse]

Picked up a little part time job as essentially a companion/housekeeper to an older lady. She's asked me to take her out in her car and I'm a bit nervous because it's an automatic and I've never driven one before (been driving 15+ years, but always had a manual!)

Any tips, please? It's a Ford Grand Tourneo, if that matters.

(and just because I know someone will ask, yes I'm insured, was added onto the policy as a named driver today!)

Thank you!

I thought this was going to be a thread about how much better automatics are. They are sooo much better OP. It will be fine.

You’ll love it - less to think about than driving an unfamiliar manual car. Just go somewhere familiar for the first drive. And check that reverse doesn’t start to move back slowly on its own.

biggets thing is going back to a manual and forgetting about the clutch.

The trick is to plant your left foot somewhere out of the way and leave it there.

Right foot on the brake, turn on ignition, put the automatic selector into drive, release hand/foot brake then gently touch the accelerator with your right foot

Look: you are moving forward.

Left leg/foot now redundant. Enjoy.

Honestly? They are so easy to drive! your right foot will feel redundant, and you'll find yourself stomping for the non-existent clutch a couple of times, but it s like driving a dodgem car stop/go.

Depending on the model it might have an automatic hand break, that definitely took me a while to stop reaching for it.

I think you'll be fine.

Could you have a trial by yourself before taking the lady out in her car?

Sorry left foot will feel redundant

This. The only part that's weird is not using your left foot at all. Actively put it out of the way up at the side. Someone else gave me that advice too, stops your accidentally hitting the brake when you go for imaginary clutch. Once you get used to that it's ridiculously easy. I still prefer manual but swapping to auto won't be hard at all.

in the past I have, when jumping into an automatic after driving a manual for a long time, occasionally pressed the brake pedal with my left foot (which means a very sudden stop). I think it was because I was so used to pressing pedals with both legs when coming to a halt, force of habit kicked in.

The trick for me was to make sure my left foot was well away from the pedals, rather than hovering near the clutch pedal as it would be when normally driving a manual. That seemed to disengage the habit from my brain.

And be careful of the creep when in gear but not pressing the accelerator pedal. Brilliant for edging along whilst stuck in traffic. But again, if you’re not used to it, it can catch you unawares at other times when your not completely focused.

Yes. Rest that left foot. Right on brake to start car and then depending on hand brake foot on accelerator and go. Bloody easy!

I drove a manual car for 20 years, switched to an automatic 2 years age and love it. It didn't take long at all to get used to driving it and I'd be reluctant to go back to a manual car now!

About 3y ago I drove an automatic VW mini bus during our 2 week holiday.

It's super quick to get used too. I have driven an automatic before for a couple of short journeys but not long journeys like the holiday.

Straight back to manual after 2 weeks too.
No issues with either car.

Took me about 10 minutes to get used to an automatic, it’s amazingly easy. I rest my left leg against the side of the central console because the pressure reminds me not to use it. Foot on brake to start and ease off, car will move forward slowly and you accelerate. No more rolling back on hills, that’s the best bit!

I had a bad experience in an automatic many years ago when I hadn’t realized it would move forward if you took your foot off the brake🤣 I basically bunnyhopped a bit and refused to drive an automatic after that for many years! So daft because automatics are so much easier.

Tuck your left heel back against the seat so that you are not tempted to use that foot.

The only thing that threw me was things like parking on a slight incline - where I'm used to leaving the car in reverse and putting my foot on the clutch to roll forwards or vice versa... it's so instinctive that I had to really concentrate when doing it in an automatic.

Thank you! I've driven all sorts of things, including big vans, but somehow they've all been manuals 😁🤣.

Good tip about keeping my left foot back, will remember that!

Planning a drive around the farm first before venturing onto the roads 🤣

I've recently switched to an automatic and there were 2 things that took a bit of getting used to. One is that you need to use your brakes more as opposed to using engine braking, and the other is that I found overtaking a bit weird at first. In situations where I would normally drop down a gear before overtaking it took me a while to trust that the auto box would change down quickly if needed - but it does! I've got a Skoda which uses the VW DSG gear box which is basically an electronically controlled manual box. There is a manual "override" facility so you can make it change gear if it doesn't do what you think it should, but I fairly quickly came to learn that it made at least as good decisions as me - probably better most of the time, so I just let it do its thing now.

I'll never go back to a manual now.

Just don't forget that unless you have you foot on the break the car wants to move forward.

I love mine. Every time I have to pull out onto a busy road or go around a roundabout that needs you to changes gears I break out into a happy smile.

Funny isn't it, how people assume because you can drive a manual, you'll find an automatic a doddle. And you will, once you have actually learnt to drive it. There are some useful basic guides on YouTube to watch and practice up and down her driveway a few times before you get on the road.

Thanks to FinallyHere for giving actual instructions.

I've been driving for decades, and have driven all sorts of vehicles, but I've never driven an automatic. I've heard lot of people say 'they are easier' and so forth, but interesting to hear what you actually have to do.

I'm a Motability customer & due to the lack of cars around at the moment am looking at a Hyundai Ioniq which is automatic, we all need to get used to automatics because once there are only new electric vehicles if we want a brand new car there won't be any choice.

Two things in addition to tucking your left foot away,

1. I found parking and stopping odd because it wasn't my normal routine.
2. You can't get the key out unless you're in Park. You'll need to put it in Park before you turn the ignition off.

Also you really only need Park and Drive.

Make sure you’re insured :)

many policies have been quietly dropping the “insured to drive other vehicle” clause, so double check..

Did you not read the full OP?

@FinallyHere
Those are the best instructions I've seen in ages for anything! Perfectly described!

It will be fine, just needs a bit more concious thought until you are used to things, like how to do the handbrake and release it . This can differ car to car. I love it on really steep hills where you don't need to worry about changing down when you are losing power . I really like our automatic and seems so much easier than all the changing up and down gears.