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Original poster

Driving an automatic?

79 replies

QueenofKattegat · 16/06/2023 23:49

I'm 42. I can't drive. I had lessons at 17, 20 and 24 - hated it. Was an absolute nervous wreck. I do have GAD.

Circumstances are such now that I really really need to learn to drive asap. How easy is learning to drive in an auto.....

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 16/06/2023 23:51

DD is learning in an automatic as she felt she couldn’t do gears on top of everything else! Much easier to learn in; only problem was trying to find an instructor for an automatic but now that’s sorted, it’s going well

FortofPud · 16/06/2023 23:51

Much easier if you struggle with clutch and gears. Definitely give a it a go with a couple of lessons and see how you find it.

Happyday78 · 16/06/2023 23:52

QueenofKattegat · 16/06/2023 23:49

I'm 42. I can't drive. I had lessons at 17, 20 and 24 - hated it. Was an absolute nervous wreck. I do have GAD.

Circumstances are such now that I really really need to learn to drive asap. How easy is learning to drive in an auto.....

Definitely much easier than driving a manual one. Go for it.

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Driving & parking
flagpie · 16/06/2023 23:52

Really easy. It has a stop and a go which allows you to concentrate on the rest of the driving. Most cars will be auto in a few years anyway.

LightDrizzle · 16/06/2023 23:54

I know two people who passed their automatic test after several fails in a manual car.

With electric and hybrid cars, more and more cars are automatic now and automatic transmissions are so much better then they used to be in the past. In your shoes I’d definitely try it.

Good luck!

CarpeDiemCarpeDontem · 16/06/2023 23:54

My husband couldn’t do gears at all but passed his auto after a weeks intensive course. Auto is a dream to drive for me, I wouldn’t go back to gears now!

Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 16/06/2023 23:56

I am an EXCELLENT passenger seat driver 😂I know how to do it all, but ffs doing it all, I just fall apart.

I am terrified at the prospect.

If MrKattegat is ever able to drive again then he will only be able to drive an auto so it seems stupid to learn in anything other.

I need to do it, don't I.

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 16/06/2023 23:56

Just need to sell the current car to fund the lessons 😂

OP posts:
NineOfNine · 16/06/2023 23:58

I’ve driven in both manual and automatic cars, and automatics are so much easier.

If you’ve struggled getting to grips with gears then it’s definitely worth giving an automatic a try.

The only downside is that if you pass your driving test in an automatic, then you’ll only be licensed to drive an automatic car, so if you ever want to drive a manual car you’d need to do the driving test again.

Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 16/06/2023 23:59

I'll never drive a manual, I know that for sure!

I am fairly happy with that tbh. I can't see manuals being "the future". So hopefully it won't be an issue going forward.

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:05

Thanks chapettes. I think I will book a trial lesson and see how I go. Stay off the roads in Lancashire for the near future!

OP posts:
ForTheSakeOfThePenguin · 17/06/2023 00:07

I learned in an automatic. It was not that difficult to start driving a manual one once I was a confident driver.

wottf · 17/06/2023 00:07

It's really easy. A family member had to teach me though because the automatic instructors were always fully booked.

I had loads of people try to put me off at the time, what if you want to drive a manual one day. I just knew it wasn't for me and having an automatic only license has never held me back.

Catsmere · 17/06/2023 00:08

I’m 60 and on P plates - never needed to drive till I moved to Outer Nowhere, Queensland. Never had any experience of cars except as a pedestrian who loathed them. It took me a year to get my license because I only had one lesson a week, no-one to go on many practice drives with, and it was a steep learning curve. I learned in an automatic and I can’t imagine having done it in a manual! But I got there and I enjoy driving now, in a much busier place. There’s quite enough to focus on when driving without throwing gear changes and whatnot into the mix, imo!

AngeloMysterioso · 17/06/2023 00:10

It was a piece of piss for me…

DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2023 00:12

Go automatic. I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t. I think the UK is the only place with more manual transmission cars than automatic. If you ever rent a car, it will be automatic.

Good luck!

AngeloMysterioso · 17/06/2023 00:13

Should add- I learned last year at age 37, passed my test 1st time

Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:13

It's such a stupid thing to say, but I know how to drive. I know a lot about cars and motorbikes and engines (obsessed husband). It's just putting all that into getting into a car with an autistic 42 year old with a 40 year old anxiety disorder 😅What a recipe!

I know I will find an auto easy. I am just needing to hear, DO IT YOU STUPID OLD BAG!!!

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2023 00:18

QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:13

It's such a stupid thing to say, but I know how to drive. I know a lot about cars and motorbikes and engines (obsessed husband). It's just putting all that into getting into a car with an autistic 42 year old with a 40 year old anxiety disorder 😅What a recipe!

I know I will find an auto easy. I am just needing to hear, DO IT YOU STUPID OLD BAG!!!

DO IT, YOU INTELLIGENT MIDDKE AGED LADY!

😂

Angrymum22 · 17/06/2023 00:20

DS learned to drive in an automatic. We live rurally and I was more concerned about him driving without the distraction of changing gears. He was fine with it because all the family cars are automatic.
The biggest bonus is that because very few 17yr olds drive auto VW Polos his insurance is half that of a manual.

Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:35

DO IT, YOU INTELLIGENT MIDDKE AGED LADY!

Middle aged? How DARE you? 😅

Ok. I'll ring the guy tomorrow...

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:36

Fucking hell, am I middle aged? Fuck OFF. Right. That's it. I'm going to get another tattoo now. If I can find a 25 year old lad to whisk me away i'm off. Screw the lot of ya.

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2023 00:39

QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:36

Fucking hell, am I middle aged? Fuck OFF. Right. That's it. I'm going to get another tattoo now. If I can find a 25 year old lad to whisk me away i'm off. Screw the lot of ya.

I’m a couple of years older than you and I only got my license in my thirties. In an automatic.

And, yes, I hate to break it to you but we are middle aged. As I recently saw on Pinterest - I now clean while listening to the music I used to drink and dance to.

Catsmere · 17/06/2023 00:51

QueenofKattegat · 17/06/2023 00:36

Fucking hell, am I middle aged? Fuck OFF. Right. That's it. I'm going to get another tattoo now. If I can find a 25 year old lad to whisk me away i'm off. Screw the lot of ya.

Mind your language, you young whippersnapper!

EnthENd · 17/06/2023 01:14

I always say learning to drive is 10% car control and 90% dealing with all the other idiots on the road. But for some people that 10% makes all the difference.

But IMHO, "I really really need to learn to drive asap" - you really really need a plan b. Even if it's an inconvenient or more expensive option. For most people with driving tests the more pressure you're under the more likely you are to fail. Plus just getting a test booking is troublesome these days even if you do learn quickly.

Then get a good instructor - be prepared to change if you need to - and take lessons as often as you can afford.