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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:
GiantKitten · 17/06/2023 02:24

I’ve been enjoying driving manuals since 1972 but our latest car is an auto petrol hybrid and I LOVE IT!!!
Definitely learn auto, they are so common now, and so pleasant to drive with all the fiddly bits removed 🙂

Catsmere · 17/06/2023 04:18

Seconding about getting a good instructor! Mine was great, he made lessons very pleasant.

clipclop5 · 17/06/2023 04:32

DD has just started learning automatic (just didn’t like the idea of gears + nervous) and she is really enjoying it. She had no previous driving experience but 10 lessons down and she’s progressed massively, now well into manoeuvres and on to test route practice! She only started in mid May and test is booked for mid August.

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HeckinBamboozled · 17/06/2023 04:38

I'm going to second getting a good instructor. You need someone who is patient that isn't going to get annoyed at your anxiety.

Caspianberg · 17/06/2023 05:41

I learnt and past manual. But we have now moved on to an Electric car. All electric cars are Automatic by default. Seeing as most car manufacturers are now mainly focusing on electric, in the near future I think there won’t even by manual driving tests.
Do an Automatic test. Then get an electric car

Lcb123 · 17/06/2023 05:47

Definitely try it-all electric and most hybrid cars are automatic anyway so I’d expect more people will only get automatic licences in the future

Framilode · 17/06/2023 06:12

I was very much like you and couldn't cope with everything at once in a manual car. I then learnt in an automatic and passed first time.
After a couple of years I was offered a company car and so had to re-learn in a manual. It was so much easier and again I passed first time.
This was some time ago and there are so many automatics now that you probably could just carry on with an auto and not bother about manuals.
Good luck.

tracylamont13 · 17/06/2023 06:20

I passed in an automatic. Hated a manual and couldn't get to grips with it. It's a world of difference. Good luck.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 17/06/2023 06:30

I drive an automatic after driving manuals for over 20 years. Far too long. Love my automatic it’s so easy to drive. I don’t even have the gear lever in the middle console, it’s behind my steering wheel.
Its literally two pedals, stop and go!

BCBird · 17/06/2023 06:36

I have a small manual.car and have been driving nearli 30 years. My ex had a big automatic car and once on holiday I had to drive it. OMG,what a dream- soooooo easy. If I could afford a Range Rover I would,felt like sitting on a comfortable settee. Do it OP.

Oblomov23 · 17/06/2023 06:44

I disagree. I think the skill of driving is huge, and there is so much to it, do many things you need to do at the same time, so much awareness needed. That changing gear is only 1 tiny aspect of it.

Rollinghill · 17/06/2023 06:50

Learnt automatic as a teenager
Much easier. Just do it 💪

MinnieEgg · 17/06/2023 07:19

My dd is going to learn in an automatic as we only have automatic cars. Some of our friends are completely horrified. Shock

'what is she wants to hire a car?'
'What if there is an emergency and she needs to drive a manual?'

She won't be able to. That's what.
Or she could get manual lessons later on and pass the test.

MiniMaxi · 17/06/2023 07:22

Agree, do it. I learned at 35 - tried two lessons in a manual which drove me to despair (pun not intended!) - switched to auto and it was so much easier. All the EVs are auto anyway so manuals will phase out over time. The only mild downside I’ve found is that second hand autos are more exp than second hand manuals.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 17/06/2023 07:24

If it’s the gears and clutch you are struggling with or think that not having to concentrate on them will make a difference then why not give it a go. I do have a manual licence (been driving 30 years) but I’ve had an automatic for 3 years now and it is amazing, it’s like driving a go kart. It’s not really “proper driving” like driving a manual is but who cares. You can get a good selection of automatics these days and the gearboxes are much better than of old.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 17/06/2023 07:26

MinnieEgg · 17/06/2023 07:19

My dd is going to learn in an automatic as we only have automatic cars. Some of our friends are completely horrified. Shock

'what is she wants to hire a car?'
'What if there is an emergency and she needs to drive a manual?'

She won't be able to. That's what.
Or she could get manual lessons later on and pass the test.

I can drive manual but in 30 years of driving I’ve never had to use someone else’s car in an emergency. As for hiring I’m sure places have autos for hire as well. In the US it’s all autos surely!

Smartnugget · 17/06/2023 07:30

I passed in a manual. Had a manual car for about a year, traded it in for an auto and have driven auto ever since. 30 odd years. Much easier to drive. I’m another who doesn’t understand the fixation on a manual car.

Netcam · 17/06/2023 07:34

GiantKitten · 17/06/2023 02:24

I’ve been enjoying driving manuals since 1972 but our latest car is an auto petrol hybrid and I LOVE IT!!!
Definitely learn auto, they are so common now, and so pleasant to drive with all the fiddly bits removed 🙂

Same for me, manual since the early 90s. Got first auto mild hybrid last year and I won't go back to gears. I'm 53.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2023 07:35

MinnieEgg · 17/06/2023 07:19

My dd is going to learn in an automatic as we only have automatic cars. Some of our friends are completely horrified. Shock

'what is she wants to hire a car?'
'What if there is an emergency and she needs to drive a manual?'

She won't be able to. That's what.
Or she could get manual lessons later on and pass the test.

Outside of the UK, the default hire car is automatic. Manuals are very, very rare.

In an emergency, you can drive a manual, struggle with clutch control and repair the gear box afterwards.

Some people just don’t like the idea of anything being easier for other people than it was for themselves back in the dark ages.

Ylvamoon · 17/06/2023 07:39

I have an automatic, after 20 odd years of driving a manual.

I bought it for commuting as I worked literally at the opposite end of town.
With all the traffic lights, zebra crossings and road hogs I was getting fed up with changing gears from 0-3 every 5 minutes!
It's a dream to drive an automatic in heavy traffic!

flagpie · 17/06/2023 07:42

In an emergency, you can drive a manual, struggle with clutch control and repair the gear box afterwards.

Not really. Unlicensed and uninsured? What kind of emergency would ever call for a non driver to drive a car? None. Just like an auto only license holder won't need to drive a manual in an emergency. You deal with emergencies in the same way a non license holder would.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 17/06/2023 07:45

You can do it. Dd2 learned in an automatic. Made all the difference to her confidence.

MinnieEgg · 17/06/2023 07:45

Yes, I think people don't like the idea of it being easier.

I've lived overseas and that's how we ended up in automatics ourselves in the first place as when we came back we didn't want to go back to manual. When friends come to visit they always hire automatics and nobody has ever mentioned them being difficult to get hold of.

Our nearest roundabout is on a hill and it's on the test route! My oldest learn during covid in a manual as there was such a shortage of instructors but she might never drive one.

MinnieEgg · 17/06/2023 07:51

You deal with emergencies in the same way a non license holder would.
Exactly, that's what I said.

About three people have mentioned it though. Like we are doing her a disservice or that she lives in a Miss Marple novel where she's going to be stranded at night as a passenger next to a driver slumped over the wheel with a poison dart in his neck.

illiterato · 17/06/2023 07:53

I way prefer automatics and agree with the consensus that the OP should just get an automatic license as it is way easier and the gear changes are a big “learning hump”.

The only thing I’d disagree with is the hire car thing- in many European countries manual is the default and there tends to be a premium for an automatic- so you can get one but it might be more expensive or they have fewer so can’t leave to the last minute. Same in UK. But really it’s not a huge barrier.

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