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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:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 17/06/2023 08:01

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.

I think we have a different definition of an emergency.

I can think of life threatening emergencies when I would happily have an unlicensed driver take control of a vehicle to save lives.

But these would be few and far between.

An ‘emergency’ trip to the supermarket or to pick up the kids from school wouldn’t cut it.

flagpie · 17/06/2023 08:17

I think we have a different definition of an emergency.

I imagine the difference is how we would deal with an emergency, not the definition of emergency itself.

I can think of life threatening emergencies when I would happily have an unlicensed driver take control of a vehicle to save lives.

I just can't think of anything where it would be safe or necessary. I don't have the best imagination though.

pilates · 17/06/2023 08:21

Love automatics - would never go back to a manual.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
illiterato · 17/06/2023 08:22

flagpie · 17/06/2023 08:17

I think we have a different definition of an emergency.

I imagine the difference is how we would deal with an emergency, not the definition of emergency itself.

I can think of life threatening emergencies when I would happily have an unlicensed driver take control of a vehicle to save lives.

I just can't think of anything where it would be safe or necessary. I don't have the best imagination though.

Eg zombie apocalypse , axe murderer, etc.

grimmers44 · 17/06/2023 08:31

Driving an automatic is like driving a bumper car. Easy as pie.

StillWantingADog · 17/06/2023 08:36

i’m the same age as you and have driven automatics for the last 8 years or so.
so much easier I can’t fathom why I didn’t switch earlier.

we have an EV now and all EVs are automatic so in the future a very high proportion of cars will be automatic.

CheeseandTrees · 17/06/2023 08:37

I passed in a manual about 15 years ago but always hated driving. I've been driving an automatic for about 10 years and wouldn't switch back. It's so much easier.

NashvilleQueen · 17/06/2023 08:40

Eventually we will all drive automatics so it's not limiting in the way it was. Assuming you're not ever going to need to hire a car then it's fine and way easier.

WhamBamThankU · 17/06/2023 08:46

Driving an automatic is as basic as a bumper car at the fayre pedal wise! I agree that the majority of driving is being alert to what other road users are doing. I personally prefer manual, but it's just different strokes for different folks innit. Good luck OP Smile

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 17/06/2023 08:52

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.

You are not middle aged. You’re a youngster. I’m middle aged.

Automatics are much easier and I have to say I prefer them.

I always hire an automatic (a pp saying you always get an automatic hire car is just wrong) when in a country that drives on the right, because flipping what your arms and head do whilst keeping your feet doing the same thing is just impossible for me. In an automatic it’s just so simple.

Do it!

rampagingrobot · 17/06/2023 08:55

We swapped from a manual gears with manual hand brake to automatic gears with auto handbrake. It's amazing, I don't understand the fetish British people have for driving manual cars. Like it's an important life skill that makes them better than people who can't do a hill start or something.

Not having to worry about clutch control and stalling when learning to drive would make learning so much simpler.

They might be more fun on the open road through the hills or whatever, but how much driving is that compared to being stuck in city traffic, constantly in and out of first and second.

illiterato · 17/06/2023 09:31

rampagingrobot · 17/06/2023 08:55

We swapped from a manual gears with manual hand brake to automatic gears with auto handbrake. It's amazing, I don't understand the fetish British people have for driving manual cars. Like it's an important life skill that makes them better than people who can't do a hill start or something.

Not having to worry about clutch control and stalling when learning to drive would make learning so much simpler.

They might be more fun on the open road through the hills or whatever, but how much driving is that compared to being stuck in city traffic, constantly in and out of first and second.

I think it’s a bit of “I really love driving and understand cars and engineering” thing, which I guess is fair but most people just drive to get from A to B. Personally I’m waiting for the AI overlords to invent teleporting.

I do have it on good authority that reversing a horse box or a trailer is easier with a manual. Not sure why.

Couldyounot · 17/06/2023 09:31

2 pedals, go and stop. Automatics are imo better than manual these days (more gears for a start, mine has 9 for some reason). Absolute game changer. You've got this, OP 👊🏻

mondaytosunday · 17/06/2023 09:33

Most of my kids' friends seemed to be learning in automatics, which surprises me. But most electric cars are automatic so guess that's where we're heading.

starrynight21 · 17/06/2023 09:34

Much easier. All you have to do is steer, go and stop. Good luck !

Pancakeorcrepe · 17/06/2023 09:36

@QueenofKattegat your predicament really speaks to my heart as I’ve been in the same situation and know how limiting it can be. I’m a proud automatic driver, previous to that I just couldn’t drive and didn’t drive. It is sooooo much easier and allows you to focus on the road. Please please please do this, in a few weeks’ time you won’t even remember this was a problem at all. You can do this! You will do this! 🚙🚙🚙🚙

Shopper727 · 17/06/2023 09:50

I’m dyslexic and really couldn’t get to grips with clutch etc so learned in an auto passed text in auto and driven automatics for years no issues plenty people do it. I can get from a to b get to work etc it’s really not a big deal imo
find a good driving instructor with an automatic and good luck op

sherbertyellowteddy · 17/06/2023 10:57

I'm going to start lessons in an automatic. I just can't get to grips with gears and I start to panic need to focus on the road. It's just too much.

Family always say the age old, what if you need to drive a manual in an emergency!! what kind of emergency is this?? I currently don't drive, what am I going to do in an emergency now?? 🤣

illiterato · 17/06/2023 11:17

mondaytosunday · 17/06/2023 09:33

Most of my kids' friends seemed to be learning in automatics, which surprises me. But most electric cars are automatic so guess that's where we're heading.

Yeah- my eldest is 13 and I imagine I’ll just start him off in an automatic and if he wants to retake in a manual later he can. Our family cars are all automatics and as you say, manuals will become increasingly uncommon although it’ll take a while as I think the last new petrol/ diesel cars will be sold in 2030 and most of those will last at least 10 years.

Rockbird · 17/06/2023 11:21

I drove a manual for 20 years before I changed both our cars for autos 10 years ago. Drove a borrowed manual for a week recently and while it was fun, I definitely wouldn't do it full time. Was a shedload of hassle changing gears all the time.

Londre · 17/06/2023 11:42

I passed my test in a manual but now drive an automatic. No way will I ever go back to a manual. I find this rubbish about “what if you need to rent a car/borrow a friend’s car and it’s only manual available” so absurd. I’ve never needed to borrow anyone’s car and I’ve rented a car abroad and there were more automatics available than manuals.

Go for it OP. It beats getting the bus either way!

Smartnugget · 17/06/2023 11:46

And to those bleating on about emergencies and hire cars being manual, I wouldn’t be safe to drive a manual after many years in an auto. I wouldn’t be safe or confident. If I had to go back to manual, I’d need lessons for sure.

Porridgeislife · 17/06/2023 11:55

Definitely get an automatic licence. Our young children are unlikely to ever drive a manual car unless they go out of their way to try one.

Manual transmissions are going to become vanishing rare once the ban on selling ICE cars starts so they’ll be phased out of car hire sooner.

Balloonhearts · 17/06/2023 11:55

I learned manual but passed in an automatic so my licence is auto.

Under no pressure I can drive both, my instructor had one of each and even commented a few times that i was quite good at switching between them, but put an examiner in the car and it was basically a 40 minute panic attack where I stalled, spun the wheels and on one test pulled away in 3rd gear.😳

The examiner said it was a serious fault so had to fail me but that she was quite impressed with my clutch control in managing to pull it off.😆

Auto is not so much easier as it is less stressful. Not as much multitasking. Much more pleasant to drive. I'd not trade my little auto in for a manual, not even if it was the flashiest car going.

illiterato · 18/06/2023 19:32

Smartnugget · 17/06/2023 11:46

And to those bleating on about emergencies and hire cars being manual, I wouldn’t be safe to drive a manual after many years in an auto. I wouldn’t be safe or confident. If I had to go back to manual, I’d need lessons for sure.

Yeah- I do occasionally drive one ( courtesy or hire) but can only do it as I had about 15 years driving manual before switching to auto for the last 15 Even so for the first half hour it’s definitely a bit “ if you can’t find it grind it” and me effing and jeffing as I stall for the 8th time 🤣.