Have you switched from a manual car to an automatic? Do you like it?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Asking because I drive a large, heavy clutch, quite old manual estate car. It's hard on my knees and ankles. The clutch doesn't engage until almost fully up and it's a big clunky car, quite difficult to park.

I have a new job which requires me to drive the company car. It's an automatic Golf, only a couple of years old. It's like a whole new driving experience! Although I have some experience of driving automatics on holiday, every car I've owned in the UK has been manual. So it's taken some adapting. It feels like if I literally brush my foot over the brake pedal we go into an emergency stop! I can't seem to set off smoothly either - lots of kangaroo jumps - the car speeds away from me as if I have no control and I'm terrified of smashing into cars parked just infront of me as I set off.

But once on the road and cruising around - it's lovely! I'm always driving in a slow urban environment so constantly stopping and starting and not having to go up and down through the gears all the time is something I could get used to.

Remind me again - what are the disadvantages of automatic cars?

I had to switch from manual to automatic following a severe leg break and subsequent surgeries which meant I no longer had the range of movement for a clutch. I hated it at first as didn’t feel in control somehow especially when setting off (poss worsened by a 6m break from any driving) but once I got used to it so loved it (which is a good job as won’t ever be able to drive a manual again!!)

OP are you trying to brake with your left foot and accelerate with your right? Just use your right for both as you normally would

It took me a couple of journeys to figure that out

Would never go back to manual now

I drive a Mini which is automatic it’s fab. I wouldn’t go back to a manual

I did. In 1992, if I remember correctly.

Yes, I like driving an auto.

I resisted getting an auto for 30 years until my left knee could no longer handle using a clutch in heavy traffic. I got one with the VW DSG gearbox and it's fantastic. I'll never go back to a manual now. If you still want to "stir your own porridge" you can use the paddles and take total control of what gear you are in at any time.
If you want to just drop down into a low gear to blast past someone then just floor it, it'll instantly kick down into the lowest available gear and give you the best performance.

I miss driving manual as I really enjoyed driving! My automatic is fine but boring. Hill starts are great. Not sure why you're jumping? You need to use your right foot for brake and accelerator, deffl not a left for break as there isn't a clutch. I think that's where you've gone wrong!

See I loved that.

When you find that biting point when you need to go uphill? And when the noise of the engine changes and you have to listen to it and change gears?
God I miss that.

I love my automatic BMW. It has flappy paddles on the steering wheel so if you wish, you can put it into sport mode and use those to change gear rather than leaving it to the car’s computer. Best of both worlds.

Remind me again - what are the disadvantages of automatic cars?
With modern cars, there aren’t any except for the fact that the gearboxes are very complex & sophisticated, so they are an expensive optional extra on most mainstream cars. Back in the day, automatics had only 3 or 4 gears so they were lazy & unresponsive to drive. They were also much less efficient & therefore thirstier than manuals.

Our automatic is easy to drive but all the passengers feel sick.

It's because it is harder to accelerate and brake gently in the automatic. You have less control.

I drove manuals for 30 years and then got an automatic 2 years ago, oh good lord the ease of driving it! Never going back

I had a really fun, powerful little mini. It was a pleasure to drive - except that arthritis meant it was difficult to engage reverse.
I swapped to an automatic car, thought I would never get used to it but after a few weeks I would never go back to manual. Hate driving DHs car.

I have an automatic only licence so I would have an auto and DH a manual. Due to a change of circumstances, we got a 2nd auto to replace his manual.

He seems ok, but, moreso at first, his left leg would twitch a lot, especially if he suddenly needed to brake.

As a pp said I just say it's like driving a bumper car Go Kart.

I’ve got both. As a driving instructor my learner car is manual, and my other car is auto. I really like both to be honest and would be hard pushed to choose. I like the control and the ‘proper drive’ of the manual, but the auto is easy - don’t have any problems getting it up to speed if needed as has sports mode which makes it into a bit of a beast.

I do reckon soon people will all make the move to auto, and I’ll feel a bit sad, it’s a skill loss isn’t it? But guess I love cars and driving so that’s probably not the majority view.

Erm ... no. I am not using my left foot at all, I'm not stupid. The brake and accelerator are so sensitive. If I put my foot on the accelerator, however, gently, the car just charges off. There's a lack of control - as others have mentioned on the thread.

I have had two hybrids now and they were both automatic. I would never go back to a manual car.

I'm another one that was told 'once you drive an automatic you'll never go back to manual' and was very dubious about it.

But...I love my automatic. Even though it's one of MN's Most Hated Cars 😁

I switched to automatic when I moved to the US 30+ years ago and have always loved it.

I had to drive a manual up a very large hill in Ireland this summer and that was something I don’t miss!!

You can do that with the kickdown!

@LindorDoubleChoc I have driven loads of cars, vans and minibuses and IMO there is no advantage to a manual gearbox. I switched years ago and wouldn't go back. The driver workload is so much less.

I don't understand how you can kangaroo jump in an auto unless it's faulty. It could be one of those auto gearboxes that has a flat spot in low gear, and you're putting your foot down hard when you shouldn't. But all auto gearboxes are different and you get used to controlling them correctly.

My dad told me never to get an automatic because they make you a lazy driver... hell yes!!

Got an automatic Mitsubishi Shogun and it was a game changer. So, so easy to drive - actually made driving enjoyable again. I loved it,

Unfortunately, I now have a manual car. The switch back was ok but, I still crave another automatic.

My last 4 cars have been auto.

3 out of 4 had manual mode and/or flappy paddle gears on the steering wheel. Useful for hills if you do want to change but by car 3 I stopped being arsed 😂

now mine is fully electric so no gears at all!!

We have the newest Golf in the eTSI version & I just don’t recognise this at all. It’s a pleasant car to drive but not at all sensitive.

Our other car is a full EV & that is definitely sensitive. Absolute pleasure to drive and I feel safer in a car that can accelerate as quickly as ours does. I don’t miss manual driving at all.

Manual all the way! I drove an automatic hire car in Canada for two weeks and hated it.

I've got a new hybrid car and am not completely sold on automatic - I do miss manual (I'd been driving them for over 30 years!) I'm not used to this car yet so there is quite a lot of lurching forward slightly as I have to learn how the car reacts.

I don't know why anyone drives a manual. Why make life harder than it already is?!

I didn't find a manual hard at all so why wouldn't I drive one?

There are no disadvantages

I live near one of the new 20 mph zones. All my friends who have manual cars hate it with a passion (screaming in second, juddering in third).

No problem in my 9 gear auto!