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've had a few different automatics over the years and I get the kangaroo jump thing, worst car I drove for that was a Peugeot 108, it was very jumpy and didn't have as much creep as other autos I've driven.

I wouldn't go back to a manual now and every new car I look at is automatic plus all the new electric cars will be auto so eventually the choice will be taken from us.

I can drive both and have always driven both. I prefer the auto specially driving in london traffic. I don’t see any downsides to it.

my oh didn’t want to get the auto but I made him as I got sick of changing gears all the time and I do most of the driving. he likes it now, though will never admit he prefers it and goes on about control etc

im not sure what the U.K. in general has against autos. We recently bought a new used auto and it is harder to find than manuals. So many people go on about control and liking proper driving etc. I wouldn’t even tell my kids to learn manual if they stay living in the U.K. autos make much more sense here with all the small roads, and stop start traffic everywhere.

I was kind of forced into driving an automatic when DH got one as a company car. I love it now, I'd never go back to manual. You get used to it very quickly.

That's hardly the same thing is it? 😂😂

I’m sticking to a manual until my final dc has passed her test. Feel a bit lacking in control like the OP when I drive a manual, but just because I’m not used to it.

I sold my manual earlier this year and bought an automatic. Best thing I’ve ever done. I was worried I would forget and somehow slam my foot on the break thinking it was the clutch but that never happened. I never had any issues whatsoever, your left foot just sits there and your right does all the work. Automatics are soooo much easier and I’d never go back to manual now, unless I had too.

For a lot of other people having gears makes them feel like they have more control over the car.
I'm a very confident driver, and driving a manual makes me feel like I have a lot more control than driving an automatic. My husband has a fairly new BMW estate, the automatic gear box is probably the smoothest and most responsive that I've ever driven but I still feel more in control in my manual SUV. Don't get me wrong automatics are less effort, but I find manuals keep me more alert as a driver.
I also just really enjoy the physical action of dropping down a gear and giving it some welly. 🏎️

Hate them. Had a posh new Volvo estate as a courtesy car for a month and we did not gel. I've got a 4x4 manual and far prefer it!

I love it. Every automatic car I’ve had also has an option to manually select gears should you need to.

I’ve had automatics for over a decade and haven’t had any issue going back to driving manuals either.

Plus, sports mode 😎

I resisted for years. But now I would never drive manual. I adore my automatic. Especially as I live in Wales and our speed limits are so ridiculous, changing from 60, 40, 20, 40, 20, 60, 20 and so forth constantly. The thought of having to mess with gears and clutch would give me more road rage than I already have with the new bonkers rules.
But I digress.

I much prefer an automatic now.

I have a manual and an EV and the EV is just a joy. E-pedal is amazing, true go cart driving. It also has traffic mode with the adaptive cruise control.

The EV isn’t an auto. It only has one gear.

Ah, yes I really hate that feeling 😂 I never, ever put my foot down unless I need to pull away quicker than I expected. I hate feeling the car pull away fast and the noise of a revving engine. I like to drive as smoothly as possible and as slow as the traffic and conditions allow (obvs to the limit if it's safe). If I'm on a motorway (which is very rare) I prefer to sit in the slow lane the majority of the time and just overtake when I have to - 65mph is about my limit, I feel very anxious going over that.

I grew up somewhere I didn't need a car and only learned in my 30s, so it doesn't come naturally. The only time I really like driving is a clear summer's day, 30/40mph road with nothing ahead or behind me.

Peugeot, MG and others disagree

https://www.peugeot.co.uk/about-us/brand/news-articles/are-all-peugeot-electric-cars-automatic.html

https://www.mg.co.uk/electric-life/are-all-electric-cars-automatic

That depends what you mean by 'automatic'.
Yes, the majority of electric cars are automatic. This is because EVs are powered by an electric motor, which means the speed and power of an electric car remains constant, so it does not require a change of gears.

There are no gears to change so they're not 'automatics' in the sense of having an automatic gear changing system. But by the same token they're certainly not 'manual'. From the drivers perspective they're more like an 'automatic', in terms of the mechanics and electronics they're simply a different beast.

Had an automatic that was ok I suppose but I didn't like the sensation when it couldn't quite decide what gear to be in. Or at traffic lights you had to have your foot on the break to prevent creep. It felt like you were fighting agai at it.

Anyone remember that footage of that security van in SA coming under ambush a couple of years back? The driver was awesome - got him and his passenger out of a very tricky situation. The Americans on YouTube loved it up because they're not so familiar with "Stick shift" boxes.

EVs though - now they really are like a go kart!

Or at traffic lights you had to have your foot on the break to prevent creep. It felt like you were fighting agai at it.

Ours have a 'hold' button. I've no idea why holding once you've completely stopped and taken your foot off the accelerator isn't the default, maybe someone can explain it?!

I've driven an automatic for work. I hate it. Give me a manual any day. I like to be in control.

Yes, and would never go back!

I was very reluctant (better the devil you know etc) and posted on here at the time, about 12 years ago. Everyone told me not to be ridiculous, not to worry and they were right.

the only downside has been having a son of learning to drive age who chose to learn in a manual and then has no car to practice with.

@babyproblems

Yes, I know it's nothing to do with the car being automatic. I don't have no idea whether the car that hit me was automatic or not.

I meant that in lots of more technologically advanced cars many things that used to have to be done by the driver are now done automatically by the car. Not just changing gear. Automatic lights and wipers were the other examples I gave.

I think there is a risk that the more functions are automated, the less some drivers will concentrate because they will assume that the car will just do it all. That's a dangerous assumption to make as my experience shows.

Yes and hate it. The sooner I can trade it in for a manual the better!

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

For the sheer driving pleasure. Autos are great in crawling traffic and DCTs especially have their place on track, but for a spirited cross country drive nothing beats a manual. It’s fantastic nailing a bit of heel-and-toe whilst double declutching at the same time. Taking a car by the scruff of the neck and kicking the shit out of it just feels so right in a manual.

Who told Jeremy Clarkson about Mumsnet?

Who told Jeremy Clarkson about Mumsnet?

Lol! It’s all true though! It’s just the same as people enjoying listening to vinyl. It’s a thrill to use something mechanical and enjoy the skill in getting it just right. I’d love to see most 18 year olds try to drive something with a non synchro gearbox enthusiastically.

I’ve always driven an automatic, never felt I wasn’t in control or am ‘lazy’ it gets me from a to b and I have a lovely little auto mini it’s fab 😊 am dyslexic so I struggled in a manual auto meant I can drive to work (nurse) and do my job - I travel round for work so needed to drive 😊