Cars - Automatic vs Manual

[RJ2023]

I am 44 years old and after a few years out I really want to start driving again. I can finally afford to buy (an okay) used car and am really, really excited about the freedom it will give me.

I am getting my eyes tested next week to check I am still legal on the numberplate test etc. I am going to arrange some refresher lessons with a driving instructor.

I want to buy an automatic (although I can drive a manual) but it is just for convenience.

My Mum and Dad, sister etc. are insisting I have to buy/drive a manual and keep sending me links to used cars on that basis. I keep telling them my preference but it is ignored.

Is there some kind of stigma associated with driving an automatic?

The roads are a lot busier and (in my opinion) more aggressive these days and the thought of not having to worry about gear changes really appeals to me.

Just wanted an opinion on this - thanks.

I have both and swap between them with no worries, oldest automatic is not far off 20 years old and still works like a dream.

Buy the car you want.

Atomatic. I haven't owned a manual since the 80s and have only driven one since when it's been a courtesy car from the garagre.

We always had manuals. Then we rented an automatic. Never going back. We still have one manual out of sentiment but I'd never buy another.

I’ve had autos for the last 12 years. I drive a selection of manual fleet vehicles at work and can swap between auto and manual no problem. Most cars that fit my size/spec requirements are auto nowadays (reasonably premium spec estate car), and as vehicles more more to either full electric or PHEV auto will become even more common.

At the end of the day it’s you driving it so get what suits you. If they want to dictate it they can buy it, tax it and insure it for you.

Great decision. I had only driven manual, have no issue with confidence and have been driving 15 years… then DH got an electric car and I’m counting down the days until I can trade in my manual and upgrade to an automatic. I was a convert from the first drive!

I drove a small manual in London for several years and was fine with it, but now, having driven an automatic, I much prefer it (and have a left ankle injury so not having to use the clutch is a godsend). I had automatic Twingo for years and very little went wrong with it, until the gearbox died when it was 17 and it wasn't worth replacing it. We also had a Volvo where the gearbox died at a much younger age and the cost of the replacement was more than the value of the car.

The other downside was that we live half way up a mountain and the gear on the Twingo would constantly change between second and third on steep/windy bits - I wouldn't have changed that much in a manual. So the advice about trying one on the roads you'll drive is good.

I have an electric car now which is effectively automatic without the gear changes, and I love how smooth it is.

Love our hybrid automatic. Switched to an auto 10 years ago, haven't regretted it. And made sure my new to me car last year was also an auto.

The supposed negatives here about control, less fuel efficient, response too slow etc are all outdated. Especially if it's an electric car.

I'm afraid they're not outdated. You simply will not get the same level of acceleration in a car that won't let you redline.

For me, that ability was the difference between being crushed between the central reservation and a lorry, and what actually happened, which is that I managed to downshift significantly and make it through the gap.

Well, eventually all cars on the market will be electric. All electric cars are automatic. So the future is definitely automatic.

I have an automatic only licence and managed absolutely fine

You do realise you're not meant to be using your left foot at ALL, don't you? There's a reason there is a footrest there. So that you don't inadvertently go to drop the clutch out of habit and end up slamming the brake on.
Your right foot does what it's ALWAYS DONE!

How on earth is it "quicker to zip out of a potentially dangerous situation in a manual"
This is such utter nonsense

100% Automatic, they're much easier to drive, they give you a lot more thinking time and take worry out of changing gear, no stalling ect.
I would not drive anything else. X

100% automatic. Easy to drive and no need to worry about changing gears. I have been driving automatic since 2011 and love it

Yes there is a stigma associated with driving an automatic.

It's based on the myth that you're never in control of a car if it's an automatic, which is complete tosh.

Get out there and buy the automatic and enjoy years of safe driving. Automatics are far safer for driving in modern congested driving conditions. Manual shift was fine back when there were millions fewer cars on the roads.

You've never in your life downshifted to increase acceleration? How odd.

YYY to 'Clarkson types' boring on about manual shift/ 'proper driving'.

Like it's a mark of true masculinity or some such nonsense.

I personally never had to because my big automatic SUV never had any trouble with acceleration.

I learned to drive in a manual. I prefer an automatic hands down, especially for driving in built up areas, but I've never had any problem out on the open road.

You've never in your life downshifted to increase acceleration? How odd.

You clearly never managed to activate the kickdown in the automatic, you push the pedal right down to the floor and it instantly downshifts and gives you full power.

In an electric the torque is instant and there's absolutely no way you could accelerate any quicker with a manual.

Automatics are brilliant. So much easier to drive, less to think about... I can't imagine why anyone chooses manual. Why give yourself more to do?

Automatic all the way. I'm not sure why UK has this obsession with manual cars. Everywhere else I go automatic is the default.

@Appleblum Same here! Automatics are the norm in most countries. I don’t know why the UK is so resistant to them.

My electric automatic far quicker at moving quickly by just pushing my foot down, compared to my last manual car which was a crappy little thing and couldn’t ever speed up on hills.

You just put your foot down without gears and it will allow you to overtake.

I have a manual license. I won’t hire manual now unless they don’t have automatic. Last time I ended up with Manual I then spent 3hrs in a traffic jam on motorway after an accident up ahead and it was very tedious changing gear constantly. In automatic I could have just rolled along at 5-20miles easily

My auto can theoretically do 0-60 in something like 6s and you can paddle shift to your hearts content if you fancy a different gear momentarily. It all depends on the car. It’s going to accelerate out of problems faster than somoeone’s 115bhp 1.4l diesel hatchback regardless of what gearbox they have, so if that’s your main concern just get a more powerful car with your choice of gearbox no? Auto kick down will also usually downshift if you press the pedal through. You can definitely redline an auto. I drive on the motorway a lot and on a test drive I always try the jump from 60-85 (not because I cruise at 85 before anyone starts) because that’s a useful real life acceleration to get into a small gap in lane 3 if you had to because an idiot in lane 1 hasn’t checked their mirrors. I’ve not had an auto yet that won’t do it very quickly, and should the need arise in my current car I’m sure it would manage just fine.

@NoOrdinaryMorning love that song.

You've misunderstood. My left foot gives me the spatial awareness when it's on the clutch of where the brake and accelerator are. When it's basically flopping in the corner on the foot rest completely useless and I've had cruise control on, I'm worried I'll press the wrong one. They're unusually close to each other on the car I now have. This hasn't been a problem before.

@YouDidntEvenAskIfSheWasThereMoriarty I get what you're saying about redline but I haven't found it to be true. My car is just begging to "go" at all times and when it does, it's literally amazing. I'm actually a slow driver (accelerate to speed limit quickly and then tootle but generally sit behind a lorry) in a manual but in this I am speedy Gonzales. The other day I accelerated at a roundabout and got thrown back so much I laughed my head off and must have looked like a complete psycho. It's going to be a problem giving 17 year olds these electric cars. I'm certain if I'd had one, I'd be dead.