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.

You can downshift in quite a few automatics. Every auto I test drove and the one I own has the ability to knock the gear stick over to the left and then go up and down gears. The Kia I test drive actually had flappy buttons on the steering wheel to do this. So somehow you can change gear but still no clutch. Don’t ask me how it works though because in six years of having the car I’ve never felt the need to do it.

I paid £776 on an auto engine for a 2011 Mercedes in 2022. Didn’t seem excessive to me.

You downshift quickly in an auto by pressing the accelerator to the floor.

My auto Golf is pretty fast and I have no doubt it would move extremely quickly if needed. Our second car is electric and the acceleration is incredibly fast even though it’s a small car, it’s quite unnerving at times how quick it is.

Haha a lot of auto defence here!

If you're happy and you feel safe in your car, right on. But I don't feel comfortable with the way they drive. I like to do the driving myself. I feel safer and more confident that I can avoid a collision when I'm the one responding to the road conditions.

I think that if you feel that changing gears is an extra thing to think about on busy roads, you will feel happier (and more importantly, safer) in an automatic. If you actively enjoy the control having a manual gives you, then get a manual.

As for power/acceleration - DH has an automatic 2ltr engine and it really feels very powerful. I have a petrol 1.5ltr manual in a slightly smaller car, and I think his would probably beat mine from a standing start… but I still prefer mine. I had a diesel 1.6ltr before and my new car definitely has more torque, but that was nothing to do with manual or automatic.

We've just bought an auto and can't believe why we didn't do it sooner. We didn't plan to, but the garage had the exact car we wanted, an ex demo, low mileage, perfect colour, perfect spec, just that it was auto rather than manual. We almost walked away but salesman told us to test drive it and let us have it for the day. So easy to drive, brilliant acceleration without faffing around up the gears. We absolutely love it.

Don't understand the stigma. After all I think all the electric cars are auto, so manuals will all be history in a couple of decades.

I can understand the need for manual when towing a caravan etc., but not to normal driving.

I think I'll take the plunge to automatic in my next upgrade, but can I ask a daft question?

How do you control reversing in an auto? Currently I mostly use clutch but do you use the accelerator?

I don’t know if all autos are like this but mine will move forward or backwards unless you have your foot on the brake (or have set it to “hold” mode).

So you just put it into R, lift your foot off the brake and it moves slowly back. Then you use the accelerator and brake to speed up slow down as necessary.

I own both an auto and manual car and honestly don't have a preference 🤷‍♀️

Is there some kind of stigma associated with driving an automatic?
Yes, it is seen as less skilled. But as all electric cars are automatic more and more people will be driving them.

We had an automatic for about a year. It got written off and needed replacing after that time and went back to manual. I prefer it. It's just makes driving a tad more interesting and I did feel a little silly in the automatic.

I think there used to be a stigma but not anymore

electric cars are ALL automatic and eventually we will all have one so they are the future

i’m your age and made the switch about 8 years ago. Never regretted it for a second. It’s literally a revelation.

I only have an automatic licence. I don’t know why anyone bothers with manual cars.

I did feel a little silly in the automatic.

@DappledThings how so?

Did it have pink flowers painted on the outside and fall apart at every red light?

Did you have an uncontrollable urge to paint your face white and stick on a red nose every time you drove it?

No, and I am aware it is entirely my own issue. I felt de-skilled. I have entirely internalised the stigma that says automatics are for people who aren't capable of driving a manual.

I know that isn't true and don't apply that to anyone else. I still personally felt a little silly. "Little" being the operative word.

My son is 20 and more than half his classmates at the time got an automatic license, so no stigma from the youth! And I only know one of my friends who still drives a manual (I do too).
You're the one driving, pick what you want.

We have one of each. I’d never buy a manual again.

(some) mn posters can turn any subject into an argument instead of just accepting different people have different preferences 😂

FWIW, I like both. Some drives I do I love feeling the connection to the car and the involvement of a manual. Some drives, I just want to get from a to b as easily as possible and automatics are great for that.

I agree that I think probably all future cars will end up being automatic sooner or later.

100% automatic. Modern ones are great, you barely know it's even changing gear.

People bang on about engine braking and stuff, but my car has actual brakes if I want to slow it down. And you can force an automatic to stay in a gear if you want. Mine I can manually change gears if I want to, I did it like once when I bought the car and never since.

There's some weird British thing being snooby about them. Like having to manually change gear is somehow morally superior.

Maybe also suggest to these people they remove their starter motor and hand crank their engine to start it....!

I own manual but often drive rental cars for work and more often than not am given an auto. I much prefer the auto. Sitting in traffic creeping forward in first gear with my clutch foot cramping up is just not my idea of a good time.

I've been driving long enough that if I ever switched to auto permanently I wouldn't have any issues switching back to manual if needed, I do think it's useful to be able to drive both, but certainly not the end of the world if you can't or don't want to.

Automatic will probably be more expensive and you'll have less choice.

This isn't necessarily true any more. I'm looking at buying a Mini and the availability of autos and manual is about the same, and price also.
I've had an automatic Micra for 15 years...it's 17 years old now and I've never had a thing wrong with it. Certainly not the gearbox. I've replaced wiper blades and a couple of batteries and that's it.

I also think all vehicles should be automatic

I think people should be allowed to make their own choice.

I’m a driving instructor and car addict so have three cars (yep, bit silly but one is purely work). Two manuals and an auto. I really like both, the manuals are more immediate unless I stick the auto in sport mode where it reacts like a scalded cat. The auto is fab in heavy traffic and when you just want a lazy drive.

Depends how much of a purist you are really. There’s no stigma. EVs are all auto so it’s the way things are going.

Personally I’d go by car quality, a better make of manual will be nicer to drive than a worse make of auto. I’ve test driven the odd auto where the gear ratios aren’t great and a manual is far preferable to one of those. My BMW auto drives beautifully though.

I have driven all cars manual previously (apart from when on holiday/working) but got my first automatic recently.

It is great to use and very low hassle. But I am worried about the cost if the (very) complex gearbox goes wrong.