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Original poster

Have you bought an automatic car after driving a manual?

130 replies

MyCatTibby · 07/03/2025 21:58

Can you tell me you experience of driving an automatic car after driving a manual car? I’ve driven a manual for 32 years and am thinking of buying an automatic. I’ve no qualms at all driving an automatic but I’ve only literally driven one a couple of times. I’ll be buying it on PCP over 4 years and I’m probably being silly but I’m worried I’ll be rusty after four years if I go back to manual then.

OP posts:
discov · 07/03/2025 22:03

I love my automatic. I would never ever go back to driving a manual now, and my DH agrees. I drove manual for 10 years and was so worried about getting used to an auto but it's amazing and I got used to it straight away. They are piss easy to drive and the thought of changing gears sounds like so much effort now.

deademptyduck · 07/03/2025 22:04

I would never go back to a manual car now after swapping to automatic. I've no doubt I'd soon adapt to one though if I had no choice. Like riding a bike!

Monvelo · 07/03/2025 22:06

I have had an automatic for 4yrs but have no problem driving mil's manual car or a manual hire car.

TheMorels · 07/03/2025 22:07

My husband has an automatic and I have a manual, I switch between the two several times a week.

We spend a few weeks a year in the US, where we drive automatics. I have absolutely no problem then switching back to a manual when I come home - it’s as instinctive as driving full stop, or riding a bike.

CrotchetyQuaver · 07/03/2025 22:07

It's fine, a bit like learning to ride a bike - you don't forget. My main car is auto but I regularly drive a couple of manual vehicles as well. It's honestly not a problem. You might not even want to go back to a manual, it's so nice driving my auto (which I'd probably never have chosen myself - it was my dads car which I took on when he died)

Firenzeflower · 07/03/2025 22:07

Automatic is so ridiculously easy to drive. You’ll have no issues.

VeryQuaintIrene · 07/03/2025 22:07

It's dead easy - not sure I could comfortably drive a manual after all these years of having an automatic (standard in the US).

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 07/03/2025 22:08

I lived in America for a while and drove an automatic over there. Didn't really have a problem switching back. (You've still got to move it out of park and into drive, so it's not completely different). Couple of weeks back and I didn't have to think about it.
Funnily enough I'm driving an automatic again, and I keep wanting to change down at roundabouts. Haven't actually done anything stupid yet. It's just that I move my hand over and then move it back to the steering wheel again.

xyz111 · 07/03/2025 22:08

I got my first automatic in August last year. Would never go back to manual now. Although I'm sure it would be like riding a bike if I had to drive a manual.

RedRosie · 07/03/2025 22:08

We have both in the family and it's easy to switch between the two. Don't worry!

YourHappyJadeEagle · 07/03/2025 22:09

I’ve switched from manual to automatic over the years. Left and right hand drive too, never had a problem.

BobbleHatsRule · 07/03/2025 22:10

I drive both. I was manual for years then two automatics and now one of each. I struggle with windscreen wipers, fog lights etc but gears just happen without thinking

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 07/03/2025 22:10

I bought an automatic after 20 years of a manual, as I needed a car quick as mine had been written off and I had just started a new job and they had one available in the showroom.

Never again! Higher MPG, less control over acceleration and in poor weather, no engine braking and more wear on the brakes.

My pcp deal is up in the summer, and I'll be paying it off, shifting it on and going back to a manual asap.

Wendolino · 07/03/2025 22:10

I love my automatic but occasionally I drive a manual belonging to family and have no trouble switching between the two.

CuriousGeorge80 · 07/03/2025 22:11

I drove manuals for 20 years before moving to automatics. It's a n easy change and I wouldn't go back now but can still drive a manual when I need to (occasionally drive my mums car for example). It's no problem. Funniest thing was getting used to doing nothing with your left foot, went to use the clutch all the time coming up to traffic lights etc. for a week or so 😂

fruitbrewhaha · 07/03/2025 22:11

So much easier to drive an automatic. Driving a car with gears no feels like an effort, all that leg effort.

AuntieBsBramble · 07/03/2025 22:15

I've been really surprised that after driving automatic for over 10 years I have gone back to manual with absolutely no issues.. well almost none. We have both an auto and a manual at the moment and I do sometimes have to remind myself which one I'm in when I start but the driving is fine.

DeathStarCanteenGal · 07/03/2025 22:15

Swapped from manual to automatic nearly a couple of years ago now when I got an EV and I genuinely love it.
Current car is so easy to drive, it's literally just choose if you're going forwards or backwards, steering and a brake and accelerator. an absolute doddle

Expletive · 07/03/2025 22:16

I switched automatic in 1990 I think (it was H reg) and have no problems driving a manual if I really have to.

Original poster
MyCatTibby · 07/03/2025 22:17

CuriousGeorge80 · 07/03/2025 22:11

I drove manuals for 20 years before moving to automatics. It's a n easy change and I wouldn't go back now but can still drive a manual when I need to (occasionally drive my mums car for example). It's no problem. Funniest thing was getting used to doing nothing with your left foot, went to use the clutch all the time coming up to traffic lights etc. for a week or so 😂

Ha ha this was my worry, what to do with my left foot!

OP posts:
Copperoliverbear · 07/03/2025 22:17

I love my automatic, it's so easy I think they should only make them, it gives you less to think about and more time to concentrate on the road

MrsAvocet · 07/03/2025 22:17

DH and I have 3 cars between us - an EV, an automatic diesel and a petrol manual and he swaps regularly between them all with no difficulty. I can't drive the manual because it is a classic car with a really heavy clutch and I've got problems with my left leg, but on the odd occasion I've driven my DD's small, modern manual it's not been a problem.
Having got used to both the auto and the EV I don't think I'd ever actively choose a car with a manual gearbox again, but if I had to drive one I could.

plart · 07/03/2025 22:20

After 25 and 35 years driving manual we switched to an automatic. We love it and now also have an electric.

Only issue has been deciding if teenager should try for a manual or automatic licence.

Darkclothes · 07/03/2025 22:21

I'm not familiar with PCP so can't advise on that.

I learnt the other way- on auto (abroad), then years later learnt to drive manual. In the UK its always manual and the only people I know who changed to driving auto, are older family with mobility or arm issues meaning manual is more difficult.

I live/work abroad part of each year and drive an auto there. The most I've spent abroad is 12mths and came back to the UK to drive a manual again. Yes, it took a few minutes to recall the gears and the clutch, but the brain took over and remembered what to do.

DappledThings · 07/03/2025 22:21

Had one for just under a year until DH got rear ended and it was written off. Used the money we got to go back to a manual.

Next car will probably have to be an automatic again if we go electric. I've made my peace with it but would always prefer a manual.

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