To get stressed out at the thought of driving a manual car

[TheMadHouse1234]

I passed my test in a manual caer, drove one for the first few years (although I always hated it) And have had an automatic ever since which I LOVE driving. It's time for a new car and DH thinks we should get a manual gearbox and the thought of it stresses me out! Does anyone else hate driving manual cars?

I love driving manual cars. I drove an automatic for the first time a couple of years ago and found it really boring.

Hate manual cars. They are a backward step technology-wise in my book. I'd rather go back to horse and cart actually.

I passed a manual test too but I drive an automatic car. DH won't let me drive his car because I always forget to change gear, oops!

YANBU but you will be fine.

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it no time. I have to switch between my manual and DH's automatic regularly. Both feel a bit weird after having driven the other kind for a bit, but after a few minutes you get back in the swing. I actually prefer the manual, feels more like I'm driving and actual car instead of a big go-kart!

You'll probably stall it the first few times you slow down to stop, because you'll have forgotten to put the clutch down! I usually do.

I prefer a manual to an automatic - HOWEVER after driving DP's auto, I've been converted to their ways for city dwellers.

It's no fun driving a manual in 1st & 2nd the whole way home in a traffic jam, and that is where automatics come into their own I reckon. So I now drive an auto - if I moved out of traffic jam central, I'd revert to a manual.

Don't stress - it will all come back to you. (Having said that I have a couple of friends who aren't that comfortable with the gears when driving and if that is the case (ie you find them distracting/confusing) then probably you and your family would be better off with an auto)

I drive a manual car and get stressed when I drive an automatic.

Anything that is outside of your norm will cause a small ammount fo stress, don't let it worry you.

I hate automatics, it's something to do with feeling the need to be in control. Once, when in Australia, we hired an automatic for 3 weeks. I was horrified, I wanted a manual but none were available.

"Don't worry" said the hire bloke, "After a few weeks driving an automatic you'll never go back to a manual"

It drove me bananas!! I especially hated not being able to drop a gear early enough when going up hills or anticipating sharp corners. I gladly went back to a manual afterwards and have never looked back.

Ugh, I hate automatics. They're for old ladies. Manuals are more fun, and agree on the 'not having enough control in an auto' point.

Why don't you hire a manual car for a week? Take all your gear-crunching and nervousness out on that and, after a few days, you'll be quite used to it.

Automatics are for old ladies - ha - mine is a 6 speed auto box with the option of flappy paddles and sports mode too.

You'll all be driving automatics in 10 years. Hybrids and electric cars don't have olde worlde manual gearboxes. You might as well get used to it now...

Oooh, flappy paddles? Well then I take it back

Why does your DH think you should get a manual car? Does he know how you feel about them?

I love manual cars, hate automatics myself - and really hate it when people think they can 'convert' you o loving them. Suppose you feel the opposite OP It's a very personal thing.

Ugh, I hate automatics. They're for old ladies

Yeah sure - mine's a 2.5 litre, turbo engine - nothing old ladyish about it! Goes like the clappers!

Why does your dh want to change OP?

Because he personally likes manual cars better and one has come up at a good price. And apparently automatics are 'thirstier' than manuals?

OP - they use ever so slightly more but ONLY if you drive a manual PERFECTLY in the first place. Autos are not like they used to be ! - this is what dh just told me, HGV driver and been driving since he wore nappies etc etc etc..........

Oh God yeah Mofo I totally agree!!

Not quite the same, BluddyMoFo. Nobody in their right mind would actively prefer to go to the river and scrub their clothes with rocks, but a lot of people prefer the added control (or other perceived benefits) that come with a manual car.

I think it depends on the automatic car - my mum hates the little on she has as doesn't feel she has as much control as it hasn't got the engine power to pull away quickly. She has driven ours though and says it's a whole different kettle of fish.

DH has an automatic range rover. I hate it with a passion. I much prefer a manual, it feels as though I am in control of the car not the other way round.

It will all come back to you within days if you get a manual again.

I spent nine years hardly driving at all (didn't have a car and only rented one occasionally on holiday) then three years driving an automatic, but when I came back to the UK I didn't even think about it and just got a manual car - I didn't have a problem adjusting at all.

Unless you spend several hours a day stuck in very slow moving or stop-start traffic, I think there's no real point in an automatic.

I think your nervousness will wear off, but it sounds like you have sufficient experience with both to know you'll always prefer an automatic. And your dh knows he'll always prefer a manual so I guess you have to compromise based on whose preference is strongest and who drives the car more.

Your DH may also be thinking about having a wider choice of car and getting better resale value - as automatics are less popular here, it's harder to find what you want second-hand, and also harder to sell an automatic later.

My PiLs insist on automatics, so always end up buying new cars (very unlike them, as they are usually extremely careful with money) as they can't find what they want second-hand.