To want to switch to Automatic lessons?

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Probably more 'am I being stupid' than AIBU...

I've tried on 5 separate occasions throughout my life to learn to drive. I'm generally a v intelligent & successful person (if I do say so myself ) but I'm an epic failure at driving. I have zilch spacial awareness, my mind totally blacks out when I panic, I find the whole thing terrifying no matter how much I practise....but my biggest nemesis of all are gears (when I panic -which is most of the time driving - I'm far too rough with them causing them to grind) & stalling. I stall everywhere & it scares me to death.

Worst of all...today practising in DH's car culminated in an awful screaming match when I panicked & stalled at least 6 times at the base of a roundabout. He yelled at me and eventually had to get me out. I was shaking so much I just couldn't get the bite point.

I have to learn before DS starts school in sept. & it would seriously help my job prospects. I only did manual as it meant I could practise in DH's car but if his temperament isn't suited to teaching me that's probably no use anyway.

Has anyone got experience of switching to auto? Would I be crazy?

Vicky2011 Sun 24-Feb-13

Yes autos are easier but they sometimes do mad things - far more likely to lose control in an auto and it won't get round the spacial awareness thing.

Really? No - but really? Do mad things? Like? Drop their trousers in public? Stage a sit in at McDonald's? Blow raspberries at passing nuns?

I'm trying to decide if Vicky's post is front runner for stupidest post of the month - definitely in the running!

OP - go auto. Best decision you'll ever make.

Yes, Yes, Yes to an automatic. I passed my test in a manual just over a year ago but hated the car i bought so decided to try an auto. I love it and for the life of me cant understand what the obsession with gears are in this country. I'm always out and about in my little automatic.

If i'd of learnt in an auto at 17 years old i would have passed my test way before reaching the grand old age of nearly 39

Top tip - NEVER go driving with a DH. I only tried it once but felt murderous within 5 mins so it never happened again!

I don't get that either, Nope. You have one type that requires you to operate gears and levers and manually shift the power about

and one type that does all that for you

and THAT'S the lesser one? [boggle]

that's like saying a mangle is more advanced than a tumble dryer

Considering he got so wound up whilst you were learning, he obviously takes it as some sort of personal insult that he can't teach you to drive a manual. He thinks you are choosing to be difficult.

As someone just said, it really doesn't matter! The benifits of having a manual license are absolutely NOT worth this agro.

I could have written this until I found the right instructor and gave up trying to learn with my husband. Within three lessons she had calmed me down and I passed after four months with one minor. Now I,m over the initial fear I,m a good driver. Try finding the right person. For me a female instructor made a difference plus one who was very experienced, try looking for someone private and local.

Right, listen, GO AUTO. Seriously. I learned and passed my test in a manual but I always hated it. I was a really nervous driver (gears are terrifying) and I used to go miles out of my way to avoid a hillstart. My parents were horrified that I wanted an auto - but they use more petrol, but there aren't as many around so you'll struggle to buy a 2nd-hand one, but you don't have as much control, but but but... etc. All ridiculous reasons. But I bought one anyway and it was the making of me - am now am a v.confident driver and never think twice about driving. As others have said, your mind is free to concentrate entirely on the road. They have since admitted that I was right and that an auto suited me best :) Yes, there may be some vvvv. minor downsides to autos but the pros far outweigh the cons.

The best 'against' my Dad used was that autos try to crawl forwards so you could end up crashing into the car in front in a queue. Yes, or I could do something radical like, er, use my brakes

Oh may i add me and oh nearly seprated after him giving me lessions never go out with oh op it will draive you Both mad

Modern automatic transmissions are just as fuel efficient as manuals. That's just backwards BS that're not, an ignorant myth right up there with that you can't control them or they 'do mad things'

Seriously, if you are finding a manual car difficult to get to grips with, you have nothing to lose by booking a lesson in an automatic and seeing how you feel. People can get quite superior about driving a manual, but the most important thing is that you can drive for the sake of your family. It is true that automatics cost more, but their resale values are also higher when the time comes to sell it on.

Automatics are more expensive to buy
Automatics are more expensive to fix
Automatics are more expensive to insure
Automatics are harder to find
Automatics are more likely to go wrong
Automatics are harder to control
Automatics can't drive in the snow
Automatic drivers are bad drivers

I've heard all of these arguments over the years. Most are just bullshit, the rest of the differences are minimal and never caused a problem

I have a friend that learnt in an auto at 17 (and they were much less common then) she has never regretted it. Just go for it you will be so proud of yourself for passing your test and being able to drive.

I too really struggled to learn, have poor spatial awareness etc, it fascinates me I had tons of lessons and i struggled as it was all too much to do at once, the gears, the clutch, concentrating on the road, reading signs etc then one day it all just clicked into place and I no longer had to concentrate on what my feet and hands were doing. My driving instructor could sense it as well. But I honestly considered going for automatic lessons as well and perhaps it would have been quicker and cheaper if I had.

I only went out with my DH when I could drive fairly well just for practise even so every single time it ended in a bitter argument. He still gives me driving advice in the car - like brake!!!! Infuriating!

To be honest I'd normally advise a friend to learn to drive in a manual even if they then drive an auto as it means you can drive a lot more cars potentially. BUT you've tried and it isn't working out and you have a deadline by which you need to have passed your test. In those circs I'd go for an auto. We have one now and it is easy to drive.

TBH in the US automatics are the norm. No-one there learns to drive 'stick' (as the say).

The main downside to learning in an automatic, is that if you pass your test in an automatic, you can't drive a manual car without doing another test. But if you pass the test in a manual car, you can drive an automatic without taking another test. So you wouldn't be able to drive your DH's car after passing a driving test with an automatic car. If you're happy with that, then go for it.

But the most important thing I'd advise is to not be taught to drive by your DH. Or practice driving with him until you're confident driving. Get a driving instructor to teach you instead. Being taught to drive by an OH / parent rarely goes well.

ive recently made the same decision. I never thought id even be able to drive, and whilst i can drive a manual, i have failed my test 7 times now over stupid reasons and ive been learning 2 and a half years and spent god knows how many thousands. Ive now decided that i cant seem to keep my concentration on both the road and the hand/foot dance, and getting flustered. I just want to be on the bloody road and to be able to concentrate on the road rather than the mechanics of the car.
I gave manual a bloody good shot, and maybe in the future ill try and take my test in one again if i ever feel the need.

But you don't NEED to drive a manual! That was one of the biggest arguments against my choosing an auto - you will never be able to drive a manual. Well, I don't ever plan to! If we need a courtesy car then we order an auto, if we buy a new car we buy an auto... I have never ever come across a situation where I needed to drive a manual. And if I did, well, I'd get the bus or a taxi!

Interesting how people are so funny about automatics saying theres not many etc. the dealer told me that most of the type of car they sold me are automatics and that they fly out second hand.

Why would an auto go mad? Most cars in the US are auto.

FWIW I have a manual license, but I have only ever driven an auto after I had my license. My parents only have a auto. I pass after about 13 hours of lessons so that is my entire manual driving experience. (We learn at 15 in NZ and you learn fast at that age). I will not drive a manual car at all now despite having the license. I think I will simply be unsafe because I last driven one over 20 years ago!

My point is learning in manual is pointless if you aren't using the skill.

Automatics are fab for city driving and heavy commutes.

And > whispers< Your DH could get an automatic for his next car
That will solve that problem.

i had loads of lessons in a manual (over three years with a break while i was pregnant) and just could not 'get' bloody gear changes etc.
My instructor eventually used me as a guinea pig in the auto he bought and after 20 mins out in it he said 'you can drive'....

Passed my test first time....really needed to be able to drive, living rurally with a toddler.
If you need to be able to drive for convenience sake then ditch the manual and go auto...

Definitely make the switch to automatic! I learned on an automatic, never have had any need or desire to drive a manual. I live in the US, where it is very much the norm.

I don't have much in the way of spatial awareness either. Actually DH and I joke about it. He has no sense of direction but great spatial awareness and I am the opposite, so together we make one normal person. But joking aside, we are both very good drivers.

Go automatic. You will learn very quickly and never look back (my entirely unscientific prediction:)).

I failed 4 times in a manual, passed first time in an auto. Do it! But find a teacher you click with not a partner / loved one!

I failed twice in manual then learnt to drive auto and have been driving them happily for 13 years. True that if you get a manual license you can drive anything, but on the other hand my DH who has always driven auto attempting to drive a geared hire car round France was quite something. Kids now refer to it as 'the car that Daddy couldn't drive' :)

So unless you will drive both regularly I think the ability to drive gears would rapidly leave you!

You do pay a bit more for a second hand auto which is annoying, but there are an increasing number of cars on the market which arent techincally automatic but have no clutch: we've just bought a Tiyota Yaris with 'multi mode' and since it doesn't have the clutch I am fine to drive it. Ditto our Prius, you can't buy one of those with gears.

Do you have to share a car? If so would one of the semi automatic options which sometimes have the ability to change gear manually but no clutch, mollify your DH?

I'd say go for it! Good luck.

Passed my test 9 years ago and I will still not drive with DH in the car, he is so critical and it leaves me a nervous wreck.

Go and have private lesson in a automatic car.