To want to get an automatic car

[birobenny]

I am learning to drive at a relatively late stage in life and am a terribly nervous driver (seriously so bad a feel sick before I get behind the wheel) I am learning in a manual and will do the test for a manual but I really want to get an automatic when I pass. I need to be confident by the time D's starts school in September and every panic (well a lot of them ) that I have while driven happen when faffing with the clutch/gears. Dh has been driving for 20 years and is a very confident driver. He will not get an automatic car because he says he doesn't like them. Who IBU?

We always thought autos would be less responsive but really don't notice the difference between our manual and auto. As for being in stop start traffic the auto is far easier as no changing in and out of neutral to first all the time plus less less pressure on my knees.

I would really recommend getting him to test drive one as we were exactly the same until we did.

iniquity the death rates are lower per mile in the UK as well so the long distances thing is a moot point. And, in Canada (at least where I am) our speed limits are ridiculously low compared to the UK.

The electric car thing interests me. We have loads of free charging stations here in really convenient places (priority parking as well). However, I got put off by Clarkson et al going on about battery issues. Are they expensive with a short life? Because even with the free fuel, and the subsidy, I think a 8K battery is going to put a dent in the budget. And gas is half the price here so that makes it different.

Another thing about manuals. I sailed past all the Canadians when we had snow. In their SUVs they still had issues on hills where I didn't with my manual.

I think for doing the school run and getting about, as OP suggests, an auto is absolutely fine. If like richthegreatcornholio, you find yourself regularly on the circuit, then possibly not .

I commute daily and do around 20,000 miles a year in my automatic and would not swap it for a manual.

I live in the US and have an automatic here but love coming back to the UK and driving a 'proper' manual car! I agree with a lot of what MrsTerry is saying. Some of my US friends are appalling drivers - and I've lost count of the number of times I've had near misses on pedestrian crossings as people are just driving with their feet and not holding the wheel. When you need one hand free to change gear, you're much less likely to try and text or eat or read (yes, seen it more than once).

OP - YANBU. But my personal view, based on extensive driving in both the UK and US in both kinds of car, is that people pay more attention in manuals.

Do something about your driving anxiety.

What exactly is it that is making you anxious?

Get plenty of lessons until you feel comfortable. More lessons will be cheaper than an auto or 2 cars.

In NZ 90% of cars are autos, in fact the only reason mine is a manual is because it's the car we bought over when we emigrated. I think its important to be able to drive both, but my next car will be an auto for sure. Much easier and way cheaper here too!

My Golf DSG changes is in 5th of 7 gears by the time I get up to 30 miles an hour. I'd wear out my left knee if I had to routinely step on the clutch that many times. And there's no way I would make every gear change within a millisecond of the optimum moment, the way the DSG does.

With the invention of dual-clutch gearboxes, the advantage manuals had in performance and fuel economy is gone. People who still want them are hanging on to obsolete skills and technology.

I have a semi Auto and I would never drive anything else

The only person I know with an automatic is my friend. She has a Volvo XC90. It has no power at pulling away whatsoever. Once it's going it's powerful but initially it's awful. She insists on driving when I go out with her. At roundabouts I feel very vulnerable as it is so slow. Manual all the way for me.

I think for doing the school run and getting about, as OP suggests, an auto is absolutely fine. If like richthegreatcornholio, you find yourself regularly on the circuit, then possibly

There's certainly plenty of middle ground there. I heel and toe out of habit on the road, very satisfying into bends and roundabouts when pressing on but great just when pottering about for a lovely smooth experience.

I got my first automatic a few years ago, not necessarily out of choice, it was a cheap well maintained car of a type I liked that happened to be an autonomic and quite like it.

I like the simplicity, we close to the city centre with a lot of stop/start driving, so it is ideal but there are downsides. I've driven a manual transit and my dad's manual and for suburban/motorway driving and in free flowing traffic I didn't find it that much of a pain at all. So depends what sort of driving you'll be doing.

Automatics only tend to come in the bigger engine and higher trim specification of a given model, so are more expensive to buy and possibly insure. They are also less fuel efficient (about 10% less so generally)

You can't use engine braking and you have to be a bit heavier on the brakes then you would be in a manual. You can't push or bump start them (an issue, if like me you don't drive it that often or fall asleep in a service station with the lights on at 2am )

I can see if someone who is a bit of a control freak wouldn't like an automatic, the only time I've felt I'd like a bit more control is in ice or snow, as you can't use the gears, but not insurmountable if you don't drive like a douche.

Would you husband consider a manumatic gearbox? (the ones with the flappy paddles like on F1 cars) that would be a good compromise, but would limit you in availability terms.

I'm at the same stage as you, OP. I'm going to be taking lessons soon, in an automatic as I feel I'll be more at ease, more confident in an automatic. We have an old manual car at the moment, but OH is open to the idea of getting an automatic when (or if!!!) I pass my test.

If you're taking lessons & pass in a manual you'll have mastered it by then & find it's second nature & you've nowt to worry about. Good luck, you can do it, just hope I can!

I drove manual for years but last summer my anxiety was very high and my old galaxy died when the gears seized. I needed a car for the school run and bought a cheap auto. I loved it. But had to replace it with impending child 7 soon to arrive, and went back to manual. It's def less stressful to drive auto

I love automatics, can't understand why anyone would want to drive a manual, especially in town where it's all stop/start. Also much easier to focus on road/hazards without distraction of changing gears.

He is BU.

You would rather not drive but your DH wants you to drive; you're learning to drive. You've compromised in his favour.

Your DH would like your car to be manual but you would prefer an automatic. He should compromise in your favour.

P.S. aren't US and Canadian drivers worse just because their tests are much easier?

I love my automatic. Both my Dad and BIL switched to automatic in the last 5 years also.

If you are are late learner driver (as I was) and lean towards an automatic, why not? Incidentally, I ditched manual lessons after my stop/start attempts pre/between/after children and ended up learning in an automatic when I needed to be on the road once I had 2 children. I passed first time and have never looked back. That was 10 yrs ago and although I "only" drive an automatic, it has served me well and is still going strong after 10 yrs (including Uk trips to Wales/Cornwall etc. each year as the main car- with me driving )

Get him to test drive a few modern automatics - he might change his mind once he sees how good they are.

I had an automatic Golf hire car recently - it was very impressive, especially the sport mode which made it quite punchy.

P.S. aren't US and Canadian drivers worse just because their tests are much easier?

Talking to friends from US states, yes. It is unusual for anyone to take lessons and passing is largely a matter of course. It almost seems like it is considered a civil right to pilot a 2-tonne lump of metal, whilst eating, speaking on the phone and millilitres from the rear bumper of the car in front and failing is an infringement of your civil liberties.

Mind you, I guess that in the US you are less likely to be driving through a medieval city whose road network was designed for carts.

Interesting feature by an American taking a British driving test.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/02/uk-driving-law-versus-us

can't understand why anyone would want to drive a manual

As said earlier, because manuals can be more fun. It's huge fun learning to drive a classic car with a non synchromesh manual gearbox for example and very satisfying when you get it right.

rich true, but the op sees driving as menas to an end, not as a pleasurable experience.

If he is insisting on you passing your test, I agree that he should take your comfort / anxiety re driving into account and look into buying an automatic car.

I passed my test later than most people and decided that I'd prefer to learn in automatic. We wanted to start a family so dp was keen for me to learn to drive quickly and easily. He knew that we would have to buy an automatic once I'd passed and in actual fact we bought one before I'd passed and he took me out to practice in it.
It wasn't a big deal and he was just lovely about it.

I passed first time with no faults at all, and I really don't think that would have happened had I taken my test in a manual.

We have just upgraded to a beautiful Honda crv and I completely love driving it. I really enjoy driving now and am not nervous at all, I've even driven on the m25 by myself with dd in tow, and I never would have thought I'd be able to say that a few years ago!

Good luck and I hope your dp comes round to the idea of an automatic, they are awesome!

We've got a Honda Jazz which hasn't got a clutch, but still can be driven in either automatic or manual gear changing mode at the click of a switch. DH has just told me that he always drives it in automatic mode now, and he used to be besotted with manual gearboxes. Maybe you could get your DH to take a test drive?

YANBU

When I was 17 I took lessons in a manual and just never understood how the clutch worked - I then failed my test. Shortly after this we went on holiday to USA and hired a car which was auto - I thought wow that would be so much easier to drive. I came home, sat test in an auto and passed! Have now driven an auto for 30 years

DH used to drive manual but he now has 2 auto cars

You do what you are most happy with x

I've done both the UK and US driving test. The US one was not very challenging (although the most important thing to remember was that most other drivers will have a gun in the glove box).