To learn to drive automatic

[TopangaD]

My family will laugh at me but I want to learn quickly is automatic so bad? Worried about driving in snow etc need to do motorway driving for work should I just do full course or auto?

Go for it. Why make life difficult for yourself?

People take the piss, so don’t tell anyone! I didn’t and I passed (auto) after a 1 week course. I’d been having manual lessons on and off for years!

I’d definitely try a lesson in a manual first, just because it gives you more flexibility. Having said that I now drive an automatic and wouldn’t go back to a manual! A large proportion of high end sporty cars that a petrol head like your brother would like will be semi automatics which you would be able to drive on an auto licence (should you want a Ferrari as your first car ). Hopefully that’ll stop them laughing at you.

I learned on an automatic and passed first time, and now we only drive automatics (obviously as I'm not licensed to drive a manual). So much easier in every way.

Why would anyone take the piss? What's daft about automatics?

Purists like manuals though of course, it’s so satisfying nailing things like double declutching and heel and toeing. Some cars suit different boxes as well, an auto S2000 would be shit as would a manual S Class

When you are first learning to drive, there is just so much to learn and remember. You have the rule of the road, mirrors, signalling, all the faff at roundabouts, looking out for idiots, remembering to keep an eye out for cyclists and motorcycles that creep up on you and other angry, bullying drivers. If you learn auto you can learn all this stuff without having the additional worry of clutch and gears.

Once you've passed auto, you can drive about for a year until all the above is second nature and then, if you like, you can go back for manual lessons when you'll only have the clutch and gear issue to learn. My friend did this and it only took her a few weeks to master it, but she thinks if she'd tried to learn it all at once it would have set her learning back by a couple of months.

I learnt manual have had autos for years and will never go back. If it’s easier do it.

I would suggest you tell your brother that you're going to do what @MarchEliza suggests, learn first in an auto then learn gears later. Or just tell him he's being a judgemental little shit, if you prefer

I passed in auto 14 years ago (took a little less than 6 months) on the plan that i would take a manual test when i needed to.
Never have.
Now we have DC1 well on the way, my DH has got himself an auto and learned to drive in 2 months (intensive course) so he can drive me to the hospital!
Everyone is different but for us time was of the essence and auto definitely made the process quicker.
Good luck OP.

I'd never choose a manual but I'm glad to have a full licence for courtesy/hire/other people's cars. I'd try a few lessons in manual but there's no shame in switching to auto if you're struggling.

Drove manuals for more than 20 years. Then bought an automatic and I'm NEVER planning to buy or even drive a manual ever again. Why do all the extra work? I also have automatic windscreen wipers that come on when it rains and adjust the speed automatically - I don't need to crank them manually with a lever from side to side to have 'more control'.

I have never had issues renting automatics anywhere in the world.

Go for it. I'm sure in not too distant future, manuals will just be for car enthusiasts and everybody else will drive automatics.

I learned auto only and have never regretted it. We were planning on buying a hybrid or electric anyway, which are automatic, and it's been fine for everything, motorways and snow included.

Also, don't forget that many manufacturers are phasing out manual gearboxes - Toyota, for instance, are going auto-only in the next couple of years. And as more and more cars go hybrid or electric, especially at the budget rather than high end, the auto choice is increasing for both buying and hiring.

Unless there's a specific manual car you know you need to drive, I wouldn't think twice about getting an auto licence.

I have a small automatic to drive in town, and a bigger manual for long drives (motorways etc). It works for me, and never heard anyone ever making fun of either.

Once you are comfortable driving, you can more easily start tackling the gears if you wish. I prefer driving a manual out of town, you are more in control of the gear change (captain obvious here!), but it makes your driving more efficient. It does annoy me slightly if my automatic takes longer than I would to change gear, but that's such a minor issue.

The only downside about automatic is that there's less choice in car rental in Europe - clearly not in the USA! Apart from that, nothing wrong with them at all.

I had a manual licence but have been driving automatics for 20 years. Never had a need to drive a manual. I live in the south without snow so can’t comment on that.

And I drive on the motorway everyday for work. And I have driven long distances (8 hour day drives). How do you think Americans do it? They all drive autos.

Tbf I see Toyota aren't completely dropping manual transmission, but are meant to be moving them to 4wd type vehicles only. Hasn't happened yet though!

@Jakeyboy1

As a self-respecting Range Rover driver (DH has a Merc), shared BMW and a 'proper' Land Rover, I love driving manual (flappy paddle still counts as manual).

Whilst the RR is amazing off road, manual vehicles are still better simply for the extra control.

All our track day cars have been full manual.

It's more engaging, more fun when cracking on a bit and certainly teaches more mechanical sympathy.

@TheOP

I get where you're coming from but within a lesson or two, the clutch becomes second nature. Road position, signals, other vehicles etc are much more pressing.

Do it properly (for want of a better word) the first time.

YANBU. The number of people who have told me they drive a manual because they "like to be in control" ....and then drive off, car screaming. I am astounded that so many people are unable to hear when they need to change gears.

I had 50 hours of manual lessons and many tears were shed during that time. I switched to automatic and (although I still hate driving), taking away that fear of the gears/clutch/stalling was life changing.

No regrets here.

I'd say gears and clutch control are less than 10% of learning to drive. 90% of it is dealing with all the other numpties on the roads, and the sometimes-baffling road layouts. So don't expect learning auto to be much quicker than manual, unless you have more difficulty than most drivers with a manual.

That said, every little helps, and you can always get a manual license later.

I'm learning in an automatic. I have a (mild) disability so manual no go.

Couldn't give a rat's arse who laughs. They can laugh away. Laughing at a person for driving an automatic says far more about them than it does the driver.

A car is just a box on wheels that gets you from A to B.

This prompted me to ask something I've been wondering - does anyone think they judge you more harshly in your test on an automatic? I ask because the only person I know who learned to drive automatic has just failed his sixth test and they always seem to be for tiny, minor things. I can't work out whether the test has just got a lot harder in the 15 years since I took it, whether it's a weird coincidence/bad luck for him, or whether they hold you to a higher standard in an automatic as you have so much less to worry about as you drive?

I just wanted to quickly address @safariboot 's point about doing a manual examination later on.

I was trained to Police standard / response level. Ingrained bad-practice is a massive issue. Taking another test in the future would be extremely difficult.