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Original poster

Husband bought automatic car and I'm nervous help!

195 replies

wishes1111 · 26/05/2021 08:19

Hi everyone

My husband has bought an automatic car, I'm very grateful, mine has broke completely after 7 years of having it (its 10 years old).

However, I've never driven an automatic before, I took it for a drive last night with him and I just cannot see me getting used to it 🤦🏻‍♀️ has anyone swapped from a manual to auto and can reassure me because now I feel like I've gone back to being an 18 year old nervous driver!

The automatic gearstick isn't there it's on the lever on the side of the steering wheel (in my old car it was the windscreen wipers).

OP posts:
Dobbyisahouseelf · 26/05/2021 09:36

I bought an automatic car 3 years ago and it is so easy to drive you soon adapt. Although I do feel that it is lazy driving as all I do is steer, brake and accelerate.

I now swap easily from my car to a manual car as my DD is learning to drive so I'm back in a small car for school run so she can practise on the way home.

PickleSarnie · 26/05/2021 09:50

Automatics are awesome. Definitely tuck your left leg under you until you get used to not using it.

My "gear" control is also in the same place as yours ie where the windscreen washers normally are. I was so scared I'd flick the lever into reverse whilst driving when trying to wash the windscreen but I never have. And, tbh, it probably wouldn't do anything whilst moving.

I have a parking brake but it's automatic so you probably don't have to worry about that (assuming most autos are similar).

You never have to worry about hillstarts or stalling. It's brilliant!

taytay2020 · 26/05/2021 09:52

I LOVE automatic cars. I learnt to drive on a manual, then my first car was an automatic, and in those five years I forgot how to drive a manual again! Second car was a manual, then I drove an automatic in the states and remembered how much I love it, so my current car is an automatic and I'm never going back!! However, I do drive my DH's manual every so often to make sure I don't forgot how - it's not always possible to get an automatic hire car /courtesy car.

Original poster
wishes1111 · 26/05/2021 09:55

Thank you everyone.

I've gone from an Astra eco flex to a Mercedes A Class so it's the control thing for me, I'm terrified I'll do something wrong and bump this lovely car by accident 🥴

I will take on all your advice especially tucking my left leg in.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
Annaiswaycoolerthanelsa · 26/05/2021 09:55

I was in the same position a few months ago.

It took me all of a few hours to get used to it and I love it now. I wouldn’t go back to a manual now.

buttons766 · 26/05/2021 09:58

Remind yourself your left foot does nothing. You only try to use it once Grinonce you slam on you quickly remember not to use it.
They are amazing especially in traffic and it has eased my hip pain

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 26/05/2021 10:13

i didn't miss the clutch....it was the gear stick.

We had an old London Cab when the children were small and I loved it, shut the wee buggers in the back and close the partition!

The worst was when you slow at a roundabout or junction and don't have to stop, ...down into second, all clear and off you pop... only there was no second, where's the gear stick, oh, where...oh TAXI...carry on!

Never had any bother going back the other way, but man I missed that second gear action! :o :o

DynamoKev · 26/05/2021 10:17

We are that most hated species - a multi car household - we have 2 manuals and an auto. You get used to it.

It actually helps having the auto shift on the steering column as you aren't reaching for the gear lever all the time.

mynameisbrian · 26/05/2021 10:20

Automatic takes a bit of getting used to but it is so easy. Dont worry I moved from manual to automatic and was anxious too but it is great

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/05/2021 10:22

I was nervous at the thought of driving the first automatic dh got - no choice due to being a block purchase of company cars. But it is dead easy. Got my own less than a year later. I love them. Wouldn’t go back to manual now.

welshladywhois40 · 26/05/2021 10:22

Once you get used to it you will never look back. Imagine being in a motorway jam inching forward not making any gear changes.

The tricky part was trusting the car on hill starts. But they don't roll back!

Abouttimemum · 26/05/2021 10:28

It’s just like driving a go kart. Super easy. We were manual for more than 20 years and switched to an automatic a couple of years ago, and honestly I wouldn’t go back now.
You’ll get used to it after a few goes.

InTheNightWeWillWish · 26/05/2021 10:32

Not having the gearstick is an advantage because then you can’t actually hit the gear stick when at a junction.

It’s easy and quick to get used to it. So much easier than manual. I drive manual in my work vehicle and our car is automatic. There’s the odd time I pull up to a junction and go to change gear in the car or realise I need to change gear in the work one but it’s really infrequently. You just get used to it. I prefer driving the automatic.

tulips27 · 26/05/2021 10:32

If you're really worried book a couple of lessons, why not?

Wegobshite · 26/05/2021 10:34

Yes I went from only driving manual cars for 20 plus years to an automatic SUV
I love it and would never ever go back
Took a few days to get used to it and it’s start - stop but other than that I love it

InTheNightWeWillWish · 26/05/2021 10:35

Also, I have really short legs. So in a manual I’m sat pretty much on the steering wheel so I could depress the clutch properly. In the automatic I don’t have to change seats after DH has driven it (DH is 6’ 2” and I’m 5’ 4”). I’m much more comfortable driving because my arms aren’t all squished up all because I don’t need the clutch.

tulips27 · 26/05/2021 10:37

@InTheNightWeWillWish that is fascinating, I have short legs too and have exactly the issue you describe even though I'm not particularly short. I always felt cars were not designed for me.

wonkylegs · 26/05/2021 10:40

@wishes1111 we changed to an automatic some years back not out of choice but necessity as I have RA in my hips.
I thought I'd never get used to it but I did, fairly quickly although even 6mths on I was still occasionally reaching for the gear stick at roundabouts 🤦‍♀️ it's actually really easy just takes some time to unlearn that natural reflex.
Have been driving an automatic for 5yrs now and have progressed onto an electric car (they are all automatic and have regen braking to contend with too) and honestly have never looked back and I still remember how to drive manual when I have occasionally have to.

wonkylegs · 26/05/2021 10:42

My current cars don't even have a selector stick - one has a knob you turn and the other a button you press.

SnowyTigers · 26/05/2021 10:44

This is a great reassuring thread! We have our first brand new car arriving in a few weeks (always drove old rubbish cars for the past 10+ years) and decided to go for an automatic. I loathe changing gears as I find it so stressful having to think about it all the time so I'm hoping it will be great for me. Very nervous to make the change to auto though. We live in a very hilly area of Yorkshire though and I don't understand how you do a hill start!

StayAGhost · 26/05/2021 10:46

Just be careful in traffic jams
Someone I know revved in engine in traffic, and the bloody thing lept forwards, into the back end of the car in front!

Faevern · 26/05/2021 10:49

My DP had an automatic Land Rover I hated driving it, fine if I was moving forward but manoeuvres and roundabouts confused me. Once, when I had parked on a very steep hill facing downwards so that I could just drive off, I had to phone him as a car had parked close in front and I was too scared to take my foot off the brake in case I rolled forward I needed a clutch Grin

He loved it, I was relieved when he sold it. I'm sure I could have got used to it but I've been driving for 40 years and giving up the clutch was harder than I thought.

LindaEllen · 26/05/2021 10:52

DP was the same when I got an auto as he has to drive my car occasionally.

Three years later and the car he's buying is an auto, because he finds his manual a ballache in comparison.

You'll get used to it!

InTheNightWeWillWish · 26/05/2021 10:55

@tulips27 on the test drive I still sat too close, years of thinking that I needed to be close to the clutch but as we started to drive it properly I realised I could actually be further back. If you consider an automatic I’d start your test drive in a car park and do some emergency stops at different distances from the steering wheel, then do your test drive at the furthest distance you can do an emergency stop. I definitely think no clutch is the way forward for those of us with short legs. There’s just no halfway with a clutch, if it isn’t fully depressed you get that horrible clunking gear noise (and eventually a big repair bill).

pigsDOfly · 26/05/2021 10:59

I went from driving a gear shift to an automatic many years ago and would never ever buy a gear shift again.

My DD had exactly you reaction when she was presented with having to drive an automatic.

She was very nervous and felt as if she had no control over the car, added to which it was a bigger car with a bigger engine than she'd been used to.

After a very short time of driving the automatic she was hooked, she loved it. So much easier and she actually realised she felt more in control.

She also realised that she had been riding the clutch in the gear shift car so wasn't driving properly anyway.

Just do as pp said and go to an empty car park and practise.

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