Husband bought automatic car and I'm nervous help!

[wishes1111]

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).

I think neutral and park are the same thing - it’s marked with N in my Aygo and P in our Prius - which is weird as they’re both Toyotas.

@Blossomtoes

I think neutral and park are the same thing - it’s marked with N in my Aygo and P in our Prius - which is weird as they’re both Toyotas.

Mine's a Toyota too and has N and P as separate. Too confusing!

I've had automatic cars for a few years and have never yet put one in neutral. Drive, reverse and park are all I use.

I bet ours do if I go and look now @DappledThings! Amazing how you can look at something every day and not really see it.

I bought an auto a few weeks ago. Felt very odd at first but I am already completely used to it. Just get out driving in it, practice is the best thing you can do. Once you’re used to it, it’s so much easier than a manual.

Mercedes?

You have the USA to thank for that

No, American. So, perhaps not surprising.

In my experience it takes about a week to get used to it. Then it's all smooth sailing and no desire to go back to manual

My husband did the same so his cars automatic and mine manual. I actually love driving the automatic. I hated it at first but it's just lovely now

Hated the thought of swapping. Reluctantly did. Hated it. Then LOVED it after a few days. Recently had to drive a manual again for a week. Such a chore, I'll never buy a manual again!

Best piece of advice... "your left leg doesn't exist when driving an automatic, imagine its in the boot and pretend it's not attached to you."

I’m not keen on driving. Horrible road layouts, idiots, etc. Was advised to get an automatic, which I was rather offended by - gears and clutch were not my problem and I was very proud of those skills! However, I did and I loved the car from the off. It frees up a part of your mind which you don’t realise you’re using. I feel like I’m putting that additional brain capacity into observation when I drive. I think it’s made me a better and more confident driver, not a lazy one.

I am amused by the left leg tips. I was told this when my car was delivered and duly tucked my leg away - and am still doing it now. I took to the car so quickly that the habit was instantly ingrained, and I only remember I’m doing it when the leg goes to sleep on longer journeys. I’ve only had the car five years!

Being from Canada, I learned in an automatic. I knew how to drive standard (manual) before I moved to Jersey, but switching sides of the car was a challenge I must say. When we moved back to Canada, we bought an automatic. My first couple weeks driving, I was constantly hitting the door with my hand as muscle memory had me reaching for the gear stick on the left 😂

I've recently bought my first ever automatic car, after 30+ years of driving a manual. I absolutely love it. For the first couple of weeks I kept moving my arm and foot unnecessarily, instinctively thinking I was still driving a manual but I soon got used to it.

Neutral means your transmission is 'unlocked'. It allows the car can be rolled when the engine is off. People leave their car in neutral in countries where double parking is the norm, so they can move cars as needed just by gently pushing them. If your pedals stop working, you can move your car to a safe place in neutral, using steering to manoeuvre. It is also helpful to slow your car down if your brake stops working. Multifaceted. There may be other uses, I just do not know.

I always just press the brake pedal when waiting in a queue on a hill and quick change between acceleration and brake as required. There is no rolling back. It is very reassuring. If that is not comfortable, just keep your feet on the acceleration and hold it at the bite.

Driving Automatic is simple and relaxed. I hope you love it eventually OP.

Once you get used to it, you’ll wonder why you ever had a manual.

We bought our first automatic 3 years ago, never intended to, but the car was perfect in every other way and within our budget.
I was so nervous but now I’ve adapted, I’d never go back to a manual!

I always just press the brake pedal when waiting in a queue on a hill and quick change between acceleration and brake as required. There is no rolling back. It is very reassuring. If that is not comfortable, just keep your feet on the acceleration and hold it at the bite.
How does this work in an automatic? I will sometimes hold the cat at the bite on a gentle hill in traffic in our proper car but in the automatic it is either braking or moving forward. It has that weird creep thing so if you aren't actively braking it moves forward and certainly moves forward with the accelerator depressed. How can I hold it at the bite without the clutch to balance against the accelerator?

I will sometimes hold the cat at the bite on a gentle hill in traffic
Car! I don't have a cat and if I did I wouldn't be trying to make it bite.

How can I hold it at the bite without the clutch to balance against the accelerator?

I don’t know, i know that foot on brake and other foot on accelerator works but I don’t know how it works

My mum felt the same, when getting a car with power steering and that was the one available within her budget. Was very happy within a few weeks, hope you are too OP.

It's understandable - you are conscious that you are unsure what to do and that's really unsettling. I felt so out of control when I first tried an automatic but now I love, love, love it! Give it a few weeks and definitely go old school driving lesson-style and practice around less busy areas!

I switch between both with no issue.

I love our automatic and wish we'd hanged a couple of cars ago. It's so much less work.

Automatics are sooooo much easier than manuals! Just point and go!

@DappledThings

Hill starts (if you ever need to do them as most automatics can manage most hills) are a wee bit weird but again just practice How do you do a hill start in an automatic? I assumed it just did it. What do you have to do?

Yeah this hill starts in an automatic are a piece of piss!

Yeah this hill starts in an automatic are a piece of piss!
Well that's what I assumed and that I'd never have to think about it in the automatic but then people started talking about steep hills and that you do have to think about by using the brake as a clutch and it all got rather confusing!

I’ve just bought an automatic, had it for 3 weeks and it was a revelation!
I absolutely love it and my driving confidence has gone up ten fold .
I used to only really do short journeys and leave the long ones up to dh in his car but since having this I’ve found the higher seating position and automatic a game changer so I drove us from london to Staffordshire and loved every second.
Hopefully you’ll get on with it soon.