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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CosmicComfort · 26/05/2021 20:02

I went to automatic this year after 30 years of driving and Oh my god it is absolutely amazing.

It’s so easy! No clutch to bother with, just had to remember to keep your left leg out of the way.

I’ve got a mini which has a ‘gear stick’ or whatever you call it, I can imagine it would be odd if you didn’t have that but I’m sure you will adjust. I just slide forward for reverse and back for drive. Park is on the side.

My mini is incredibly fast, acceleration is superb and hill starts are a breeze.

Good luck, hope you enjoy it as much as I do😎

ConstanceGracy · 26/05/2021 20:04

@DappledThings

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?
Mine goes into ‘hold’ when I come to a complete stop so it’ll hold it on the hill or in traffic until I put my foot on the accelerator
RedcurrantPuff · 26/05/2021 20:15

@DappledThings

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!
Not in my car you don’t. Put it in drive take your foot off the brake and off it goes. Maybe it’s different for different cars, I have a Volvo
Wrenna · 26/05/2021 20:19

You’ll be fine! We’re in the US where you have to special order manual cars, automatic is 99% standard here. I see so many posts on here about not being able to drive, or a crazy amount to lessons to learn, but then I remember most of the cars are manual and I’d probably be one of those that wouldn’t drive if it had to be a manual too. We went out driving with our instructor a total of 4 times and it was all shared so you literally got 20 minutes a time but really that’s all that was needed other than practice. Once you get used to it you won’t want to go back!

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 26/05/2021 20:20

My old automatic was a mitsubishi spacewagon 7 seater

5 people in it and my car went backwards because it was so heavy

But that was on steep hills, not every hill

My husbands car was a hyundi i10 which i used to borrow, even with 4 people in the car that never rolled down a hill

GillianAnderson · 26/05/2021 20:21

D for day
N for night

Very straightforward

Jelly0naplate · 26/05/2021 20:23

We have a manual car and an auto car and switch between them without issues, you just get used to it.
Go somewhere quiet and have a practice.

purpleben · 26/05/2021 20:25

We did the same in February last year. After 20 years driving manual I switched to automatic. I was very nervous but got use to it very quickly. I'm now nervous about driving a manual again.

RedcurrantPuff · 26/05/2021 20:31

@DappledThings

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?
But if you take your foot off the brake and the car is in drive it will creep forward and then you can just accelerate. Surely? At least that’s how it works in mine
DappledThings · 26/05/2021 20:33

But if you take your foot off the brake and the car is in drive it will creep forward and then you can just accelerate. Surely? At least that’s how it works in mine
Well exactly. As I say I assumed that was the case in all circumstances but then some people started saying on steep hills you have to do an actual hills start and I can't figure out how you do that in an automatic!

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 26/05/2021 20:39

Dappled

Most people who mentioned hill starts just said may have to...not you definitely have to

Depends on the car

DappledThings · 26/05/2021 20:40

@RufustheBadgeringReindeer

Dappled

Most people who mentioned hill starts just said may have to...not you definitely have to

Depends on the car

I know. I'm just intrigued as to how you would do it on the rare occasions it might be required. It may well never be required but until today I hadn't considered it was even a remote possibility
ZenNudist · 26/05/2021 20:49

6as everyone else says it easy! Just don't do left foot breaking.

Left foot goes on the footrest and doesn't move. Right foot does was it always does and switches between acceleration and brake.

That's pretty much it apart from working out the drive and reverse position on your paddle, and park mode for when you stop.

I love my automatic. I drive around a city a lot and was mainly in traffic and its great for that. Love automatic hand brake that you just set off again and it releases. That's hard to go back to manual hand break. I kept forget ting to take it off on our hire car!!

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 26/05/2021 21:06

Its deffo one foot on brake and one on accelerator til it bites

Its everso easy....cos i can do it 😀

thoselinesjustgetfainter · 26/05/2021 23:15

@RufustheBadgeringReindeer

Its deffo one foot on brake and one on accelerator til it bites

Its everso easy....cos i can do it 😀

I've driven many automatics over the years and never had to use my left foot on the brake. That includes a Skoda that definitely did roll back on hills, not creep forward. It's so weird how you describe it! Never had to do anything special other than use the hand brake occasionally for a hill start.
Jelly0naplate · 26/05/2021 23:45

Nope never used both feet in an automatic, left foot has a little rest, right foot does the work. Hill starts hand break on and lift on accelerator till you feel it bite.

BritWifeinUSA · 27/05/2021 02:32

Of course you’ll get used to it. Give it time. I drive a manual for over 20 years in the UK then moved to the US and have not touched a manual car since I got here. I wanted to buy one but couldn’t find one for love nor money.

My only concern with an automatic is that I feel it makes me a lazy driver. Cruise control on, automatic transmission, and I tend to almost switch off and let the car drive itself. I have to force myself to focus.

PickleSarnie · 27/05/2021 08:00

I don't understand everyone having to do a brake/accelerator combo for hillstarts.

You won't need to worry about that OP, just take your foot off brake and press accelerator. It won't roll back.

Also, when at traffic lights or stuck in stationary traffic, push the break really firmly and you should get a little "hold" sign pop up on your dash. If you do (i don't have an A class but assuming it will have it too) then you can take foot off the brake and it won't roll forward.

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 27/05/2021 08:13

I don't understand everyone having to do a brake/accelerator combo for hillstarts

No one has said everyone

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 27/05/2021 08:19

@PickleSarnie

I don't understand everyone having to do a brake/accelerator combo for hillstarts.

You won't need to worry about that OP, just take your foot off brake and press accelerator. It won't roll back.

Also, when at traffic lights or stuck in stationary traffic, push the break really firmly and you should get a little "hold" sign pop up on your dash. If you do (i don't have an A class but assuming it will have it too) then you can take foot off the brake and it won't roll forward.

Not all automatics have the “hold” function if you press right down on the brake, which is a me because it is a good idea. DH’s does (Land Rover) but mine doesn’t (Mini).
RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 27/05/2021 08:24

Not all automatics have the “hold” function if you press right down on the brake, which is a me because it is a good idea. DH’s does (Land Rover) but mine doesn’t (Mini)

Ive no idea if my new car does this...gonna check

The old car didn’t cos it was 19 years old

RedcurrantPuff · 27/05/2021 08:25

I didn’t know about the hill start brake/accelerator combo on some autos. When I get my next one I’ll make sure to test it on hills before I buy!

StCharlotte · 27/05/2021 08:29

@changi

The is less to do than in a manual. You only have to touch the selector lever when you set off, reverse or park. Just pull your left leg back against the seat until you get used to it.
Or take your left shoe off (advice from a care salesman) until you get used to it.
PickleSarnie · 27/05/2021 08:39

Not all automatics have the “hold” function if you press right down on the brake

The OP said her car was a Mercedes though and mine has a hold function so assuming hers does too.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 27/05/2021 09:09

@PickleSarnie

Not all automatics have the “hold” function if you press right down on the brake

The OP said her car was a Mercedes though and mine has a hold function so assuming hers does too.

Oh sorry 🙈 missed that!