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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Automatic or manual?

112 replies

SummerRain41287 · 26/02/2022 12:40

I'm new to mumsnet, it was recommended by a close friend of mine.

Let me get straight to the point. I am 35 years old with 1 child and I should have completed my driving test many, many years ago. Please don't judge!

I am now in the process of starting my theory practice so that I can hopefully pass and just concentrate on the driving.

Previously, I've had lessons using a manual vehicle and I just can't seem to grasp the (very basic!) concept of clutch control, changing gears smoothly and the rest of it.

DP says that it's 2022 and that most people drive automatic or dual vehicles now.

AIBU to go ahead with practising for an automatic driving licence?

YABU and should just practice for a manual licence.

OP posts:

Ylvamoon · 26/02/2022 13:37

I bought an automatic a few years ago... never looked back!
The added bonus is DH doesn’t like it, so my car is mine!

JuergenSchwarzwald · 26/02/2022 13:39

Manuals won't be around for much longer, even though you can get "mild hybrids" but I can't see them taking off.

Give it five years and most cars will be hybrid or electric so I can't see the point of buying a manual. My ds passed his test on a manual last year but only because a friend was a driving instructor and he learnt with him. I think he would have just learnt on an automatic otherwise.

My mum passed on an automatic when it wasn't trendy, but it's never held her back.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 26/02/2022 13:41

At least if you had an automatic licence you could try to get hold of an automatic car

you don't have to try - they are really very very easy to come by! DH and I haven't driven a manual in about 15 years!

ButtockUp · 26/02/2022 13:41

It took over two painful years to pass my driving test in a manual. This was nearly 40 years ago.

I've driven an automatic car for over twenty years now.
Wish I could have learned in an automatic, Would have saved so much money and frustration.

I'll never drive a manual again.
There's a steep hill with a sharp right turn near to where I live... the thought of clutches, gears and hill starts , at the same time, makes me shudder.

House2022 · 26/02/2022 13:45

Automatic! Much easier and I actually think manual will become obsolete.

CrotchetyQuaver · 26/02/2022 13:47

Just do the auto test if you feel you can't cope with clutch/gears. It's easy enough to find a secondhand little auto for not much money. I have inherited my dads old Yaris auto and I really like it. I've kept my manual tow car though but the Yaris is a lovely little runaround.
It's better to have passed your test and be independent in an automatic car that reliant on others to take you somewhere when you need them to!

Svara · 26/02/2022 13:48

Most people I know drive manual cars, guess if you mix in very middle class circles this may be different though.

HelloChompy · 26/02/2022 13:49

Definitely go for the automatic licence. I had an auto years ago and really miss it. When I change this car I will look for another auto. My OH has driven company cars for about 15 years. They were changed quite often and were all manuals when he first started. For the last few years all of the numerous works cars he's driven have been automatics.

Beees · 26/02/2022 13:50

@Svara

Most people I know drive manual cars, guess if you mix in very middle class circles this may be different though.

Why would you think you had to be in middle class circles for your friends to drive automatic cars? It's hardly a class issue.

lockdownalli · 26/02/2022 13:50

Automatic. So much easier, and all new cars will be automatic in 8 years time.

I used to get really sore wrists driving long distances in a manual, but now that just doesn't happen. I would never go back.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 26/02/2022 13:54

Four of us i this house with full driving licence. Three of us drive auto now - wouldn’t choose to ever go back (I live on a hill) and cars are not going to be manual much longer. Go gif it

OverCCCs · 26/02/2022 13:56

There is nothing inherently “lesser” about driving an automatic. It’s just a cultural holdover in the UK. In North America auto is the default and no ones goes around thinking that they and everyone they know are copping out by not driving manual (which are hard to even come by!)! Do what works best for you and gives you access to the freedom that comes with driving.

Svara · 26/02/2022 13:58

Why would you think you had to be in middle class circles for your friends to drive automatic cars? It's hardly a class issue.
Well people are talking about hybrid and electric cars. I don’t know anyone with one. Most people I know have small second hand manual cars. Most people I know are also working class. It could always be for a different reason though.

User405 · 26/02/2022 13:59

We lived in Australia for a while where automatic cars are the norm and when we moved to the uk we both opted for automatic.

My oldest has just learnt to drive and we couldn't find an automatic instructor so she ended up having to learn manual but if we had found one we definitely would have gone for it. I secretly felt a bit sorry for her as there is so much more to think about.

Once you have passed you can always retake your test in a manual in a few years if you really felt the need when you are far more confident.

Luckycloverzz · 26/02/2022 14:01

Consider trying with manual for a while longer, I went just automatic and missed out on a great job as company had cars we would need to drive and only manual. I've now gone back and got full manual licence passed. So just consider if any future job may jnclude driving company vehicles it may effect you then.

aloysiusflyte · 26/02/2022 14:02

Go for automatic, I was late coming to learning to drive (at nearly 40) tried to master a manual for 6 months and found it stressful and upsetting. Started to hate learning to drive and was considering stopping. Decided to switch to auto and passed first time 3 months later.

Auto takes all the stress out of driving in my opinion and the cars are only slightly more expensive to buy. It's the future after all!

User405 · 26/02/2022 14:02

And Summer good luck with your theory test. My dd said that she should have practiced the hazard test using a laptop and mouse because that's what she had to do on the day. She'd only done it on a touchscreen at home.

Tommika · 26/02/2022 14:02

[quote SummerRain41287]@Tommika honestly, I think it's the manoeuvres that I struggled with when practising in a manual. I found it really difficult to concentrate on the mirrors, any potential hazards, and the bloody gearstick and lowering the gears as I slowed down. It was just a complete mess. I still feel that auto is a cop out and as a pp just explained, what about if we break down in my DP's manual? Or he can't drive it for whatever reason? Then I have a problem [/quote]
It still ultimately comes down to your choice
But as you’re asking the questions my thoughts are that you have a ‘problem’ that could be solved:

Is the simple solution to go automatic
Is to approach the problem in a new way to fix it

In your example of DPs car:
If he has manual and you have automatic then he can drive either car, but with an automatic licence you cannot drive the manual
If he’s incapacited then car recovery can deal with that - he’s the only suitable driver (small print and different levels of cover will apply)
If he suddenly decides to drink when out you can take his keys off him, but the car is staying put
If one car is in the garage then you can’t drive his
If you have a manual Licence then you can take the keys and drive

But there are so many ifs and buts that could or could not happen

You aren’t a failure if you take the ‘easy’ option
But from reading your posts you’re working out the options, so my advise remains to see if there is a solution
There is so much to do all at once while driving, and if you’re not confident then they are compounded even more. An automatic Licence will take away some of that, but so will practice - as long as that practice benefits you as opposed to piling on the pressure

My advice would still be to get in some extra practice, possibly with a different person.
Ideally in a wide open empty area, so that you can focus on gear changes and the clutch
If you can’t do exactly that then try somewhere quiet, put in some practice and see if you begin to benefit
If you can’t ‘improve’ in a time suitable for you then go for the automatic route

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/automatic-vs-manual-cars-which-is-better/

Beees · 26/02/2022 14:02

Well people are talking about hybrid and electric cars. I don’t know anyone with one. Most people I know have small second hand manual cars. Most people I know are also working class. It could always be for a different reason though

Just because some people are discussing accurately that cars will be heading towards being electric or hybrid doesn't mean that automatic cars are not affordable to people who are working class. I'm not sure how much more you think an automatic car costs but the difference in price really is negligible. I suspect many of those you know actually do have automatic cars, it's so commonplace that it wouldn't even be noteworthy in a conversation.

MamaTutu2 · 26/02/2022 14:03

@SummerRain41287 I’ve been driving 10 years in an automatic, I would never have passed in a manual, it just wasn’t workable for me. I bought a cheap automatic afterwards and have never had any real problems. Would recommend 100%

User405 · 26/02/2022 14:12

Here is the first hit on auto trader for an automatic under £2000. Automatic card are not for the middle classes. They are just cars with a different gearbox.

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202212779350?postcode=ng163ej&include-delivery-option=on&sort=relevance&year-from=2009&year-to=2022&transmission=Automatic&radius=1500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&price-to=2500&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1&percentVehiclePriceDeposit=true

LadyCordeliaFitzgerald · 26/02/2022 14:17

Manual is about muscle memory and it takes a good while to build that. It’s not easy to do the driving and checking and looking at the same time so I completely understand why it’s overwhelming.

But once it clicks that’s it. It’s like riding a bicycle. Do you have access to a car and a safe place to practice stopping, starting, and changing the gears up and down. I spent a fair few hours doing this while I was learning. Instructors will take you straight out on the road after 5 minutes and it can knock your confidence quickly.

The key thing is to understand the “bite” so that you don’t burn out the clutch on a patient friend’s car. It really, really helps to be able to give this your full concentration instead of dealing with the overwhelm of everything else and trying not to kill anyone.

I love manual - I will continue to drive manual as long as I possibly can. But it’s true that might not be for much longer. So if it really isn’t possible to learn don’t worry about it. I just want you to know that lots of us thought we’d never get it and did. And that separating the mechanics of driving out from the road craft can help immensely.

Associatepeggy · 26/02/2022 14:19

I have an automatic that's not hybrid or electrical. I can drive both. Automatics are not middle class cars. Though I actually have no clue what class I am in, tbh. It all seems very complicated.

@SummerRain41287 we have been discussing this for dd. Both me and dad are of the opinion automatic is fine as she will only be driving my car anyway until she finishes uni in 4 years.

If she needs a car after that, then she will have to get an automatic. I imagine by time she is 30, automatics will be far more common.

It means passing a lot quicker and stresses her out less.

Abhannmor · 26/02/2022 14:20

A workmate used to give me a lift and one day I noticed her car was an automatic. She explained ' I only wanna drive it , not give it a hand job!' My sil changed to an automatic 2 years ago.Wishes she'd done so earlier as her knee gives her gip now.

sheusesmagazines · 26/02/2022 14:25

I got an automatic licence in 2009 and it's never been an issue. Go for auto.

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