Automatic or manual?

[SummerRain41287]

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?

Or

YABU and should just practice for a manual licence.

I learned to drive and took my test in a manual (many years ago.) 1st car paid for though was an automatic x dp got it for me. I wasn't pleased at the time.
Because I took my test in a manual I am legal to drive both.
I find the automatic much easier to drive and feel much more comfortable in it.

@FourSeasonsTotalLandscaping

Omg are you me? I'm in such a similar position. I've recently started taking lessons in an automatic and it's like night and day - so so much easier. I wish I'd done it years ago but was always swayed by people saying I wouldn't have a "proper" licence.

I no longer give a shit - I'm sick to the back teeth of having no licence at all!

Haha, twin I just simply cannot grasp the concept of the bay/parallel parking with a manual. I find it so difficult!

Thanks for all your replies, I didn't expect such a huge response. I will go through them all later!

@Svara

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.

The car dh was looking at today was a small second hand hybrid car. Hybrids have been around for quite a while at this point.

Do automatic. I did 6 tests in a Manual and failed. Did one in an auto and passed with 2 minors!

If you're like me my brain just can't process everything that needs to be done in a manual. In the auto it's just stop, go. Like a golf buggy! I've never struggled to find an automatic car.

If you find later on you want to drive a manual you can just take the manual test.

simply cannot grasp the concept of the bay/parallel parking with a manual. I find it so difficult!

I’m not sure that an automatic will make things like parallel parking any easier- reverse is reverse. But if you can’t pass in a manual, it’s definitely worth a try. You can always retake the manual test once you’re more experienced if you want to.

I've been driving automatics for nearly 35 years. They are the future so there's really no point learning in a manual. I've never had a problem buying any car I want or hiring one here or abroad.

Five years ago I'd said learn in a manual, but I'm not sure now. With the move to electric cars vehicles on the market will be becoming increasingly automatics. So if you think learning a manual will be really difficult go for an automatic.
I used to be very pro manual but we got an electric car last year and I love not having to change gear!

Automatic 100%

Sitting in traffic in an auto us just the best! Haha

@Svara

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

I'm not middle class and I've only driven automatics for 35 years. All my family now only drive automatics too including my husband, children and their spouses. We are all working class

@PrimroseTheSmooth

simply cannot grasp the concept of the bay/parallel parking with a manual. I find it so difficult!

I’m not sure that an automatic will make things like parallel parking any easier- reverse is reverse. But if you can’t pass in a manual, it’s definitely worth a try. You can always retake the manual test once you’re more experienced if you want to.

Yes but in an auto reverse is reverse without the clutch control and, for some people (my son included) that makes auto reversing easier.

Passed at 34 with less than 8 weeks of lessons in an automatic. Hasn't been an issue at all and my life, and my childrens, has improved SO much for being able to drive

Automatic. I am so over bothering with gears. Future cars will be automatic by default. Why learn something you'll struggle with? Don't give it another thought OP.

Automatic all the way. I don’t why it took me 20 years to realise this. It’s so wonderful and easy to drive. We live in quite a built up town, traffics everywhere. It’s nice not to keep changing gears.

Passed in a manual in 1977 . Happily drove a manual until 2010 when the best deal available on what I wanted was automatic. I would never, ever go back to manual despite driving them very happily for decades.

Auto is the way forward. DD only has an auto licence. OK she can't drive her boyfriend's car but he'll have to get an auto anyway.

Only ds drives a manual in our household now and his next car will undoubtedly be auto.

I'd have said manual a few years ago, but the future is all automatic. I think automatic is fine now.

I learned in a manual but got used to driving an automatic when living overseas where automatic was the only real option. I would never go back now.

If you're struggling with gears go for an automatic licence. You'll find driving so much pleasanter and less stressful.

I passed my test late 60s early 70s in a manual but I haven't driven one for over 30 years.

I would never go back to manual. Driving an automatic is so much more enjoyable, for me, anyway.

You will find that an automatic will be very slightly more expensive to buy than a manual but on a second hand car it doesn't make that much different and it's well worth the money.

And don't listen to anyone who tells you that automatics aren't as speedy as manuals when it come to acceleration. It might have been true once but those days are long gone.

Go for it, and good luck.

[quote SummerRain41287]@bloodywhitecat exactly what DP has been saying. We're living in different times now so maybe driving an automatic won't be classed as a "cop out" as such, as it would have been 15-20 years ago.[/quote]
Exactly this.

As an older learner honestly just do automatic

My old dad told me never to buy an automatic: he thought they were unreliable. In fact I've had automatics for twenty years and they have proved very reliable and much less effort to drive than a manual and you can override them to some extent to hold the car in a lower gear if needed. They get my vote.

Auto.

All cars in the UK will be automatic by 2030, that’s less than 8 years. And the prevalence of electric cars will only continue to increase and make auto driving more common.

I’ve driven auto for 12 years, no chance I’d want a manual now.

The other plus is that when you are older or break an ankle (left only) you can still drive despite the state of the knees. I'd recommend heated seats and steering wheel for anyone arthritic.

The disadvantages of not having a driving license are far greater than the disadvantages of "only" having an automatic license!

Just take automatic lessons.

(Advice from a 2 car household: 1 electric / 1 automatic ICE).

I was just like you and simply couldn't get to grips with gear changing and everything else at the same time.. I had many lessons and gave up in frustration each time.
I was about your age when I bought a cheap runaround automatic car (in those days there weren't so many automatics) and had lessons in it. It was a game changer. I took my test and passed first time.
I drove the car for a couple of years to gain confidence on the road and then had a few lessons and re-took my test in a manual car. Again I passed.
I might not have bothered with the second test but I needed to pass it to get a company car.
Nowadays there are so many automatic cars I would probably stick with that.
Funnily enough, once I had got to grips with the gears I preferred driving a manual car.

Automatic!
I’ve just driven 700 miles (from France) non stop. With cruise control and lane departure as well you’re barely driving now. I’m on my second automatic, would never go back (mines a Yaris…Toyota don’t make manual cars anymore).
My eldest is 16; really not sure there’s any point in him learning to drive a manual when he starts learning next year. I’m fairly sure an automatic licence will become the standard with an ‘enhanced manual’ as an optional extra in the next few years.