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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:

sunshinesupermum · 26/02/2022 18:11

I have driven an automatic since I passed my test when I was 25 many years ago. I cannot understand anyone who still drives a manual. Go for it OP and best of luck with your test.

alwayswrighty · 26/02/2022 18:17

I don't feel like I'm driving unless it's manual. Having said that I have arthritis in my left hand exacerbated by driving a manual so my next car will have to be auto 😪

@SummerRain41287 do whatever makes you comfortable.

gasty · 26/02/2022 18:24

just do auto, I did as in a rush.

FloBot7 · 26/02/2022 18:34

I have a manual licence but haven't driven manual in 13 of the 15 years I've had my licence. Mostly because I moved to New Zealand where most cars were automatic and I just happened to buy one. Driving an automatic is so much easier and with the move to electric cars, automatic could become more common here. When I moved back here everyone said Automatics were expensive and unreliable but I haven't seen any evidence yet. I got a small 5 door automatic Skoda citigo on PCP 4 years ago and its £150 a month. It's passed every MOT without problems. I really like it and don't need a new car so I'm about to get a loan for the balloon payment. It's just under £2,800 (£119 per month for 3 years) but using we buy any car as a benchmark, it's worth £9,500.

Duchess379 · 26/02/2022 19:41

Just go auto. There are lots of cars about now that are auto for you to choose from. I passed in a manual but have been driving an auto for lord knows how long!

JuergenSchwarzwald · 26/02/2022 19:59

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

The reasons people give not to drive automatics "too middle class"

ChocolateCakeYum · 26/02/2022 20:00

I have an automatic license. Hated driving a manual.

All the reasons people list for manuals being better than autos in this day and age are nonsensical. They will say stuff like autos are hard to come by - never had an issue! Or that autos are unreliable - not true! Or that your license will be restricted - big deal. I have no interest in driving anything other than my own vehicle. They’ll also tell you that auto gearboxes are crap - I’ve had 2 cars (one for 3 years, the other about 2 and neither have ever had issues with the gearbox).

Autos are very good for high traffic areas with lots of stop start driving.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 26/02/2022 20:01

@Luckycloverzz

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.

This sounds highly unlikely unless the job involved driving vans/lorries. Why couldn't you use your own car?

bellac11 · 26/02/2022 20:02

I passed in an automatic and have never regretted it we have had a few vehicles and my OH is also an auto driver. I only notice the difference when someone gives me a lift in a manual and I think 'what a load of faff'

LyndaSnellsSniff · 26/02/2022 20:07

I tried to learn in a manual but it just wasn't happening. People kept telling me to stick with it because you have more choice of cars.

But I just couldn't do it so tried an auto and passed. Give an auto lesson a try and see what you think. Good luck!

lalafam · 26/02/2022 20:10

Manual really isn't that difficult when you get the hang of it.

bruce43mydog · 26/02/2022 20:13

I am still manual although my steps dad auto has me hooked 🙂

LaraT211 · 26/02/2022 20:20

Automatic is great. I have probably spent thousands on driving lessons for manuals. I did pass but it was a waste of time as I drove automatic. If I had just had automatic lessons I’m pretty sure I would have passed much quicker. With automatics there’s no worrying about stalling, hill starts etc all the things learners find hardest

EthelTheAardvark · 26/02/2022 20:22

Automatic, definitely.

I learned on a manual and, I must say, I could never understand why the gear system had to be so difficult to use. Eventually I did learn, passed my test first time, and drove perfectly happily for around 20 years using manuals. Then when my father had to give up driving he passed their automatic on to me and ever since that's what I've stuck with. I now drive a hybrid so have to have automatic anyway, but I wouldn't very willingly go back to manual. I don't feel that I have any more, or less, control of the car but I do a lot of town driving so it's great not having to keep changing gear all the time.

DD is slightly dyspraxic and struggled so much with manual gears that she nearly gave up. Eventually she decided to shift to a lovely fatherly ex-cop instructor in an automatic car and then sailed through her test. Neither she nor I have had any problems in buying cars - OK, it's a bit more expensive but worth it.

Given that the current price of oil and petrol is going to drive more and more people towards electric cars, and therefore bring down prices, I simply don't see the point of putting yourself through all the stress of learning on a system which is going to become ever more obsolete in the foreseeable future.

BurbageBrook · 26/02/2022 20:25

I learned auto and it made it a much quicker process to learn. Auto all the way!

EthelTheAardvark · 26/02/2022 20:29

@Luckycloverzz

That's pretty iffy employment practice, as it risks excluding employees with disabilities that prevent them using a manual but not an automatic. I suspect that company was pretty unusual, and in any event it's going to have to change its policies as electric cars become standard.

EthelTheAardvark · 26/02/2022 20:34

@alwayswrighty

I don't feel like I'm driving unless it's manual. Having said that I have arthritis in my left hand exacerbated by driving a manual so my next car will have to be auto 😪

@SummerRain41287 do whatever makes you comfortable.

Sheer curiosity - what do you feel like you're doing when you drive an automatic if you don't feel you're driving?

Luckycloverzz · 26/02/2022 20:47

So jobs that use company cars are quite common and varied. Carers, estate agents, gas/elec workers, and shops that do home deliveries use cars or van, even council workers often use council owned vehicles. It really depends what line of work the OP is in or may go into if job requires you to use company vehicle it will matter.

alwayswrighty · 26/02/2022 21:33

@EthelTheAardvark I have a highly modified sports car. I just like being able to drop a cog and go. I know modern automatics or sequential gears are much better but last time I drove an automatic it was sluggish.

PlanetNormal · 26/02/2022 21:37

Manual gearboxes are on their way out. In future cars will be electric so they won’t have multi-speed gearboxes at all. I would stick to automatic.

Gregsprinkles · 26/02/2022 21:54

I'd just go for automatic mow unless you want to hire a car regularly, as automatics cost so much more (currently).

Whycatspaint · 26/02/2022 22:12

Didn't pass till I was 32 and fist time in an automatic after 7 failed in a manual. Never looked back and have always driven second hand. You won't regret it!

Original poster

SummerRain41287 · 27/02/2022 07:37

@alwayswrighty

I don't feel like I'm driving unless it's manual. Having said that I have arthritis in my left hand exacerbated by driving a manual so my next car will have to be auto 😪

@SummerRain41287 do whatever makes you comfortable.

It sounds silly but that's what it feels like for me, it just feels like I'm taking the "easy" option and I don't want to be looked at strangely because I can't drive a manual. But as a pp said, eventually all cars will be automatic or electric and I never thought of it like that.

OP posts:

Original poster

SummerRain41287 · 27/02/2022 07:38

I'm so grateful for everyone's input. I don't feel like such a loser now Thank you Mumsnetters for helping me make my deicison!

OP posts:

GeneLovesJezebel · 27/02/2022 07:40

Manual always.

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