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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Anyone had success in an automatic car?

85 replies

Greengables4 · 13/01/2023 13:08

I've failed 9 times in a manual for various reasons. I haven't had any driving lessons/tests in 8 years now, I got sick of failing and it became expensive.
I've found automatic lessons at the same price as manual. Know a couple of people who've said they found it much easier than manual. I've also got medication from the gp to keep my nerves under control too.
Being able to drive would halve my commute times and open up a lot of work opportunities for me so it'll be worth it.
Just interested to hear any experiences.

OP posts:

Peridot1 · 13/01/2023 13:11

I did learn in a manual and did my test in one. Took me three attempts to pass and I never felt comfortable driving really. I then ended up driving an automatic after a long time not driving for various reasons. I have never looked back. Love it. Will drive anytime anywhere now.

try a lesson in an automatic and see what you think.

BashfulClam · 13/01/2023 13:12

My mum passed in an Automatic after failing several times. It dies mean you have an automatic only licence.

Original poster

Greengables4 · 13/01/2023 13:14

I don't mind about having an automatic only licence as there are many automatics available these days for not too expensive.
It really does get me down sometimes not being able to drive, especially when you see all the threads on here about how it's a 'basic life skill' and how many people wouldn't date a non driver or assume they're entitled and get lifts everywhere.

OP posts:

Move22 · 13/01/2023 13:15

It’s the future. They’ve been around a long time, my parents drove them but now I have one there is no going back and I’ve told my kids when they learn to drive do automatic so much easier and no stalling, no roll backs on hill starts, etc!

ComtesseDeSpair · 13/01/2023 13:17

If you’ve failed that many times then I’d definitely give it a go. If not go if else not having to worry about the clutch and changing gears gives you more time to concentrate on actual manoeuvres and driving. I have a manual license but have only ever driven automatics since, it makes it so much more enjoyable, especially in the city. Automatics used to be more expensive, less reliable, more prone to gearbox issues etc but that’s no longer the case. And as all electric cars are by nature automatic, within a few years driving a manual will be a more or less redundant skill anyway.

Toomanysleepycats · 13/01/2023 13:18

I was in a couple of car accidents as a passenger in my teens. Made me really nervous and stopped me learning to drive.

I eventually took my test in an automatic. My reasoning was that I could concentrate more on the road and other traffic, if I didn’t have to think about gears and gear changing.

My driving licence restricts me to only drive automatics but it hasn’t been a problem for me. More and more people are switching to automatics as they prefer it. The only person I know is my brother, but he’s a bit of a boy racer and likes sports cars and big engines etc.

scratchyfannyofcocklane · 13/01/2023 13:18

I did and wished I'd done it sooner (instead of listening to outdated opinions)
Started in a manual,couldnt get the hang of gears,gave up for couple of years,had a few more manual lessons,gave up.....
Stopped faffing about and had 12 Auto lessons and passed 1st time aged 45.
It was honestly the best thing I have ever done and have been happily mobile for 8 years.
Havent found it a problem only having a automatic licence either - always managed to get a courtesy car and despite the opinion that automatics are more expensive to run and insure I haven't found any evidence to support this .

VinoDino · 13/01/2023 13:18

Peridot1 · 13/01/2023 13:11

try a lesson in an automatic and see what you think.

Same. Hated learning in a manual. Passed on my third time. Went straight to driving an automatic and never looked back. I'll never drive a manual again.

wowwhydoesmybackhurtwaaah · 13/01/2023 13:19

I learned to drive in an automatic and did my test, then I got a manual and had to do another test.

Not to be mean, but if you've failed 8 times, surely that's not all to do with just using a clutch and gears? Drving is so much more than that, if you couldn't learn to use gears, are you actually good at any of the rest of it? There's not really that much difference in the two types of driving.

serenghetti2011 · 13/01/2023 13:20

I learned in an auto due to dyslexia I just couldn’t do all the clutch etc together so it was a life saver for me and only have an auto license currently driving a lovely mini auto passed 15 years ago do what you need to do, funny enough the person who had to say something about it is a shit driver, can’t drive further than 5 miles out of town and crunches gears badly, driving is jerky etc and can’t reverse park. So ignore other people

Serenity45 · 13/01/2023 13:20

I'm a non driver for medical reasons. But my best friend failed 5 times in a manual before flying through her test in an automatic. She's been happily and safely driving for over 20 years now. Do it!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 13/01/2023 13:22

In Switzerland, if you fail more that 3 times they send you to a psychiatrist

TroublesomeLuck · 13/01/2023 13:23

Electric cars are (obviously) all automatic so at some point people will look back at cars with gears the same way we look back at cars with chokes. I'd go for it

Artymummy10 · 13/01/2023 13:24

I failed 5 times in a manual and passed first time in an automatic. Tbh I wouldn’t want to drive a manual now anyways, I feel much more comfortable in an automatic. Definitely worth trying in my opinion.

Hadjab · 13/01/2023 13:25

I’ve been driving an automatic for three years now, and I still haven’t got used to the fact that my left foot doesn’t have a job 🤣 If it means you’ll pass, with all the associated freedoms that come with being able to drive, then go for it!

Eatentoomanyroses · 13/01/2023 13:27

I failed three times in an automatic. I’m hopeless

SushiGo · 13/01/2023 13:29

Go for it. I struggled with manual and ended up passing the auto test.

Having an auto only license is sometimes a bit annoying. The freedom of being able to drive after a decade without is a million times more important.

Plus I feel I can concentrate better when driving as I don't have to faff around with gears.

alldaysleeper · 13/01/2023 13:30

Didn't learn to drive until in my 50's due to medical reasons. I've only ever driven automatics since I passed. I've found that it enables me to focus much more on my driving as I don't need to worry about gears changes etc. Go for it! It was life changing for me 😀

BeansOnToast32 · 13/01/2023 13:30

I had lessons in a manual, used two different instructors and absolutely hated driving and never felt ready to take a test. A few years later I gave automatic a go think I had my first lesson at the beginning of November and had passed my test by March with one minor.

Evenstar · 13/01/2023 13:33

My son in law passed in an automatic this year after trying several times to pass in a manual, he has dyspraxia so found it much better. My youngest DS who has ASD is also learning on an automatic now after failing twice on manuals.

I passed on a manual on my fourth attempt (terrible nerves in my case) but have driven an automatic for many years now and wouldn’t go back.

VapeVamp12 · 13/01/2023 13:35

I passed in a manual but my most recent car is an automatic and I would never go back to a manual. It's so much less work!

BigMandysBookClub · 13/01/2023 13:44

I passed my practical and theory first time and had about 40 lessons, but my nerves always got the better of me when driving after, and after stalling on a hill many times and struggling to get the car going on one occasion, I became terrified of driving again.

I now drive an automatic, and I am better but still don't go far. Its enough for me to get shopping done, go to town and get to work, which is enough for me. My car is out of action and I miss it.

It is hard to find cheap automatic cars if your budget is low. Most of them either have huge engines or are old and overpriced.

I know a lot of people who now happily drive round in a manual after failing several times and having 100 odd lessons. They are baffled that I'm the one with the phobia who will only drive an auto! I guess that shows a lot of it is fear more than anything.

AtomicRitual · 13/01/2023 13:50

Echoing the thoughts of many. I have a manual license, but drive an automatic car. I'll honestly never buy another manual again. I do enjoy driving a manual car, but auto is so much less stressful!

With electric being the future, very few cars will be manual anyway.

Namechangefail1234 · 13/01/2023 13:57

As many posters above, try auto. I have a manual licence, could only get my car in an automatic when I purchased from BMW... I'll tell you what, never, ever will I go back to manual again.

It's so much flipping easier to drive.

Ruthietuthie · 13/01/2023 14:01

Do it!
I failed several times, but eventually passed, all in a manual. I NEVER got to the stage of feeling confident and hated to drive. Anything that involves lots of gear changing brought me out in a cold sweat.
I then moved to the US, where automatics are the norm. It is SO EASY. Really, 100 times easier. Driving is a pleasure now. I am confident you can do it.

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