Anyone had success in an automatic car?

[Greengables4]

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.

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
and you can’t make noise after 22.00 or wash your car on a Sunday (in Switzerland)

I worked with two women in their 40s who had failed five and seven times respectively, both passed first time after lessons in automatics and are perfectly happy with their automatic-only licences!

OP I failed with manual twice and I decided to go for automatic and I passed. I have been driving automatic cars for nearly 12 years and I love it and I’m not bothered of having an automatic license only as long as I can drive everywhere and automatic cars are everywhere new and old.

Go for it OP!

Passed 1st time in an automatic (after 4 failures in a manual).

20 years later never looked back!

Passed first time in a manual and drove one for 15 years. Switched to automatic and it's so much easier for busy city driving. Not needing to think about the gears means I have more brain power to think about the road.

Honestly it's well worth trying an auto .so much easier. Tried on manual.just couldn't get the hang of it. Had a break learnt with a lady instructor. On an auto 🚘. Just looked forward to lessons instead of dreading them . Try it you won't look back

Ha ha really?!

learnt in manual, have driven hundreds of different vehicles, went out last year with intent of no but an auto. Wish I’d done it years ago. So much more relaxing. & as you get older the clutch does remind you that the knee is not as young as it used to be. Autos are terrific

I'm the other way round. Can drive perfectly in a manual geared car. Drove an automatic once and bloody hated it. OH a heavy goods driver much prefers to drive an automatic

Passed my test in a manual - after 4 attempts - but have been driving automatics for about 20 years now. Wouldn’t go back.

I passed and drive a manual, but also an automatic van. I love it. It's so easy just concentrating on driving and not gears.

Yes, it's much easier. Until I discovered MN I didn't realise that there are still so many manual cars in the UK. Automatics are far more common here (NZ).

I’ve been driving a long time, drove manuals for years until DH won a Land Rover off road driving experience day. The car was an automatic Range Rover Sport. (We had no intention of buying one). I went along, driving shot gun in the back seat. Had a great time. The salesman asked me if Id ever driven an auto. I hadn’t, so he asked if I wanted try it out. I said yes but not off road. He gave me a demo on how to drive it. It was amazing. No gears or clutch to worry about, no rolling back on hills.
About three months later we bought a semi automatic second hand Land Rover Freelander, Ive driven autos ever since. I couldn’t go back to a manual now.

I passed my test in a manual first time 😇 I’ve had an automatic for 8 years because my husband fancied one, I didn’t mind and we share a car. Husband passed second time in a manual and subsequently passed an advanced driving test in a manual. We both like the automatic and can drive either. Go for it, get an automatic. There is no shame in driving one. Also, eventually, all cars will be hybrids or electric and they’re all automatic, so manuals will be a thing of the past.

Depends. If you are struggling with operating a manual car then yes you may find an automatic much easier.
If you are failing tests because of mistakes on maneuvers/ rules of the road/ hazard perception etc then it won't necessarily help. Ask your instructor for advice.

That is so helpful 😑thankfully the OP doesn’t live in Switzerland and Swiss roads aren’t any safer than ours!

To answer your question, I would give learning in an automatic a try! Have nothing to lose. One less thing to worry about and automatic cars are the future

I failed my first test in a manual
After a break of 7 years I passed in an auto
Then after another break of 7 years I got my manual licence so I could drive our motorhome.
But I've always had an auto car, no intention of changing.

Which part of the test do you fail at?

I passed my test in a manual but have only driven automatic since. Don't think I could handle a manual now.

I knew I'd never be able to drive manual so learned in an automatic and am so happy I did. I'm only ever going to drive automatic cars so I didn't see the point in learning any other way.
Go for it!

Me too. Bad accident as a kid.

Therapy, CBT, intensive course, extra lessons, tears, sweat and blood... five failed tests...

Automatic saved me😊

Hi, I use a carpool service that offers both automatic and manual cars. I learned on manual and can still use it, but automatic is definitely more relaxed. Just one less thing to worry about. Go for it.

In 10 years time nearly all cars being produced will be automatics.

I don't like driving, I had so many lessons. I have a manual licence, I didn't switch to automatic because for me the gears aren't the issue, it's all the road rules and lane changes and fast cars all around.
Not changing gears will not give me confidence on busy roads and I am not a fan of the feel of acceleration joining a dual carriageway in DH's automatic.
I would like to like driving.
There was a company called Roads to Success in the south of England, helping people with confidence to drive or pass their test. Not sure if they are nationwide, my friend suggested them to me but still on my to do list so can't confirm if it works.

It's always baffled me why there are so many manual cars in the U.K. and why people often prefer them and /or avoid automatics. They're so much better and easier to drive.

As a PP mentioned in 10 years time with the change over to electric only for new car sales there won't be any new manual cars made because electric are only automatic

Passed test in manual but drive auto. Never going back.