Automatic car advice please , not drove for years

[Thedreammuststayalive]

Hi hoping this is the right place to post as couldn’t find a car area.
I’m looking for advice please , back story is I passed my test first time around 8 years ago then I pretty much bought a car straight away everything was ok for a few months even drove on motorway to a holiday , then one day I stupidly made a mistake and reversed into a bollard in a car park, causing the back bumper damage. After that incident I panicked a lot and felt sick having to drive so probably driving anxiety.
I spent just over 3k on this car , I didn’t get it fixed as the damage was a scrape of paint off and it bent inwards a little.m so still ok to drive etc . Anyway my long term partner then had an issue with helping pay for the next insurance etc he works I don’t so decided as I wasn’t enjoying driving would sell the car so after approx 8 months of having this car we sold it pretty much got the 3k back so no issues.
Since then I’ve not drove however now our children are older I’d like to drive to go places and make life easier it’s quite a long walk to do shopping etc they get tired and no buses etc where we live.
My partner suggested getting a automatic as he said you can’t stall it etc so I wouldn’t panic as much , is this correct and do you think I’d be ok driving a automatic when I’ve never before ? I did used to panic and stalled a couple of times in the manual.
id be looking at hopefully a Ford fiesta 5 door 13 plate onwards and our budget is around 8k . ( this is alot and most of our savings ) but I struggle to find one under this price because auto is more expensive then manual .
i guess I’m asking if you think I’d be ok driving a automatic after not driving for around 7 years with no auto experience. I spoke to a friend irl who said I’d soon get used to it after a hour or so it’s dead easy.

thanks for any advice

It's ridiculously easy to drive an automatic! I'd try to get one with the "gear stick" in the regular place rather than one with stick gears as they can be harder to get used to. Literally stick it in D to go forward and R to go backwards. Only thing to be aware of it that the car will propel forward slightly in D (drive) or R (reverse) even if you are not pressing the accelerator.

I learned to drive only a couple of years ago (public transport where I lived before meant there was no need) and learned in an automatic. I’ve never driven a manual. I drive a Corolla now, only my second car, and it is very easy, as @tilestoclean described.

Automatics are easier to drive. Especially if you are twitchy about gear changes. Most cars will be automatic as the years go by. My automatic car beeps at me to let me know I’m reversing. Also has rear cameras: little things that make life easier.

It might not be true for everyone but many people stuff up there first car. I ruined the gearbox in mine. I had a series I of manual cars after which were fine but I do prefer the automatic I drive now.

*not driven for years

You would have to re take your test in a manual should you want to drive one.

Fortunately I won’t want to! I am more than happy with the control I have in my little old Corolla.

It's a tight budget as prices for second hand cars have gone up, but we got a brilliant little automatic four years ago for £6k so it can be done.

Automatics are definitely easier. I passed my test in a manual but haven't driven one since. You just concentrate on the road, steering, breaking, accelerating - no stress about revs and bite points and all that!

Remember your left foot should not do anything at all in an automatic. Your right foot is used for both accelerator and brake pedals, just like in a manual. This is safer.

I passed my test in a manual at 17, but then with uni and living in cities with good public transport, I didn’t own a car and drive regularly until I was 30. The first car we bought (and every car since) was an automatic. The transition was painless and I find it much easier than a manual, as you don’t have to worry about stalling when pulling away at junctions etc. I think it’s like driving a dodgem (without the bumping into things of course!) - you basically have go and stop.

The key thing to remember to start with is that you only need to use one foot (ie you only use the pedals - accelerator or brake - on their own). When we first got the automatic car, I would deliberately tuck my left foot under the seat so that I would only think to use my right one - and quickly got used to one-foot driving!

I'm a very reluctant driver, but I need to for work and learned before starting a family because I didn't think it was fair to be reliant on DH.

Until now we've had a manual car but I have been test driving some electric cars which are all automatic, and I can't believe how easy it is.

Driving confidence can take a while to build up, but it is worth it, and automatics do seem very easy to drive. Because you haven't driven much in a manual, you won't have ingrained habits to change. Just go somewhere quiet to drive around and get used to the basics.

Go for it, if public transport is poor it will make your life so much easier!

Just book an automatic lesson at BSM or somewhere and see if you like it?

To ease your anxiety why don’t you see if a driving instructor will take you out in an automatic for a couple of lessons just so you feel more comfortable with it.

I learned and passed my test in an automatic after numerous attempts to learn in a manual, it suits me perfectly, a pedal to stop and a pedal to go, like a bumper car 😂 leaving me able to focus on what's happening outside of the car.

Sounds like you need some lessons to get your confidence back up. Driving is incredibly dangerous if you're not confident or able and hitting a bollard is such a non event that to not drive for years after, I think you need training on not letting things bother you and handling driving.

Autos are easy but it doesn't sound like that's the problem.

Automatics are definitely easier. Especially things like hill starts, parking or crawling in slow traffic - the car moves forward in drive and reverse unless you press the brake, there’s no clutch control (so no stalling). You only ever use your right foot.

I do think you sound particularly anxious, so like others I’d suggest you have a few driving lessons. That way you can test out an automatic with the instructor as back up, and get some support to get your nerve back.

Thank you I am nervous about stalling so I do think an automatic will help.

They are definitely a lot easier to drive. If you're unsure though you could try to rent the car you're thinking of buying - or a similar automatic - from a car hire place for a day to give you a chance to try it.

I stopped driving for about 10 years a year or so after passing my test, then found I was having difficulty, nervous about stalling like you, so moved to an automatic. Not quite “you’ll be used to it in an hour” but it transformed my driving experience.

You could have 2 or 3 lessons in an automatic to get you started.

I haven't driven a manual in over 30 years. Autos are wonderful. You'll be fine.

After so long off the road you should not drive until you have had some refresher lessons with an instructor. They should also include motorway driving.

Good luck though!

I passed my test in a manual but I’ve driven automatic for 20+ years now and love it. Recently downsized as I walk most places so only really drive a couple of times a week and some weeks never. I’ve got an older
car that belonged to an elderly gent and only done 50k, picked her up for just over 3k and she’s a dream. My fuel is around £50 a month. Automatics are super easy to drive, good luck :)

I've always driven a manual.

However we got an automatic about a month a go. I dreaded it. All these people saying how wonderfully easy it was. I was sure I was going to prove them wrong 🤣

Well within a couple of drives I felt totally comfortable with it, and I'm not sure I would choose a manual over an automatic if I had the choice.

As long as it’s a proper automatic and doesn’t have a gear box that switches to semi / manual you won’t stall it.

Just one thing - not all modern automatics will creep in gear (forward or reverse).

My old Saab does and it's great because it will hold itself without rolling back on pretty steep hills.

My partner's newer Peugeot 3008 doesn't, so would roll back without the handbrake on (or giving it enough revs to hold in place).

However, the Peugeot has an electronic handbrake, so you just put that on, then it takes itself off as you pull away, so it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it though.

I do find his harder to park though, as it doesn't just nudge along when manoeuvring!

Get yourself some refresher lessons in an automatic and you'll feel more confident to decide whether you should go for it

Then make sure you do a test drive of whatever cars you have your eye on and dont be forced into a decision by the salesperson

Yes my OH's fiat 500 is a nightmare because I forget and end up rolling backwards!

Ive a nissan note, love it