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

I LOVE my automatic....stress free driving compared to a manual. Do get one, you won't regret it!

One thing quite a few people do when they switch from manual to automatic... Wonder why the bloody car won't start!

A manual car will start when in gear (then usually lurch forward and stall unless you have your foot on the clutch), many people leave their car in gear when they park.
An auto won't start unless it's in Park.

I got an electric car just over a year ago and it's so easy to drive, I love it.

I passed in a manual many many years ago and first few cars were manual, got an auto about 15years ago and would never go back. It could not be easier.

When I used to drive a manual car I hated every second of it because of fear of stalling, clutch control etc. My anxiety was through the roof. I switched to auto and now I genuinely love driving - it was life changing.

Go for it, OP!

You really shouldn’t need more lessons, it’s more about building your confidence. Perhaps book a test drive in the car you choose so you can be sure you like it, then take it out a couple of times at night/early morning over the weekend when it’s quieter on the roads to build your confidence.

It really is very straightforward and you know you are capable as you passed your test.

Yes thank you I feel like I will be ok so going to continue to search for a used auto hopefully a Fiesta or focus and practice on quiet roads etc abit disappointed no local instructor seems interested but like you said I think it’s a confidence thing so I can build it up by practice regularly on quiet roads thanks all I’m feeling a lot better about it all now

I know there's been issues between the 2 forums in the past, but if you go onto the Car Buying forum on Pistonheads and ask for advice on what cars to look at with your critera (£8k budget, auto, small-medium size, newer than 2013, etc, etc) then people will give you loads of good tips

If I were you I’d hire an automatic for a few days. Get the excess insurance, have them deliver, collect if necessary and just tootle around practicing for common routes. House- supermarket, house to work etc I really think it’d put your mind at ease.

Honestly, you've got this. Half an hour behind the wheel and it will all be second nature again.
Pistonheads is a good start, don't let that scare you, I've been on there for many years and they're a friendly bunch.

I drive both an automatic and manual. Automatics are easier but I definitely prefer a manual for day to day driving.

I've only driven automatics ever since I got my driving license. They are incredibly easy to drive. It's like you don't have to think, there's only a start and stop mode.

I passed in a manual nearly 30 years ago. haven't barely driven a manual since. My licence still says I can drive a manual car but obviously I won't go and hire one.

I used to struggle with stalling and hill starts.