AIBU automatic cars are easier?

[FondOfOwls]

I've been toying with an idea of getting an automatic car, when we swap our car soon. I was surprised how polarising this seems to be!
I am not a keen driver, in fact I dislike driving. I have an old manual car that makes do, but I never really got 'used to' it. I guess I just don't drive enough. I am finding it a massive pain in the arse trying to concentrate on the road, constantly changing gears in heavy traffic and trying to make sure my kids don't kill each other in the back seats.

I though getting an auto will be a way to make driving easier, DH wants to test drive one too. However DFIL, neighbours and some other people seem to think that I will be speeding in an auto (as you don't have to manually change gears) and get careless? I don't speed and we live in a heavy traffic area with roundabouts stacked on top of each other.

Apparently it's all due to my lack of experience in driving and I was told I just have to keep practising, drive every day to get used to it etc. AIBU to think I don't NEED to do that, as I don't really care to drive a manual?!
I chatted to some friends who drive autos and they love them.

YABU manual driving is a skill and getting an auto is lazy
YANBU if you don't love driving, there's no point sticking with manual for the sake of it!

EVs are pretty soulless though TBF. The fast ones do their monumental acceleration party piece well but you’re always aware of their mass. They’re not as much fun on a B road as something with half the weight, half the power and a slick manual ‘box.

The first time I drove an automatic I stuck my left foot as far into the gap between the seat and the door (steering wheel on left in the US) as I could stick it. I recommend immobilising your left leg as much a possible when you first set out.

I don't drive but my dh does. He was adamant when we bought our current car that is had to be manual. However, when he test drove it he loved the car and had the spec we wanted so being an auto was a compromise.
We have had our automatic car for almost 2 years now, and every day he gets in it and says he loves driving this car.
Shortly after we got it we had a long drive to the highlands and he says he would have been broken driving in our previous car, as he was getting increasing pain in his knee.

Love love love my automatic. No brainer

Recently changed from a manual to auto and have no idea why I didn’t do it before. It’s so much easier and I’m mad that I’ve not done it before.

I drove a manual car for years as that’s what I learned to drive in. Then I moved to the USA and it was barely an option. When I moved back to the UK I reverted to manual & very quickly realised that it was, for me, the equivalent of a non automated washing machines! I’ve driven an automatic now for sixteen years and I will only drive manual cars under duress 😂

I passed in an auto for the same reason 9 years ago, and it has not ONCE been an issue or held me back in any way. They're super easy to drive. I tried manual for ages before I switched, so I fully recommend it. In the future, they'll all be auto anyway.

In that case she could a) turn off lane assist or b) give a tiny but definite movement of the steering wheel rather than just drift out or c) be aware of the car and that it will give a tug.

We can't get an electric car as a) we're poor and b) we don't have anywhere to park/charge it but my next car is def going to be automatic. I have always driven manual but recently started wondering why? I think automatic cars have got a lot better in recent years and it seems so much easier than twatting about with a clutch.

Acceleration can be faster in a like for like manual, but it will be an incredibly small amount of drivers that can achieve this as you have to both get the revs right for maximum power and also shift quickly. One of the amusements of an automatic is seeing the car in the outside lane panting to be away first at the lights, then seeing them drop behind as they change gear.

When you test drive an automatic for the first time, it does usually take a day of driving to get used to them and not trying to press both pedals at the same time. Please do not do this as it's usually the first thing and person who is used to a manual will do. I had a lift across a hillside in an automatic 4WD truck driven by someone who used his L foot for the brake pedal, depressing it before he was off the accelerator. He couldn’t understand why we kept nearly going through the windscreen. He wouldn’t have believed it had I told him, so I just hung on tightly and kept quiet.

It's like all the people who say you aren't doing it properly if you use a sat-nav instead of a map. Not the same thing at all

I've driven an auto since I passed my test 15 years ago and have never had a speeding ticket.

@mathanxiety

I live in rural Northern Scotland. The hazards on my roads are tractors, combines, log lorries, etc.

@Shade17

I'm in a Golf GTi at the moment. The autos I drive are my Dad's and PIL's! Not a Porsche or BMW in sight!

I take your point though. I'm comparing my Golf to cars that are very different.

I'd say you have an inappropriate use of speed - just the opposite problem.

One of the amusements of an automatic is seeing the car in the outside lane panting to be away first at the lights, then seeing them drop behind as they change gear.

Obviously a more powerful manual will still smoke you though

Automatic so much better, it's impossible to stall, hill starts are easy as the car goes slightly forward when you take your foot off the brake...and you only need one foot to drive! I would recommend getting one with flappy paddles so you don't even need to think about the gearstick.

I'll have to take your word on that.

The keyword is 'average'.

The vast majority (94%) of the population of England and Wales lives in a built-up area and normally drives only short distances daily (average daily mileage is 18 miles; average annual mileage is between 6000 and 7000 miles per year).

Driving a manual is a lot more fun and the driver feels a lot more connected to the road. However, the roads in a lot of England now are so busy, that "enjoying the drive" isn't likely to happen. Automatics are so much easier for multiple roundabout, traffic jams and when navigating unknown routes. Electric cars are far better in these situations as well, less splurging from the exhaust with every acceleration.
We live in an undeveloped country so really notice the difference between our massive Toyota at home versus automatic hire cars in the UK that need barely any input (and are all the same).

I drove a manual for 20 years, switched to an Automatic a few years ago. I love it, so much easier and more relaxing, particularly in traffic. I’ve never felt any more likely to speed than in my manuals despite the fact that this car is more powerful, in fact I have much better control. When you first get one you need to firmly park your left foot on the floor or side block as you’ll keep trying to press it if you brake hard, but that urge quickly wears off!

I feel no desire to have my car be “fun”, have “soul”, or be “smoking”. I just want to easily get from A to B!