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!

I got an automatic after I'd had a break from driving; it was a while ago, sat navs were relatively new, so the combination was life changing.
I don't speed.
My car, a basic Honda Jazz, has got cruise control to regulate your speed, but I never use it - but potentially a useful feature if you're concerned about that.

But these are cars for sale and on the road now. Doesn't matter if it's bad design, they're out there and therefore not necessarily contributing to being safer.

There's also the people who have the better designed cars but become complacent and don't think for themselves anymore. The same people who do things like drive into rivers because the satnav said turn left.

and very weird having to keep my foot on the brake all the time when I was stationary at the roundabout to stop it creeping forward. Not all autos creep forward.

Same, I refuse to drive DHs manual now.

There is no virtue in operating gears. There is nothing forcing auto drivers to speed, I don't even expect there would be a correlation.

If electric car isn't practical, you might want to consider a hybrid. It is very smooth and very efficient when changing speed.

Exactly. Most have an "auto hold" function where if you press more firmly on the brake while stationary, it applies the handbrake.

It's all about learning how to drive your car properly and use it's features properly. Doesn't matter if you prefer manual or auto, as long as you're driving it right.

I think being able to drive a manual car is still a valuable life skill, but I drive an auto daily. It definitely is easier.

DS learnt to drive in an automatic. Rather than being flustered by trying to manage gears and road awareness he could concentrate completely on road awareness which I think is far more important than changing gears.
Another advantage was much lower insurance costs. They calculate premiums based on how many claims are made by an age group for a make and model of car. Since very few 19yr old boys drive automatic VW Polos his first insure was less than 1k for a year.

I have driven automatics for over 10yrs and was dubious at first but I will not go back to manual cars. I do a lot of rural driving on narrow roads and it so much easier without gear changing. In urban areas it certainly takes the stress out of driving. As far as speeding is concerned, most modern cars have limiters or visible warning lights on the dashboard if you are over the speed limit.

When you are looking at cars the only gadgets you need are speed recognition sensors that read the speed limit and a forward collision avoidance/warning system.

I'll never drive manual again.

My car is manual but I've driven loads of autos.

Sure it's easier to speed in a newer, more powerful car, but I didn't find it any easier because it was an auto? I don't generally speed anyway.

I’ve never driven an automatic and I’m a very good driver.

But I sort of wish I learnt in an automatic.

I found it very difficult to learn all of the checking your mirrors, putting your hands at 10 and 2, figuring out the size of the car, actually driving on the road and dealing with roundabouts and hazards etc.

But the biggest concern was the gears.
If I was able to focus on everything else and not the gears, then I would have passed much faster.

I’m considering encouraging my DD to initially learn in an automatic and then either swap to a manual just before the test or take 2 separate tests.

I’ve been driving for almost 40 years and as a young person loved driving, plus automatic was only in expensive cars and was seen as ‘lazy’.

i am now much older and wiser and all my cars for the last 25 years have been auto, yes I could drive a manual but I just don’t need to. Progress is great.

I've had apologies from at least 3 men, who used to say that 'it's not proper driving in an automatic', 'it's lazy/boring to drive an automatic', 'automatics are dangerous because you are not in control'
I told them each time that I didn't agree but couldn't be bothered to argue.

They then ended up with automatics, because of going electric, because of health reasons (left hip arthritis).

Nothing more boring than changing gear. I currently drive a manual, because it was the most suitable (inexpensive) car available. I'm an experienced driver. I was a rep doing over 60,000 miles a year in the past, and have done thousands of miles in both. All else being equal, I would opt for an automatic every time.

It depends I think on where and when you drive. I prefer the greater control of a manual car. When I had a car I lived on a steep hill.

An auto is safer on a hill start because it doesn't roll back.

Are these people 'motoring enthusiasts' by any chance?

Most new cars automatic. You have to focus on far less things and actually keep your eyes on the road. If you're worried about speeding, stick a speed limiter on. Sorted.

I'd never drive a manual car. It's like going back to doing laundry by hand again cos 'that's the proper way' or something - if something can be automated, why insist on keeping it manual?

I have driven and owned manual, automatic and electric. Never had a speed ticket in any of them.

Electric is by far my favourite.

If you're worried about speeding, stick a speed limiter on. Sorted.

Do automatics not have cruise control?

My sil has driven manuals for decades but recently got a new automatic on one of those company lease things - so price wasn't an issue. She regrets not doing it before ' I wrecked my knee on that bloody clutch pedal'.

Like manuals, some do, some don't.

I've been a driver for 30 years, recently got a Golf with DSG (basically auto+) and I won't go back to manual now.

I'm intimidated by the idea of driving an automatic as it's so different to what I'm used to! Prefer to just stick with manual.

That surprises me - I get told by friends who drive electric that they drive slower on long drives on motorways and A roads as quicker in the long run as more fuel efficient so don't need to stop and recharge as much

Been automatic for 10 years or so (I'm 52) there is no way I'd go back to manual.