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!

To get the best from a manual you need the right sort of car and the right sort of driving conditions. If you enjoy reading the road, getting the best out of your car, don't do much town or motorway driving and want a small nippy car, get a manual. Otherwise get an automatic. There's no point in a manual if you do a lot of stop/start driving or motorway cruising, however good a driver you are.

Many (most?) automatics have some sort of manual override so you can still use your manual driving skills when you see fit. But some of them (like double declutching) have been unnecessary for years as cars have become more sophisticated.

I got an automatic car as my husband has a disability and can't drive manual. I would never go back to manual. It is so so easy. I suppose in theory easier to just put your foot down and speed but I suppose that says more about your FILs driving ability, or not, that he doesn't think speed can be controlled 🙄🤣

I will never go back to stick shift, I don't understand the angst some people have about it.

Automatics are so much better

I've gad both. However having driven manual for 20 years I found driving automatic vans at work challenging because I kept slamming the brakes on because my foot would instinctively go to the clutch to slow down

I hate auto boxes with a passion. Takes away my control over revs which takes away some of my fun of driving.
OH's pick up truck is auto, and its so dull, certainly doesn't make me speed.

But i guess if you don't really like driving that much then it makes no difference.

I passed my test in the 1970s on a manual.

I haven't driven one since.

Automatics are the only way.

I have had an automatic car for 4 years as it is a hybrid. I had to drive a sick colleague home as we car share; I was like a kangaroo as I kept forgetting to put the clutch in at roundabouts and junctions! 🙈
I will never drive a manual through choice again. We are buying an electric car
So definitely won't go back

You can get automatics with paddle gear shifts.Should you want a sporty approach to driving, you can have manual override to change down.

Automatics are better for less confident drivers. We’ve had Porsche 911s though. Automatic with manual options. EVs are surely all automatic? I’d just avoid very small engine autos as it sucks the power.

I switched to Autos a few years ago after getting one as a courtesy car.

I don't care if it's lazy, I like it. I borrowed my friend's manual car recently, and whilst I did quite enjoy it - having every limb engaged in driving like some kind of madly swimming frog - I was glad to get back to my automatic.

So I do warn you - if you switch, you'll not want to go back :)

We have automatics, because we do a lot of motorway driving and found the constant stop/start in traffic jams tiring.

I don’t see why there’s more chance of speeding in an automatic compared to a manual? You use the accelerator in both the same way? It’s the gears and clutch that’s different?

We have a satnav/information screen in our car, to tell us the speed limit of wherever we are. We both use cruise control within the speed limit most of the time, according to the weather conditions, as we can’t afford to lose our licenses due to speeding points.

Defo do what you feel comfy with

I have a Manuel but may swap when the time comes to get a new un

We have a satnav/information screen in our car, to tell us the speed limit of wherever we are

I get this on Google maps on my phone anyway. Everyone does.

@RampantIvy

We were driving round country lanes in rural Cheshire on Monday - no phone reception and therefore no Google maps! Not for the first time either. I’ve had similar problems on holidays in the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales, Devon….often National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty!

Another advantage is that you can’t burn out the clutch. A significant number of drivers ride the clutch when stop start driving, we had a neighbour who left for work at 7am every morning, and every morning my DH would physically cringed and comment that she would be needing a new clutch. DH worked in the Motor Factor trade and their biggest bugbear when it came to warranty was having to replace new clutches. The mechanics would shrug and say it’s under warranty but then admit that the customer usually got through a new clutch every year.

A good mechanic will often suggest that a driver who burns out clutches regularly considers changing to an automatic.

I do. My Dh thinks I’m odd but I was taught to make sure that other road users knew what my intentions were.

One clutch in 18 yrs suggests that you use the clutch properly. I know people who have their clutch replaced every two years. Clutch wear is very much down to driving style ( or rather crap clutch use).
In 40 yrs of driving I’ve never had a clutch replaced. Actually I had one replaced within a month of buying a brand new car, the clutch was faulty in that case.

You certainly can damage clutches on automatics although nowhere near as easily as you can on manual cars.

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. My automatic has a "launch control" mode (which I've never used) which you just engage and floor the accelerator and it goes off as quickly as possible. I am sure it would beat 99% of manual drivers in an identical car. Sorry boy racers.

I don't believe automatics make it easier to exceed the speed limits, although there is probably some correlation between a person wanting driving to be as easy as possible and require as little thought as possible and accidentally going faster than the limit. The same sort of person who wants an automatic because "it's easier to control kids fighting in the back" like someone said on here earlier is probably the same sort of person who is not paying full attention to the road and the limits.

I mean I don't think automatics generally encourage you to speed, but you get the irony here, right ?

Wow, thank you for so many replies. I definitely feel better about wanting an automatic. I'll book a test drive soon and see how it goes.
I think it could make me a more relaxed driver, if I don't have to worry about gear changes in the awful traffic we get here.

Interestingly enough, all people I talked to who drive automatics really recommend them. It's the manual drivers who try to talk me out of it!