To need instruction on how to drive an automatic?

[museumum]

Is it unreasonable to feel nervous about just hopping into an automatic after driving a manual all my life?
I really feel uncomfortable. But everyone else just seems to do it with no instruction book or lessons.

Im sure I could manage in an emergency but how are you supposed to handle one? When do you use neutral? Do you keep your foot on the break in stopped traffic? Is there no equivalent to putting the hand break on at lights? It just doesn’t seem safe.

AIBU to think that the bulk of the population shouldn’t be swapping without a bit more information?

I just hold the car with the brake at traffic lights. The car cannot stall. I’ll also then put the handbrake on if on a slope. I can then release the foot break and drive off and the (electronic) hand brake goes off automatically.

I switched from manual to auto (mild hybrid not full electric) a few months ago, on the test drive I was given some instructions and that was enough. You're over-thinking it. Just tuck your left leg away so you're not tempted to use it and away you go. I never use neutral.

Just go really slow the first time. Even if you just get in, turn it on, put it into drive and go forward then stop, then put it into reverse and go backwards. Do that a few times to get a feel of the controls. Also the cars manual will explain the gearbox controls too. It feels weird at first, and you will put your left foot down for the clutch at least once until you remember! Good luck. They are great, I’ve just swapped to an auto from a manual and don’t miss it.

Driving an automatic is far far easier than a manual.
I avoided them forever until I got my current car, don't think I'll ever go back to a manual.
No instruction is needed, if you can drive a manual you can drive an auto.

You are overthinking it. D to go forward. R to go back. Park when you are done. Foot brake on stopping.

I’m saying YANBU, I was really nervous the first time I drove one but by the end of the journey I absolutely loved it. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of.

I think it is one of those things that does very quickly click and when you remember to never use your left foot it is easy.

that said no harm in contacting an automatic driving instructor and asking about a couple of lessons if you feel it would help. Or do you have someone with an automatic who would go out with you?

I was also very nervous, but was surprised at how easy it was to pick up. I now find driving with a gearstick much more tricky.

Its just stop and go. Very easy. You'll need to keep your foot on the brake at the lights, if you don't have an automatic handbrake, but most modern ones do.

We just got an automatic as a loan car while ours is in the garage and I was a bit nervous. DH gave me 2 mins instruction on the gears because he’d picked it up from the garage and I got the hang of it in about 5 minutes. Now I almost wish our regular car was automatic.

Keep your left foot on the little foot rest so you don’t use it. I’ve never used neutral, just drive for driving, reverse for reversing and park for when I’m parked.

i keep my foot on the break in traffic, my old automatic had a normal handbrake still but my new one has an electronic handbrake

it’s honestly so easy

AIBU to think that the bulk of the population shouldn’t be swapping without a bit more information?

But presumably they do have the information, we all have Google.

It’s not unlike a big go kart. So easy! No need for neutral unless you’re towing or pushing it because you’ve broken down. Drive goes forward, R goes backwards, Park when you’re done. And yes you normally keep your foot on the break in traffic. There may not be a handbrake. If there is it’s good practice to use it when you park but isn’t essential ie the car won’t roll away, it’s just better from a long term maintenance perspective.

I was thrown in the deep end when a boss asked me to move his car years ago. I worked it out carefully but since then only wanted auto cars. My ex didn’t want an auto but when I got one of my own he only wanted to drive my auto. You’ll never look back! It’s easy when P is park. R is reverse D for Drive and N for neutral which I’ve never used. Be brave give it a go as someone else suggested just practice and you’ll only need a few mins. I think it’s liberating lol

I would want a quick tutorial tbh! Then maybe a practice drive somewhere quiet.
The same as when I drive any new manual car really, takes a little while to get used to the feel of it and things like where the windscreen wiper controls are.
But most drivers used to manual will have no problem at all switching to automatic.

In my automatic neutral is for parking . You use the break as a kind of clutch when switching between drive , reverse and park/ neutral. Its very simple once you get used to it

You still have a hand brake. You can go into neutral at lights and use it if you want. I never use it, you don't really have to unless you're being towed. Note that you can only shift gears with your foot on the brake.

Brake will act as a sort of combination brake and clutch when crawling in slow traffic. You may not need gas, it will just creep along on the bite by itself. Mine does anyway. Auto is very easy, you'll get used to it quickly.

Depending on the age of the car, most have “auto hold”. I keep my foot on the brake at lights and in traffic etc, but I could take it off and the car wouldn’t move. I never use neutral, just drive, reverse and park.
All autos have a handbrake.
I’ve been driving an automatic for about six years now. Before that, I’d driven a manual for 15 years. I’d never go back to a manual now. Although I do find it easy to switch between the two (my husband has a manual).

Left foot on the little rest out of the way, P for park, D for drive and R for reverse. I use my hand or foot brake at lights as some of the ones round my way are very very slow to change but use just the footbrake in stop-start traffic unless it's somewhere with a slope.

You'll honestly be fine!

I love my automatic car after learning in and driving a manual for years. Much easier to eat and drink in the auto.

I’ve never really used neutral, just D for driving and R when reversing and Park when stopped. I use the foot break at lights, there can be a tiny roll back on a hill but it’s not far.

Not sure if it’s just my car model, but the boot only opens when the car is in Park, never had that in my old manual.

I went from manual to automatic, it is so easy. It's easier that swapping from one manual to another. No biting point to get used to. Just put your foot on go or stop. It only needs to be in neutral when you're not using it, so after you've finished driving it goes into neutral once you've parked and are about to turn it off.
The only thing you do need to watch is speed. It's easy to not realise how fast you're going when not going through gear changes.

The one things that really stumped me the few times I’ve driven an automatic is that you only need one leg. Once you remember that it’s basically the same.

I moved to automatic EV (not sure if that makes a difference). Its far easier.
It wont feel safe because you are used to having control over the whole thing. Give it a day or two and it will be fine.

You push the brake to stop and accelerator to go. Thats it. Neutral is for being stationary. I just keeo foot on brake when waiting at lights but I never used neutral in my manual car.

It takes about an hour to get used to it. It's like driving a dodgem basically. Reverse, forward, park. I put my foot on the brake at lights but if I'm at the front put it in park.

DH 'drove' a self-driving car in the US recently. Now that will blow your mind.

After I’d passed my manual driving test I used a voucher for a free lesson to have an automatic driving lesson. It was pretty pointless. They are so much easier. You just need to work out whether it will roll back on a hill.