Has anyone gone from driving a manual to an automatic?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

We just bought a new car today but it's an automatic which DH assuses me I will grow to totally love but when I test drove it it was sooooooooo weird! So strange not having a clutch. Have any of you gone from manual to automatic? Is it OK or am I going to crash the car????????

you'll never want to go back once you get the hang of it

It takes a few days to adjust, but driving an automatic, especially in towns, is just so much easier than a manual. We've had both over the years, currently have a manual but would love an automatic again. I hate changing gear

Top tip is to put your clutch foot somewhere different, so you don't try and use it. I used to have to clamp mine to the front of the drivers seat.

It's fine, you soon get used to grabbing at mid air when you're slowing down at least you won't stall it!

The hardest bit is going back to manual!

Yes, I did, about 5 years ago & it's so much easier to drive. You stop pushing down with your left foot on the imaginary clutch after a couple of days

I have had an automatic before (but now drive a manual again). It's weird at first but you'll get used to it. Much easier to drive in town. I doubt you'll crash

We've had an automatic for abut 5 years, and tbh, most of the time I would still prefer a manual.

I did get used to it, but wouldn't chose another one when this car dies.

It's going to be tricky I think cos the new car is an automatic but we still have DH's car which is a manual- confusing! Good tip about putting clutch foot somewher else, I was using left foot for the break and kept breaking while I was changing my imaginary gears...

I drive an automatic most of the time, but we do have a Mini Cooper which is a manual.
I do occasionally forget to change down the gears when I am driving the Mini
Ok though really, not too much of a problem.
Automatic is lovely for town driving

If you try to use your left foot for the brake it will be confusing when you drive the other car - use your right foot for both, just as you do in the manual. My car has a little plate in the floor,like a fake pedal for my left foot, so it's easy to just keep it there.

You do get used to it. Although after only driving an automatic for 3 years, I had a 3-month break from driving, due to illness. When I drove again, it took me several days to stop trying to change gear. My subconscious obviously reverted back to old habits!

Yes - you're not supposed to use your left foot at all.

We have one of each so I change to and fro. Automatics are great and very easy to drive, once you get used to the lack of pedals and the fact that it does a certain amount of moving without you doing anything.

Never mind the fake pedal on the left, I tuck my left foot right out of the way under the seat so there is no chance of mishaps. They are definitely best for sitting in traffic jams etc but they're not as much fun to drive as a manual because so much of the work is done for you.

One of the things I've noticed about automatics, and this is in Oz, so it might be the effect of being upside down and the blood rushing to the head is this. They go round corners REALLY slowly, there isn't the fine controlling of the car to get a move on. Actually there is, even in an auto, but they don't seem to use it here.

I still drive our stick shift from the UK; way more fun.