learning to drive automatic cars?

H did this as he learned over here and it really turned me around on the idea. I"m sure he'd have been fine learning manual too but it was amazing how easy it was, even in the thick of Manhattan traffic.

If you struggle with the amount of things you to learn at once in a manual or feel overwhelemed in traffic then I think learning in an automatic would really help as it reduces a lot of the stress.

Basically if it's a case of learning an automatic or not learning at all then go for it, however once you can drive stick (sorry a manual) , going to an automatic is easy peasy and in the UK it can be very restrictive if you can't drive a manual car as most curtesy or hire cars are not available as automatics. Also driving an automatic is boring as hell, great for heavy traffic or long distances but just no fun.

I much prefer driving automatics - so much so I don't really understand why manual cars are so popular.

BUT, I learnt to drive in a manual to ensure I'd be able to drive any car once passed. Although if you own an automatic, there's no worries, what would you do with hire cars that tend to be manual (although you can uaually pay extra for automatic)? Or if you were provided a courtesy car by your insurance provider?

One of my mottos in life is "never close doors", in terms of ensuring you always have as many options open as possible. I'd say it applies in this situation.

Maybe i'll give manual a go and see how i manage this time, i may be a little less stressed now that i actually want to drive other than doing it because i was told to like before..x

pretty much WSS.

Learned to drive a manual so I could drive any car if needed, but after having driven a few automatic hire cars, I'ev decided that our next car will be an automatic. Although it will be one of those that you can also put into manual (but without a clutch) as it might be more economical in hill and mountain areas

Automatics scare me! I like the sense of overall control you have with a manual.

I think it would be worth persevering with manual, as it would be a PITA to be restricted in terms of the first car you buy - there are much fewer cheaper automatic cars on the second hand market, as colleagues have found. It's handy to have a full licence if you ever want to hire a van, or the such - they're manual. You also wouldn't be able to borrow or be insured on a friend/family member's vehicle if it were manual. Like Carrie said, you really want to keep options open.

If you still find you're struggling, you should consider changing instructor (my first instructor diminished my confidence) or then dropping down to automatic. You don't need to choose now. Does anyone have a car they could let you take round a car park on a Sunday afternoon (private land, therefore no non-licence issues) so you can get a feel for the clutch without pressure, and in your own time? Being able to stop and start at low speed, repeatedly and without stalling, will really help you. I struggled with this (indeed, I struggled learning to drive - 40 lessons AND I bought my own car to practise in) - but felt better once conquered.

Good luck ?

I've just recently passed my test (6 weeks ago) and HATE driving. I'm currently trying very hard to convince my husband that we should get an automatic as I'm still finding the gears very hard. He assures me that within a few more months i won't even think about gears. He dislikes automatics as he says you have less control over the car, they use more fuel, they don't slow down when you take your food off the accelerator etc. Thing is I know so many people who drove a manual for years and got an automatic as they said it's so much easier. I just know I'd be much happier not having to worry about gears or hill starts / rolling backwards!

Having said that even if we do get an automatic i think i'll be glad i've learnt in a manual as as others have said at least I have the choice now.

Thanks for that, i really had no idea but i'll be booking up today for my first 5 lessons and will definitely give manual a go. x

I learnt in a manual but now drive an automatic. I much prefer the auto but that's because I continuously stalled in my little Fiesta. It had a hydrolic clutch so the bite point was really hard to find. I'd get sooo wound up and embarassed but kept at it and got there in the end. I have a Mercedes now which just has to be auto. I can't imagine shifting gears in it, it's a purely luxurious drive rather than a racing car.

I passed my test <cough> 19 years ago <cough> on a manual and never thought Id ever drive an automatic as they scared the bejesus out of me. 6 years ago I bough a smart car which was an auto, it took some time to get used to but I loved it. I part exed the Smart for an beast of a 4x4 Mitsi Pajero which was also auto as Id got the auto bug by then. I still have the Pajero and also own a new Smart too (another auto).

I love driving autos, and im a total convert. Whenever I have a hire car in work I always have an auto, (a new mondeo TDCi auto is £3 a day more expensive to hire than a manual, so not much of a price difference)

If you feel like giving lessons on a manual another stab then go for it, as it will mean youll be able to drive anything and its much less restricitve. However if youre not getting on with it and its stressing you out, then go fo Auto lessons, driving just autos has got to be better than not driving at all.