learner driver automatic?

goldspanners

Inactive wrote: »

polite

you don't know the meaning of the word,so jeannie says?

aqueoushumour01

my mum learnt in an automatic. Personally, the gears really aren't the hardest part about driving and are really only one element. You may decide that you prefer to drive automatics in future but you may as well give yourself that choice. If I were you, I'd learn in a manual, and then you'll have a choice which type you'd prefer to drive. As mentioned above, you won't ever be able to drive a manual if you learn and pass your test in an automatic unless you redo the test at some point.

gilbert_and_sullivan

The really important thing with an older automatic is to buy only a proper 'torque converter' old school auto..these are admittedly slightly heavier on fuel than the newer type.

On some cars these new auto's are really a manual box with more electronics than you can shake a stick at....they have a computerised system whereby the basically normal clutch is operated automatically and the gears are shifted for you, the throttle realesing and reapplying automatically.

These on the whole are not pleasant to drive especially in traffic, and their long term life expectancy is not really known other than those that do go wrong prove very expensive to reapir, think in £thousands not £hundreds.

As said above, Japanese take some beating and tend to be old school proper auto's.
Maybe a case of 'if it ain't broke don't mend it'.

At all costs avoid a French make with it's 'sensodrive' or any other name they give it this week.
In fact avoid French cars like the plague unless under warranty.

I too would take the test in a manual, you may prefer to have a manual later on once you've had a few new type auto's go wrong, and then you've already got the licence.

Premier_2

valiant85 wrote: »

hi

im in my 20s and its essential i need to drive now as public transport is really not good in my area,thing is ive been reading up about automatic cars and not being good at multitasking and nervous i really think it would benefit me to learn automatic but everytime i mention it to anyone im met with the same comments about automatics being massively expensive to fix,high fuel economy,not relible,restricting,ive heard it all basically and its putting me off the idea.

now im not ever likely to get a driving job and im not a massive car enthusiast i just basically need it to get from a to b but i would be buying maybe a small 10 year old car to begin with (new driver and all...) vauxhall corsa or renault clio has my eye so what reliability can i expect from an automatic this age and what is your experience with automatic's?are they as bad as people make out in the uk?

plenty of informed advice welcome thankyou

To address the issues you've already had comments upon.

Price to fix. - generally an automatic vehicle costs about the same as a
manual to maintain.
Only if the gearbox itself (or associated components e.g clutch/torque converter) fails will the cost be more. Generally most gearboxes last the life of the vehicle and even when it does, rarely is a gearbox paid to be repaired - it's usually replaced in full with a refurbished unit.
An equivalent refurbished auto gearbox is more expensive than a manual, not not prohibitively so. e.g. on average about £700-£800 for an auto compared to £500-£600 for the equivalent manual (prices by make/model do vary)

fuel economy - again not really a huge difference. In real world driving, possibly about 10% more fuel consumption than a comparable manual at very worst, often much less difference. Don't confuse with the official stated figures which will state the opposite due to a quirk in the measurement procedure (manuals are held in specific gears during the ,measurement procedure whilst autos are free to change to obtain maximum fuel economy)

Reliability. - No significant difference (make & model dependant)

Restricting - only an issue if you wish to drive other cars. e.g. for work, hire cars (holidays), etc



However, like others I would suggest you try learning in a manual. If you pass in a manual, you can elect to drive autos thereafter. If you pass in an auto, you'll only be able to drive autos unless you take another test.

If you learn initially in an auto, it will be much harder learning again in a manual if you later decide you need to do so.

Most driving schools will allow you to start lessons in a manual and if you really have no chance of mastering it, will offer you the chance to switch to learning in an auto (perhaps with an associate school for the very small, one man/car schools)

Pssst

Forget about the reliability,price to fix and fuel consumption. All those issues are largely sorted in modern cars.

No,the main issues for you will be that you will have spent good money and will only ever be able to drive an auto. What if,at some point,you get a job that required you to drive a vehicle with a manual box?

Also,thinking about new driver insurance,your choice of car is limited and you may well end up paying more insurance. I mean how much fun would it be driving a small engined auto?

No,,dont worry about it. Get in there and learn to drive manual. Its no big deal,,your just stressing.

jeannieblue

goldspanners wrote: »

also correct

So, how's it going? Having difficulty getting thru doorways now with that huge head of yours?? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

jeannieblue

goldspanners wrote: »

you don't know the meaning of the word,so jeannie says?

Flipping cheek................. the things you say in my absence!

goldspanners

jeannieblue wrote: »

Flipping cheek................. the things you say in my absence!

you say all the time how inactive doesn't have a polite bone in his body.

jeannieblue

Now, to respond to the OP.

Yes - it is handy to learn both. But if we were in the States we wouldn't even be having this discussion as majority of their cars are auto and you have to pay extra for manual.

I wouldn't sweat the small stuff OP and if you fancy learning and driving an auto - go for it. Its your money, your car and your life style.

I can drive both. I have for the past 10 years driven auto. It suits me as I am lazy, spend most of my commute in traffic jams and occasionally my back plays up (goldspanners is responsible ).

I don't find nor care if my car does cost a tad more to run nor do I care if it emits slightly higher emissions. I do care that my road tax is higher but I blame that on the so called scientists who tell me I am killing off polar bears and tax me higher because of this.... :rolleyes:

OP - do NOT buy a car that has a manual gearbox with an electronic clutch, they are rubbish. Buy a decent sized car with a fully automatic gear box. I drive a Focus, I would buy Japanese and I wouldn't touch French or Italian.

If later you decide that you want to learn manual, then you can take that test then. And to the folks that think manuals are better 'because you have more control' - I say rubbish!!

jeannieblue

goldspanners wrote: »

you say all the time how inactive doesn't have a polite bone in his body.

He's got his cute side.........