Automatic Cars

lucy_w86

I have not driven since i passed my test 2 years and 8 months ago. I am looking into getting a car and am a very nervous driver. I thought it may be a good idea to get an automatic whilst I build my confidence.

I can always go back to a manual as my driving license it for a manual.

How do you drive an automatic though?

tomstickland

Like a dodgem.
Put it into drive and press the go pedal.

Personally I think you'd be better in the long run if you start with a manual.

iolanthe07

My oh is very nervous driving a manual, but since we got an automatic she absolutely loves it. I don't much care either way, but an automatic is much less stressful to drive in cities imo. You do pay a penalty though in increased fuel consumption and sometimes a higher CO2 band than the manual equivalent.

Badger_Lady

I'm fine with a manual, but just got my first automatic with no idea how they work...

It's dead easy, like playing an arcade game (or a dodgem, as above!) and makes driving much more relaxing. Particularly good in slow / city traffic because you don't have to bother with constantly changing gear / clutch control / hill starts - the automatic does it all for you.

I've found myself getting lazier though - it seems like too much effort to use indicators or stick to speed limits now, which is totally unlike me!!! I'm concerned that I'll get used to automatic and 'forget' how to drive manually - I can imaging borrowing someone else's car, stopping at a junction and wondering why the engine stalls...

...but then, if you're just going to buy automatics for yourself and aren't regularly driving other vehicles, so what?

Inactive

You may consider finding a driving school with an automatic car and having a couple of hours practice, the instructor would show you the correct way of driving an automatic.

You could do a lot of damage to an automatic gearbox if you didn't know what you was doing.;)

lucy_w86

How much should I expect to pay for an automatic Toyota Yaris...looking at nothing older than a 2002 model?

Rikki

I have no problems changing from one car to an other, but if you are nervous driver and easily get overwhelmed in some traffic situations I would probably choose an automatic.

As for having a few lessons again, this is a great idea and just what my Mum did and it was just what she needed to boost her confidence.

Inactive

lucy_w86 wrote: »

How much should I expect to pay for an automatic Toyota Yaris...looking at nothing older than a 2002 model?

Don't you think you should get the driving sorted before looking for a car?....you may not like an automatic, once you have driven one.

Badger_Lady

Inactive wrote:

You could do a lot of damage to an automatic gearbox if you didn't know what you was doing.

How?? You're worrying me now - it seems infallible to me..? But maybe I'm doing it wrong?

lucy_w86

Inactive wrote: »

Don't you think you should get the driving sorted before looking for a car?....you may not like an automatic, once you have driven one.

Makes sense and I will but I want a rough idea as to how much I need to save as I am not a massive fan of loans and am a temp so wont get one anyway!

melancholly

lucy_w86 wrote: »

I have not driven since i passed my test 2 years and 8 months ago. I am looking into getting a car and am a very nervous driver. I thought it may be a good idea to get an automatic whilst I build my confidence.

I can always go back to a manual as my driving license it for a manual.

How do you drive an automatic though?

i'd book in for some extra lessons, just to get you back into it (although i bet you'll find it better than you think, it'll be the worrying in advance that'll be the problem!). i like driving an automatic, but for the first month i kept pushing in the non-existant clutch pedal and reaching for a non-existant gearstick! although that was better than the first time in a geared car for a few years.... stalling on a ramp in a multistory carpark and OH shouting 'put it in 3rd' about 200 yards after a roundabout!! yeah.... not my finest day of driving!