Learning to drive in an automatic

another question

Hi,

Firstly I have tried numerous times to learn to drive in a manual but to no avail.

I was in a car a couple of months ago that was an automatic and I couldn't believe how easy they were to drive.

All my problems are to do with gear changing and stalling at traffic lights and rolling back, hillstarts and cutting out during 3 point turns and basically all of these problems are practically non existent with an automatic.

I need to get a car in the next couple of weeks but have no idea where to start. The best deals seem to be from private sellers on donedeal and carzone etc but I was told that if something goes wrong with the car I have no come-back as it is bought as is and that I would be better buying from a dealership as I will maintain my consumer rights as it would be bought in the normal course of business...is this correct?

Also, I know that generally autos are more expensive to buy but are they more expensive to insure and tax?

Do they have more problems if they are were built as manuals and modified to auto?

And finally is there any significant difference between an auto driving test and a manual driving test? like a specific turn or anything that can only be done in autos?

Thanks, any advice is much appreciated.

meep

I learned partly in an auto and found it a great way to build confidence and focus on all the other aspects of driving such as road position, observation, control etc. Gears can come later.

HOWEVER

When I showed up for my test in an auto and passed, my licence was restricted to drive autos. I had to re-sit the test in a manual at a later date to get the full license.

Furthermore, second time around, they would not accept my full licence for the second test - they insisted I needed to have a provisional licence so I found myself in the insane position of holding two licences, one full but restricted to auto and one provisional.

I never figured out the sense in this.

Now, this was 15 years ago so rules might have changed but do check all this out before you go down this road.

Peter

Faith+1

meep wrote: »

Now, this was 15 years ago so rules might have changed but do check all this out before you go down this road.

Rules haven't changed Peter!

Del2005

another question wrote: »

Hi,

Firstly I have tried numerous times to learn to drive in a manual but to no avail.

I was in a car a couple of months ago that was an automatic and I couldn't believe how easy they were to drive.

All my problems are to do with gear changing and stalling at traffic lights and rolling back, hillstarts and cutting out during 3 point turns and basically all of these problems are practically non existent with an automatic.

Auto are easier to drive. Some people say they prefer to be in control of the car with the gears, but you can learn to control the gears in an auto.

another question wrote: »

I need to get a car in the next couple of weeks but have no idea where to start. The best deals seem to be from private sellers on donedeal and carzone etc but I was told that if something goes wrong with the car I have no come-back as it is bought as is and that I would be better buying from a dealership as I will maintain my consumer rights as it would be bought in the normal course of business...is this correct?

Also, I know that generally autos are more expensive to buy but are they more expensive to insure and tax?

Do they have more problems if they are were built as manuals and modified to auto?

You have protection under the Sale of Goods and Services act if buying from a dealer, from a private sale it's buyer beware. It doesn't matter where you buy, dealer or private, you need to get a mechanic to check over the car. Have a look at this thread about buying 2nd hand cars.

Small autos aren't common here, so can command a bit of a premium. There shouldn't be any difference with insurance and tax is either cc, pre 2008, or CO2, post 2008, check HonestJohn or Parkers for the cars CO2 band. CO2 cars tax will be going up next week and the bands may be changed.

It's not cost affective to convert a car from manual to auto. Just buy an auto

another question wrote: »

And finally is there any significant difference between an auto driving test and a manual driving test? like a specific turn or anything that can only be done in autos?

Thanks, any advice is much appreciated.

AFAIK the test is the same, but you get a licence restricted to auto only. The best option may be to get yourself an auto and once you get confident driving do some lessons in a manual and then the test in a manual.

Alanstrainor

another question wrote: »

I need to get a car in the next couple of weeks but have no idea where to start. The best deals seem to be from private sellers on donedeal and carzone etc but I was told that if something goes wrong with the car I have no come-back as it is bought as is and that I would be better buying from a dealership as I will maintain my consumer rights as it would be bought in the normal course of business...is this correct?

What's the sudden rush to buy a car? Rushing these things is never a great idea.

And secondly, what's your budget? The kind of warranty you will get on cheap (sub 3000) is extremely minimal. And I would wager not worth it. I would rather buy a car off the actual owner of the car, rather than some dealer. You'll have to get any car you want to buy checked out regardless.

Now, as for the Auto thing. I would strongly advise against it. Really. I think if you are in a rush to buy a car, buying a manual would mean you'll learn very fast imo. Once you buy an auto car, you can forget doing the test in a manual, as it will be outside your comfort zone.

challengemaster

meep wrote: »

Furthermore, second time around, they would not accept my full licence for the second test - they insisted I needed to have a provisional licence so I found myself in the insane position of holding two licences, one full but restricted to auto and one provisional.

I never figured out the sense in this.

Because despite someone showing competency in the driving test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, give them a car with a manual transmission and they are essentially learners, who quite possibly pose a risk to themselves or other road users. Someone who has learned in an auto and attempts to drive a manual will have no concept of gear changes, biting point, clutch use during braking, hill starts, etc.

In my opinion it makes perfect sense to require a new learner permit for a manual, and the necessity to alert other drivers with L plates that you are learning. It's much the same as the requirements for a learner permit for a car with a trailer. You know how to drive a car, but the circumstances you're used to have changed significantly enough for you to be deemed a learner.

meep

I see you're logic but I don't fully agree.

I do agree that a person passing a test in an auto should be required to retake the test in a manual to be qualified to drive that kind of car. No doubt.

However, in my view, there's no reason why the full but auto-restricted licence cannot be used for the purposes of driving as a learner and for the purposes of taking the test in a manual car.

After all, the initial provisional licence the person holds does not differentiate between manual & auto and the fact that they now hold a full/restricted licence means that they must have held a provisional in the past.

At that time, they could have driven a manual car with L plates so why not the same while holding the full/restricted licence?

Requiring drivers to apply for and hold two licences is bureaucracy gone mad.

challengemaster

meep wrote: »

At that time, they could have driven a manual car with L plates so why not the same while holding the full/restricted licence?

Requiring drivers to apply for and hold two licences is bureaucracy gone mad.

You've answered your own question tbh.

Once completing the driving test in an automatic car, they surrender their learner permit in lieu of a full license, which becomes restricted to driving automatic vehicles only.

Also you're ignoring the fact that a learner permit and a full license are actually two different licenses. They can not be used interchangeably. If you are a learner in a particular category, you are required to hold a valid learner permit in that category. Driving a manual with a full automatic license is the same thing as driving with no license.

This is the same for every other category, including car+trailer. Yes, you have a valid car license, but you're required to hold a valid learner permit for the category you're learning in.