Automatic Driving Lessons/Test - Much easier?

lc180

Ok so I've been doing lessons in a manual car and they just aren't working out for me. I struggle with the gears and progress is really quite slow. I'm kinda of a nervous/clumsy person so as you can imagine its not a good combination with learning to drive in the city!

There is a possible job promotion coming up at work and a full driving license is a must so I'm thinking of going down the Automatic route just as a means to 'get on the road' as soon as possible. I can revisit the Manual test if needed in the future.

Just wondering has anyone on here with personal experience of defecting to automatic after some manual lessons. Did you find it much easier and would you recommend it?

Witcher

How many lessons have you done?

It's easier in the sense that you have no clutch etc. to be worrying about but consider that most fail their test on observation..they've more trouble using their eyeballs than a clutch.

Are you able to practice outside of your lessons?

talla

I took this route in a round about way. Started driving at the end of May for the first time(at the age of 36) and ended up buying a BMW 520D which happened to be an automatic.
I did my first few lessons in the instructors car which was a manual and was planning to continue in the instructors car as initially wanted to do the test in a manual. My problem was switching from an automatic back to manual started to impact the lessons with the instructor.

Decided to finish out the lessons in my car and just found the progression so much easier. While I agree its all about observation causing failures in a test usually, not having to worry about a clutch or gears or the car stalling allows you to focus on the road and your surroundings.

Passed my test two weeks ago first time which was less than three months from getting behind the wheel for the first time (it was my second provisional, just never bothered taking any lessons first time round).
Dont believe I would have been personally ready for the test so soon in a manual.

No Pants

If stalling is a problem, a diesel manual might be easier.

cerastes

No Pants wrote: »

If stalling is a problem, a diesel manual might be easier.

you mean a petrol manual?

carzony

My mother did her test in an automatic car as a result she can only drive automatics, It's really a pain in the arse because if she needs a lend of a car it has to be automatic. 2 years ago we went on holidays and got trapped by the snow and the local farmer offered her his land cruiser but she had no idea how to drive it so she was stuck for 2 weeks. From my experience the automatics seem slower, heavier on fuel and very heavy on brake pads.

No Pants

cerastes wrote: »

you mean a petrol manual?

No. I must admit that my experience is limited as I've only ever driven two diesel cars (a smallish Peugeot, the model escapes me and a Kia Ceed) and they both would pull on idle. If I released the clutch on either of my petrol engined cars on idle, they'd stall.

Alanstrainor

Imo, if you go the automatic route, you simply will no go back to L plates and all that craic to get a manual license. It is a pain in the ass only having an automatic license and can cause issues in itself. I would say try a new instructor if you're still having gearing issues and see if that helps. But my advice would be to stick with the manual and get the license that way.

Best of luck:)

GvidoR

I'd say it's not worth it at all to do a test in an automatic car. You'll be restricted to driving just automatic cars. Driving a manual car is more fun - if you don't see it now, you'll see it later.

Anyway, observation and stuff like that is something you'd want to concentrate on to pass your test. Also, as said before as well, if it's a problem of stalling the car, get a diesel car for the test. Diesel cars work better at low revs. When you pass your test, then you can go ahead and get a petrol one.

cerastes

No Pants wrote: »

No. I must admit that my experience is limited as I've only ever driven two diesel cars (a smallish Peugeot, the model escapes me and a Kia Ceed) and they both would pull on idle. If I released the clutch on either of my petrol engined cars on idle, they'd stall.

Im not being critical here, but that pull on idle can really be a disadvantage, especially to a learner in my opinion. Having driven petrol and diesel cars and other diesel vehicles, I consider a small to medium sized petrol car the best option to learn in, especially for someone that says they are already nervous, so them thinking about gears, means less time on observation.
Regarding the extra pull on the diesel, I think is an added disadvantage in that it can help cause stalling and at times is less easy to ride the clutch (briefly in the effort to recover a stall happening) especially for a learner. Not to mention diesel clutches can be heavier.

While I think generally its the better option to go the manual test option myself, that is not going to suit everyone, this person sounds like they have already made the decision that manual isn't the option for them really and given a possible time limit regarding a job, Id just say they should go for the automatic option of car and test.
If they decide at a later date to do the manual, then they already have all the driving experience and observation under their belt and simply have to practice and add changing gears and then do that test, its a longer more drawn out process but one they may have to take.

I know someone that tried manual but just couldnt get it together regarding driving and gears at the same time. They moved to an automatic, initially I suggested they persist, but they knew themselves that they weren't happy with it, they have no intention of going the manual route but others might. Id rather they were in an auto as its safer for them and others, in my opinion most people would get it in the end after enough practice, I still think some of those would be better off and safer in autos. Some routes or times may even suit an auto better also.

lc180

Thanks for all the replies, I genuinely appreciate all the input!

One of the major factors I think is hampering me with the manual is practice outside of lessons, I don't have a car and kinda new in town so don't have many friends who can help me out (jeez I'm painting a really sad picture of myself!).

I know there are many disadvantages to going the automatic route but I see it as a quick fix solution for my situation, the goal will always be to get a manual license eventually, I'm hoping it might be easier if I've mastered everything else such as observation, which is something I've also struggled with, mainly because I was over thinking my cluch work.

I'm gonna book a lesson next week with an automatic car, see how it goes, see if I feel more comfortable and take it from there.

Thanks again

lc180

talla wrote: »

I took this route in a round about way. Started driving at the end of May for the first time(at the age of 36) and ended up buying a BMW 520D which happened to be an automatic.
I did my first few lessons in the instructors car which was a manual and was planning to continue in the instructors car as initially wanted to do the test in a manual. My problem was switching from an automatic back to manual started to impact the lessons with the instructor.

Decided to finish out the lessons in my car and just found the progression so much easier. While I agree its all about observation causing failures in a test usually, not having to worry about a clutch or gears or the car stalling allows you to focus on the road and your surroundings.

Passed my test two weeks ago first time which was less than three months from getting behind the wheel for the first time (it was my second provisional, just never bothered taking any lessons first time round).
Dont believe I would have been personally ready for the test so soon in a manual.

Cheers for sharing your experience. Did you find yourself picking up the basics quite quickly and start to focus on parking, 3 point turns after many lessons?

My instructor (great guy, patience of a saint) was determined to perfect my driving and changing gears before focusing on skills side of things. It seemed like every week I'd go over the same thing with little to no progression.

Del2005

lc180 wrote: »

My instructor (great guy, patience of a saint) was determined to perfect my driving and changing gears before focusing on skills side of things. It seemed like every week I'd go over the same thing with little to no progression.

I'd maybe try a different instructor before going for an automatic licence. I sometimes find when trying to learn something paying to much attention to it makes me worst. A couple of times doing the reverse in the Artic I'd make a complete mess of it, then after a short spin around the block I'd nail it. If a different instructor, or your current one, concentrated on something other than gears then you may be able to get them better. Once you do get them you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

fleet

You need practice. That's all. Lots of it.

If that means bribing a friend or paying someone to sit in with you for an hour a day for 3 weeks then do it.
There are loads of unemployed and students with full licenses. Use our crap economy to your advantage :-)

I'd challenge anyone not to be able to drive after 20 hours practice.

Start in a car park to nail the clutch, but move to the road to get the observation up.

talla

lc180 wrote: »

Cheers for sharing your experience. Did you find yourself picking up the basics quite quickly and start to focus on parking, 3 point turns after many lessons?

My instructor (great guy, patience of a saint) was determined to perfect my driving and changing gears before focusing on skills side of things. It seemed like every week I'd go over the same thing with little to no progression.

I split my time between Donegal and Dublin and I was getting lessons in both Donegal and Dublin.
My problem was moving between so many different vehicle types:
* Was initially taking lessons in a petrol manual (but two different models).
* Was then practising in my girlfriends Volvo diesel
* My own diesel automatic

All had different biting points on the clutch (with the obvious exception of the automatic).

It was just my own personal choice just to focus on the automatic and took the remainder of my lessons in my automatic.
Once I moved to the automatic for lessons, I had no issues with the turnaround, reverse around the corner etc.
I'd more describe the experience of using an automatic as "steering the car" rather than "driving the car".

I may or may not go back and re-sit the test in a manual next year sometime however there is no shortage of buying options for automatics these days.

Regardless of which way you decide to go, my opinion is just using your lessons for your driving time will not be enough. You'll need to practice outside of lessons in another car somehow and if you do decide to go the automatic route, that practice should be in an automatic.