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Child Item

First car - automatic

ftm2008

I am currently teaching my daughter to drive. she is v eager and would like to be driving her own car by the start of her 2nd year in college in Sept.

So to speed up the ease of learning and getting a license, I was looking for a suitable automatic.

This obviously hugely cuts down on choice so looking for some advice from the experts.

Budget would be 5k or so and best to be sub 1.4l. Are there any reliable auto's in this range.

I have thought about a leaf/zoe option as the daily commute is sub 50km but thinking it would tie her to not been able to do a longer commute down the line plus been her 1st car it maybe an extra worry she would not need.

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Wood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121733001#Comment_121733001

My wife got a march last year (12 months NCT, for c.a. €3000, it was a 2006 to be fair). It was her first automatic car, she had failed 3 driving tests in a manual, all for clutch control/coasting. Got a test two weeks after buying the march(she was already on the list) and passed with no faults.

Manuals are a dying breed. With hybrid tech and EVs being pushed i think the manual gearbox on personal vehicles could be gone by the time the diesel ban enters in 2030. So there will be a lot more options then, you're not spoilt for choice at the moment, but the march is a solid option with loads of cheap spare parts available and they run on very little fuel. Plus it's like driving a go-kart.

I love my manual but I can really see the benefits of an automatic. It wouldn't bother me at all if had to drive auto for the rest of my days.

tabby aspreme

Keep learning in the manual if you can, it gives you way more options for a cheap first car, our youngest passed her test in a manual car last week, despite doing all her driving, except for lessons, in automatic cars, there were plenty of arguments about it but she now sees the advantages having discovered car prices on Done Deal, though nothing will be bought till after the leaving cert .

ftm2008

Ya exactly that.. not pulled the trigger on a purchase yet., going ahead learning in my manual for a bit.. so giving it a bit more time and by then she will have more options with manual included . small autos are v limited as you see

deegs

What did you end up getting? My 20 year old is learning now and we are looking at similar auto cars in the 5k range... there is not many options with decent mileage... crazy the price increase in the last 4 years!

Looking at vitz/yaris or march/micra. not sure bout insuring them tho, but decent condition/mileage on them.

jackofalltrades

My advice to parents would be to let them drive what they want to drive. I don't think the same enthusiasm for driving exists amongst the younger generations these day than existed back in our days.

Maybe bring them car shopping, so they know they'll have less choice in automatics in the bargain end of the car market when they do get their own car.

I'd only recommend pushing them to drive a manual if they want to drive professionally.

With regards car rental, most places you need to have a drivers licence for 2 years before they'll let you rent. After that there's going to be a load of places that won't rent to them or make it very expensive until they turn 25. By the time they hit that age they'll have no problem renting an automatic. And to be fair I've had no issues getting an automatic recently due to the prevalence of hybrid cars.

freshpopcorn

I passed my test in recent years OP.

I struggled a little with gears and wanted to go automatic..

I read all the threads on here about how everything as going auto soon, it's easier, you don't have to think about changing gears, more time to focus on the road, etc. It was really sold to me.

However I had access to a manual car and it would have cost me a few €1000's to change. I was very tempted to take the plunge but relatives encouraged me to stick at it as did my driving instructor.

I stuck at it tough. Essentially for myself and most people I know it takes a few extra hours/days of starting/stopping to get use to a manual. As somebody else said find somewhere quiet to practice. It all then gels together.

I'm happy I did it because

I can now drive a manual or automatic be it for fun, practical, etc.

It will allow me to buy a cheap runabout of any size without limiting myself in the future.

If I went own the auto route and I needed to drive a manual it would mean doing another driving test.

Silly but I challenged myself and I didn't give up.

harmless

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121599951#Comment_121599951

Nope

https://www.ndls.ie/about/upgrade-an-automatic-car-licence-to-manual-licence.html

Samson1

Check this out, but if I am correct I believe that the licensing system has changed. I am told that, because of the proliferation of hybrid cars (and some EV's) all of which which are automatic, that if you do your test now in an automatic, the licence you receive is no longer marked "automatic". i.e. your new licence will cover you to drive all cars.

And as for the views expressed that "learning in a manual makes you a better driver", nonsense !

harmless

While most posts are correct in stating that most cars in the future will be automatics.

I don't think it's a good argument to think it will speed things up. Learning to drive manual can take weeks but it takes months to prepair for the test.

You can be graded for incorrect use of gear or clutch in the test but I suspect very few people fail their test for this.

Also teaching family can be difficult as people tend to listen to instruction better from an official. So perhaps give her a few lessons with an instructor and see if they believe manual will be an issue for her.

wandererz

Even though I linked an automatic car above, I would suggest continuing to teach her on manual and she does her test on a manual.

But buy the automatic anyway.

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121591488#Comment_121591488

Actually, I kinda disagree.

If they're complete beginners to road vehicles, or stressed about it, then an automatic allows them learn about driving: roads, traffic, speed, distance & hazard perception without the 'baggage' of clutches & gearchanges etc.

Once they have an amount of that done, you could introduce the manual car component.

My 2 did that, but took their test in manuals and it worked out well for both.

djan

I would definitely go for a manual as while an automatic is easier to pick up, a manual won't automatically make you a better driver. The great thing about learning manual is that you can get a much better car for your money which is a big thing when budget is tight and will probably be the car for a while.

If struggling with manual just do hours of stop start and hill starts in industrial estates/car parks until it becomes second nature. A big reason why people struggle with manual is because they hit the road without being fully competent in clutch control, setting off and changing gears.

Furthermore, if she is looking to travel abroad and rent a car, unless in USA, it will be much more expensive to get an automatic if available at all and all round avoids any hassle with not being able to drive certain vehicles.

hoodie6029

There seems to be a mental block around doing the test in an auto in Ireland.

You can always go back and do it again in a manual if you need to for work. You’d be a much more experienced driver by then and find the test much easier.

A lot of the reason, men primarily, wanted to learn in manuals is that they needed it if they wanted to get a driving job or go on to be bus and lorry drivers. Even now, a huge proportion of the large vehicles on the road now are autos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595409#Comment_121595409

Let them laugh. She’ll be the one with the freedom of a car while they’re still relying on their folks for lifts!

Boardnashea

I have two young people in the family and I wish they were as proactive as your daughter OP. One of mine is going for outdoor type career and so, I would definitely recommend a manual license when they get started. The other is more inclined to a indoor career, and initially didn't see any need for a driving license at all! but is coming round to thinking about it now that they are renting in a town away from home or city. I would be happy enough if they went for an auto test because in all likelihood they will never get to drive a manual. However there are still a lot of manual cars about - especially in the price ranges that young people will be looking at and the auto license is going to restrict choices.

kaahooters

theres absolutly loads of options for small autos, most are going to be hybryds, so decent l/100km.

honda jazz / fit

yaris

prius c (i think)

then you could get slightly bigger, like an older insight.

millage shouldbnt matter on them, hybrids are all bulletproof.

ftm2008

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594819#Comment_121594819

so sorry if i came of as negative to your response. i appreciate all opinions even if I disagree. who's to say who is right... anyways my daughter told me that her friends would laugh if she got an auto so i guess its me who's the dinosaur 🙈

wandererz

09 Corsa Auto, 55000km

€4150

http://www.adverts.ie/32604260

Montage of Feck

I give up! Buy an auto, manuals are now just for ~~motoring enthusiasts~~ dinosaurs like me, lol.

ftm2008

I have rented cars in the US and across Europe where i get an auto normally.. as clo-clo says changing gears had nothing to do with a drivers competence being the wheel..

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594707#Comment_121594707

Nonsense. The control of a car has nothing to do with changing gears.

A person with a license with only automatic is no less of a driver than someone with a manual. I have a manual license by the way and so thankful we moved away from manual years ago.

Montage of Feck

I won't disagree that autos have a place but manual will always be best for driver involvement and control. Learning to drive a manual will make the learner a better driver even if they're likely to get rarer.

ftm2008

Agreed.. I’ve been driving manuals for almost 30 yrs.. looking forward to the smooth easy drive of an ev personally!

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121593801#Comment_121593801

She isn't, even my Dad who hated auto's, now drives an auto and would never look back. Manual is so 80/90's 😂

ftm2008

I have a saved search in DD for autos sub 1.4 (2.0l. diesel 😮 def ain’t an option) and will keep an eye out for when she’s ready to purchase. May need to stretch the budget a little from what i see. For sure the future ev so not worried about missing out on the manual boat as there will be plenty of auto options for the 2nd car., but she’ll continue to get her lessons in a manual s-max 😀

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058330424/first-car-automatic

Go to Carzone or DoneDeal and reduce the list to auto only and price range

Honda Jazz, not exciting but works etc might do the job. I would put the price range to 6k and see if you can prove it down.

The Skoda and Seat smaller cars seems to pop up as well on done deal

Nissan March as well, most Nissan are fairly rock solid from my own history

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121592103#Comment_121592103

The markets like the US have moved to automatics only, Europe will follow suit, especially with more electric and hybrid cars. Even tractors now are automatic

Having a manual license will soon be no advantage unless you work in construction or farming

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121590895#Comment_121590895

Wow, presuming this post is a joke. ‘No experts here’ and proceeds to talk excrement.

Of course learning in an auto is easier and quicker. Personally know two people who passed the test very quickly after switching to auto.

Hill start, moving off etc much easier. No marks for not changing gear in time or overrevving.

We gave up starting cars with a crank handle when electric starters came along. The manual gearbox still persists, mainly, because it is cheap to manufacture.

OP, get your daughter an auto and don’t look back!

ftm2008

Thanks for all the input.. for now I think i will continue with lessons in my manual. Its for sure gonna give more options when the time comes to purchase.

btw @Iguarantee she is financing this all by herself, so she is the one who gets all the credit :)

SeanW

Be warned that if she does her test in an automatic, the certificate of competency and thus all future full driving licenses will forever be restricted to automatic transmissions only. Unfortunately AFAIK there's no way to remove an automatic restriction code from a driving license save literally getting a new unrestricted learner's permit and beginning the whole process again.

In a country like the US where everyone drives automatic and so manual cars are rare this doesn't matter, but here in Europe this will likely be a significant limitation for at least the next decade or so.

I would say look for a 2L diesel manual of some kind - I can't fully explain it but big engine diesel manuals seem at least to me to be much easier to drive. At least my experience has been that they're almost impossible to stall.

Iguarantee

My two cents as someone who enjoys driving but isn’t a car enthusiast at all:

Firstly, fair play for providing her with a car in the first place, that’s a great gift to give her!

I currently have an automatic EV car and manual diesel car. I originally learned on a manual petrol car.

The first car I drove was, in hindsight, small, cheap and drove like crap. Every car I’ve had since was an improvement.

There is a learning curve to driving, but your daughter can, quite literally, practice every spare hour she has in the day to close the gap between ignorance and competence.

I’d recommend learning on a manual, because it’s a much more involved drive, and she will learn to control the car in a more comprehensive way than an automatic car will allow. Completing your driving test in an automatic doesn’t automatically qualify you as a fully licensed driver in a manual car (I’m open to correction there).

Also, for €5k, short of buying a high mileage Mercedes or some other luxobarge, the car you do buy for that price probably be shite, underpowered and cheaply built that may be perfectly acceptable and sufficient, I’m just pointing it out

I’d guess that your range of manual options is tenfold that of automatic options (at a minimum).