Changing from a Manual car to an Automatic after driving manual for around 50 yrs

I drive either. I find manual easier, but I don't 'stress'.

Yes it was new in 2021 so been driving an automatic since then. I’m 80 now so driving a manual a good few years.

It took a time to get used to, but I would never now go back to a manual.

I love it!

I found myself constantly going to put it in first gear when pulling away for a couple of weeks, after that I'd adjusted. From hating the concept I now love my automatic.

I like a manual car, but then I like the ‘real’ driving feel.
However, if I had to get an electric car in the future, I’d book myself into some automatic lessons.

Yes
After being resistant for some time, I did give in and buy an automatic and much prefer it.

Small cars aren't really suited to automatic, my wife had a Kia
Picanto automatic and MPG was awful, so many are self changing manuals or hybrid.
Hybrids are a very good choice because they are cheap to tax and very economical

I much prefer an automatic now but it took me a while to stop reaching for thr gear lever.

We’ve been driving a manual cars for over 50 years too. We went to buy our fourth Mazda and were told it only comes in automatic, we both looked at one another in horror we hadn’t realised .
We went home to think about it, our family and friends were telling us how easy it was and how much we’d love it so with a bit of trepidation we went for it.
So here we are two months in, I won’t say it’s been easy because it hasn’t, some of that though is because this car also has more gadgets than the other.
DH put his foot on the brake a couple of times thinking it was the clutch, which could have caused an accident, thankfully it didn’t. I’m still reaching for the gearstick and handbrake occasionally but apart from that we love it and wouldn’t swap back now.

Ours is a Fiesta, so a small car. We changed sine years ago and wouldn’t go back to manual even if someone paid us. The joy of no more hill starts alone is worth it.

We have a larger automatic and a very small automatic. I thought I would hate it but really love it. Really easy to adapt to it.

OK, some years ago now, but I never had any trouble going from my manual car abroad, to the automatic dh would hire when we were back in the U.K. for a month or so every year. I had never driven an automatic until the first time this was a necessary.
I now have a manual and am fine with driving dh’s automatic now and then.
I’m sure you will find it easy, but a test drive (preferably on quiet roads!) will help to reassure you.

David49

Small cars aren't really suited to automatic, my wife had a Kia
Picanto automatic and MPG was awful, so many are self changing manuals or hybrid.
Hybrids are a very good choice because they are cheap to tax and very economical

I suppose it depends what you mean by small? I drove a corsa automatic for many years without a problem, and I’d consider that a small car.

Looking at small automatics for £25k you can get a new VW Polo Auto - it's a DSG gearbox, gears change electronically.

Or for the same cost Toyota Yaris hybrid more economical cheaper to tax, very good reliability I would have the Yaris

Plenty of cheaper small cars new and S/H, choose one with a good dealer locally.

Oh, and the mileage per gallon was good.

I resisted for a long time preferring manual for 40+yrs but living as i did then in an extremely busy part of London I was sick of sitting in heavy traffic changing up and down gears so I then bought an automatic Corsa as I'd driven both for work I had no problem but now I wish I'd done earlier and would never go back now.

Interesting replies thankyou all

I was adamant not to go automatic so only looked at manual earlier today.

But think I will pop back with an open mind on my second visit.

Yes going to a pretty local well know dealer in my area who I trust.

Thanks again every one for your input. happy driving