Heh, conversely you'd have a hard time getting me to drive an automatic! They are a mystery to me, I don't think I've ever even seen one o_o How do they even work? What are you supposed to do when you're driving?
Switching from manual to automatic is easier than the other way 'round. (Also,
usually improving fuel economy these days.) The simplistic approach is that your right hand stops touching the stick, and your left foot stops operating the disappeared pedal, and that's that.
Some people find it difficult to remember not to "do manual" and get ideas like tying their left shoelace to the seat to "remind" them not to use that foot anymore. They usually accept that that's a
bad idea after forgetting the first time to undo the lace before getting out of the car.
I've switched from manual to automatic about a year ago (to a
DSG, to be precise), I found it worthwhile to
do change my using the accelerator somewhat, after all. (Not that it would have been strictly necessary.) An automatic gearbox doesn't
see the upcoming traffic situation, so at times, you
do know better what gear it should go to. With seven gears, it usually
is possible to lift or lower the foot a bit to the point that the gearbox follows suit,
without reaching for the stick (which would allow me to do an outright override).
Also, pressing down the accelerator normally (say, from a standstill at a light turning green in medium-dense traffic), I found that the automatic gearbox will take about a second or a little less before the
car actually begins to accelerate. I've begun to hit the pedal that much earlier. Will probably have to get rid of
that habit real fast when(ever) I switch back to manual.
