As a family living near Plymouth, we’ve always loved exploring the stunning Devon countryside. But I’ll be honest – our old manual car made those family adventures more stressful than they needed to be. Between juggling clutch control on Devon’s notorious hills and managing restless children in the back, our road trips often felt like an endurance test.
That all changed when we decided to upgrade to an automatic. If you’re considering used cars Plymouth has to offer, let me share why choosing an automatic transmission was one of the best decisions we’ve made for our family adventures.
The Game-Changer: No More Hill Starts
Anyone who’s driven around Devon knows the county isn’t exactly flat! From steep climbs up to Dartmoor to winding coastal roads near Salcombe, Devon’s terrain can be challenging. With our old manual car, I’d often find myself frantically working the handbrake and clutch on hill starts, especially when caught in tourist traffic.
Since switching to our automatic, those white-knuckle moments have completely disappeared. Whether we’re heading up to Princetown on Dartmoor or navigating Totnes’ steep streets, the car handles everything smoothly. The children barely notice we’re climbing hills anymore, and I can focus on enjoying the spectacular scenery.
Less Stress, More Family Time
The difference in stress levels has been remarkable. Previously, navigating Plymouth’s busy Armada Way or getting stuck in Barbican traffic would leave me frazzled before we’d even reached our destination. Now, with just an accelerator and brake to worry about, I’m much more relaxed behind the wheel.
This has had a wonderful knock-on effect on our whole family dynamic. The children pick up on parental stress more than we realise, and our car journeys have become much more pleasant. We actually look forward to the drive now, rather than just enduring it.
Perfect for Devon’s Tourist Traffic
If you’ve ever tried to get to Paignton Zoo on a sunny weekend or drive through Dartmouth during regatta week, you’ll know how stop-start the traffic becomes. This is where automatic transmission really shines. In heavy traffic, there’s no constant clutch work to tire out your left leg.
We’ve found this particularly helpful when visiting popular spots like the Eden Project or Crealy Adventure Park. The approaches can get incredibly congested during peak times, but now we just relax and let the car do the work.
Better for Longer Adventures
Since making the switch, we’ve been more adventurous with our day trips. Places that previously felt too far – like Woolacombe’s beautiful beaches or mid-Devon’s charming market towns – now seem much more achievable. The reduced driving fatigue means we arrive feeling fresh and ready to explore.
Finding the Right Car
When we started looking for automatic cars for sale Plymouth dealerships offered plenty of variety. We’d assumed automatics would be harder to find or more expensive, but that wasn’t the case. We found excellent family-friendly options and felt well-supported by local dealers throughout the buying process.
Unexpected Benefits
Beyond obvious driving advantages, there have been several surprises. There’s no risk of accidentally rolling away when loading the car, and the smoother drive has been kinder to our travel-sick prone middle child.
Our Favourite Routes
We’ve rediscovered fantastic Devon routes. The A379 coastal road from Plymouth to Kingsbridge is spectacular, and now we can fully appreciate the views rather than concentrating on gear changes. The journey up to Haytor on Dartmoor has become a regular weekend trip – previously stressful steep roads are now pure enjoyment.
Making the switch to an automatic has genuinely transformed our family’s approach to exploring Devon. What used to feel like major expeditions now seem like easy afternoon trips, and our weekend adventures have become highlights rather than sources of stress.