AIBU to think DD might as well learn to drive on an automatic car?

I learnt in a manual, but since my test I've only ever driven automatics. If I found myself in that position well then I'd have to call an Uber - I would struggle to drive a manual after all this time driving automatics. Yes my licence says I can, but I shudder to think what would happen if I tried.

I did auto only 11 years ago and passed first time after 16 lessons at the grand old age of 46... I have NEVER found it a problem only having a automatic license and on the two occasions I've needed a curtesy car I've had an auto and easily hired a auto on holiday..

she doesn’t ’need’ to learn in a manual, why is it an important skill?

I can’t drive a manual, I learned and passed in an automatic and have always had an automatic car. Means I can get to work, I can do my job as a community nurse, I haven’t missed out, or lost anything by not being able to drive a manual car. I’ve never had a situation where I needed to drive a manual in an emergency either. Is driving an automatic or only having an automatic license less than? I did it becuase I struggled due to my dyslexia/dyspraxia with manual driving. So I adapted and passed in the auto. Managed to get to 45 without any issues re driving abroad etc

She's also 21 so another 4 years before she can even hire a car at any reasonable cost so by then automatics will be even more standard as all the hire companies are buying electrics when buying new fleet vehicles.

It's on average an extra 20Euros a day to hire automatic in Spain.

I learnt to drive a manual and then drove automatics for years. However I wanted a fun car and bought an MX-5 (Which are almost always manual and much more fun in this configuration) and I'm glad I didn't just learn automatic. It's also more useful when we go on holiday if we want to hire a car, when we were in Italy they had very few automatic cars available and ended up with a manual Jeep.

The only problem I can think of is if she wants to hire a car while abroad. Automatics are usually very expensive outside the US and Australia.

For those saying about hiring vans or having hire cars etc where do you live? It's honestly not difficult or uncommon to be able to hire automatics.

Go automatic- it's much quicker and easier. More than half of new cars registered in the UK are now automatic (was 20% 10 years ago so step change) and this will just increase over time. I can drive a manual but haven't driven one in 20 years and probably never will again unless I suddenly decide to retrain as an HGV driver. Hire cars overseas regularly and never had a problem hiring an automatic.

All these people saying just do automatic... that's fine unless you want to hire cars abroad. Automatic costs a heck of a lot more to hire

My DM didn't learn to drive until she was 50 so it was sensible to only learn in an automatic but, when I consider my DC, they have often had to drive manual vehicles. Traveling in Asia on a gap year, temporary delivery driver job during Covid, helping on a friend's farm and volunteer work at a sanctuary collecting injured animals. Although they own automatics themselves, it would have limited their options had they not passed manual tests.

I agree with this, seems silly to limit yourself to manual, what if she wants to hire a van for moving, or a camper for a holiday, or just not be restricted in any hire care situation actually. She is also going to be limited in what she can buy for her first car unless you are going to buy her something new.

My DD has learned in a manual. Her own car is a manual but it means that if she needs to hire or borrow a car she can get either. I know that all cars will be automatic in the next 5-10 years but while they’re no the default learning manual is still a useful skill.

I wouldn't do that, otherwise she can't drive a manual if she wants to. Too restrictive.

Yep it's all the rage with the young uns

Sorry, but this simply isn’t true. In 20 years or so, the only ICE-only cars on the road will be collectors’ classics. Everything new will be hybrid or electric, which are all automatic.

Only if 'overseas' is somewhere that automatics are not the norm. There are plenty of places where manuals are more expensive because there aren't very many.

Learn in a manual.
What car is she likely to buy herself?
A manual at first due to cost.

More expensive to hire a car overseas if it's automatic but cost is definitely coming down.
Literally the only reason I can think of

I've mulled with this. She's been out in my automatic and finds it less stressful. Argument from everyone is, if she needs a hire car what if there's only manual available. And if she needs to move a manual in an emergency what will she do.

Definitely go for it. That's what we've done. It's gears, clutch etc that are the hardest part of learning. DD has had 6 lessons with her instructor and today drove with us for the first time and was amazing. It's just so much simpler and faster. We have an automatic and we bought her an automatic car so I can't imagine she'll ever drive a manual. I'd never drive one again.

Seems sensible to me. I never get the fuss people make about limiting yourself to only automatic cars as if they are a rarity.

Automatic cars are hardly uncommon and I have several friends and family members who passed in automatics and have never once faced any problem buying, hiring or having automatic cars after accidents etc. Nor have they gone on to sit a manual tests, I'm not sure why they would need to to be honest.

If you learn to drive manual you can drive anything, if you learn to drive auto you can only ever drive auto.

Seems daft to limit her!

I would lean in a manual.

My hybrid is a manual.

My dd did as we both had automatic cars.

If you did have to rush someone to hospital in their manual car, you wouldn't be able to. I don't think you can live your life thinking in that way though.