Manual vs automatic

[thatguiltyfeeling]

I'm looking at doing an intensive driving course next year, and I'm wondering if manual or automatic would be best for me.
For context I had a moped for 2 years so am road conscious, I have also had around 12-15 lessons (24-30 hours) in a manual but the instructor was very intimidating and knocked my confidence a lot. I also can change gears really smoothly, they were the one thing he complimented me on, but I struggle with remembering to do the gears whilst trying to do something else rather than just going up or down a gear on a normal road. I need to pass quickly and can't spend a lot of money hence the intensive course so i don't want to be getting flustered and failing.
The course I'm looking at is £874 for a manual or £930 in an automatic for 28 hours over the week (because of my previous experience on the road I think this is the best one for me?)
Can anybody give me advise on how they've found manual vs automatic please?
Also apologies if there's a topic for this, I looked but couldn't see one.

I would go for the manual course. If you pass that you can always drive an automatic but not the otherway round.
I think if you can already change gear then the intensive course will be ideal for helping you coordinate that with the other elements of driving.

The problem with passing in an auto is that you are only thereafter able to drive an auto - if there is an emergency you won't be able to drive a manual and the overwhelming majority of hire cars are manual and if you want an auto they are so much more expensive as I recently found out - I drove a manual hire car after owning an auto for 8 years lol. I'd really try and pass the manual test even if you decide to buy an auto. I do love my auto though especially when sitting in slow moving traffic!

Yes if you’ve already started with gears stick with it... gear changes will become second nature. When you buy a car you will have so many more options and cheaper to buy and repair if you have a manual. Also much cheaper and easier to rent a car when abroad etc

I love automatic - took my test on one. Have never needed a manual even when renting abroad.

The being able to switch from manual to automatic on a manual license did make me think should I just go for it and see what happens. I might email the company and ask if I have a go in a manual and decide it's not for me after a couple days can I switch. There's another company which I can't find prices on that promise free retests if I fail which is appealing as I could always try the manual, if I fail because of the fear of gears I might be able to pay the difference for an automatic test, but their information is a bit unclear. I have a couple of months to decide anyway, but baby is asleep, housework is done, so I thought I'd look into it 😂

Agree it’s preferable to do the manual course. Then you can switch between types and also it’ll give you a better understanding of how the car works/feels. After lots of practise it all becomes second nature and your feet and hands just sort of do what they need to do without thinking about it.

However I recently switched to an automatic and love it so much I wouldn’t go back to a manual. It’s very easy, a bit like driving a toy car really so if you’re really anxious and time limited it might be better to just go for the automatic course.

@Milomonster what is it about the automatic that you love? Have you driven manual as well?

Go with a manual. It won’t take you long to change gears with confidence, you are already halfway there.

I have been driving since I was 17, (I'm 39 now) and I passed in an automatic as I just couldn't get to grips with the biting point on a clutch.

I an all of the years that I have been driving, I have never, ever had to drive another car and then say 'oh it's not an automatic, I can't.'

Every garage that I have ever used has had automatic courtesy cars as standard.

My advice, do what makes you feel confident and able, the days of 'learn in a manual and you can drive anything' are long gone.

Definitely do the manual course. It sounds like you cope well with changing gears and just need a little bit more practice and confidence.

Go for the manual. You have experience and with the right instructor you will sail through.

I think it's definitely my confidence keeping me back as I'm reading the comments about me being halfway there and thinking "but I can't get any further than that" or about being with the right instructor and I'm thinking "yeah everyone says that but what if the right instructor doesn't exist". Totally negative and not productive in the slightest, and I'm trying to make myself go back and think about the good what ifs such as "you're halfway there, so you could pick it up and be ready in just a couple of day's, you know all the forwards bits it's just reversing and manoeuvres now!" And "a female instructor who understands autism is going to be much better than a scary man who had a temper problem and they are out there!"
I really am taking everyone comments on board. I like the idea of trying a manual and if it really doesn't work out retaking in an automatic as a back up plan.

I rented in Glasgow in October for 3 days - manual was about 30 pounds a day, auto was around 300 pounds in total so in UK there was a massive difference. I had driven a manual for 20 years so was fine but still prefer my auto.