Should I learn manual or automatic?

[5050not]

I’ve had 8 or 9 lessons in a manual car and just don’t seem to be getting it. Sometimes I do really well but then I make a mistake and my instructors response kind of breaks my confidence a bit. I’m quite an anxious person which increases ten fold behind the wheel of a car

Yeah that’s also the thing - the car I was intending to get once I passed my test was an electric car (Zoe) that only comes as an automatic. I was learning manual just because everyone always says you need to..

I'll also be moving to an automatic at some point. My pelvis isn't straight and my hip can get painful after a while using a clutch but I'm glad I learned in a manual.

I used to be a driving instructor and it's definitely the instructor that's the problem here. Most people wouldn't be able to learn with someone bashing your confidence like that. Learning to drive a manual does take time it's normal but definitely worth pursuing as when you pass your test you'll be able to drive both.

If you really can't face complaining about him I'd just ask for another instructor on the grounds of a personality clash, it wasn't uncommon where I worked (also a large company). Please don't blame yourself for any of this.

Don't know what the obsession is with manual cars in this country. As was said upthread, in a few years time when electric cars are more the norm, manual transmissions will be a thing of the past. Why make it any harder for yourself?

I hated every minute learning to drive in a manual car. I've driven automatics since was 16 (in America). When I moved to the UK, I took dozens upon dozens of lessons in a manual, only to fail my test a number of times. Switched to automatic, it was a breeze. It wasn't me, it was the car!

You really don’t need to. Do what’s right for you.

Manual- if the problem is the instructor then change to another one.

Automatic everytime. What’s the point learning manual when they’ll all be auto soon enough.

Complain about the instructor.
You have paid a lot of money for someone to instruct, teach and build you up and instead they are putting you down and making sexist comments.
Do not feel bad about this, if he wasn't acting like he is you wouldn't have anything to complain about. It is on him not you.
You are the customer here, assert yourself.

(No comment on manual v automatic but reading your posts made me so cross on your behalf).

It used to be that automatics were more expensive, less economic and more complex. So manual cars made much more sense.
This is no longer true and automatic/EVs will be the default before too long.
Switching to an auto and finding a better instructor would be best.

I have a manual lic but bought an automatic after 20 years and would never go back. Dd is learning in an auto.

Just do automatic! It’s so much less stressful, in 10 years most cars will be automatic as we move to electric, and how often do you actually hire a car anyway?

Automatic 100%. I passed quickly in a manual and didn’t find driving that challenging and I still think it would have made more sense to do automatic. I drive an automatic now after only buying manual and it’s honestly amazing not having to worry about messing around with gears in traffic. Just do whatever is easiest for you to pass! Are you really going to regret the fact you don’t have to change gear constantly? In other countries the majority of people drive automatic as standard!

I knew someone that learned in automatic as he thought it wld be quicker, it wasn't! Now he's stuck having to buy more expensive cars and it will be harder to sell them too.

If your instructor isn't encouraging or isn't saying the right things then go with someone else. The instructor does make a difference. It's so expensive don't waste ur time with someone that is shattering your confidence.

Definitely change instructor. Mine was so so patient with me. I remember getting worried as I was at a junction and there were cars behind me, and I couldn't move as the traffic was solid and he said "there will always be a gap, don't let others rush you"
Even now in my head if it's taking ages to move out I say that to myself. He also did pass plus with me and we went on the motorway etc in my little battered fiat Uno and he looked at the car and went "well it's virtually all glass so great for a new driver"

I passed in a automatic 40 years ago and have had no problem buying automatic cars.

I passed (4th time!) in a manual, but after 5yrs swopped to automatic cars, love it super easy and wouldn't go back to a manual. No shame in doing your automatic test ,my DS is about to start to learn in an Auto as she feels it would be less stressful . But I'd get rid of your instructor first, sounds like a right twat.

I definitely agree you need to change instructor. I had three instructors- the first was horrible, the second was ok but not reliable and not thorough, the third was absolutely amazing.

I was considering learning automatic only. I disagree with everyone on here who is suggesting you will be severely limited if you only do automatic- yes it obviously has limitations but realistically how often are you ever going to hire a car? My parents have been driving for 40+ years and hired a car on holiday once, that is it. It depends on your circumstances and in some ways on your age- I learned recently in my early 30s and to be honest, it is not driving which is completely restricting, not whether you drive an automatic or manual!

In the end I persisted with manual, as certainly in my area it can be incredibly hard to find instructors who teach automatic, and I also found such a wonderful instructor who was reliable, a great teacher, and she was so kind and understanding of my nerves. I somehow passed first time with two minors- I lost track of the lessons it took to get me to that point and it was all worth it.

Keep going OP, you'll be able to do it. If you're in the south west, PM me, I know it's a long shot but my instructor was great, you need someone like her!

My mum just couldn’t do manual so she now has an automatic licence. You can also buy a semi automatic vehicle. I have a manual licence but hate manual cars so but automatics.

I learned in a manual because back then all the stuff that people are saying above was true, but I've been driving an automatic for over a decade. I don't think it's more expensive to run, it's massively more comfortable to drive in stop-start city traffic and as a family we are moving over to electric/hybrid anyway so we'll always be in automatics.

Whether or not you can hire an automatic car depends on which country you're in, I've just had a quick look in my country and you definitely can get a wide range of automatic hire cars. Do a quick check for yourself in countries that you are likely to holiday in and see what's on offer. Some countries, like the USA, are majority automatic. If you have any coordination issues then you probably won't want to hire a manual in an opposite side of the road country anyway as it may take a while to get used to changing gear with the other hand.

The only myth about the downsides of automatics that is actually true is that it's more effort to find a second hand automatic than manual. But still not impossible and as electric cars become the norm there will be plenty of second hand ones in the next 5 years or so.

Most of the anti-automatic sentiment boils down to snobbery, it's not 'really driving'. Like some people consider buying frozen chopped onions means that you're not 'really cooking'.

my instructors response kind of breaks my confidence a bit

Your instructor is really not helping here. Find a different instructor.

I used to be a big fan of manual gear boxes. Nowadays, I drive an automatic. I can't remember when I last had a hire car which was not automatic.

Learn on an automatic so that you are comfortable with all the other things you have to master, like using your mirrors. Then pass your test in automatic.

You could always do manual later if you feel you are missing out.

Top top - move your chin when you look in your rear view mirror so that the examiner defiantly knows when you are looking.

Good luck.

Just another view point, but combustion engines will be a thing of the past and along with it gears and clutches. Electric vehicles are all automatic so embrace learning to drive an automatic and consider yourself a trailblazer!

I'm learning at the moment too OP. I'm approaching 20 lessons and I can honestly say it's only within last couple of lessons that I seem to understand how to control the car and have progressed.
I'd keep going in a manual and as PP have suggested look into changing your instructor. Keep going you'll get there!

My kids are learning at the minute in a manual - I take them out for an hour a day. We have a small manual and an electric car which is obviously auto and I would say if you are struggling and you have yet to buy a car just change to a auto and change your driving instructor too - it is so much easier to drive auto...and it's the way of the future.

I would still do manual and maybe switch to another instructor. They shouldn’t make you feel bad for mistakes. You’re going to make them, you’re a learner!

@5050not

How long did it take for it to ‘click’ with you all? I just feel like my mind is racing and I can’t keep up with checking mirrors/changing gear/ speeding up/ clutch down/ break / hand break / gear every two minutes 😫

I still feel like this after nearly three years of lessons in a manual. I recently had my first lesson in an automatic and I love it. It's taken all of the stress out of driving for me.