Manual or automatic driving lessons for today’s teens?

[TheWildRumpyPumpus]

Are your teenagers (or you) learning to drive manual or automatic? When I took my test 15 years ago it was suggested that everyone passed the manual test, but as a family we’ve ended up with 2 automatic cars anyway!

DS isn’t bothered and we if we go automatic they will be able to get practice in family cars. DH reckons manual will give more options in future. Anyone with recent experience with words of wisdom?

Mine both doing manual but it's harder to get a automatic instructor so that's the main reason. Plus small first cars tend not to be automatic yet.

Always go for manual, it gives so many more options, and cheap runaround for younger adults are always cheaper than automatics. My sister only did an automatic and it has really screwed her over.

We're also in a similar situation. I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile teaching her myself in an automatic then moving to manual lessons once she is more confident with the basics of driving, meaning that she won't need as many lessons.

I would generally go for automatic these days. I haven’t driven a manual car for twelve years and even that was just a car that we had for a few years after another automatic car. I now drive an electric car and all of those are automatic anyway, so that is where things are heading.

Both of our Dd's are on automatic.
Absolutely no problem getting an instructor
No problem finding cars.
DD 1 is in an automatic mini and DD2 is looking at Honda/VW auto ranges.

I did my lessons in a manual and test… it took me longer to get the hang of. Ever since I’ve driven an automatic and wouldn’t be able to go back to a manual without refresher lessons. So the “it gives you more options” is a bit of a red herring. It only does whilst your confidence is still up for a manual.
For mine we’ll do automatic my husband did and he didn’t need as many lessons to get test ready and so it saved money. Plenty of small cars are auto we had a Hyundai i10 that was a great car.
Also all electric vehicles are automatic and supposedly we’ll all be driving them one day!

Automatic all the way. I tried for ages in a manual and just couldn't get it. Changing to an automatic was amazing. Passed relatively quickly. I also managed to get a cheap runaround for £465 (this was 12 years ago) which was an absolute workhorse and only died because a monster truck reversed into it at the tip.

Manual. You are seriously limiting yourself if you learn automatic only. More and more people are holding onto their old cars, classic cars will still be around. There will still be a lot of manual cars around for a long time.

Manual unless they find it too hard. There will still be manual cars on the road for decades to come and it just gives more options eg for hire cars etc.

Mine is doing manual even though she will likely want to drive an automatic.
It gives you more options and car insurance is cheaper if you have a manual licence, even if driving an auto

Can’t see the point of manual tbh. Dd1 passed on manual but now has an automatic car. Dd2 learning on manual (has test today, second attempt!) but would prob do automatic if starting from scratch.

Dd3 is still deciding. I’m encouraging automatic. There won’t be many manuals around in years to come.

There’s a real shortage of automatic driving instructors where we live, so many are on the waiting lists of these and are waiting around 6 months to even begin lessons. I do believe the majority are still taking manual lessons.

Except, there will be... Especially hire cars etc

Both mine did manual. During lockdown, so was stop start with the lessons. We bought a cheap Aygo so they could practice themselves and be more likely for them to pass first time.

It’s definitely worth it afaiac. You never know when it might be a handy skill (and manual vehicles are going to be around for a long while yet, even after there are no new ones being produced). DD1 couldn’t have done her placement year (which probably will negate the need for an MSc in her chosen field) without being able to drive the very old (and sometimes quite tricky) Landrovers, Toyotas and Mitsubishis that they use on sites. So proven essential for her. DD2 is part of both the music and some sports societies at Uni, both of whom tour. Had there not been a couple of them that could drive the (relatively old) mini buses, they couldn’t have toured in the last couple of years.

Disagree. We had no problem finding a small automatic for dd1, loads of choice. We went for an Aygo X. Don’t think she wants a classic car 😂

The only time I've seen the need for automatic only is those with mobility issues or a chap I know who has dyspraxia and can't do the gear changes AND concentrate on the road etc. he struggled with manual for YEARS and then I suggested, why doesn't he try automatic, and boom he passed in 3 months.

If you're strapped for cash and want to pass quicker, go for an automatic. Most cars these days are automatic, so it's not like you will have a problem finding a car to drive.

If you have a bit more time and money, learn in a manual, as others have said, it gives you more options.

It also depends on what you plan on driving in the future. Larger vehicles, sports cars, etc are more frequently manuals. If you only ever plan on driving 'commuting cars', no need for anything other than an automatic.

My son is learning in a manual car. Would rather he has the option of either a manual or automatic for his first car. Almost all of his friends have manual cars.

I still drive a manual car.

I'm nearly 40 and have never driven manual except for learning and passing my exam (and a bit of rally driving back in the time). I have been told I need to learn on manual as it gives me so many more options etc etc., good to see that this advice is still going strong all those years later.

My child will learn on an automatic unless they have a strong preference otherwise. I also wouldn't teach them how to wash the bedsheets in the bath as we have the washing machine - exactly the same logic.

We have convinced our son to have manual driving lessons. His dad has had classic cars for most of his life and his friends have jobs where they need a manual licence. Although I appreciate he will want an automatic car when the time comes but nice to have the option.

The old advice used to be manual as you had more choice, more flexibility to hire abroad, automatics were more expensive and cost more to run.

The arguments are less strong these days as most hybrid and electric cars will be automatic

Probably still worth learning manual if they will be driving mostly second hand cars ( and it is easier to learn when young) but I don't automatic only is as much of a hindrance as it used to be...

I’ve noticed this with my friends’ sons. They mostly drive manual, one friend told me her son’s friend got the piss taken out of him for driving an automatic. How stupid!

I don't think automatic will cause them too many real issues so I think it would basically be fine.
But I'd still go for manual unless they just find it too difficult. As PP said, even for an automatic car, car insurance is often a bit cheaper if you have a manual licence, and there's a (admittedly pretty small) chance that at some point in the future they'll for some reason (emergency, hire car, need a really cheap car) think "shit I wish I could drive a manual". In general, not just driving licence related, I think consciously choosing to shut off an option (without any real benefits of doing so) isn't the best decision. Obviously if they can't manage to learn manual, then switching to automatic has a very obvious benefit. But otherwise I don't see that it does.

But as I said, it probably won't cause them any issues either way.

I would go with automatic. Yes, less options with hire cars etc, but I’d far rather deal with that minor inconvenience and have the ease of learning & driving an automatic daily.

Unless you find it way too difficult, just go with a manual. Yes eventually most cars will be automatic, but that's a long way off. Nothing stopping anyone buying an automatic once they pass their manual test either. Why sell yourself short for the sake of an easier driving test?