To want DH to learn to drive Manuel?

[Lipsticktraces]

Neither DH or myself drive. We’ve decided this ridiculous state of affairs cannot continue any longer and we are both currently looking to book lessons. I had my last lessons about nine years ago and DH last had lessons last year.

DH is a nervous driver and says that he really struggles with gears. He wants to book automatic lessons instead and I’m not happy about the fact for the following reasons...

It’s my understanding that automatics cost more to buy/drive/insure/repair. We don’t have much money for any of these things.

I’ve been told it’s hard to learn to drive an automatic after learning in Manuel (I intend to learn to drive Manuel)

If DH ever gets offered a job with a company car etc he’s going to be buggered.

Automatic lessons cost more and we are on a budget.

Aibu to want us to both learn to drive Manuel? DH point blank refuses at this point!

SunshineP Thu 25-Oct-18 14:25:26

I think (unless you have an underlying issue) you should learn to drink a manual. If you can't figure out gears you shouldn't be able to drive. Sorry it's not rocket science

That is really ridiculous. There are literally millions of Americans with unblemished driving records navigating streets and highways in all kinds of terrain and weather conditions who have never even been in a manual car.

You don't have to know how to perform any operation by hand in order to use a machine that does the manual part for you. I am thinking sewing, bread making, using a computer, using a calculator and I am sure there are hundreds of other machine-assisted activities - you need to be able to organise the work and focus for all of those operations.

When it comes to driving, you need to be calm, sober, focused, alert and concentrating, none of which depends on moving a lever forwards or backwards or sideways with your hand while simultaneously pressing different pedals with your feet.

@Thisnamechanger - go for it!

I learned and passed my test in a manual. Panic drive for the next 2 years and was going to give up driving completely because I hated gears so much. Then I bought an auto and it's allowed me to keep driving. I don't think it's very fair of you to try and say how/what he should drive. People kept telling me I'd get used to it and be fine. I didn't. The last time I drove a manual was in a fit of tears.

Pfft at manliness issues.

Was that a genuine concern?

Lessons are more expensive as there are less instructors with access to an auto. Most also do manual so have to go and change cars in between

Ah, that'll just be in the UK then.

I wonder if it's also less womanly to drive an automatic. 🤔

Driving an automatic car is actually meant to be safer as you focus more on the road. I passed in a manual but have had an automatic ever since. Can't say there's much difference in prices and in my experience an automatic seems to be in better condition when buying second hand. I agree with PP the aim ispassing asap and getting on the road so an automatic will be easier and faster x

I don’t think it’s more expensive either these days. We’ve just bought a new car and we had to pay more for the manual model than an automatic would cost. I wanted to get the automatic but DH insisted that it want a proper car then

Ah, that'll just be in the UK then

Well yes. This is predominantly a UK site. Most cars in the UK are manual and that's what most people learn in. The instructor my DS used also did auto lessons, they were £2 more a lesson, he has two cars. he can't go directly from an automatic lesson to a manual without having to return home to swap the car and vice versa.

Yes our Audi does like 55mpg at 100 mph

I've read..
@IHaveBrilloHair

My automatic lessons were £24 ph, £4 a lesson more per hour, and I took about 40 hours so £960.

If I had done manual lessons, the average it’d take for my age would apparently be 60 hours. So it could have cost me £1200.

Agree that it’s easier to focus on the road when you drive one. It’s a bit like driving a go-kart with the stop and start pedals, so you barely have to think about it.

Well yes. This is predominantly a UK site.

Yes, sorry, I do get it, I just couldn't understand the rationale, as it's not the case here.

But hopefully, as others have said, you'd need fewer lessons so on balance it'd even out (if not, work out cheaper).

Less manly to drive an automatic!!!!! What utter bollocks.

What about men with medical conditions that mean they can only drive automatics? Not sure they would appreciate that remark.

The trend to automatic cars is - ahem - accelerating in the UK, WaxOnFeckOff.

My auto is a 2017 Mini Cooper, I can leave everything at the lights and it takes off up the Motorway.

Lol, no you can’t. Any half competent warm hatch will waste you.

I drove manuals for good 20 years. I am never planning to drive them again. Just like I am never planning to go from my automatic washing machine to scrubbing board and bath tub. Even if the latter is more..what, womanly?

The trend to automatic cars is - ahem - accelerating in the UK, WaxOnFeckOff.

Yes, I know, I'm not saying anything against it. I was answering about why automatic lessons cost more. I really have no view either way on what other people drive.

I think the posts by @GadsdenFlag are some of the strangest I have ever read here.

I enjoy driving a manual car and am one of those who has never had any difficulty with driving anyway, but here's the thing - there's loads of other stuff I can't do, including sewing on a button (yes, really). We're all good at different things. Surely it's better for the OP's husband to drive an automatic well and confidently than to drive a manual as a nervous wreck? I'm just wondering why the OP hasn't been back.

Let him drive an automatic, you would rather have a car then no car i presume?

Automatics are better then manuals in my opinion, nicer to drive

I have not driven a manual car for 20 years and neither has my husband. My DD chose to learn on an automatic when she turned 17 as she wanted to pass quickly and get some independence! It took her 6 weeks.
It does mean she will never be able to drive a manual (unless she takes another test) but quite frankly we'll all be in driverless cars in 10 years anyway!

Husband has asked if Manuel is bringing his pet rat in the biscuit tin.

We both have automatic cars , gears are over rated!! ( they are both in fact tiptronic or whatever they are called ) but we cba . We both have full licenses . A lot of cars have auto gearboxes now so it's really not a big deal .

What's wrong with only driving automatic?

FA unless you're stuck in the dark ages of the UK, which is seems like some people are. Thankfully in the rest of the world no one really gives a fuck.

As I see it, ideally it would be better to learn to drive a manual so that you're qualified to drive both a manual and an automatic. If you learn on an automatic then you're not qualified to drive a manual, and that is still limiting in the UK, though it's clearly changing now.

But it's also better that the OP's DH learns to drive an automatic car and passes his test than trying over and over again to drive a manual and not passing his test, spending ridiculous amounts of money in the process. It's not as if there aren't any automatic cars available for him to buy, is it?

Classic 🤣

I'm 49 now, and passed my test 25 years ago, and I suppose it's a case of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I'm mid-sixties and passed my test 45 years ago. I drive an automatic now and it's so much easier - especially in traffic.