Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To learn to drive in manual.. lecturing DP

160 replies

Pinkflamingogo · 04/01/2023 17:54

I'm learning to drive and have chosen to learn in a manual car. I have my first lesson this evening.

DP (who doesn't drive btw) has gone on and on on about how automatic is better, how manual cars will soon be a thing of the past etc.

I was obviously struggling to hide the fact I was getting annoyed by it as he became defensive and said he just wouldn't say anything and stormed off.

I know IANBU to learn in manual but would you find his incessant droning on and on about how automatic is better, annoying?

OP posts:
mamabear715 · 04/01/2023 17:56

Yes, I would. I never did get around to passing my test but wouldn't have just done automatic, once you've passed in a manual you can drive anything.

RunRunRunRunRunaway · 04/01/2023 17:57

Definitely get a manual licence - then you can choose between transmissions once you've passed your test.

If you only take the automatic test then you're scuppered if you ever need to hire a manual car, or are given a manual loan car when yours is in for a service, or have to drive someone else's manual car in an emergency (on their insurance, or yours).

Honestly, once you get going, with a good teacher, manual driving is absolutely fine. Good on you! Stick to your guns!

AnuSTart · 04/01/2023 17:58

It's a ridiculous move to just learn automatic. Your DP is just threatened by your get up n go.

jc12689 · 04/01/2023 17:59

Stick with the manual lessons. You'll massively restrict your choice of vehicles if you lean auto.

Pterrydactyl · 04/01/2023 18:01

Yeah, it’s annoying.

I learnt in a manual car, drove one for years and drive an automatic now, and I’d agree that it’s easier to drive an automatic - but - big but - if you learn in an automatic and pass the test in that, you can’t drive a manual car without passing another driving test in a manual car.
If you pass the test in a manual car then you can drive either a manual or an automatic afterwards.

So passing the test in a manual car gives you much more flexibility.

C1N1C · 04/01/2023 18:02

Agree with the above. I actually prefer manuals as they give you far more control of the car.

It's also a transferable skill as many of the larger, clumsier vehicles are manuals too, e.g. a 4wd we got stuck in the mud recently!

I personally find manuals waaaay more fun!

MargaretThursday · 04/01/2023 18:02

I was told some car insurance can be more expensive if you only have an automatic licence.

DD2 has a disability that means she is better with an automatic, so she's learnt on that. Dh has said similar to your dp about manual going out, but still advising ds to use the manual to learn.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 04/01/2023 18:03

Tell him you plan to buy a Porsche (if these are available in automatic insert the name of another fancy manual car. Sorry for my lack of research)

Boulshired · 04/01/2023 18:05

Automatic is great for those who need (medical and confidence) to and probably will be more common in the future but that time is not yet. For new drivers it maybe cheaper to get through but there is a shortage of second hand automatic in the used car market.

pictoosh · 04/01/2023 18:06

Eee he's a soft git. Of course learning manual is better...you have options. Ever need to hire a van? Borrow a car?
Besides that, I like having the control.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 04/01/2023 18:09

I've driven both but did my test in a manual car - as everyone says, it gives you more options and when it comes to rentals and second-hand cars, it's often cheaper too.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/01/2023 18:10

He who doesn't drive doesn't have the luxury of advising anyone on how to learn.

crazycrypty · 04/01/2023 18:11

AnuSTart · 04/01/2023 17:58

It's a ridiculous move to just learn automatic. Your DP is just threatened by your get up n go.

Why is it ridiculous? I've never had a problem driving an automatic, it's great.

minionsrule · 04/01/2023 18:11

Tbh learning in a manual is just a bit trickier whilst you master clutch control, a few lessons in that becomes a doddle.
I'd also point out that auto cars are less available in the second hand market and therefore more expensive.
Restricting yourself to an automatic in the early days is madness and I suspect it will quite a while yet till autos replace manuals

Beebumble2 · 04/01/2023 18:11

Manual definitely, as others have said, you can then drive anything. Cars with gears are real drivers cars.

Danni7297 · 04/01/2023 18:13

I have a licence just for automatics. I did some lessons in a manual and also a crash course when I was 17,and just couldn’t get used to the clutch for some reason. My whole leg used to shake and I used to stall constantly. I think it was probably just nerves at the time.

So I did a crash course in automatic and it was a lot easier. In my mind I would give myself a couple of years to get more confident then do some manual lessons and test. But I’ve never needed to.

I’ve had my license for almost 20 years and have never needed to drive a manual. If I’ve needed a courtesy car I always get given an automatic. My husband has a manual license and he much prefers to drive automatic especially because we live in a city he finds it easier with the traffic and alot of family have auto cars for the same reason.

Every car I have wanted I have been able to get in an automatic, although I’m sure there are some cars you can’t.
it can be more expensive than a manual, especially brand new too. And obviously depending on what you do for work an automatic license can limit you.

you definitely are not being unreasonable in learning in a manual. You then get the choice of both and means you are limitless when purchasing a car.

Mentalpiece · 04/01/2023 18:14

He doesn't drive, so what does he know about it.
It's always better to learn in a manual because then you have a choice of what type of car you want to drive. If you learn in an automatic, then you're limited to automatic unless you resit your test in a manual.
He won't be complaining when he's wanting a lift somewhere will he.
Tell him to learn to drive himself being as he knows so much.

Squarerootofpi · 04/01/2023 18:18

My friend drives an automatic (grew up in America) and it massively restricts what cars you can drive. She's had a nightmare finding good second hand cars, can't borrow a friends car, can't hire a cheap van, etc.

HitMeWithAHotNoteAndWatchMeBounce · 04/01/2023 18:20

It’s only in the UK that manuals are still in such widespread use, so as you’re presumably in the UK, it would make sense to learn in a manual.

Meanwhile, in much of the rest of the western world, manuals are virtually (if not, actually) obsolete.

When we left the UK, we brought our manual with us, and DH was like many on this thread - manuals are better, give you more control, yada, yada. Then we needed to buy a new car and manuals weren’t an option. He would never willingly buy a manual now.

pictoosh · 04/01/2023 18:21

Aquamarine1029 · 04/01/2023 18:10

He who doesn't drive doesn't have the luxury of advising anyone on how to learn.

Couldn't agree more. What makes him the expert, this non-driving man?

DomesticShortHair · 04/01/2023 18:21

He’s right, electric cars are all automatic so there some day won’t be any need to be able to drive a manual. I now do a lot of motorway miles in my current job, a lot stuck in motorway traffic, so my next car will be an automatic.

But I’d still learn to drive a manual. It’s more challenging to learn, but there’s something a lot more rewarding when you get it mastered. When you’re off the motorway, manual driving can be much more involving, and fun. And as someone above says, manual cars are much more flexible- for example, you can change down before you go up a big hill, rather than getting half way up, slowing down and waiting for the car to decide when it’s ready to.

Good luck with learning to drive. The day my examiner told me I’d passed was still one of the best days of my life. The freedom!!

ImaginaryDragon · 04/01/2023 18:24

Pinkflamingogo · 04/01/2023 17:54

I'm learning to drive and have chosen to learn in a manual car. I have my first lesson this evening.

DP (who doesn't drive btw) has gone on and on on about how automatic is better, how manual cars will soon be a thing of the past etc.

I was obviously struggling to hide the fact I was getting annoyed by it as he became defensive and said he just wouldn't say anything and stormed off.

I know IANBU to learn in manual but would you find his incessant droning on and on about how automatic is better, annoying?

DH is your first , but wont be your last back seat driver. Ignore him! As other have said Manual give you more choice and more cost effective car choice.

pictoosh · 04/01/2023 18:26

"But I’d still learn to drive a manual. It’s more challenging to learn, but there’s something a lot more rewarding when you get it mastered. When you’re off the motorway, manual driving can be much more involving, and fun. And as someone above says, manual cars are much more flexible- for example, you can change down before you go up a big hill, rather than getting half way up, slowing down and waiting for the car to decide when it’s ready to."

This in buckets. I do a lot of hillwalking in remote areas which involves negotiating tiny, narrow, windy, sometimes single track mountain roads. Much more fun in a manual. As I say, I like having the control.

Oblomov22 · 04/01/2023 18:27

I deliberately taught ds1 in a manual. I think it's an important skill. Dh and I both drive automatics now, but did drive manuals until recently. I'll teach ds2 in a manual aswell. My choice.

FromTheFront2theBack · 04/01/2023 18:27

YANBU even if he had a point about automatic (and I don't think he does.....unless you really struggle with the manual it makes sense to get the license for manual just in case) he doesn't need to bang on endlessly. He could give his opinion and shut up. He's hardly an expert with no licence himself (is he insecure?).

Swipe left for the next trending thread