Page 5 | To learn to drive in manual.. lecturing DP

KingOfPoundbury · 04/01/2023 20:02

Adelant · 04/01/2023 18:52

I have amazing clutch control, which I wouldn’t have learned on an automatic.

Manual all the way.

Oh gosh, I remember you!

My eyes stlll water when I think about your clutch.

Manual all the way (as you said at the time) was fine for me. 🥵

NumberTheory · 04/01/2023 20:06

I would find him going on about it really annoying too. Especially as he doesn’t drive!

However, he’s probably not wrong that automatic cars will become pretty rare and specialist soon and that having a manual license will be of very little practical benefit.

Unless, that is, you really enjoy manuals. In which case, definitely take the manual test.

I love them, there’s a lot of pleasure to be had driving a manual, and I really like the control and sense of mastery it gives. So if you like it, and you think you might enjoy driving specialist cars and be prepared to put the money into it, it’s better to spend the small amount of extra time and money it will take to pass the manual test now.

pompei8309 · 04/01/2023 20:08

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?

He is correct, manual cars are dying out but passing your test on a manual gives you the option to drive both manual and automatic , plus you never know when you may not have any options but to drive a manual ( it happened to me with a rental, they only had manual) and if you can’t, you’ll be stuck

Cas112 · 04/01/2023 20:11

What a nuisance he is. Tell him to go learn in an automatic if he wants but to leave you to it

honeylulu · 04/01/2023 20:12

I dont know why he's annoyed since he's the one being annoying! Seeing as he can't drive at all what's it got to do with him? It's hardly as if he only drives automatic and you're doing it to get a manual car just to exclude him from using it.

I agree it widens your options to learn manual if you can. Plus I feel like a "proper" driver because I can drive a manual which is quite satisfying. I also prefer the greater control a manual car has, even small ones!

Willyoujustbequiet · 04/01/2023 20:13

Everyone should learn in a manual unless there is a particular reason such as a disability etc..

Manual requires more skill, is more of a challenge but offers more flexibility and certainly a more enjoyable driving experience.. we have one of each and I choose the manual everytime.

LondonQueen · 04/01/2023 20:15

It's definitely easier if you have a manual license as you can drive both. Any more recent cars have been automatics and I love them but if I need to borrow a manual car I have that option. The courtesy car after my crash was manual, they had no automatics in stock.

SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 04/01/2023 20:16

@mamagicofthefae I know I sound like I am looking for excuses but we don't have lampposts either. Well, there are 2 on this wholly residential High Street with only 3 houses with off street parking.

We had a town debate about it and the middle of town, almost 4000 car owning adults, would have great difficulty finding regular recharging options even if the town centre carpark was 100% electric charging stations.

Medieval houses and roads just weren't made to adapt to 21st century electrification. And yet even our MP, the newest Transport Minister, doesn't seem to want to listen.

LondonQueen · 04/01/2023 20:18

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)

It's harder to buy a new car with a manual gearbox than an automatic transmission now, I've had automatic Porsches before.

Nat6999 · 04/01/2023 20:23

I like driving a manual car but what has been a game changer has been having an electronic handbrake, I would rather have that than an automatic.

LondonQueen · 04/01/2023 20:51

Adelant · 04/01/2023 18:52

I have amazing clutch control, which I wouldn’t have learned on an automatic.

Manual all the way.

You wouldn't have learnt it as you wouldn't need it...

Herejustforthisone · 04/01/2023 20:53

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)

They’re mostly automatic now, but I don’t rate the PDK gearboxes, I much prefer the manuals. Better resale value, too. 😌

BubziOwl · 04/01/2023 21:17

I hate manual driving compared to automatic, your DH is right they will eventually be a thing of the past, and I'm looking to get an automatic asap. Despite all that, I still decided to learn on a manual, because it's a good skill to have and it means you're more prepared for eventualities! So you're definitely not being unreasonable imo.

Original poster

Pinkflamingogo · 04/01/2023 21:43

My first lesson went well! There's alot to take in but I successfully drove down the road and parked up which I'm proud of 😂

The mansplaining is a regular thing with him unfortunately.

I think PP was on the money about him feeling threatened, perhaps even a bit jealous too.

I met him when I was in my early 20s (he's 10 years older) and have spent my entire 20's raising children, only able to work part time in shit jobs, not having much of a social life.

I've had something of a second wind lately and want to start living as opposed to just existing.

I now have plans for getting a degree, retraining, chasing a career, learning to drive, road trips, festivals with friends now and then. I don't think he likes it. I've also quit smoking whereas he hasn't.

As time goes on we have less and less in common and I think I've outgrown him.

OP posts:

ClaryFairchild · 04/01/2023 21:48

Your "DH" is an arse, especially as he doesn't drive himself.

I'm in my 50s and heard all the crap about manuals becoming a thing of the past when I was learning to drive as a teenager. Hasn't happened yet.....

Oakbeam · 04/01/2023 22:23

Once electric cars rule the world you'll only be able to drive an automatic as they don't do a manual

Yet!

Toyota Patents Plans For EV With Manual Transmission And Clutch

Theunamedcat · 04/01/2023 22:28

In the UK its better to learn manual if you can the rest of the world not so much

Spectre8 · 04/01/2023 22:35

Nothing like when your joining a motorway and you slip through the gears as you speed up from 2nd to 3rd to 4th, 5th and eventually 6th. Gah, I love it!

MissTrip82 · 04/01/2023 22:52

I find it bizarre to see people saying you ‘massively restrict‘ your choice of vehicle if you don’t learn on a manual. Really? I had six lessons and passed my test in a manual nearly thirty years ago and have never driven one, needed to drive one, or been offered the chance to drive one since. I can’t imagine having an automatic licence has been a major problem for many people at all.

DoThePropeller · 04/01/2023 22:53

The mansplaining would piss me off but I do agree with him. We will hopefully all be driving electric vehicles in approx. 20 years and manuals will be a relic of the past.

Many manufacturers you now pay extra for a manual gearbox and autos seem to hold their value better second hand (more demand and fewer of them 5/10 years ago I guess). I’m sure it’s something like two thirds of new cars are now automatics. So I think the tide has turned but the main thing here is that it is you driving, your lessons, your car and your DH can piss off 😄

DomesticShortHair · 04/01/2023 23:03

DoThePropeller · 04/01/2023 22:53

The mansplaining would piss me off but I do agree with him. We will hopefully all be driving electric vehicles in approx. 20 years and manuals will be a relic of the past.

Many manufacturers you now pay extra for a manual gearbox and autos seem to hold their value better second hand (more demand and fewer of them 5/10 years ago I guess). I’m sure it’s something like two thirds of new cars are now automatics. So I think the tide has turned but the main thing here is that it is you driving, your lessons, your car and your DH can piss off 😄

It’s a very similar debate to owning a convertible in the UK. Some would say we don’t get much nice weather (last summer aside), so it’s pointless owning one. Or alternatively, we don’t get much nice weather, so we should get one and make the most of it. You could say the same with the auto/manual debate.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either opinion, auto or manual. It’s horses for courses. What we all seem to agree on (thankfully) is that it’s entirely the OPs decision, and the DP is a bit of a twat.

paintitallover · 04/01/2023 23:42

I agree with you OP. It's easy to go from manual to automatic but not the other way round.

HitMeWithAHotNoteAndWatchMeBounce · 04/01/2023 23:43

Pinkflamingogo · 04/01/2023 21:43

My first lesson went well! There's alot to take in but I successfully drove down the road and parked up which I'm proud of 😂

The mansplaining is a regular thing with him unfortunately.

I think PP was on the money about him feeling threatened, perhaps even a bit jealous too.

I met him when I was in my early 20s (he's 10 years older) and have spent my entire 20's raising children, only able to work part time in shit jobs, not having much of a social life.

I've had something of a second wind lately and want to start living as opposed to just existing.

I now have plans for getting a degree, retraining, chasing a career, learning to drive, road trips, festivals with friends now and then. I don't think he likes it. I've also quit smoking whereas he hasn't.

As time goes on we have less and less in common and I think I've outgrown him.

Good for you, OP - don’t let him hold you back.

He could always come along with you for the ride (pun intended) if he had any degree of cop on, but it sounds like he’s too stuck in his ways.

That’s his choice. It definitely doesn’t have to be yours.

bakebeans · 04/01/2023 23:45

Stick with manual. U can drive in both.

Spaghetti201 · 04/01/2023 23:54

I learnt manual, and since I passed have only ever driven automatic. I HATED manual. Everyone saying you “might” need it, no, you won’t.