To learn to drive in manual.. lecturing DP

[Pinkflamingogo]

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?

I don't think he was mansplaining, either. You don't need to be a driver yourself to know that people are moving to hybrids and electric cars. Toyota don't even make manuals anymore.

I don’t know about Europe. I’m nowhere near it. Much of the world isn’t.

Ahhh. Those parts where the barbarians live?

Learn to drive a manual. You’ll be able to drive both manual and automatic. I’m very glad that I learned in a manual. I also feel that it is a skill that I very much enjoy.

YANBU to get annoyed but he's basically right - electric cars are essentially automatic and automatics are much nicer to drive especially in traffic. But it's still best to learn a manual to understand gearing and there are still loads about (if you have a courtesy car from a garage for example it's likely to be a manual).

As almost two thirds of new cars sold were already automatic in 2021, and the rise of electric car sales will only increase this, I think the view that an auto only driving licence will somehow be restrictive is out dated and irrelevant. If you want to drive a manual, fine, but if not then go auto only.

www.carwow.co.uk/news/6414/automatic-gearboxes-become-the-norm#gref

Wow- Ferrari don’t make a manual anymore? I’d not have expected that.

I have a full licence but haven't driven a manual car in 15 years. If I had to drive manual I'd need driving lessons again, though not another test so maybe that's something? I wish I'd just done auto lessons but I'm not a natural driver. You might find that it's second nature to you after a few lessons.

This is very true, however some of us are stuck driving 20 year old bangers. It will take a good while for the fully-automatic market to trickle down to me

@BubziOwl thats a very good point. Apologies, yes, certainly for smaller cars the used market will probably be predominantly manual for a little while to come.

He wants to limit your choices. Watch out.