AIBU to think DD might as well learn to drive on an automatic car?

[whiteroseredrose]

DD is 21 and has not yet learned to drive. The plan is to learn next summer when she finishes university.

Problem is that DH and I both have hybrid cars that are automatic. I couldn't find a hybrid manual car as they probably don't exist.

Rather than have DD take lessons in.a manual car with either no practice in between or practice in our automatics, take that test and then maybe do a 'conversion' at a later date.

Would that make sense?

I’m not in the UK but here everyone drives automatics and has for years. I sat my test in an automatic 25 years ago … haha maybe even closer to 30 years ago now. My parents’ generation (and possibly slightly younger) are literally the only people who can drive manuals, although most probably haven’t done for years.

My ds automatic is adapted. Do you use a push pull lever?

That's what he currently has but I'd be interested in what others use.

I'd just learn in a manual. Depending on her job she may be required to drive work vehicles etc. I don't see why someone would limit themselves unnecessarily. You only learn for a few months, but have the option for the rest of your life.

Right, but there's a cost of those extra skills that might possibly come in handy but likely won't - it takes a lot longer to learn to drive the manual (more lessons, more money), especially as she wont have the opportunity to practice outside lessons. So you're trading a certain cost now for a possible benefit down the line. Probably about 0.1% of the population have ever considered converting a camper van. If she's with someone that drives a manual, they can just drive an automatic or she can drive her own car.

The entire DPD and Amazon fleets are electric round here as are JL and Waitrose/Tesco/Ocado. Unless she's going to drive an HGV she's unlikely to need a manual license to be a courier. Electric light vans are becoming v common as companies are trying to reduce emissions.

A lot of work vehicles are now automatic. The friends I have who get a work car all have automatics so I don't think that's really an issue.

I would learn in a manual,whilst cars maybe heading to all being automatic other vehicles are not. You have no idea at this stage what type of career she may end up with and what type of vehicle she may end up needing to drive.

I passed my automatic test over 30 years ago and have never felt restricted.
My son too, 7 years ago, and not found it diifficult to buy 2nd hand cars. Our reason is ADHD causing a few processing issues.

@GrumpyCactus depends where you work, whether you get a personal company car or access to a pool to book. All of our company pool cars are manual.

Also lessons in manual are cheaper than in an automatic. All mine learnt in manual cars ( DS is 20 so not a million years ago). So they have the choice. DDs have had a variety of manual and automatic cars DS only drives a manual

Some insurance companies will have higher fees for people who are only on an automatic licence.

Well obviously it depends where you work but I was just pointing out it was hardly uncommon to have automatics cars as company cars. It's genuinely blowing my mind that so many posters are posting as though automatic cars are so rare and unusual.

What does she want to do? Why not let her try a couple of lessons in a manual and see how she feels? If she struggles, switch to automatic. Driving a manual isn’t essential these days but a handy skill to have in some situations.

Yes, of course it's her decision but from time immemorial it's been perfectly normal to benefit from an informed parental opinion at age 21!

My son had lessons in a manual and practiced in my automatic. He took his test in a manual and now drives both!

I did the automatic lessons and test only and it has never in all these years been an issue.

Why though? Unless someone is planning a career with a large element of driving like a paramedic, armed forces or racing car driver etc. why bother? I did learn on a manual car and passed a manual test but I have never owned a manual car or needed to drive one..

Yeah because once you're 21 you should never seek the advice of...well, anyone.

OP, she needs to learn manual. Why limit her?

Also what happens if you need to drive someones car in an emergency? "Oh sorry, I cant rush you too the hospital, I cant drive a manual" 1) That's not an everyday occurrence. And even if you could drive a manual, would you be insured to drive someone else's?

A few years?? How's that going to happen then? A few decades maybe.

Only time it's held me back was when it came to a company vehicle. If I had my time over I'd probably have learned in a manual first but I did it the opposite way around and it was much harder.

If someone is very eager and motivated to drive, with great awareness and coordination skills, it makes sense to try manual and see how it goes. If someone is learning slightly later, not that keen, maybe nervous about driving, or just wanting to be done with it, the automatic is an easier option and she will get the majority of the value of driving anyway.

But that is just you. I married a man with three classic cars that all have manual gearboxes. I would have missed out if I couldn’t drive any of them.

Third party, probably. If you have comprehensive insurance on your own car.

YANBU

Manual cars will still be with us for the next 25 years or so at least. Only learning in an automatic means they'll be limited as to buying their cars and also limited if they ever need to rent a car or van.

I understand the theory as most new cars will be automatic within a decade or so, but second hand ones are still pretty rare (compared with manuals) and more expensive, so unless the OPs' DD will be leasing a brand new one when they pass their test, they may struggle to find a second hand automatic to buy, and that will be the case for many years to come.

We're many years away from the "pivot point" where there will be more automatic than manual cars. Given a car on the road today typically lasts an average 13/14 years with well driven/well maintained ones expected to reach around 20 years, there's a lot of years left (10-20 easily) where there'll be more of a choice/range of manual/petrol cars than automatics.