AIBU to go automatic only for daughter's driving lessons?

[flawless234]

My daughter's only just started her driving lessons, and we've opted for automatic exclusively. Why, you ask? Well, it just seems obvious to me.
A few of her friends are learning manual too, and they're clearly in the majority, which my daughter feels. But, logically speaking, and I'd be interested to know what you all think, I'm thinking that we're seeing more automatic cars on the roads these days. Plus, with the rise of electric cars, they're automatic anyway. I, for one, haven't driven a manual since 2016 since I switched to an automatic then and honestly, I'm never going back.
I've found that getting an automatic instructor is a bit of a challenge, simply because there are fewer of them. So, I'm just wondering, what's the logic behind the newer generation, or kids now, starting to learn manual? Does it really make much of a difference? I don't think it will.
In my opinion, learning manual seems like more of a hassle. You're trying to master driving and controlling the car, and then on top of that, you're learning all about road safety and everything else. It just seems like too much fuss, if you ask me.
AIBU to think that learning automatic is the more sensible option these days?

You are limiting her car choices when she passes her test, unless you are well off, to buy a newer automatic car.

A quick look at Autotrader and there are 131 automatic cars for sale under 2k and with an engine size of 1.2 or less, in comparison, there are nearly 4000 cars in the manual category.

With the newest auto being a 2014, but that's catN, so if we forgot that, we're looking at 2012/2011 models. Whereas, in the manual, we have the newest being a 2020 model.

Yes, I know a lot of new cars are automatic, but unless my kid really couldn't get the process of driving a manual, I'd discourage an automatic-only licence.

I have an auto only licence, I'm dyspraxic and I was never in one place long enough to do a full set of manual lessons (uni) so I booked an intensive one week auto only course. Thinking it would be easier and I'd be more likely to pass it in a short space of time.
Generally it's ok but automatics are still more expensive to buy and especially when hiring a car abroad outside of the US. It also limits your options, put in a 10k budget on auto trader for example filter for manual then filter for automatic, you will have a lot more manual options and you get a newer car or one with a better spec for the same money. Having said that automatics also holds their value better so when you come to sell on you get more back than you would for a manual

There are still lots of manual cars - I have always driven one. I just don't understand why you would restrict her options at this early stage. If she can drive both, then the choice will be hers in future.

Auto Is fine until, in certain situations one example, when you go abroad European country and want to hire a car, less availability of autos and more expensive to hire, in the US you won’t have a problem of course, as mainly auto.

My insurance isn't expensive

It’s a bit like “yeah I can cook… but only using a microwave” or “yeah I can swim… but only with armbands on”. And I think we’re a long way off all electric cars despite what they like to tell us.

We had an automatic for a few months, I can’t deny it was easier but it took some of the joy out of it. Manual all the way, proper driving.

I'm going to suggest my son just gets an automatic license - yes, it's limiting, but he's dyspraxic and I think the less he has to do at once the better.

If he wasn't dyspraxic, then I'd do manual, just because it gives you more options.

I agree with you OP and I've been driving exclusively automatic since passing my driving test 20 years ago, HOWEVER we now have horses and 99% of all horseboxes are manual, so I'm now glad I have a manual licence. But unless your daughter is planning on driving horse lorries, I'd say stick with automatic.

Do you want her to have to always pay a bit extra?

I think the crux of this is that she's telling you she doesn't want the limitations and you're not listening because your logic makes sense to you.

Let her learn how she wants, and then if she only ever drives autos, fine, but at least she's got the choice, which won't limit her in any future car or driving scenario.

I’d probably let her weigh up the pros and cons and decide for herself.

I know things have moved on but in my 30 years of driving it has been really useful to be able to drive anything. Hire cars and vans, courtesy cars, friends cars when needed, camper vans, using pick ups to move furniture, all sorts. I understand that if you're really struggling, go automatic, but I think that most people (and especially young people with agile minds) can compute changing gear etc. I think learning on manual gives you a better understanding of the mechanics of cars and how you adjust your driving for certain conditions.

Did YOU decided or did you BOTH decide?

And why bother asking when people explain why manual is better you just dismiss it all anyway?

I don't see why you'd limit her like that tbh

No go manual as you will limit choice of 2nd hand cars also you never know with work if you’ll need driving a lot of job adverts now specify manual driving license even though most of there fleets are now automatic

people have driven manual cars for over a 100 years no problem. now all of a sudden there the work of the devil and unbelievably difficult to drive

You haven’t said what your DD wanted?

I would always encourage manual, there is little need to deny the opportunity to drive manual, so why do it?

My automatic, which I got recently, costs twice as much to insure as my previous manual. There's only 5 years ago difference between them and it's only a slightly bigger car and engine.

You also need to factor in maintenance costs, which are higher on auto gear boxes and many young people don't have those kinds of funds, so they may let it go further than it should, which can cause problems in the card and therefore potentially accidents when things fail. This is also taken into account by insurance companies.

I know so many people who won't drive something because they're unsure of it or not confident in something "different". The ability to just hop in and drive something is a really useful thing to have. I don't know why anyone would limit themselves unless they genuinely couldn't do it for some reason.

I’d love to hear from drivers who’ve only got an automatic licence and whether they ever felt restricted, disadvantaged, or regretted their choice. I haven’t come across anyone who’s said that. Obviously, people with a manual licence might think they’ve got the upper hand, but I reckon it’s just a mindset. In reality, they don’t have much of an edge, especially with how things are changing these days.

My friend couldn't buy the car of his dreams when it came up because he couldn't drive manual. He also couldn't get a hire van because they didn't have auto availability when he needed it and he was trying to move home quickly. He's also entirely reliant on his partner or friend that he's travelling with a lot of the time because the added costs of getting autos when everyone else he travels with can drive a manual aren't reasonable.

He told me he really wishes he could do both, even though he's still probably choose an automatic for his day to day car.

Not at all, currently there are 70,000 more automatic gearbox cars on auto trader than manual. I’ve never driven manual so don’t know any different and I am also not a car enthusiast - it gets me from A to B and has aircon - that’s all I need to know. Re the hire car thing, we actually hired a couple of weeks ago in an European country and didn’t specify a gearbox and was given an automatic so they are getting more popular

@flawless234

I'd love to hear what it is your daughter wants for her driving life? As you've been asked it and not answered it.

Because if she feels like she'll be missing out on something and doesn't want to miss out on it, what anyone else thinks does not matter.

I have a manual license but haven't driven one since my test, over 25 years ago, and would not feel able to if I needed to (wasn't very good at it even then!). I've never had any problems only driving automatics, whether for hire cars or buying a car. My daughter is 17 and learning automatic only, mainly through choice as she feels that she would struggle to manage changing gears and watching the road (not diagnosed but likely ADHD).

DD is pretty happy with her choice, but as her majority friends ( not all) are learning on manual cars, she is questioning her decision, which is understandable. However, we've tried to rationalise why we think it's a better choice.

I did learn in a manual but haven’t driven one for over 10 years now and don’t think I would be remotely limited if I couldn’t. I have no interest in classic cars or farm vehicles. Unlike in other countries UK insurance doesn’t usually just let you drive cars belonging to friends or family, so you tend not to drive random cars. I can’t imagine a scenario where I’d want to hire a van- we did proper movers with a packing service last time we moved house.

As for car hire, US hire car company won’t even have any manuals. In Europe I didn’t hire a car until I was 30+ with kids because like a lot of young people I think I wasn’t doing those type of holidays that needed a car e.g. villas and roadtrips until the kids came along. Then they ruled out the cheap mini options because of all their stuff (car seats, prams etc.) and I’ve personally found that once you’re looking at bigger cars then the automatic options aren’t actually much more.

I’d never buy a manual car now as they just aren’t even options for the type of care we’re looking at.

So I could very well imagine that I’ll never drive a manual again.

I wanted my children to be able to drive as confident, competent drivers. That means changing gear to suit different driving conditions and feeling that they are in charge of the vehicle and able to operate it safely.

Driving an automatic means that you are basically just braking and steering, like a dodgem car.

I would not have had confidence in my DC being out in the car if they could only drive an automatic.

You're wrong on insurance. Many do allow driving other cars after the age of 25 (I've never not had it since then and I've not had to add it as an extra). DH and I are also the ones regularly called for assistance from friends or family if they've injured themselves or something has happend meaning they can't drive their car home or they had to leave their car, because we can (and will) drive anything.

You're also wrong on the US car hire. We've never specified because we can drive either and we're not bothered whether it's manual or automatic. But we have had manual cars when hiring in the US. Granted they always contacted us first to check we were fine with a "stick" but they do have them.