Dd to learn in an automatic from the start?

[makemineadecaf]

Dd will be 17 next year and is already nagging me about lessons for her birthday. My husband and I both drive autos (but both drive manuals for donkeys before). Now I’m in an automatic, I’ll literally never go back. And isn’t it the sign of the times for manuals to become redundant?

DC is a few years older. We live in a city which is all hills and traffic lights, I have recently made the move to EV and it has been amazing. The UK has a weird attachment to manual cars but it is so incredibly outdated. Automatics and Ev cars are becoming are becoming the norm and the price difference is minimal. Lessons do cost more but people tend to need less, lots of my DCs friends are now taking automatic lessons, many having spent a fortune trying to learn in manual. If I need a hire care for work, I just ask for an automatic and the same when traveling.

absolutely not inevitable but its a reasonable choice

I don't know many under 21 year olds that own their own cars.

Op will get one for her DD who is U21

Why don’t you think it’s inevitable? Are they going to make an electric car with pretend manual gears for the hold outs?

I said same but mine want to learn in a manual. I switched to EV /auto 3 months ago and would never switch to a manual.

Unless she might want to drive different types of vehicles professionally, or has an old car from a relative she'll be using, I don't see why you encourage her to do a manual test, any more than why you'd get her a typewriter.

I learnt manual and now drive an automatic- there's no going back! I'd let her learn automatic, and once she is confident, she can learn manual if she wants to

The best analogy!

She will be able to use the money saved on lessons.

Why limit future options?
I have an HGV licence and a bike licence, both of which require clutch control.
Neither of which I thought I’d have years down the line after passing in a manual at 19.

Ive hired a car in France and although I can drive a manual and passed my test in one, I prefer an automatic. I would struggle with the controls on the " wrong" side...😅. Usually I have just taken my own UK manual

She can’t practice in a manual if neither of you have a manual so for that reason alone it makes sense to learn in an automatic.

I don't think the manual typewriter analogy is a particularly good one because I think you'd have to do a lot of searching to find anyone in the UK who needs to use a manual typewriter for their job. In contrast I think there are probably still many people who do need to hold a manual driving licence for their job. Your daughter is only 17, so presumably it's not yet clear what she will do for a living? Why risk restricting her job opportunities by encouraging her to get a licence that only entitles her to drive an automatic?

What do you mean it’s stupid? 🤔

Hmm, although I’m an early adopter of EVs (and love them) and have actually only ever driven automatics before that even though I passed in a manual years ago, I’d still say manual.
Both my DDs (21 and 22) have secured jobs recently that required a full UK manual license. Lots of institutions will rely on manual vehicles for a long time simply because they won’t be able to afford to replace them.

Not true.

We all drive automatic and now have an EV and don't plan to go back.

Stepson only did automatic. He has dyspraxia and is autistic. However, automatic cars are more expensive and he says he regrets not learning in a manual, in hindsight.

It’s really hard to say if a 17 year old will need a manual licence. It is easier to hire a car overseas with one she could be at a disadvantage if she wants to travel but that is a few years off yet.

I have only driven abroad once where you drove on the right.

It was a hire car and of course not only am I driving on the right but everything I did with my right hand I am now doing with my left.

Plus if course my ex wife was with me............

But clearly if you have an automatic and I suggest are used to one then its one less thing to worry abut.

I hope I never have to drive abroad again!

It really is not. Manuals still sell really well and there will be a significant amount around for a long time to come.

Why limit her options by not doing the manual test? It is a good skill to have.

Taking a few lessons is the easy bit! Getting test can still mean a 6 month wait. Would the job wait?

I passed in an auto 20 years ago - I can drive a manual but not legally. Not once in 20 years have I ever needed to drive a manual car.
My husband has a manual licence and drives an auto by choice.
We have 3DC, our eldest is 17 and learning in an auto.

It’s a sign of the times, manuals pointless now.

Also passed in an auto and have an auto license, never had a prob hiring cars. No idea if the lessons were more expensive. I think if your daughter would prefer to learn in an auto she should. They are far more common than they are 20 odd years ago when I learned, I already had a car when I passed.
It’s only ever been an advantage to be able to drive for me, I am dyslexic and a manual just didn’t work for me at all. Partner can drive manual so he can hire and drive a van for me if needed, as can my son.

Learn in a manual
Autos are easier
However the skill of driving a ‘stick shift ‘ is never lost