Advice please. Manual or automatic: stuck with a dilemma

[MsGinaLinetti]

I need a new car. (Well, probably second hand but new to me) and I'm looking for something small and fuel efficient. Possibly a hybrid type set up. The dilemma is whether to get automatic or manual as I drive an automatic (and can drive either but obvs prefer auto) but considering a manual as DS is 15 and so would then have a car to practice driving rather than later getting yet and car for him (and slightly younger DC in due course)
bit I wonder whether it's pointless/ impossible to get a modern manual just for that purpose iyswim. TIA

As more cars become electric, the necessity to drive manual is decreasing. Your DC could pass in an automatic and then upgrade later if needed?

Yeah that's a fair point

Insurance cheaper in manual

Car hire cheaper in manual. More cheaper second hand manuals still.

We're not there yet I dont think for them all to learn in automatics. Soon, but not yet imo.

Electric cars are all automatic right so it will come, but for now will cost you more overall I think.

Always feels a bit boring driving an auto ime!

I also encourage my teens to learn in a manual and drive one for awhile before upgrading to a bigger automatic car later down the line as I have a feeling it makes you a better driver having those neural pathways laid down for doing multiple things at once while driving? Completely unevidenced and just a feeling but I feel like just flooring a pedal to go faster and slamming one on to stop is maybe a bit too easy for a 17y old to be reckless? Fear of stalling definitely kept me a very careful driver in the early days.

Manual cars are going to be around for quite some time and so learning in one is a good life skill. Both my DDs learnt in a manual and it meant that opportunities were available to them that otherwise wouldn’t have been. One has just finished a year out of Uni working at a wildlife trust (which will greatly improve her job prospects after she’s finished her MSc and is in the area she wants to work in for conservation) all the vehicles were manual - old Landrovers, Toyotas, Mitsubishi and the like as they need to be off road obvs, and travel long distances rurally and tow. She had to be able to drive whatever was available to do the job. The other DD has been paid to drive the minibus in Uni for both the music dept and the netball team as she was one of only two who could drive a manual. Your DS may not be in those specific positions but you get my drift.
And if they are going to do the manual lessons and test, having a car at home to practice in can greatly reduce the time and cost of lessons. My friend is a driving instructor she says it makes an absolutely huge difference having that opportunity to practice outside of the official lessons.

PS they’ve both got Automatics now, but the key thing is - they have the choice.

I would go for the manual option, for two reasons. Firstly, because manual cars are still being produced & sold in large numbers, particularly by mass market brands at the more affordable end of the market, and will be for at least the next 5 years. These cars will be in the used market for many years and will be many people’s first car.
Secondly, because learning to drive a manual makes you a better driver. You are qualified to drive a broader range of vehicles and you learn the importance of using the transmission to help you control the car on hills, for example.

Automatic.
DS learnt in a manual. Drives an automatic. DIL too.

DD learnt in an automtic and drives an automatic. Her BF learnt in a manual, drives an automatic.

I have driven an automatic since 2010. Never going back.

Electric cars and hybrids are automatic.

When unleaded petrol was introduced, leaded didn't stay around long. The lawnmower became such a bind we had to ditch a perfectly serviceable mower.

Being able to drive manual is a useful skill as it gives you more options. You can drive literally any domestic car/van/minibus if you have that on your licence. My only proviso would be unless you are always driving in traffic or motorways, in which case auto is better.

Yeah. I'm not keen to change back to manual . I have a long
cimm in heavy traffic
But just think maybe I should consider it because of DCs being able to practice when the time comes

Buy the car you need now not what you think your teen will need in 2-3 years time.

Our teen wants to do manual test and we only have automatic. Is having manual lessons with instructor but also practicing in our automatic. I was worried this would be confusing but it’s been absolutely fine.

Thank you

I'd stick with the automatic - I switched a few years ago, and whenever I drive a manual now it just seems like so much hassle!

Mind you, my eldest is dyspraxic, so I wasn't planning on suggesting he learned manual anyway he's going to have to concentrate hard enough just on the driving, without adding gears in.

I'm not retreating from automatic now, and if my children want to drive, I'd suggest starting with an automatic, there's no reason especially my dyslexic dyspraxic daughter should be concentrating on more things than the roads and the pedals. Love my auto.

I have a manual licence, I drive a manual and have never owned an automatic.

I prefer a manual because it gives me more control over the power bands and I like to choose the gear I'm in at any given time. I don't like a computer and a slush box deciding what gear I should be in. I also think an automatic shifts gears better than a human can, although a human can also learn to be as good if not better at shifting gears. There is always room for improvement and people should be encouraged to strive to be better (not chasing perfection, though).

I would say for constant stop/start traffic that can ravage a clutch, go for an automatic, but having a manual licence keeps your options open.

You know an engine only has one power band, right?

Yes, the engine does. I was referring to the transmission/drive train, inside of which are housed six gears, usually. 1st and reverse are the same power band, just directional, so that one goes backwards and one goes forwards.

What are you talking about? Transmissions don’t have power bands.

My kids did/are learning in manuals but I wouldn’t be giving my automatic up for them. I feel like it’s slumming it when I drive manual now 😂

That’s what Dd has done. Well she hasn’t upgraded yet, option is there if she wants to but six years on it’s never been an issue. She practiced in my auto.

Cars, I'm talking about cars.

The engine is connected to the wheels via the transmission, of which there is a gear box. They're connected via a clutch. Or in the case of an automatic, various clutches within the transmission and the driver simply chooses 'drive' on the shifter.

The power band is inherent to the gear you're selecting. To make full use of the power bands, you can learn how to rev-match and skip gears without the car complaining. In a manual anyway. In an automatic there is no such fun to be had. You can stamp on the gas pedal and the car might drop down a gear, but that's it.

Automatics have their uses, but they're not what I consider fun.

I don’t think you grasp what a power band is. You can use a gearbox to keep an engine in its power band. Transmissions themselves don’t have power bands. Traditional auto boxes use brake bands but that’s a totally different subject.

Learn and pass the test in a manual then you can drive any car you like. I don’t mind driving an automatic, we live in the States so it’s the norm, but I LOVE driving a stick.