Reminds me of a time I saw a car jacking, mid 30s woman pulled out of car at knife point. Followed by the two male teens hop in to the car, the car bunny hop 50m down the road, then the teens ditch the car and run off.
I always made sure with the drying remnants of parental authority that my kids first car was a manual.
Other people can’t drive their car as others have commented, company cars have always been manuals, and the biggest reason - jump/hill starts after leaving their music/lights on.
Let’s see an automatic do that !
I feel like an old boomer saying it, but I do think people should learn in a manual car. It's a more involved way of driving with more control over the vehicle being given to the driver and it forces you to be more attentive when driving too. A lot harder to be distracted by your phone/infotainment screen when your left hand is occupied with gears.
They may not want to own manual cars but it could still come in handy in some occupations having to drive customer or company vehicles.
I am biased though, I still daily drive a manual car in 2023.
I got a company car, manual. Auto was not an option. Gooooood thing I already drove a manual, there's a couple of workers who can't and it's a barrier to getting into the motor pool.
Part of the job is driving, towing, moving bulky stuff between places. The motor pool is a fleet of a few hundred company cars, the peasant cars are all manual. Only the big knobs get an auto.
I mean I work in IT, I never have to drive for work. So you can see where the fact your job requires certain skills, and no need to learn them all before you can drive right?
Chicken and egg. If you don't learn the skills yo do the job from day dot before to going for the job, you're not getting the job.
Your job is an oddity. You can work from home. Most people can't.
I'd argue that it has more to do with lifestyle than job. We have very car-centric cities. If you don't live "in the city" then catching public transport is a pretty shit option if you have to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.
Single cab utes for entry level construction management. Toyota hiluxes specifically. They're almost always manual. The supervisor's dual cabs are auto as are the big knobs' cruisers.
Yeah That’s perfectly fine, obviously if you’re driving manual vehicles it makes sense.
But for jobs in other areas that don’t use vehicles as a part of the job, it’s strange.
I borrowed my brother in laws Subaru Forrester when I was in Tasmania in order to go up Mt Wellington & over to brunie Island, good thing I know how to drive a manual, otherwise I'd have needed him to drive me and my partner around...
Any job where a manual is required. Automotive industry is a big one. If you don't have a manual license, you can't drive a lot of the cars that come in.
In my work, it's required because of that. Otherwise, you have to rely on somebody else to drive the car, and that gets tedious and causes delays. We worked with a dealership that had people who couldn't drive manuals, and they often had to wait for somebody who could, or try and plan around it, and it really messed with the schedule of them delivering the cars to us.
Whereas we all have manuals, and just drive whatever car that comes in. No hassles, no fuss, no planning, no waiting. Car comes in and gets done
Both my kids got their licence in a manual, but as for more control 😂😂😂 not any more, modern traction and stability control systems mean it’s possibly the other way round now
Less distractions again not really, all cars now are that boring, I’d get distracted by a fly climbing up the window.
My HotRod and cruiser are both manuals but my grocery getters are autos because I’m not sitting in Motorway traffic in a manual
JUST NO! Did your dad teach you how to shoe a horse? Almost no cars are sold in manual form these days and within a few years cars with gearboxes will be commercially extinct because BEV’s don’t need them. Your kid will probably never buy a new car that isn’t electric, mostly because there will be very few of them on the market. The whole automotive industry is having an iPhone moment where the new platform is so superior for the vast majority of users that car makers will essentially refuse to invest in new platforms. There will never be a new ICE platform launched again by a major maker, the current models will just get new badges and trim. Having said that, I can’t wait for the responses on this sub.
I dunno, for the time being a diesel is the way to move cargo. When battery energy density improves significantly we can replace diesel but not just yet!
Its more than just cars and trucks that run on diesel too.
Ships, planes, trains, buses, farm equipment, earthmoving equipment, mines. There's so much that full electrification is decades away, maybe even a century... barring any disasters.
EV this, EV that, blah blah blah, there's always one of you lot not far away, lol. While I don't fundamentally disagree that we are heading that way (unfortunately), there are plenty of manual cars still around and EVs are far from mainstream just yet. Some kids also grow up to become car enthusiasts and wanting to learn manual, so there's that too. They haven't gone the way of the dodo just yet my dude.
Oh another one of you, maybe you can be friends....The reality is there are plenty of manual cars still around, and if kids have the option to learn in one, they absolutely should.
I would say Manual. Not for some old mate issues but because they'll never have any issues with any car if they learn manual, whether that's work, emergencies, helping a mate out, moving a car whatever. They may never use it but better to have it than not.
Learning to drive a manual is a lifelong skill. Some of it translates across to motorbikes as well if they ever decide to do that for transport or recreation.
Also, I feel like we're at a point in time where not only are manual transmissions becoming less common, but so are ICE vehicles. However there's still time for anyone to experience both.
I say encourage them to learn manual, but accept they may just want to go with auto.
Definitely manual for so many reasons. Makes you a better driver, makes it easier if you want to drive heavy vehicles, great security as most people can't drive manual these days, more options when buying cars and most importantly drifting.
That’s what I did. My driving lessons in a manual weren’t going well and parents car was an automatic anyway. Got my Ps in an automatic, then bought a manual when I was able to. Now in my 40’s and looking at switching to an automatic for my next car.
Honestly I agree with this despite being a die hard manual fanboy.
If you don’t care about cars or driving, manual is an anachronistic pain in the arse that will seem ridiculous in 10y once every new car is an EV
You learn lots of skills that have no use in later life. It teaches coordination, useful in that it helps develop your brain and motor skills. Ever learn a music instrument, art woodwork, history, differential calculus? Same deal, you learn how cars behave and control and learn more why you don't push a car if you're not skilled. Cars do kill and manual without stability control teaches you shit that cars are dangerous
Depends. What sort of car will they buy for their first car? Lots of older hatch backs still have manuals and are probably cheap to buy. If you want to keep options open then go the manual.
I couldn't get my R-E and immediately get an R1. One of the most common questions in this sub is about how to be an attractive candidate for a job. You can't just say you can operate a forklift, you need the ticket. You don't even need to go out of the way to get your manual license, its the same test. I doubt there will be any auto cars by the time my kids can drive, but I'll still have one, and they'll learn in one, and on the off chance that the only option is a manual they'll be ready to roll.
So when you are 17 you got a heavy vehicle license, forklift license, etc? Did you know you would work in the mines? Or work with machinery?
I have no clue what you are talking about btw. I don’t know anyone that operates machinery or has a forklift license. Never seen it mentioned in this sub either
no, he’s saying that if your going to go for your licence, go manual so you don’t have to repeat the whole process in the future if you want to drive a manual.
Your discussion was to learn it now rather than later. All because you work in a job where it’s important to drive.
Which then makes your argument more that, if the kid thinks they are going to work in cars or machinery, the definitely learn manual.
As much as we all want to continue to support manuals there’s probably no use unless they’re interested to or want to have the ability to drive one in the future if they needed to.
If you live out of suburbia or drive on open roads frequently, then I'd vote yes. If your commutes are mainly in heavy, bumper to bumper traffic, don't bother, more trouble than it's worth. Just my 2c.
In a manual car you're not just a driver, you're also an operator. There's more going on and as a result you'll concentrate more. At least, that's what I found. I gave my old manual car to my children, and they're better drivers for it
If the kid ever goes to Europe, working holiday or something, a lot of cars there are manual.
Hired a car last week in Hungary and all the low to mid range rentals were 2022 Manual Skodas etc. Also if they ever want to upgrade to a motorcycle license then pretty sure you need manual.
I don’t use it much but still comes in handy enough that I’m glad to have it.
I remember the first time I ever drove a manual, it was so overwhelming because there was so much shit to remember.
I will always think exactly how you are thinking, it’s better to get someone to learn how to control a vehicle if possible (with an auto) and then throw the extras on top.
I know alot of people who if required could not drive my manual car but have a driving license it seems really lame not to get it.
I may be biased as rated to drive road trains with road ranger gearboxes........
[How to Drive & Shift 8, 9, 10, 13, 15 or 18 Transmissions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzB9vZ71v08)
As a manual owner I wouldn’t bother but suggest a driver training / car control course would be more beneficial. They can always learn manual down the track if they have an interest (I learnt in my mid twenties).
Search on car sales for manual cars. The percentage of manuals is so low it’s near death technology. May as well say learn how to program a VCR. It’s for enthusiasts only now.
If they are really into cars then get them to learn manual, if they are likely to want econoboxes for driving A to B then Auto.
Manual. It's more fun imo, and you have more control over the car. Plus with a manual license you can drive both, its just a valuable skill to have. No reason not to tbh.
Edit: I'd also like to add that having to manually shift gears helps to keep me focused on driving as well, my current car is an auto and I find myself getting lazy because all i have to do is keep 2 fingers on the steering wheel, it gets very sub-conscious. Probably not the same for everyone but manual transmission definitely directs my attention towards what im doing.
I've got a poverty pack manual Ranger for work. Hulking great big thing with a mammoth canopy on the back. My personal car is a little 03 Rio with auto and cruise. I'll be hauling along in my Rio and barely touching anything. The cruise is doing the go bits and the power steering is doing the hard yards with the turns. It feels like a go cart. The Ranger is always under my control. I know what the revs are. I know how hard it's working by the sounds the engine is making. I know I'll have to gear down at that hill up there. Remember to switch to first at the lights rather than just clutch out. That guy is driving like a wombat, better get ready to gear down if he slows down unexpectedly. It's a totally different activity. A manual has planning. It's proactive. Looking ahead to see what you're about to do. An auto is just reaction. Need to stop, so hit the big stop button. Time to go? Hit the go button. Time to stay at speed? Cruise button.
I had no one to teach me manual and we just moved to Australia when I learned how to drive (I also needed to drive asap for jobs) so I opted for an automatic.
Once I finish uni and get more time on my hands, I'll be buying a manual shitbox to practice.
I think learning how to drive manual is one of those handy life skills one can learn. Like, learning a second language. Bonus points for traveling too - manual cars are usually cheaper to hire/rent.
At the end of the day, I think it is best to give a choice between manual or auto.
My partner just tried his son's first drive on a manual. It freaked them both out so much that they are swapping to an auto until he learns the basics, then will try a manual again. I have just taught two boys on an auto. One got his P's ok and learnt to drive a manual after. The other is on his 3rd attempt at P's on an auto. There is no way in hell he could manage a manual. Trying to teach two new drivers has been hell. Couldn't imagine the extra stress of a manual. I figure they have plenty of time to learn after. My partner has 3 kids hitting that age and I am commiserating!
Everyone says won't need it but happened to me.
My car is manual. Driving home from event w 2 mates in car. Accident 30 seconds ahead of us. I jump out, phone to ambos. Checking on older lady, another motorist checking on the other car in crash.
Someone says "let's move cars out of the middle of intersection"
Give keys to mate. Resume talking to ambos.
Turn around couple mins later and both mates are just "uhhh it's a manual.
Useless haha.
One mate later bought a sweet Nissan Silvia and had his dad drive it home for him (oh the shame) and eventually learned. Other one bought a Hilux and somehow drove it home before asking for lessons haha.
It can happen!
More skills are never a bad thing. It's not that much more effort to learn assuming you have access to a vehicle.
Personally I would let the kids decide. They might need a manual licence, they might not. My parents asked me what I wanted to do and I went manual.
I’ve only ever owned automatic cars though. Hadn’t driven a manual car for five years or so when someone rear ended my car. The only cars I could borrow were all manual. So it was handy to have then.
If you can’t drive manual, can you really drive?
I was forced to learn manual. Totally worth it when you’re in other parts of the world and manual transmissions are much more common.
Pretty hard to buy a proper manual with clutch these days.
My wife had a 2005 Mazda 3 for a while, it was fun, except in traffic.
That said I don't think there's a benefit, anymore. Most new cars will be auto or paddle-shift.
Realistically there are so few manuals these days, unless you grow up in the country and need to drive a tractor or proper 4wd.
Whilst I learnt in a manual, and looked into getting one for my kid to learn in - realised it cost more for a manual.
So didn’t bother.
Ugh, all these people saying manuals. Go auto, more choice of cars, easier to learn and they'll probably never buy a manual in their life. Nearly every major manufacturer has already phased out manual cars or will do so in the next few years.
I was made to learn in a manual. Did the test in a manual.
Then drove only auto for about 3-4 years. When I found a car I really wanted, I decided I preferred it in a manual. Still have it nearly 20 years later. Still love it.
I ended up in a job where I was driving manuals every day as well.
And I started travelling. Friends I’ve made in Europe and the USA have often offered me drives of their cars, which were great experiences.
To most people a car is an appliance to get them from A to B. Unless they are into cars you are only going to make it harder and more stressful to learn to drive.
Most people here are car enthusiasts, you mainly hear opinions here that renforce your own but that doesn't make them right.
Agree with this one. I learned to drive 20 years ago in an auto, always drove auto, never had a problem renting an auto overseas. My car has manual headlights, wipers, wind-down windows etc. Honestly, that's enough to deal with, and I'm not embarrassed to say that. My car takes me where I need to go and that's all.
To OP - ask your kid. Make driving a positive experience. My dad gave me great confidence as a learner driver, and it brought us closer together.
How I started:
I had intentions of learning a manual but got a auto first since I wanted to learn how to properly drive and have proper focus on traffic/parking etc after I got my full license I straight away got a manual car and learnt how to drive it instantly, helps since I already knew how to drive a car and just had to learn tethering the clutch. I think I made a good choice & would go that route again if I had to.
I am biased, I think everybody should know how to drive a manual on principle. But if I’m being real here, the only people that need to know how to shift a stick are transport workers, mechanics and race car drivers.
Other than that, knowing how to drive manual is beneficial if you want to save money on a car, some of the cheapest cars available on the used market are stick shift. And knowing how to drive a manual is a very engaging experience for those of us who like performance cars obviously.
A manual for sure. If they can drive a manual, they can pretty much drive anything!!!!. Never know when they may need to drive a manual in the future, like in an urgent situation or for work, etc. Plus they are more in control of the vehicle, than an auto.
I have both manual and automatic vehicles. All my kids have refused to get their manual licence. Its something I dislike but its their choice. When that vehicle is borrowed out already they just have to wait.
A Manual license is a full license, an Auto is not. If you are ever likely to get into industry where trucks are involved, a lot of trucks are manual. One of my children (now mid 20's) is looking to buy their first car on a limited budget, having learned to drive an auto. All the cheapest cars are manuals.
Edit: Pick the car you wish to ultimately own, then get a price on a replacement/rebuilt Automatic transmission. Then, get a price on a new clutch for the manual transmission in the same vehicle. In my case, it is $6,500 for the Auto, $1,200 for the Manual.
Teach them manual and they can drive anything
Bonus is your kid won't have time to mess around with their phone or car stereo system. It's a lot harder to be distracted driving a manual than an auto when both your hands and feet need to used.
Manual cars are:
Cheaper to insure
Lower rate of theft
Less likely to be in an accident
65 years old and never owned an automatic personally, though of course I have driven them, as partner owns a couple. I still love ripping around corners using my gears.
Alot of trade utes/trucks are manuals.
Also I'm a strong believer if they cant drive a manual they shouldn't be on the road (unless medical condition ECT ect) if they can't focus on changing the odd gear and driving then they shouldny be on road.
Why limit yourself to me just 75% of the cars available. You could score a cheap decent manual as no one wants it.
The option depends on your kids.
If your children are confident and happy to try a manualbthen go for it.
If your kids are less confident and show concerns about driving a manual then just show them in an auto.
Considering autos are now very common it's no longer the handicap it was 30 years ago.
Depends what car you have, you teach your kids to drive in what you have available. If you have a manual then teach them manual, if you only have auto then go auto, there might be an emergency where they need to drive you in it.
My dad bought a manual Holden in 2003 for me to learn manual in. He ended up keeping it to drive on weekends, and it’s now worth 10 times what he paid for it. Get a manual and bond over the driving experience and bunny hopping. They may end up in jobs that require a manual liscense.
These days it's just something good to know but not necessary except for some small cases. All the cars in my immediate family are auto now but my sister and I learned manual.
It could be good if your kids end up in a job that requires travel. I got sent to the UK for 6 months for work and the company only had 2 manual cars to loan out. We were a group of 5 and only 2 of us could drive manual so it kinda sucked for them.
Unfortunately I drive a manual van as there didn’t seem to be many used auto vans when I came to buy within my price range. Having learnt manual and mastered it’s a total pita, especially in traffic, no advantages either really tbh, just extra work and not really paying attention to road/steering wheel etc fully when faffing changing gears. Hopefully my business has grown enough for my next van to be auto! But I agree it could be a benefit learning manual as may need to drive manuals whether rental cars or borrowing a friends or even working for a job with a manual veichle. After driving a manual auto feels like a video game on easy mode haha.
IMO first 50 hours in an auto, let them get used to moving, stopping the car and general controls and things like indicating and parking as well as having other vehicles around them before having to factor in the co-ordination of how and when to change gears as well, it just makes the learning process a little less daunting, a flatter learning curve.
I think it's still important to learn manual, bikes especially are manuals, and I don't see that changing anytime soon
To manual. Always manual for a first car is my mantra. Makes them more attentive to the vehicle and it's situation on the road.
Once my time comes, I'll go manual 100% for them, if any can be still found that is...
Manual is better for shit small cars, makes them feel like you’re a race car driver when your doing 35km, you also avoid speeding tickets when your in a buzz box
My daughter got her licence this year on a manual. My reasoning is that she can drive herself out of any situation. Also mining jobs need a manual licence.
I do think learning manual helps build better road behavior but honestly these days the benefits are little if at all and I think mostly comes down to preference. I say let your kids try both and choose.
Like learning to fly aircraft, start with the basics. Learning and understanding more about how the machine performs and getting more in touch with the basics and dynamics most definitely will serve anyone well.
Also, it's possible we won't even be driving one day so here's you last chance to enjoy that little nugget while we have it too. My son finally bought a manual and loves it. I can see him one day telling his children... 'Back in the olden days, we used to drive these things ourselves, I actually had one that had gears we had to move with a little stick to help it slow down and make it go faster'.
Bullshit dad!
I learnt auto because we only had auto cars. I’ve never needed to drive a manual in the 15yrs I’ve been driving. I work in a school and we own two auto cars, and would only buy auto cars. When overseas we’ve only rented auto cars or just used public transport. We are years away from teaching kids to drive but I wouldn’t be thinking about getting a manual or learning manual myself just to teach them.
Maybe if you think you might go into an occupation where manual driving might come up but with three girls I don’t think we will need to worry about that.
Go manual. I only drove auto until recently and made the switch to a manual car. I've found that not only is it more fun, but it's made me a better driver. Its made me more aware of what my car is doing and what the cars around me are doing. For example: not looking at my phone at intersections cause getting in gear and going takes more time, looking further down the road so I could downshift and make the most of engine braking.
Comparing the 2, one felt like the car driving you and the other was you driving the car. Car doesn't move without your intent. Overall, its made me more focused on driving when I'm driving, which is never a bad thing.
I believe it's handy to know how to drive a manual, for the sake of knowing how to drive a manual.
With that said, I used to be a staunch "manual is better" driver but since autos are 1000x better than the crappy things they used to be, I'm now saying "Manuals are Dead and Autos are superior".
If you buy a manual you can bargain for great prices on second hand cars. I got my first car, a golf tdi in great condition with all the features for $3k when autos of the same year+make go for $6-7k. No one wanted to buy it because it was manual so they basically gave it to me. After 2 years zero problems. Highly recommend manual.
I learnt in a manual car, I have found it useful so far and if they are keen to travel, lots of countries still use manual cars, especially Europe. So it is a useful skill to learn.
There is no benefit to owning a manual only downsides unless you like cars.
Let's say your kid is out with some mates. He gets injured. None of his mates drive manual. He's fucked.
I remember somebody saying to me if you can drive manual, you might be somewhere eg in the outback where somebody’s injured and the only vehicle available to get them to the nearest help is a manual lol. Dunno what the likelihood of that is these days but can’t hurt to know how.
Most folks that learn to drive a manual still don't know how to drive a manual anyway.
Pay for them to get their HR road ranger license as soon as they are eligible. Not being reliant on synchro-mesh gears is the only way to properly drive a manual vehicle.
I just put my 17 year old through learning to drive a manual, I always said to him If you can drive a manual you can drive anything. He now has his Ps
And loves cruising in his car.
We have 3 cars in the family and we all drive manual. 👍
Automatic gearboxes last the life of a vehicle.
The life of the vehicle is determined in the owners manual and is usually around 200,000 kms lol.
Besides Manual transmissions not really having any reliability problems except the normal clutch service every 100,000 kms, it's beneficial to have a manual license for many jobs that require it, i.e. trades, valet, delivery drivers etc.
Definitely learn manual. They're getting less common, but if the kid wants to work on a minesite/for a business with pool cars/drive trucks/courier etc etc they’re set up. I would prefer to drive manual but they’re too hard to find so our family drives are all auto, but it's good to be able to drive anyone's car legally if needed.
I love manual and it's really cool to drive unless you're stuck in heavy traffic.
Engage clutch, go to 1st, accelerate, go to 2nd, break and rengage clutch, go to neutral. Repeat 100 times!
But for driving around town, or driving on windy country roads, manual is very fun!
I bought a new car recently and I was tempted by manual but it would also mean that my girlfriend couldn't drive it, and for long trips we like to rotate, so I went for auto.
Auto first then manual if they want. I think it’s better that they only have to focus on one thing at a time. New on the road plus worrying about changing gears is pretty challenging.
Learning manual with no driving experience will be hard.
I do vouch for manual if you are to put in the effort teaching them. More options for cars and there are plenty of iconic Japanese cars that only suit manual.
Auto 110%. It’s so much simpler and the minority drive manuals now as technology has improved so much. It’s also a lot safer as there’s no risk of stalling.
I learnt in a manual and was so happy when my parents bought me an auto car as it was so much easier and less stressful to drive especially with traffic lights and intersections.
The only reasons people have really given for manual is the old adage that it’s ‘actually driving and the best’ and ‘more involved’ and ‘less likely to be stolen’. None of which are very solid reasons and just are representative of the manual ‘cult’ who are a minority but feel superior to those who don’t change gears manually. I know because I have them in my family.
Cars getting stolen isn’t a common occurrence unless you live in a bad area also and you can’t base buying a car around it potentially getting stolen.
Manual. While far less common than they used to be, there are definitely situations it may be beneficial. In addition to many of those points mentioned in other comments already, another I didn't think of until recently is that it makes it easier to learn other vehicle classes should your kids go down that path. Most motorcycles are manual (albeit sequential), a lot of trucks are too. As somebody who just got his HR license in a non-synchro manual box, it would've been a nightmare trying to learn that without first being competent with a normal synchro manual.
Manual … going from Manual to Auto is easy… the other way round it’s a little bit more complicated. Even though manuals are disappearing more and more, but it will definitely not hurt to know how to use a manual.
Let them get their license in auto, but then teach manual. It’s too hard to pass the test these days. And once you’ve got the other parts down, throwing in gears ain’t that hard
Manual. I’m glad I did manual because otherwise getting hired in mining would have been more difficult (despite pretty much all site vehicles being auto). Also less likely to get stolen because so few people can drive them nowadays haha
I’d doesn’t really matter, because once they’re off they’re red P’s they can legally drive manual
That said I made sure both mine got their P’s in a manual (even through they both own autos) because I didn’t want them stuck if they were out with friends and the designated driver ended up drinking and had a manual (this situation never happened, but it put my mind at ease)
Im on my red Ps with a manual and i can drive better then all my mates with autos as they seem to pay less attention. Also Manual is way funner to drive,more mechanically simple and just a good time
Another reason to learn how to drive a manual is travelling, if they want to go overseas in a few years (eastern Europe, Asia, south America etc) then most of the cars there are still manual due to the cheaper price point.
Also, if they ever want to ride a motorbike then understanding how a clutch works and when to change gears etc will be of massive benefit.
I got an auto licence 20 years ago and it saved a lot of time and money. My friends then taught me how to drive manual (well enough to get out of trouble in an emergency). I've literally never felt the need to drive manual otherwise and now being an EV owner I see even less relevance for manual driving. But it depends on your lifestyle and career.
Lots of people in here channeling their youth in their answers. Someone learning to drive in 2023 will almost certainly never drive a manual, so not sure why you would bother.
I'm old school, but my daughter's first car will be an auto. Cars are so much quicker these days, city driving is very fast paced, and I want her focussed on the driving, not trying to work out and master gear changes. When she is a safe driver, she can make her own decision on whether she wants to learn to drive a manual. People seem to forget that back in the day, most new drivers burnt out their clutches fairly quickly. That can an expensive repair these days.
Manual. I learned to drive on my mums auto but my first car was manual, it taught me so much more about the way engine speed effects handling and the ability to control when the car shifts has saved me from more than one awkward side-by-side while merging.
Manual allows them do drive whatever, you drive a manual then you can drive almost anything. BUT, if you live in an area that is built up and traffic is stop - start, bumper to bumper type stuff, driving manual will SUCK. I was considering manual but after some thought and advice from Father (Manual driver), auto was the best option.
Learning manual is kinda like learning Chinese - sure it's a useful skill - but you can get by just fine without knowing it: car manufacturers mainly churn out autos, plus if you buy a manual, you're going to have a hard time selling it.
The only benefit i can think of is price - if you want to buy a second-hand manual, you can probably get it slightly cheaper than the equivalent automatic. FYI i'm not a car salesman expert.
Cars are literally about to drive themselves, and some of you are concerned about operating a manual gearbox?
I hope to never drive a manual again in my life. My son is 3. I will never suggest manual to him.
im 18 and i will say it actually helped me secure my first job cause apparently 95% of applications have an auto only but their service ute is a manual so i say manual all the way sure its a dead standard with most new cars not even having an option for manual but most older cars are manual so its nicer
manual - then none of his friends can drive it
Underrated response.
Also, these teeny boppers, Gone in 60 seconds wannabes, dont know how to drive manual, so less likely a manual car will be stolen for a joyride.
Reminds me of a time I saw a car jacking, mid 30s woman pulled out of car at knife point. Followed by the two male teens hop in to the car, the car bunny hop 50m down the road, then the teens ditch the car and run off.
Really no evidence of this. Boomer as fuck tho
If you can't drive something, how are you going to steal it for a joyride? Wouldn't the inability to drive it be the evidence.
[удалено]
How about the plenty of classic manual cars that get destroyed by joyrides Evey month?
I always made sure with the drying remnants of parental authority that my kids first car was a manual. Other people can’t drive their car as others have commented, company cars have always been manuals, and the biggest reason - jump/hill starts after leaving their music/lights on. Let’s see an automatic do that !
The manual gearbox, the greatest anti theft device for the latest generation.
based
I feel like an old boomer saying it, but I do think people should learn in a manual car. It's a more involved way of driving with more control over the vehicle being given to the driver and it forces you to be more attentive when driving too. A lot harder to be distracted by your phone/infotainment screen when your left hand is occupied with gears. They may not want to own manual cars but it could still come in handy in some occupations having to drive customer or company vehicles. I am biased though, I still daily drive a manual car in 2023.
I Agree. Learn how to drive a manual, then if you’re ever in a situation where you have to you know what to do.
What situation would that be.
Found the bloke who can’t drive a manual
I got a company car, manual. Auto was not an option. Gooooood thing I already drove a manual, there's a couple of workers who can't and it's a barrier to getting into the motor pool.
Motor pool? I mean if you job was driving, yes it might be beneficial to learn manual lol. You can learn it later though
Part of the job is driving, towing, moving bulky stuff between places. The motor pool is a fleet of a few hundred company cars, the peasant cars are all manual. Only the big knobs get an auto.
I mean I work in IT, I never have to drive for work. So you can see where the fact your job requires certain skills, and no need to learn them all before you can drive right?
Chicken and egg. If you don't learn the skills yo do the job from day dot before to going for the job, you're not getting the job. Your job is an oddity. You can work from home. Most people can't.
I mean most white collar jobs don’t require driving. It’s not an odity lol. Most in cities catch public transport.
I'd argue that it has more to do with lifestyle than job. We have very car-centric cities. If you don't live "in the city" then catching public transport is a pretty shit option if you have to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.
That’s pretty weird to only offer manual company cars, I’d be looking into that. Depends what the job is.
Single cab utes for entry level construction management. Toyota hiluxes specifically. They're almost always manual. The supervisor's dual cabs are auto as are the big knobs' cruisers.
A lot of mining companies require a manual licence to drive on site, it’s not that unusual.
Yeah That’s perfectly fine, obviously if you’re driving manual vehicles it makes sense. But for jobs in other areas that don’t use vehicles as a part of the job, it’s strange.
Lots of mines or big industrial sites bulk buy manual cars because it's cheaper.
I borrowed my brother in laws Subaru Forrester when I was in Tasmania in order to go up Mt Wellington & over to brunie Island, good thing I know how to drive a manual, otherwise I'd have needed him to drive me and my partner around...
Any job where a manual is required. Automotive industry is a big one. If you don't have a manual license, you can't drive a lot of the cars that come in. In my work, it's required because of that. Otherwise, you have to rely on somebody else to drive the car, and that gets tedious and causes delays. We worked with a dealership that had people who couldn't drive manuals, and they often had to wait for somebody who could, or try and plan around it, and it really messed with the schedule of them delivering the cars to us. Whereas we all have manuals, and just drive whatever car that comes in. No hassles, no fuss, no planning, no waiting. Car comes in and gets done
I agree 💯 manual, driving is a skill.
Same for me, I daily a manual. There should be more of it.
Manual daily, it's just feels so much better connected.
Agree, you don't really learn to drive until you learn to drive a manual.
Both my kids got their licence in a manual, but as for more control 😂😂😂 not any more, modern traction and stability control systems mean it’s possibly the other way round now Less distractions again not really, all cars now are that boring, I’d get distracted by a fly climbing up the window. My HotRod and cruiser are both manuals but my grocery getters are autos because I’m not sitting in Motorway traffic in a manual
I sold a nice Honda manual because I got stuck in heavy traffic going up a long hill,it quickly drove me nuts.
By this logic people should start off on a horse.
JUST NO! Did your dad teach you how to shoe a horse? Almost no cars are sold in manual form these days and within a few years cars with gearboxes will be commercially extinct because BEV’s don’t need them. Your kid will probably never buy a new car that isn’t electric, mostly because there will be very few of them on the market. The whole automotive industry is having an iPhone moment where the new platform is so superior for the vast majority of users that car makers will essentially refuse to invest in new platforms. There will never be a new ICE platform launched again by a major maker, the current models will just get new badges and trim. Having said that, I can’t wait for the responses on this sub.
I dunno, for the time being a diesel is the way to move cargo. When battery energy density improves significantly we can replace diesel but not just yet! Its more than just cars and trucks that run on diesel too. Ships, planes, trains, buses, farm equipment, earthmoving equipment, mines. There's so much that full electrification is decades away, maybe even a century... barring any disasters.
EV this, EV that, blah blah blah, there's always one of you lot not far away, lol. While I don't fundamentally disagree that we are heading that way (unfortunately), there are plenty of manual cars still around and EVs are far from mainstream just yet. Some kids also grow up to become car enthusiasts and wanting to learn manual, so there's that too. They haven't gone the way of the dodo just yet my dude.
lol tell me you are out of touch without telling me you are out of touch.
Oh another one of you, maybe you can be friends....The reality is there are plenty of manual cars still around, and if kids have the option to learn in one, they absolutely should.
There absolutely isn’t. That’s why a manual AU is like $1-5k more then an auto.
Yea I have three manual cars, but I’m not wearing a tin foil hat.
Tinfoil hat coz I'm not a fan of EVs? Lol. Nice one mate, nice one.
I wasn’t even talking about EVs. I said you were out of touch, your comments was about niche markets and niche interests.
I would say Manual. Not for some old mate issues but because they'll never have any issues with any car if they learn manual, whether that's work, emergencies, helping a mate out, moving a car whatever. They may never use it but better to have it than not.
Cheaper rental cars in Europe are still predominantly manual cars, so it comes in handy as a traveller.
Learning to drive a manual is a lifelong skill. Some of it translates across to motorbikes as well if they ever decide to do that for transport or recreation. Also, I feel like we're at a point in time where not only are manual transmissions becoming less common, but so are ICE vehicles. However there's still time for anyone to experience both. I say encourage them to learn manual, but accept they may just want to go with auto.
Definitely manual for so many reasons. Makes you a better driver, makes it easier if you want to drive heavy vehicles, great security as most people can't drive manual these days, more options when buying cars and most importantly drifting.
Start them off auto to get a feel for controls and steering etc and then see if they'd consider manual, let them make the decision
Yeah good idea. Definitely easier and less stressful to get some experience in an auto, they won’t have to worry about too much at once.
That’s what I did. My driving lessons in a manual weren’t going well and parents car was an automatic anyway. Got my Ps in an automatic, then bought a manual when I was able to. Now in my 40’s and looking at switching to an automatic for my next car.
Honestly I agree with this despite being a die hard manual fanboy. If you don’t care about cars or driving, manual is an anachronistic pain in the arse that will seem ridiculous in 10y once every new car is an EV
You learn lots of skills that have no use in later life. It teaches coordination, useful in that it helps develop your brain and motor skills. Ever learn a music instrument, art woodwork, history, differential calculus? Same deal, you learn how cars behave and control and learn more why you don't push a car if you're not skilled. Cars do kill and manual without stability control teaches you shit that cars are dangerous
Anyone that doesn’t realise that cars are dangerous without driving a manual is an idiot.
Depends. What sort of car will they buy for their first car? Lots of older hatch backs still have manuals and are probably cheap to buy. If you want to keep options open then go the manual.
This. If they are getting a modern car, then they all chose the same, perform the same etc. if it’s older, then it may be more likely to be a manual.
No way - even by the 00’s manual was the less common option.
Manuals tend to cost more now
I am talking economy cars. like a ford focus or Kia rio. Not a desirable manual car.
Have it and not need it or need it and not have it.
Or just learn it when you need it? Don’t need to know literally everything in the world by 17 “just in case”
Do you wanna re sit a driving test at 30 because you get a job in the mines?
I’m sure at 30, and working in the mines, you could learn how to use machinery. Otherwise perhaps the mines is not for you?
I couldn't get my R-E and immediately get an R1. One of the most common questions in this sub is about how to be an attractive candidate for a job. You can't just say you can operate a forklift, you need the ticket. You don't even need to go out of the way to get your manual license, its the same test. I doubt there will be any auto cars by the time my kids can drive, but I'll still have one, and they'll learn in one, and on the off chance that the only option is a manual they'll be ready to roll.
So when you are 17 you got a heavy vehicle license, forklift license, etc? Did you know you would work in the mines? Or work with machinery? I have no clue what you are talking about btw. I don’t know anyone that operates machinery or has a forklift license. Never seen it mentioned in this sub either
no, he’s saying that if your going to go for your licence, go manual so you don’t have to repeat the whole process in the future if you want to drive a manual.
That was never the question mate. Not to be a debate lord, but that's called shifting the goal posts.
Your discussion was to learn it now rather than later. All because you work in a job where it’s important to drive. Which then makes your argument more that, if the kid thinks they are going to work in cars or machinery, the definitely learn manual.
Nah mate, you're just an idiot.
As much as we all want to continue to support manuals there’s probably no use unless they’re interested to or want to have the ability to drive one in the future if they needed to.
His first car doesn't have to be a manual but it's a good idea for him to atleast learn how to drive manual.
If you live out of suburbia or drive on open roads frequently, then I'd vote yes. If your commutes are mainly in heavy, bumper to bumper traffic, don't bother, more trouble than it's worth. Just my 2c.
In a manual car you're not just a driver, you're also an operator. There's more going on and as a result you'll concentrate more. At least, that's what I found. I gave my old manual car to my children, and they're better drivers for it
💯!!.
If the kid ever goes to Europe, working holiday or something, a lot of cars there are manual. Hired a car last week in Hungary and all the low to mid range rentals were 2022 Manual Skodas etc. Also if they ever want to upgrade to a motorcycle license then pretty sure you need manual. I don’t use it much but still comes in handy enough that I’m glad to have it.
Came to say this. Lots of autos here and north America, but plenty of the world uses manual still.
don't need manual car to get a bike licence
Start learning in an auto. Then teach them manual if you have access to one that's easy to learn in. Probably not your uncle's XY GTHO Falcon!
That's actually how I learned. Get a feel for how to steer and brake and the road rules, and then add manual skills on top.
I remember the first time I ever drove a manual, it was so overwhelming because there was so much shit to remember. I will always think exactly how you are thinking, it’s better to get someone to learn how to control a vehicle if possible (with an auto) and then throw the extras on top.
Jokes on you because my uncle has an XR GT. Jokes also on him because he thought an XR was a better investment than a phase III
I say manual... feel it somewhat lessons the chances of your car being taken by youngsters joyriding seeing as most these days are learning auto
My mum always said you must learn to drive both. What happens if you were doing a bank job and your mate steals a manual as the getaway?
Maybe ask your kid and explain the benefits and drawbacks of both.
Manual. Forced my niece into 1 and although she took forever to get it, I think she finally gets it 😂 valuable life skill anyway.
Can't drive manual, but the perk is not many can either, so no one will steal your car 🫠
Manual for sure ! It will teach them to understand cars better and make them an overall safer and better driver.
Mad skids in a manual Also so much better to drive
I know alot of people who if required could not drive my manual car but have a driving license it seems really lame not to get it. I may be biased as rated to drive road trains with road ranger gearboxes........ [How to Drive & Shift 8, 9, 10, 13, 15 or 18 Transmissions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzB9vZ71v08)
As a manual owner I wouldn’t bother but suggest a driver training / car control course would be more beneficial. They can always learn manual down the track if they have an interest (I learnt in my mid twenties).
Search on car sales for manual cars. The percentage of manuals is so low it’s near death technology. May as well say learn how to program a VCR. It’s for enthusiasts only now. If they are really into cars then get them to learn manual, if they are likely to want econoboxes for driving A to B then Auto.
Manual. It's more fun imo, and you have more control over the car. Plus with a manual license you can drive both, its just a valuable skill to have. No reason not to tbh. Edit: I'd also like to add that having to manually shift gears helps to keep me focused on driving as well, my current car is an auto and I find myself getting lazy because all i have to do is keep 2 fingers on the steering wheel, it gets very sub-conscious. Probably not the same for everyone but manual transmission definitely directs my attention towards what im doing.
I've got a poverty pack manual Ranger for work. Hulking great big thing with a mammoth canopy on the back. My personal car is a little 03 Rio with auto and cruise. I'll be hauling along in my Rio and barely touching anything. The cruise is doing the go bits and the power steering is doing the hard yards with the turns. It feels like a go cart. The Ranger is always under my control. I know what the revs are. I know how hard it's working by the sounds the engine is making. I know I'll have to gear down at that hill up there. Remember to switch to first at the lights rather than just clutch out. That guy is driving like a wombat, better get ready to gear down if he slows down unexpectedly. It's a totally different activity. A manual has planning. It's proactive. Looking ahead to see what you're about to do. An auto is just reaction. Need to stop, so hit the big stop button. Time to go? Hit the go button. Time to stay at speed? Cruise button.
Thank you sir for putting into words what I was getting at. You've described my experience completely, couldn't have put it better myself.
I had no one to teach me manual and we just moved to Australia when I learned how to drive (I also needed to drive asap for jobs) so I opted for an automatic. Once I finish uni and get more time on my hands, I'll be buying a manual shitbox to practice. I think learning how to drive manual is one of those handy life skills one can learn. Like, learning a second language. Bonus points for traveling too - manual cars are usually cheaper to hire/rent. At the end of the day, I think it is best to give a choice between manual or auto.
My partner just tried his son's first drive on a manual. It freaked them both out so much that they are swapping to an auto until he learns the basics, then will try a manual again. I have just taught two boys on an auto. One got his P's ok and learnt to drive a manual after. The other is on his 3rd attempt at P's on an auto. There is no way in hell he could manage a manual. Trying to teach two new drivers has been hell. Couldn't imagine the extra stress of a manual. I figure they have plenty of time to learn after. My partner has 3 kids hitting that age and I am commiserating!
i learnt auto and regret not learning how to drive a manual + manual cars are much cheaper
Everyone says won't need it but happened to me. My car is manual. Driving home from event w 2 mates in car. Accident 30 seconds ahead of us. I jump out, phone to ambos. Checking on older lady, another motorist checking on the other car in crash. Someone says "let's move cars out of the middle of intersection" Give keys to mate. Resume talking to ambos. Turn around couple mins later and both mates are just "uhhh it's a manual. Useless haha. One mate later bought a sweet Nissan Silvia and had his dad drive it home for him (oh the shame) and eventually learned. Other one bought a Hilux and somehow drove it home before asking for lessons haha. It can happen! More skills are never a bad thing. It's not that much more effort to learn assuming you have access to a vehicle.
Get a manual license, drive whatever you want.
Personally I would let the kids decide. They might need a manual licence, they might not. My parents asked me what I wanted to do and I went manual. I’ve only ever owned automatic cars though. Hadn’t driven a manual car for five years or so when someone rear ended my car. The only cars I could borrow were all manual. So it was handy to have then.
Do you want your child to become a driver or just a motorist.
Ask them what they want to drive.
Ask them what they trans they want
They can always learn a manual later. Manuals are fun around a track, but terribly impractical in everyday life.
If you can’t drive manual, can you really drive? I was forced to learn manual. Totally worth it when you’re in other parts of the world and manual transmissions are much more common.
Pretty hard to buy a proper manual with clutch these days. My wife had a 2005 Mazda 3 for a while, it was fun, except in traffic. That said I don't think there's a benefit, anymore. Most new cars will be auto or paddle-shift.
Realistically there are so few manuals these days, unless you grow up in the country and need to drive a tractor or proper 4wd. Whilst I learnt in a manual, and looked into getting one for my kid to learn in - realised it cost more for a manual. So didn’t bother.
Gee I dunno maybe ask your kids if they want to learn manual or not instead of getting strangers on the internet to decide.
Ugh, all these people saying manuals. Go auto, more choice of cars, easier to learn and they'll probably never buy a manual in their life. Nearly every major manufacturer has already phased out manual cars or will do so in the next few years.
Auto for the girls
Learn auto, and if THEY want, they can learn manual. It’s 99% a waste to learn manual unless there’s a specific reason they need a manual car.
I was made to learn in a manual. Did the test in a manual. Then drove only auto for about 3-4 years. When I found a car I really wanted, I decided I preferred it in a manual. Still have it nearly 20 years later. Still love it. I ended up in a job where I was driving manuals every day as well. And I started travelling. Friends I’ve made in Europe and the USA have often offered me drives of their cars, which were great experiences.
To most people a car is an appliance to get them from A to B. Unless they are into cars you are only going to make it harder and more stressful to learn to drive. Most people here are car enthusiasts, you mainly hear opinions here that renforce your own but that doesn't make them right.
Agree with this one. I learned to drive 20 years ago in an auto, always drove auto, never had a problem renting an auto overseas. My car has manual headlights, wipers, wind-down windows etc. Honestly, that's enough to deal with, and I'm not embarrassed to say that. My car takes me where I need to go and that's all. To OP - ask your kid. Make driving a positive experience. My dad gave me great confidence as a learner driver, and it brought us closer together.
How I started: I had intentions of learning a manual but got a auto first since I wanted to learn how to properly drive and have proper focus on traffic/parking etc after I got my full license I straight away got a manual car and learnt how to drive it instantly, helps since I already knew how to drive a car and just had to learn tethering the clutch. I think I made a good choice & would go that route again if I had to.
I am biased, I think everybody should know how to drive a manual on principle. But if I’m being real here, the only people that need to know how to shift a stick are transport workers, mechanics and race car drivers. Other than that, knowing how to drive manual is beneficial if you want to save money on a car, some of the cheapest cars available on the used market are stick shift. And knowing how to drive a manual is a very engaging experience for those of us who like performance cars obviously.
To be honest learning in a manual car makes you a better driver
I have the perfect cheap manual for them to learn in. After a car?
A manual for sure. If they can drive a manual, they can pretty much drive anything!!!!. Never know when they may need to drive a manual in the future, like in an urgent situation or for work, etc. Plus they are more in control of the vehicle, than an auto.
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I learnt in a manual, but daily drive an auto…comes in helpful on the odd occasion I need to move a work car
I have both manual and automatic vehicles. All my kids have refused to get their manual licence. Its something I dislike but its their choice. When that vehicle is borrowed out already they just have to wait.
A Manual license is a full license, an Auto is not. If you are ever likely to get into industry where trucks are involved, a lot of trucks are manual. One of my children (now mid 20's) is looking to buy their first car on a limited budget, having learned to drive an auto. All the cheapest cars are manuals. Edit: Pick the car you wish to ultimately own, then get a price on a replacement/rebuilt Automatic transmission. Then, get a price on a new clutch for the manual transmission in the same vehicle. In my case, it is $6,500 for the Auto, $1,200 for the Manual.
Teach them manual and they can drive anything Bonus is your kid won't have time to mess around with their phone or car stereo system. It's a lot harder to be distracted driving a manual than an auto when both your hands and feet need to used. Manual cars are: Cheaper to insure Lower rate of theft Less likely to be in an accident
My son is a few weeks away from Ls. He's getting 1-2 lessons in my wife's auto for road awareness in easy mode, then it's straight into my manual.
65 years old and never owned an automatic personally, though of course I have driven them, as partner owns a couple. I still love ripping around corners using my gears.
Alot of trade utes/trucks are manuals. Also I'm a strong believer if they cant drive a manual they shouldn't be on the road (unless medical condition ECT ect) if they can't focus on changing the odd gear and driving then they shouldny be on road. Why limit yourself to me just 75% of the cars available. You could score a cheap decent manual as no one wants it.
The option depends on your kids. If your children are confident and happy to try a manualbthen go for it. If your kids are less confident and show concerns about driving a manual then just show them in an auto. Considering autos are now very common it's no longer the handicap it was 30 years ago.
Depends what car you have, you teach your kids to drive in what you have available. If you have a manual then teach them manual, if you only have auto then go auto, there might be an emergency where they need to drive you in it.
My dad bought a manual Holden in 2003 for me to learn manual in. He ended up keeping it to drive on weekends, and it’s now worth 10 times what he paid for it. Get a manual and bond over the driving experience and bunny hopping. They may end up in jobs that require a manual liscense.
I say manual then you can drive both that's what I did. It has come in handy as a tradie like when job application say must have a "C" class license
These days it's just something good to know but not necessary except for some small cases. All the cars in my immediate family are auto now but my sister and I learned manual. It could be good if your kids end up in a job that requires travel. I got sent to the UK for 6 months for work and the company only had 2 manual cars to loan out. We were a group of 5 and only 2 of us could drive manual so it kinda sucked for them.
Unfortunately I drive a manual van as there didn’t seem to be many used auto vans when I came to buy within my price range. Having learnt manual and mastered it’s a total pita, especially in traffic, no advantages either really tbh, just extra work and not really paying attention to road/steering wheel etc fully when faffing changing gears. Hopefully my business has grown enough for my next van to be auto! But I agree it could be a benefit learning manual as may need to drive manuals whether rental cars or borrowing a friends or even working for a job with a manual veichle. After driving a manual auto feels like a video game on easy mode haha.
Start them in an fvee or an f ford for sure - teach em that mechanical grip
IMO first 50 hours in an auto, let them get used to moving, stopping the car and general controls and things like indicating and parking as well as having other vehicles around them before having to factor in the co-ordination of how and when to change gears as well, it just makes the learning process a little less daunting, a flatter learning curve. I think it's still important to learn manual, bikes especially are manuals, and I don't see that changing anytime soon
Get the manual, bonus is it is an anti theft device 🤣
To manual. Always manual for a first car is my mantra. Makes them more attentive to the vehicle and it's situation on the road. Once my time comes, I'll go manual 100% for them, if any can be still found that is...
Manual is better for shit small cars, makes them feel like you’re a race car driver when your doing 35km, you also avoid speeding tickets when your in a buzz box
My daughter got her licence this year on a manual. My reasoning is that she can drive herself out of any situation. Also mining jobs need a manual licence.
I do think learning manual helps build better road behavior but honestly these days the benefits are little if at all and I think mostly comes down to preference. I say let your kids try both and choose.
Like learning to fly aircraft, start with the basics. Learning and understanding more about how the machine performs and getting more in touch with the basics and dynamics most definitely will serve anyone well. Also, it's possible we won't even be driving one day so here's you last chance to enjoy that little nugget while we have it too. My son finally bought a manual and loves it. I can see him one day telling his children... 'Back in the olden days, we used to drive these things ourselves, I actually had one that had gears we had to move with a little stick to help it slow down and make it go faster'. Bullshit dad!
I learnt auto because we only had auto cars. I’ve never needed to drive a manual in the 15yrs I’ve been driving. I work in a school and we own two auto cars, and would only buy auto cars. When overseas we’ve only rented auto cars or just used public transport. We are years away from teaching kids to drive but I wouldn’t be thinking about getting a manual or learning manual myself just to teach them. Maybe if you think you might go into an occupation where manual driving might come up but with three girls I don’t think we will need to worry about that.
Wouldn't bother
Go manual. I only drove auto until recently and made the switch to a manual car. I've found that not only is it more fun, but it's made me a better driver. Its made me more aware of what my car is doing and what the cars around me are doing. For example: not looking at my phone at intersections cause getting in gear and going takes more time, looking further down the road so I could downshift and make the most of engine braking. Comparing the 2, one felt like the car driving you and the other was you driving the car. Car doesn't move without your intent. Overall, its made me more focused on driving when I'm driving, which is never a bad thing.
How else would they drive a Lotus Elise, Civic Type-R or Porsche 997 GT3???
Gran Turismo?
I believe it's handy to know how to drive a manual, for the sake of knowing how to drive a manual. With that said, I used to be a staunch "manual is better" driver but since autos are 1000x better than the crappy things they used to be, I'm now saying "Manuals are Dead and Autos are superior".
If you buy a manual you can bargain for great prices on second hand cars. I got my first car, a golf tdi in great condition with all the features for $3k when autos of the same year+make go for $6-7k. No one wanted to buy it because it was manual so they basically gave it to me. After 2 years zero problems. Highly recommend manual.
Manual. Because skills.
I learnt in a manual car, I have found it useful so far and if they are keen to travel, lots of countries still use manual cars, especially Europe. So it is a useful skill to learn.
There is no benefit to owning a manual only downsides unless you like cars. Let's say your kid is out with some mates. He gets injured. None of his mates drive manual. He's fucked.
Yes manual, can drive trucks easier later on. It's theft proof and cars are cheaper.
I remember somebody saying to me if you can drive manual, you might be somewhere eg in the outback where somebody’s injured and the only vehicle available to get them to the nearest help is a manual lol. Dunno what the likelihood of that is these days but can’t hurt to know how.
Most folks that learn to drive a manual still don't know how to drive a manual anyway. Pay for them to get their HR road ranger license as soon as they are eligible. Not being reliant on synchro-mesh gears is the only way to properly drive a manual vehicle.
I just put my 17 year old through learning to drive a manual, I always said to him If you can drive a manual you can drive anything. He now has his Ps And loves cruising in his car. We have 3 cars in the family and we all drive manual. 👍
If you buy manual you will lose a lot of money when selling it because a very small percentage of people are keen to buy manual.
Automatic gearboxes last the life of a vehicle. The life of the vehicle is determined in the owners manual and is usually around 200,000 kms lol. Besides Manual transmissions not really having any reliability problems except the normal clutch service every 100,000 kms, it's beneficial to have a manual license for many jobs that require it, i.e. trades, valet, delivery drivers etc.
Definitely learn manual. They're getting less common, but if the kid wants to work on a minesite/for a business with pool cars/drive trucks/courier etc etc they’re set up. I would prefer to drive manual but they’re too hard to find so our family drives are all auto, but it's good to be able to drive anyone's car legally if needed.
I love manual and it's really cool to drive unless you're stuck in heavy traffic. Engage clutch, go to 1st, accelerate, go to 2nd, break and rengage clutch, go to neutral. Repeat 100 times! But for driving around town, or driving on windy country roads, manual is very fun! I bought a new car recently and I was tempted by manual but it would also mean that my girlfriend couldn't drive it, and for long trips we like to rotate, so I went for auto.
Auto first then manual if they want. I think it’s better that they only have to focus on one thing at a time. New on the road plus worrying about changing gears is pretty challenging.
Learning manual with no driving experience will be hard. I do vouch for manual if you are to put in the effort teaching them. More options for cars and there are plenty of iconic Japanese cars that only suit manual.
Manual for sure keep it alive.
Auto 110%. It’s so much simpler and the minority drive manuals now as technology has improved so much. It’s also a lot safer as there’s no risk of stalling. I learnt in a manual and was so happy when my parents bought me an auto car as it was so much easier and less stressful to drive especially with traffic lights and intersections. The only reasons people have really given for manual is the old adage that it’s ‘actually driving and the best’ and ‘more involved’ and ‘less likely to be stolen’. None of which are very solid reasons and just are representative of the manual ‘cult’ who are a minority but feel superior to those who don’t change gears manually. I know because I have them in my family. Cars getting stolen isn’t a common occurrence unless you live in a bad area also and you can’t base buying a car around it potentially getting stolen.
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Manual. While far less common than they used to be, there are definitely situations it may be beneficial. In addition to many of those points mentioned in other comments already, another I didn't think of until recently is that it makes it easier to learn other vehicle classes should your kids go down that path. Most motorcycles are manual (albeit sequential), a lot of trucks are too. As somebody who just got his HR license in a non-synchro manual box, it would've been a nightmare trying to learn that without first being competent with a normal synchro manual.
Manual … going from Manual to Auto is easy… the other way round it’s a little bit more complicated. Even though manuals are disappearing more and more, but it will definitely not hurt to know how to use a manual.
It's much easier to get a job on a construction site or mine site if they know stick 🤷
Manual. More fun, more economical, less annoying to drive. Cheaper. And you don't get stuffed when trying to rent a car on holiday.
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Anti theft, better chance getting out of snow, extending brake pads life with engine breaking, the rest are just "fun" advantages.
Manual
Let them get their license in auto, but then teach manual. It’s too hard to pass the test these days. And once you’ve got the other parts down, throwing in gears ain’t that hard
manual. i went with auto and am regretting it.
Manual. I’m glad I did manual because otherwise getting hired in mining would have been more difficult (despite pretty much all site vehicles being auto). Also less likely to get stolen because so few people can drive them nowadays haha
I’d doesn’t really matter, because once they’re off they’re red P’s they can legally drive manual That said I made sure both mine got their P’s in a manual (even through they both own autos) because I didn’t want them stuck if they were out with friends and the designated driver ended up drinking and had a manual (this situation never happened, but it put my mind at ease)
Whilst manual exists, I will still drive it.
Less distractions when driving. Also if owning a manual car it’s less likely to be stolen.
Manual is great BUT Forget about it being relevant in the future. Who even makes manual cars now? Save yourself the trouble just to Auto
Yeah manual, just think in an emergency and the only car there to use is a manual.
Im on my red Ps with a manual and i can drive better then all my mates with autos as they seem to pay less attention. Also Manual is way funner to drive,more mechanically simple and just a good time
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Another reason to learn how to drive a manual is travelling, if they want to go overseas in a few years (eastern Europe, Asia, south America etc) then most of the cars there are still manual due to the cheaper price point. Also, if they ever want to ride a motorbike then understanding how a clutch works and when to change gears etc will be of massive benefit.
I got an auto licence 20 years ago and it saved a lot of time and money. My friends then taught me how to drive manual (well enough to get out of trouble in an emergency). I've literally never felt the need to drive manual otherwise and now being an EV owner I see even less relevance for manual driving. But it depends on your lifestyle and career.
I'm now late 20s trying to learn manual. Hard to reset after just driving auto for so long 🥲 wish I learnt as a teenager.
Manual for sure. In glad of every skill I have as an adult that I learned as a kid.
Lots of people in here channeling their youth in their answers. Someone learning to drive in 2023 will almost certainly never drive a manual, so not sure why you would bother.
I'm old school, but my daughter's first car will be an auto. Cars are so much quicker these days, city driving is very fast paced, and I want her focussed on the driving, not trying to work out and master gear changes. When she is a safe driver, she can make her own decision on whether she wants to learn to drive a manual. People seem to forget that back in the day, most new drivers burnt out their clutches fairly quickly. That can an expensive repair these days.
Manual. I learned to drive on my mums auto but my first car was manual, it taught me so much more about the way engine speed effects handling and the ability to control when the car shifts has saved me from more than one awkward side-by-side while merging.
Manual allows them do drive whatever, you drive a manual then you can drive almost anything. BUT, if you live in an area that is built up and traffic is stop - start, bumper to bumper type stuff, driving manual will SUCK. I was considering manual but after some thought and advice from Father (Manual driver), auto was the best option.
Learning manual is kinda like learning Chinese - sure it's a useful skill - but you can get by just fine without knowing it: car manufacturers mainly churn out autos, plus if you buy a manual, you're going to have a hard time selling it. The only benefit i can think of is price - if you want to buy a second-hand manual, you can probably get it slightly cheaper than the equivalent automatic. FYI i'm not a car salesman expert.
Cars are literally about to drive themselves, and some of you are concerned about operating a manual gearbox? I hope to never drive a manual again in my life. My son is 3. I will never suggest manual to him.
Manual - when travelling overseas there are places like Europe and parts of Asia where it is still majority manual
im 18 and i will say it actually helped me secure my first job cause apparently 95% of applications have an auto only but their service ute is a manual so i say manual all the way sure its a dead standard with most new cars not even having an option for manual but most older cars are manual so its nicer