Why learn to drive in a manual?

Question

Hi there, my parents have been nudging me to get manual driving lessons - even though the car I'll be driving once i have a license is automatic. Here in New Zealand the vast majority of cars on the road are automatic and many of my friends drive them, Auckland also has terrible traffic so stop/starting is a big part of commuting. I had 2 manual lessons today and to say I didn't like it is an understatement, so much stuff to remember, so much horn honking and stalling and yeah.. majorly discouraged and I've heard auto is way easier - I'd prefer to be paying more attention to the road than the gearbox/clutch hocus pocus. Any thoughts would be appreciated?

Answer 1

I agree, learning to stay focused on what is around you is enough without adding the extra of changing gears. You can always learn a manual when you are more at ease with driving.

My daughter learned in an automatic and went to a manual without any problems.

Answer 2

If you can master a manual transmission then automatics are a piece of cake.  Then you also would not have to worry about driving a manual.  They are a little harder to begin with, but not bad.  

I have to agree with your parents on this one.  Good luck and drive safe!

Answer 3

Well, incase you're ever on a manual bus and the busdriver has a heart-attack.

I mean, what harm is there in learning how to drive one? It might seem like a waste of time, but you're just learning something new. Why learn so much about some odd subject like art? It may never be of real use to you, but it's just a good thing to know. You'll be preserving automobile history.

You never know in the future when you may need to know how to drive one. Maybe you'll take up an interest in old cars. Would that be a bummer if you couldn't drive them around because you didn't know how to drive a manual?

Answer 4

Back when your parents learned to drive their parents probably told them that it's just as likely that you're going to get into a manual transmission car someday as it is that you'll get into an automatic so you should know how to drive both.

BUT ... in this day in age nearly every car on the road is an automatic except for high end sports cars and of course most motorcycles.  

Having said that, learning to drive a motorcycle is MUCH easier if you already know how to run a manual transmission.  And there is a slight advantage to having the "feel" for what happens when a transmission shifts in an automatic transmission car ... you can only develop this "feel" by shifting it yourself on a manual.

OK ... so those are the reasons why ... BUT ... if you never plan on learning to ride a bike (motorcycle) and you don't think you'll be getting into a high end sports car anytime soon.   I don't think I'd waste the time and effort learning to drive a manual transmission right now as it's a skill you may never need.