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Is it best to learn to drive a manual or automatic car?

I live in the city and really have no need to drive a manual car. But having the choice is better I guess. Is there a massive price difference in owing and maintaining a manual v an automatic? I just would like to know from those that can drive what they think.

Public Comments

1. what ever you feel comfortable with
2. Learn to drive both. Driving a manual car is good to know & many don't know how. Driving an automatic is very easy to learn, but a manual takes more practice & patience. It's worth learning though.
3. Automatic is the most commonly used and easiest. I'm pretty sure automatics are cheaper in price.
4. It's a lot easier to drive an automatic car first and then jump to the manual car. Manual cars are better for driving in highways and automatic cars are perfect for traffic jams
5. Better to learn Manual. Once you know that, you can drive anything!
6. both, one must learn to drive anything that is put in front of one, just in case of an immediate necessity to drive one has the ability to maneuver the automobile with out difficulty.
7. Manual, then you can pretty much drive anything.
8. Learning how to drive a manual enhances your ability to understand the way a car works. I learned how to drive using a stick shift so it was easier for me to "feel" the engine. An automatic is way easier. but I suggest you learn on a manual first.
9. these days the only advantage of a manual transmission is for performance...other than that, an automatic has less to worry about and is alot easier...but it never hurts to at least learn how to drive a manual eventually.
10. If you learn to drive a vehicle with a standard transmission you can drive both standard and automatic. If you learn how to drive just an automatic then you would probably have problems if you were ever presented with a situation that forced you to drive a standard. Other than that it would make no difference other than preference.
11. stick is always bettter to learn first, if gives you more controll of the car. and also learning how to drive stick first you will be able to drive almost any type of vechicle.
12. If you learn to drive manual, you will be able to drive both types of cars but its much more difficult to learn. If its your first time driving its difficult to learn all the rules of the road and how to handle a manual transmission at the same time. Probably 90% of people drive automatic so its more than possible to go that route but manual transmission cars are actually cheaper because they are much less popular.
13. Learn on a manual transmission. Manual drivers can drive autos if required but those that learnt auto only are useless if the need to drive a manual arises, especially in an emergency....
14. Lets set the record strait here, It is better to learn to drive a manual transmission first as many here have agreed with, That knowledge learned now can become invaluable later in life. Secondly, A manual transmission vehicle will get better M.P.G which helps the pocket book nowadays plus it is way cheaper to maintain a manual transmission than an automatic one. Auto's need regular transmission flushes and fills while manuals do not. Its cheaper to replace a clutch than it is to replace an automatic transmission and manual transmissions rarely fail. Automatics are by far the majority out here these days because everyone wants to be lazy, (JK) Learning with a manual Tran's is way way more fun too! You may surprise yourself! Good Luck... Mike PS, My stepdaughter fought with me when it came time to learn how to drive, she wanted to learn on an automatic first, She waited 6 extra months before learning how to drive because she figured I would give in to her (Wrong) after she gave in, (lol) and learned on a manual she loved it and still enjoys telling friends the story of how she learned! Oh and she loves manuals now and drives her BF truck allot. Just thought I would share that one. Mike
15. As a driving instructor I always recommend learning in a manual, mainly for long term reasons if you still want the auto afterwards. A manual licence allows you to drive either type of car, so you can get an auto as a first car if you want to. If you only hold an automatic licence, then that only entitles you to Provisional status in a manual car (L-Plates and resitting your test to drive manuals in the future). Saves a lot of hassle in the future! Having just auto entitlement may limit you in later life with regards to company or hire cars-what if they only have manuals left? You also feel like a "Real" driver when driving a manual-the car doesn't do half the work for you. You have to plan your driving to take gearchanges into account, and getting used to the clutch can be tricky to start with. I can fully understand what you say about town driving-an auto is the definite easy option here. Finally, autos tend to cost slightly more to run in fuel because the engine tends to rev hugher than a manual, so uses more fuel-maybe 1 or 2 miles per gallon over a manual. The choice is yours. Good luck and safe driving.
16. You're right, you don't NEED to know how to drive a manual. There is very little to no price difference these days (I've even heard of a company charging MORE for a manual because it had to be special ordered!). Neither of those changes the fact that there are tons of manual cars out there. Personally, I think that it is a very good idea to learn how to drive manual for a couple reasons: First, you may just plain like it more. Manual transmissions give you total control over when your car shifts. That can lead to better gas mileage (depending on when you shift and how hard you accelerate) or a ton of fun (it's your own personal little jet fighter race car). Another reason to learn a manual is because one day you may want a really awesome car that is manual, but you can't get it because you don't know how to drive it. Finally, if you ever have a friend with a manual and in some sort of emergency you must drive their car, then you will be prepared. Even if you don't plan on owning one, it's a nice thing to know how to drive a manual transmission car. Hope that helps, good luck!