Manual or automatic?

Sorry, that should have been "never bothered to apply for her test".

I would learn in a manual car then you can drive both. If you take your test in an automatic car you are restricted to automatics and they tend to be more expensive.
Having said that I love my automatic

Definitely automatic, much easier but I wonder if you take a test in an automatic car whether you are able and qualified to drive manual at some other time.
But I would never go back to manual. No hill starts. What’s not to like, much easier on the knees. Our doctor recommended automatic, he was right.

I have driven both. Personally I prefer a manual and they are a bit cheaper to purchase and run (I understand). BUT, if you find driving tricky, as my aunt did, an automatic gives you a lot less to do - think dodgem car!

My aunt took dozens of lessons when I was a girl and failed her test at least three of four times. She passed 1st go in an automatic and drove well for years with no accidents or problems.

If you take your test in an automatic I believe you can't drive a manual.

I learned to drive on an automatic many moons ago, but passed my test on a manual and drove one for many years. I have now gone back to an automatic, and I don’t regret it one bit. Brilliant in slow moving traffic. With all the things you have to think about in traffic, one less is good.

My son came to driving late being in his 40s he couldn’t get the hang of gears no matter how hard he tried. A friend took him for a lesson in his automatic and he said it was a revelation, he passed his test in an auto a month later and never looked back. It is better to pass the test in a geared car in case you need to drive one in an emergency but if your daughter feels comfortable learning in an auto there’s nothing wrong with that.
I prefer a manual myself but I think my next car will be an auto.

I would have an automatic. My reasoning is Why have three pedals when two do the same job!

But, I would learn to drive in a manual for the test.

I live in the mountains, so would never have an automatic. Especially on steep roads with hairpin bends- I have to be in full control of the car. Although OH has an automatic where he can over-ride and get into lower gear.

I would always advise having lessons and the test in manual car- and then change to auto at later stage. Although stats indicate that many accidents with older driver are related to confusion about pedals.

You reduce your options if you take the test in an automatic but does that matter?
I love my automatic.
Cars will be driving themselves soon then automatics will seem very old fashioned?

Thank you all for your comments. I think she would find it easier now in an automatic and I am thinking about paying for a "crash course" (excuse the unfortunate pun!) in order to help her. It would really be useful for her to be able to drive now but money is a bit tight with two children and I would love her to find her freedom, as I did when I was in my early thirties. I think automatic is the way for her to go.

Once you've got the hang of it, manual's are so much more fun. I think the hardest part of driving is learning all the stuff outside the car. Road awareness, signs etc.. Making a car physically move doesn't take much learning.

I would say automatic nowadays. Years ago there was not many automatics but now many car manufacturers do automatics. If you want to just use the car for personal use and not into hiring cars which would have to be automatic that’s fine. If you think that you may be looking at being able to drive for example work vehicles it probably is best to be able to drive both. One think to bear in mind is if you suffer from back problems then I would go for automatics as they are easier on the knees and back in my opinion.

DD2 gave up driving lessons on manuals but then needed to drive for a new job. She passed her test in an automatic and has never looked back.

I passed my driving test first time but lost confidence almost straight away. We’ve always lived in places with good bus services but don’t need them now OH has retired. Obviously Covid would make public transport more difficult.

I think that cars in the future are less likely to be manual.

I learnt to drive in a manuel aged 50 and at 82 mine is still manuel. When visiting Australia and having hired a car was terrified to discover it was an automatic. It was in fact very easy to drive but not for me because just steering is not driving and so boring.

I drive a manual car and enjoy the driving experience. I remember the days on my elderly first cars where you had to double declutch!
However, DH is looking to change his car and most of the models he’s looking at are now automatic, especially if they are Hybrid.
The way forward seems to be electric, which of course have no gears or clutch.

I enjoy driving, so it has to be a manual, as others have said, test in Manuel then license is for both.

I used to love driving and that meant having a manual. However in recent years We’ve had all automatics, it was the only option if we wanted a hybrid. Now I wouldn’t go back to a manual from choice. They are great in heavy traffic and round town.
I think in the not too distant future cars will be electric and automatic. It is useful to be able to drive a manual as you never know when you might need it.
That said I was taught to double de clutch “in case I needed it” but I’ve never used the knowledge.

Crossed posts J52

I love the old vintage cars- so beautiful. Our car is automatic. Very easy to drive?

Took my test on a manual (a long while ago) and have driven one for years. DH got an automatic and when I drove it couldn’t believe how much easier it was. So I have donated my manual to middle GD who is learning to drive and have bought a Jazz automatic. Really lovely, wish I had done it earlier.

I drive both. If I was learning again but was not confident, I would opt for an automatic as it takes away the stress of learning gear changes.

Learnt in a manual, but I wouldn’t want to give up my automatic, the last time I drove a manual I crunched and leapfrogged down the driveway, horrid.