[petesergeant]

I’m convinced learning on an automatic first and moving to manual from that is the right way to learn. Clutch control and gear shifts are extra mental load for new drivers, and pretty natural for experienced drivers.

In a car I learned manual first and it was a mission, on a bike I learned automatic first and switched to manual from that, and it was much easier.

[magnetowasright]

That's what I did for learning to drive and it worked beautifully for me. I also got my license later than most, so when an opportunity came up to get lessons I just wanted to pass the test to get my provisional license ASAP so I could actually get around by myself with the intention to learn manual later. I did have a go at learning manual at first but it was going to take me a lot longer. I just needed to get my P plates! Where I am you don't need to retest for manual once off your provisional license which is great.

When my husband and I needed to replace his car (a little manual shitbox, god bless it) I suggested we replace it with an another manual, and I wanted a hot hatch. Proper hot hatch wasn't really in the budget so we got a (luke)warm hatch instead lol. A suzuki swift, manual, which I have delusions of upgrading so I can take it on track days now that it's my daily driver. He's got the CVT gig car for his daily driver now.

Anyway, I highly recommend learning automatic first and learning manual later. It's such a good skill to have anyway. I live in a bushfire prone area so knowing that if I have to evacuate I know I can confidently drive any car I have access to is nice. As long as it's synchromesh lmao