[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