Driving lessons - switch to auto?

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Definitely this! A driving test is difficult at the best of times. Hell, the first time I failed it, my instructor had to drive back and he told me (later) that he felt a bit nervous driving with that licence tester in the car! That's saying something, isn't it?

I myself failed 3 times in a manual and then passed on the 4th attempt in an auto. I loved driving and honestly think I was pretty good at it even then, but I was nervous and just didn't have enough experience to deal with everything at once under the pressure of the test. More experience with an instructor was expensive.

Obviously, everyone is different and some people do pass easily even in a manual car, but if you're not one of those, then why make things even harder for yourself? Just get your licence first and you can practice all you want on your own (in an auto). Then, when you switch to a manual (should you want to), you will only have to think about the clutch control and gear stick and the rest will be, well... automatic... by then.

The driving test was a pretty grim experience and I failed it two times. But that had nothing at all to do with being in a manual. In the first test I panicked at a busy roundabout 5 minutes before the end of the test (which is about 40 minutes long in the UK) and pulled out inappropriately: the examiner had to use the dual brakes. In the second test, I stopped in the wrong place at a temporary set of traffic lights, which counted as a 'serious' fault.

Passed on the 3rd try. A tense experience to say the least.

Anyway, learning in an auto will probably reduce the number of lessons you need, but it is unlikely to make the actual driving test any easier.

I was just trying to be hostile because it's Christmas and that's what you want, but- whatever: your loss.

Both my parents drive manual cars, otherwise I would learn to drive an automatic. There is no way I could afford a car of my own. I am not learning to drive their cars.

Finding the biting point accurately took me a long time, but I practiced until I automatically knew where it was. An automatic is definitely easier and if need your license soon, it could be a better option. Obtaining a full manual license will increase the choice and price range of car you can purchase and this option could be more beneficial to you in the long term.

Especially when it comes to the cost of replacing transmissions. Manuals are much cheaper than automatics.

I can only drive an automatic....and I'm fortunate to be doing even that.

i'd say 95% of people can't drive a manual/never will learn/never will want to learn, to have you say you're learning to drive in one is really surprising, no one does

automatics are ten fold easier to learn in, it takes away an unnecessary step. granted, my work truck is a 10 speed manual volvo, and i find it easier than an automatic. but that comes with experience, i suppose.

I KNOW I should learn to drive stick-shift.

I learned from an instructor who was used to teaching people (not from this country) who might not have ever been inside a car before, let alone driven one. I learned on an auto. I've driven manual once, when my friend got sick after eating ice cream and someone had to drive us home.

I think the biggest thing for me was having the right instructor. My parents both tried to teach me before that, and they had successfully taught my siblings.

I actually never have sensory issues when it comes to driving, but I'll tell you that it was very difficult learning how to drive cars with stick shift for the first time. My parents for some reason always bought cars with stick shift. The idea is that you have to slightly press the gas pedal and release the clutch (at 1st gear) and hold for 3 seconds until the car finally starts to move. Another thing, whenever you plan to make left or right turns, reduce the speed to 20-25 mph and change the shift to 2nd gear.

I'd advocate everyone learn to drive a manual transmission, but if you are more concerned about just passing the driving test, an automatic will suffice.

If you are in the UK stick with with the manual. I'm pretty sure if you pass in an automatic you only have an automatic licence. Clutch control does take a bit of time, I actually stalled on the driving test and still passed. Practise in a quiet carpark just creeping slowly with the clutch, you'll soon learn where the biting point is. I drive a diesel with a very low biting point which is ridiculously helpful, we had another diesel with a higher biting point and I hated that so never drove it, patrols are also more awkward than diesels as you need more gas to move them.

As there is no grip pedal, a programmed auto might be less demanding to drive- particularly on more congested city streets and on the off chance that you are experiencing issues dealing with apparatuses in a manual auto, you may find that taking programmed driving lessons from Lichfield in a speedier course to your permit.