Learn to drive on a manual or automatic car?

Many states in Australia, including New South Wales and Victoria, will only issue you a license to drive a manual car if you tested for your provisional license in a manual car (also known as standard transmission in the US). Considering the fact that many cars are now automatics, is it really necessary to get a manual license? We weigh up the pros and cons.

Pros & cons: Should you learn manual?

Benefits of a manual car

• They are more fun to drive than automatics. For those of you who love to drive and find it an entertaining sport, the manual car if for you. Having that extra leg and arm working can just add to the overall pleasure that has seen people addicted to cars for a good while now.
• They require more skill than automatics. As anyone who has watched an episode of Top Gear knows, only those contestants with good manual driving skills have a chance at making it to the winner’s end of the ladder.
• You can control the performance of the car more easily, especially on long distance drives. If you live in hilly areas, a manual car can give you much more control during descent, taking the pressure off your brake.
• Manuals cannot only be cheaper to buy; they are also cheaper to run. Because manual s rev at a lower rate than most autos, they are generally more fuel-efficient.
• It’s just good to know how. Sometimes we can’t choose the car we have to drive, so having knowledge of both manuals and automatics is never a bad thing

Negatives of a manual car

• A manual car is hard work in the city. Having to start and stop regularly is also bad for your clutch in the long run.
  
• Manual gearshift can be a dangerous distraction for learners. While that extra leg and hand action can be fun for experienced drivers, it can prove hazardous for the beginner.
  
• Learning to drive a manual can be more costly. I you don’t have access to a manual car, you will most certainly have to pay for access to one through a professional driving school.
  

Pros & cons: Should you learn on automatic?

Benefits of an auto car

• An automatic make city driving much easier, and because there’s no clutch, there’s no chance it can wear out with too much stopping and starting.
• Autos are great for new drivers because you can focus on gaining skills in hazard perception, rather than gear changes.
• Automatics are worth more on the market, so your car’s resale value will be generally higher.

Negatives of an auto car

• Less fuel-efficient than a manual. As mentioned above, the rev rate of an automatic car is generally higher than a manual, meaning that more fuel is used.
• Autos can be out of synch with the needs of the road. Often autos choose a gear that is not exactly what you need. Although some models do allow override, this can still be in between where you need it, and can be annoying. Manuals allow you to have complete control over your revs.
• If you’re a more experienced driver, or like to drive for fun, autos can be just downright boring. They can also have a much slower take off than manuals.

The answer to whether or not you need a manual license depends on you. If you choose to take the manual test, it might be harder for you to get your license, but in the long run it might be worth it. You will have more skills as a driver and more options when you go to purchase a car. However, if you just need to get your license as quickly as possible, then going with an automatic is a much faster route.