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ed11563 · Guru

Car Talk - Should Kids Learn to Drive on a Manual or an Automatic?

ed11563 · Guru

Atwell • 7 hours ago
You might want to keep in mind that if you plan to travel to Europe, renting an automatic might cost almost double compared to a stick shift!
bluewater • 13 hours ago
I guess you can call our family the Flintstones. For years all we owned were sticks. My son learned how to drive on one and that's all he has ever owned. He is an excellent driver. My wife came to me knowing how to drive a stick and up until recently that's all we owned. As it was pointed out finding vehicles with sticks is getting harder to find. Learning on on may be more difficult for some people but it gives you a real sense of how to control the car, and you get a real "feel" for the way it handles which can come in handy of slick roads, or doing emergency maneuvers. My first auto was a 88 K1500 4x4 I picked up for $2300. It only had 74,000 original miles on it 5 years ago and was in excellent shape. I couldn't turn it down because it wasn't a manual. We have since sold our 4 Runner and Isuzu Pick Up and bought a 2000 Jeep they didn't make with a stick.. Not as much fun driving with an auto either.
jcbenten • a day ago
Manuals are going the way of the Dodo Bird...extinct. Automatics are more efficient and faster shifting. The only manuals left are sports cars, and they are trying to get rid of them, and the odd diesel truck for specialty towing. I do not think (new) econo boxes have manuals anymore. Forget the manual and move on unless you are buying a Porsche or Subaru WRX.
souperman • a day ago
Why not teach your kids on your automatic then, pay for driving lessons on a stick. Better to let them destroy the driving school's transmission and much cheaper too.

ed11563 · Guru

I'm glad I learned to drive using a manual transmission.

But when my kids were learning to drive, I couldn't convince them to even sit still for a mock-up session. NO interest at all.

My best argument was / is that you never know what can come up in the future. You might be on a trip where the driver has a stick shift car, and gets sick ...

so YOU have to either drive the stick shift, or walk a long distance to get help.

Girls especially should know how, since when they're dating the guy usually provides the car. And, the guys sometimes get drunk.

weltschmerz · Guru

Kids usually learn on an automatic here.
The driving schools take them out in horrific blizzards and on treacherous black ice.
You HAVE to learn how to drive in that.
Later, they can learn to drive a stick. Mom or dad can show them, or they take an extra lesson or two.

Ohfour · Hooker

I can drive a stick. Our road test is a drive around the block. All right turns. Takes all of 4 minutes...

Divine Geek · Guru

I learned to drive on a stick. Well, kind of. I already knew how to drive, I'd been driving a tractor since I was 3, so it wasn't all new being behind the wheel of a car. It didn't matter if I had "interest", my dad gave me a car, it was a stick shift. I was told, either you learn to drive this car, or you don't drive. I'm glad he made me learn, it's been a useful skill and I've had multiple manual transmission cars. I actually miss driving one every day.

karl271 · Guru

I can drive a stick but do not see any reason for people learning today to get involved with a stick shift. Use the automatic and get the rest of driving under control and, then, if you can't live without knowing how to use a stick, go for it.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I think it's important to know how.

And they are fun to drive.

FNW · Guru

I learned how to drive a stick. My brother still can't. The reason I learned was because my father owned a Fiat X19 and I wanted to buy it from him. So Dad rented a subaru for me to learn on. Took me to the high school parking lot on a Saturday and taught me. Learned how to let out the clutch at a standstill without stalling it.

Over the years since I've driven a stick a few times. Had a little pick-up truck as an extra vehicle with the ex that I drove when mine was in the shop. Drove a friend's stick around and around while she dropped off a resume package to avoid her having to find a place to park it. Stuff like that. DH drove a stick when we met. I think it's useful to know and plan to teach the boys eventually.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I think its a nonissue. Single mom with 4 kids why make more work for yourself.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Who is the single mom with 4 kids?

Most of us learn as teens or young adults.

I think a person should learn to drive as many different kinds of vehicles as possible.

Even if you never own your own stick shift, there is always a chance that driving one will be necessary.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

First line of the OP - "single mom with four kids".

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Are there a bunch of random manual cars laying around somewhere that will need to drive in some mythical emergency? I have lived my whole life and never drove one.

-- Edited by Lady Gaga Snerd on Sunday 28th of February 2016 11:33:02 AM

Ohfour · Hooker

I prefer to drive a stick. And if my kids wanted to drive my car, they had to learn.
None of my cars right now are sticks, though. The closest I have is a clutchless 6 speed...

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I learned to drive one so that I would never be dependent on anyone to get me some place if need be.

Nothing may ever happen at all.

Or you could find yourself in a situation where you need to know.

I don't understand the resistance. It isn't like you have to purchase a straight shift.

It's a skill. Like starting a fire or changing a flat.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I just don't care about it. Just like I don't care about canning vegetables or something like that. If you do, then fine. But, that doesn't mean EVERYONE on the planet has to do that. I don't know why I am going to be "dependent on anyone" if I don't know how to drive a stick. As I said, i don't see a lot of random manual cars sitting idlely by waiting for me to drive them in an emergency? I mean, I own 3 automatic cars, I think I'm good.

-- Edited by Lady Gaga Snerd on Sunday 28th of February 2016 01:06:06 PM

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I know how to drive a stick and I agree with you LGS. I just don't ever even see one anymore. It's not that big of a deal. I don't know anyone who owns one and if you are buying a new car, good luck trying to find one even if you want one. I have known how to drive a stick since I learned how to drive and I have never seen anyone drive a stick except for me. I am also not in other people's cars - hardly ever. Maybe once every few months or so.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Yeah, I just don't see what the big deal is? I know very few people who don't have an automatic. If someone wants to learn that then learn that. But, i don't feel any need to invest any time in that whatsoever.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Everyone I know has at least one stick shift.

Jesse's little truck is a stick on the column. Dad's truck is too.

All his cousins and friends have sticks.

Of course, if you're going muddin' around here, you need the stick shift.

And most can drive tractors or some kind of equipment.

All I'm saying, is I have found myself in he situation of being somewhere and needing to know how.

I wouldn't want my kids out without that knowledge.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Everyone I know has at least one stick shift.

Jesse's little truck is a stick on the column. Dad's truck is too.

All his cousins and friends have sticks.

Of course, if you're going muddin' around here, you need the stick shift.

And most can drive tractors or some kind of equipment.

All I'm saying, is I have found myself in he situation of being somewhere and needing to know how.

I wouldn't want my kids out without that knowledge.

I don't do any "muddin" and I don't live on a farm so i dont' see the need. If there was a need for it, then yes, of course.

weltschmerz · Guru

I don't know anything about "muddin", but I've had to borrow my son's car several times when mine was in the shop.
It's a stick.
It's a useful skill to have.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

There are lots of useful skills to have. That doesnt' mean everyone needs the same skills.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

So if your kid is with a friend who has a stick shift, and the friend can't drive for whatever reason?

What if your daughter is out with friends, in a stick shift, and something happens?

Yes, kids can always call you.

Caitlyn was with friends in Kentucky, the person she rode with got sick and couldn't drive, thankfully, she and another friend could drive the stick.

I mean I could have took off for Kentucky, but then she and the other 3 would have been stuck at a rest area for 4 hours.

Don't know about anyone else, but I don't want that.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I really don't know why you are so insistent that everyone needs to know that? I have never needed to just drive a stick out of the blue. Ever. I am not sure what this big mystery emergency is that is going to happen to everyone to require that? You handle it like you handle any emergency. If the friend can't drive all of the sudden, then my kids can call home to get picked up or call 911 for whatever reason the other kid suddenly "can't drive". And, I don't want my kids driving anyone else's car. I don't drive anyone else's car nor do i want too.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

So. You'd be ok with your kid sitting in a rest area 4 hours away till you got there instead of just driving on to the hotel that is an hour up the road?

Look. If a person doesn't think it's important, fine.

I think it is.

I want my kids as prepared as possible.

Learning to drive a stick, fire a weapon, read a map. I think they are important skills to have.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
So. You'd be ok with your kid sitting in a rest area 4 hours away till you got there instead of just driving on to the hotel that is an hour up the road?

Look. If a person doesn't think it's important, fine.

I think it is.

I want my kids as prepared as possible.

Learning to drive a stick, fire a weapon, read a map. I think they are important skills to have.

I don't want my kid to drive another kid's car. Not sure what is so unusual about that? If there is some kind of issue, then i would want them to call me. I really don't see this as some life or death emergency skill. If you do, then fine but it's much ado about nothing in my opinion. I don't think my kids are "less prepared" to survive in the wild as yours are. I am sure that my kids also have some skills your kids don't and vice versa.

huskerbb · Guru

Most cars are automatics. The fact is, most people would never HAVE to drive a stick.

That said, I find it absurd when I run across adults who can't drive a stick. It just seems silly that they can't have acquired that skill at some point in their lives.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
Most cars are automatics. The fact is, most people would never HAVE to drive a stick.

That said, I find it absurd when I run across adults who can't drive a stick. It just seems silly that they can't have acquired that skill at some point in their lives.

Why is it silly? It's no different than a lot of skills that are really not necessary. When something becomes necessary, people acquire the skills. I don't know how to trap animals to survive, but if i had to in order to live, i would learn pretty quick. When it becomes a motivating need, people will learn. I have never canned anything, nor do i intend too. I don't need too. If at some point the world changed and i had to learn, I would learn. I really don't know why you think this is of such monumental importance.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I have never made my own applesauce or saltine crackers. I don't have too. Is that a skill? Yes. So what? I have never saddled a horse or run a plow. I havent' picked cotten or churned butter or spun wool. There are a lot of things that are skills.

huskerbb · Guru

I didn't say it was of "monumental" importance, so I'm not sure where you get that.

I just said it was silly, and it is. It's not hard to learn.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You deem it "silly" so that makes it so? Oh, ok. We have had this discussion before. And, I STILL have not ever had the need to for that
so called skill.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I am amazed at how many people are lousy at typing. Talk about a useful skill. But, still, I see a lot people with lousy typing skills.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
You deem it "silly" so that makes it so? Oh, ok. We have had this discussion before. And, I STILL have not ever had the need to for that
so called skill.

I don't really have a need to run a lawn mower, either--but I can do it.

weltschmerz · Guru

I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
You deem it "silly" so that makes it so? Oh, ok. We have had this discussion before. And, I STILL have not ever had the need to for that
so called skill.
I don't really have a need to run a lawn mower, either--but I can do it.

And, if you never had done that, i think you could read the manual and turn it ON and do it without having any prior training.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.

I have never needed to drive a stick.

huskerbb · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.

Exactly--and even if it doesn't, at least you can say you know how.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
You deem it "silly" so that makes it so? Oh, ok. We have had this discussion before. And, I STILL have not ever had the need to for that
so called skill.
I don't really have a need to run a lawn mower, either--but I can do it.
And, if you never had done that, i think you could read the manual and turn it ON and do it without having any prior training.

What difference does it make HOW you learn something? You have to learn how to drive an automatic somehow, too. That is irrelevant.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I know how to drive stick and I have never once needed to, nor has anyone I know. I don't know a single person with a stick shift. It's just not a thing in most places. Now if you live in a part of the country where people purchase stick shift cars to go "muddin" that's different. But there is no place to do that in most suburban neighborhoods.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.
Exactly--and even if it doesn't, at least you can say you know how.

Why do i need to say "I know how to drive a stick"? Is that some badge of honor or something? Does that impress people or something? Do you blurt that out at ****tail parties "oooh, guess what I can drive a stick". Oh, wow! You are Da Man! confuse

weltschmerz · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.
I have never needed to drive a stick.

I have.

Case in point? I had gone up to Lac Memphrimagog with a friend. He got really sick over the weekend. I could either drive both of us home or take a $500 cab ride.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.
I have never needed to drive a stick.
I have.
Case in point? I had gone up to Lac Memphrimagog with a friend. He got really sick over the weekend. I could either drive both of us home or take a $500 cab ride.

And....what exactly?

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Or stay put as planned and wait for him to feel better.

weltschmerz · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
I never had to pick cotton in an emergency or had some sort of plow or butter-churning emergency.
I HAVE needed to drive a stick on occasion.
Nobody is demanding that everyone has to learn.
People are just saying it's a useful skill to have, that may come in handy.
I have never needed to drive a stick.
I have.
Case in point? I had gone up to Lac Memphrimagog with a friend. He got really sick over the weekend. I could either drive both of us home or take a $500 cab ride.
And....what exactly?

And it was a damn good thing I knew how to drive a stick.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Ok, so, for some once in a lifetime thing? Well, for most people, that doesn't happen so it is a moot point. You could say that about any skill can't you? So what?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Picture this: The Year 2025. The earth is being invaded by aliens. All of the automatic cars are paralyzed by the radiation beaming from the ship. Only you can get to the White House in time to push the nuclear button stopping the advance of alien monsters. The only car available is a random stick shift that just mysteriously appeared in your drive way. What will you do!!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Or stay put as planned and wait for him to feel better.

No, there can only be ONE answer in these kinds of scenarios!

weltschmerz · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Or stay put as planned and wait for him to feel better.

He didn't feel better for a week. I had to work the next morning.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Or stay put as planned and wait for him to feel better.
He didn't feel better for a week. I had to work the next morning.

Again, so what? Everyone I know has an automatic, soo......

weltschmerz · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Or stay put as planned and wait for him to feel better.
He didn't feel better for a week. I had to work the next morning.
Again, so what? Everyone I know has an automatic, soo......

Just because everyone YOU know has an automatic, doesn't mean he had an automatic.

Just because everyone YOU know has an automatic, doesn't mean my son has an automatic, and I've had to borrow his car in pinch.

You seem to be under the impression that you should be forced to learn to drive a stick.

Learn, don't learn.....I don't care.

I'm just saying how it's a skill that came in handy FOR ME.

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Should Kids Learn to Drive on a Manual or an Automatic?

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