Honestly, my advice, unpopular as it might be, is that unless you plan on riding a motorcycle you should probably get an automatic transmission car instead of learning on a manual transmission. Manual transmissions–in the US, anyways–are largely relegated to performance vehicles where people want them. But the hard truth is that automatic transmissions do a better job at driving efficiently and keeping the engine at a safe and ideal load than any driver with a manual. And it’s a lot less hassle for most of the driving that people tend to actually do. For instance, it’s uncommon to have a cruise control on a manual transmission car, which makes long drives more tiring, and stop-and-go traffic puts less wear on an automatic transmission.
If you plan on riding a motorcycle though, you must learn to use a clutch, because all non-electric motorcycles use a clutch (usually a wet clutch, but Ducati uses a dry clutch); manual transmissions are lighter and more compact, and weight matters a lot on a motorcycle.
I say this as someone that learned to drive on manual transmissions, and exclusively had cars with manual transmissions up through about 2022.
I’m going to have to kindly disagree on some points about manuals.
Manuals are still popular in Europe and many parts of the world, on all levels of cars.
I have a friend with a cheap(ish) Suzuki Swift that comes with manual transmission and adaptive cruise. Yeah it won’t change your gears, but still makes interstate trips much more comfortable.
I myself now prefer to drive auto, after moving to a city known for its traffic jam, and I am inherently lazy. So that’s one good argument from me.
Another is that if you injure one of your foot, there’s a 50% you can still drive your auto. Which was really handy that one time I dislocated my left ankle. In a manual, that chance is 0%.
Every manual transmission car I’ve owned made in the last 25 years has had cruise control. Is stop and go traffic a pain? Sure, but not enough of a pain for me to give up my manual.
The only feature that I kinda wish I had was radar assist- manuals definitely don’t have that from what I’ve seen.
Do you mean the adaptive cruise that’s matches cars speed in front of you? Toyota did a damn good job with it in their tacoma. It’ll brake as you’re coming up on a slow car and you can shift just fine without turning off cruise. It kills the throttle when you push in the clutch and letting the clutch back out after your shift feels very natural and cruise takes back over the throttle.
Yeah exactly- that’s why they don’t do it on manuals, no way to disengage the gear on slowdown. I’ve used it a few times in a Subaru and was really impressed.
Honestly, my advice, unpopular as it might be, is that unless you plan on riding a motorcycle you should probably get an automatic transmission car instead of learning on a manual transmission. Manual transmissions–in the US, anyways–are largely relegated to performance vehicles where people want them. But the hard truth is that automatic transmissions do a better job at driving efficiently and keeping the engine at a safe and ideal load than any driver with a manual. And it’s a lot less hassle for most of the driving that people tend to actually do. For instance, it’s uncommon to have a cruise control on a manual transmission car, which makes long drives more tiring, and stop-and-go traffic puts less wear on an automatic transmission.
If you plan on riding a motorcycle though, you must learn to use a clutch, because all non-electric motorcycles use a clutch (usually a wet clutch, but Ducati uses a dry clutch); manual transmissions are lighter and more compact, and weight matters a lot on a motorcycle.
I say this as someone that learned to drive on manual transmissions, and exclusively had cars with manual transmissions up through about 2022.
It’s fun. Thats good enough reason to learn a manual car.
I also prefer them in snow. Being able to slow your car down without hitting the breaks is awesome when you have to drive in snow.
I’m going to have to kindly disagree on some points about manuals.
I myself now prefer to drive auto, after moving to a city known for its traffic jam, and I am inherently lazy. So that’s one good argument from me.
Another is that if you injure one of your foot, there’s a 50% you can still drive your auto. Which was really handy that one time I dislocated my left ankle. In a manual, that chance is 0%.
Every manual transmission car I’ve owned made in the last 25 years has had cruise control. Is stop and go traffic a pain? Sure, but not enough of a pain for me to give up my manual.
The only feature that I kinda wish I had was radar assist- manuals definitely don’t have that from what I’ve seen.
Do you mean the adaptive cruise that’s matches cars speed in front of you? Toyota did a damn good job with it in their tacoma. It’ll brake as you’re coming up on a slow car and you can shift just fine without turning off cruise. It kills the throttle when you push in the clutch and letting the clutch back out after your shift feels very natural and cruise takes back over the throttle.
Yeah exactly- that’s why they don’t do it on manuals, no way to disengage the gear on slowdown. I’ve used it a few times in a Subaru and was really impressed.