The Pros and Cons of Starting to Drive with an Automatic or a Stick Shift

Choosing between driving an automatic or manual transmission car when you're new to the wheel can be a pivotal decision. This choice impacts your learning experience, safety, and future driving flexibility. In this article, we explore the pros and cons of starting with each, helping you make an informed decision.

Starting with an Automatic Transmission

Starting with an automatic transmission vehicle is a safer and simpler option for beginners.

Simpler and Safer Learning: Automatic cars free up your cognitive load, allowing you to focus on driving techniques, road awareness, and safe driving practices. This simplifies the learning process and reduces the risk of early mistakes. Additional Attention: Without the need to constantly control the clutch, you can dedicate more attention to being a safe and predictable driver. This is crucial in the initial stages of learning. Hand-Eye Coordination: For those who may struggle with hand-eye coordination or engine intuition, starting with an automatic transmission helps build confidence in basic driving skills.

While some might find it easier to learn manual transmission, it is important to recognize that the initial setup and adjustment to shifting can be challenging. However, as noted by one experienced driver, clutch and shifting can be mastered in a short period of time, usually a few hours spread over a few sessions.

Starting with a Manual Transmission

Those who prefer to start with a manual transmission car might have slightly more to learn initially, but it provides long-term benefits.

Developing Better Road Sense: Learning to drive a manual transmission car enhances your overall driving awareness and skills. You become more alert to road conditions and other aspects of driving. Mastering Both Drivetrains: After learning to drive manually, you gain the flexibility to drive both manual and automatic cars. This skill can be particularly advantageous in regions where manual-driven cars are more common. Better Driving Skills: Mastering manual driving can lead to better clutch engagement, smoother shifts, and improved overall driving techniques. These skills often translate positively into driving an automatic car as well.

Many statistics suggest that the ability to drive a manual transmission is becoming increasingly rare in some countries. For instance, in the United States, it is reported that only 19% of people can drive a manual transmission. This fact underscores the importance of being able to drive both types of cars and the potential limitations of being confined to automatic transmission vehicles.

Key Considerations for New Drivers

When planning to learn driving, consider the following scenarios:

Always Drive Automatic: If you plan to always drive an automatic transmission car, start with an automatic vehicle to simplify the learning process. Always Drive Manual: If you plan to always drive a manual transmission car, it is advisable to learn on a manual transmission vehicle to build necessary driving skills. Future Flexibility: If you anticipate changing between manual and automatic cars in the future, learning on a manual transmission car can provide a solid foundation and greater flexibility.

For the vast majority of new drivers, learning on an automatic transmission car is a more straightforward and safer approach. However, if you are interested in being more flexible in the future, learning on a manual transmission car provides long-term benefits.

Further Reading

If you're interested in a more detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of each drivetrain, you can find it here.