A new generation of drivers chooses an ‘automatic version’ of a car boldly and decisively. They reject all prejudices and their main requirement for a car of any age, power, and scope becomes ‘automaticity’. They have millions of arguments for the fact that the automatic transmission is modern, economical, and very safe. However, the future students of the driving schools are not so categorical when it comes to the choice between the automatic and a manual type of car for their driving lessons.
Many people who are going to join the ranks of drivers find themselves at the crossroads trying to decide whether they should learn to drive in a manual or an automatic car. Without a doubt, both solutions have their benefits and weak points, so making a choice, you should take into consideration the speed at which you can learn, the kind of car you will drive in the future, and many other factors. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of both variants and try to make things in this question as clear as possible.
Learning to drive in an automatic vehicle
Today, all driving schools give students the right to choose a car. Many students believe that if you select a car with an automatic transmission, the learning process will be quick and easy, but this is not entirely true. The presence of an automatic box does not simplify driving, does not eliminate the need to know the rules of the road, and does not give any ‘odds’ in traffic. The only advantage is that spending a minimum of attention on the driving process, you can be more concentrated on the road itself. Accordingly, new drivers can get used to the road faster, especially in the urban cycle with its frequent traffic jams. Besides, the process of training as well as the process of examination presupposes a more favorable psychological environment, in which there is no fear of stalling, missing a gear, or rolling back on a hill.
However, learning to drive in an automatic vehicle can also have its ‘cons’ that can often be decisive:
- If you learn to drive in an automatic car, you will be able even to start a manual car;
- The cost of a car with an automatic transmission is higher and the maintenance of an automatic transmission is more expensive, so driving lessons usually cost a little more than lessons on a car with a manual transmission.
- A car with an automatic transmission is not suitable for extreme driving. If you decide to try it one day, you will have to get a manual license and necessary skills.
Learning to drive in a manual car
Undoubtedly, a manual car requires more effort and attention during the training, but, on the other hand, having mastered a stick shift transmission, you can cope with any vehicle. Although many people in the USA drive cars with an automatic transmission, they still choose manual driving lessons. The learning process may need more time and effort, but it’s worth it. Furthermore, there are special applications that can help you in preparation for your DMV test. Zutobi app, for example, will guide you in the road to your driving license from start to finish.
The other pros of learning to drive a manual car are:
- Full control over the car. The student develops his own driving style.
- The ability to ‘feel the car’, recognize the sound of the engine.
- The legal possibilities to drive both automatic and manual cars in all the jurisdictions.
- The cost of driving lessons is often cheaper.
- Having chosen a manual car for your driving lessons, you will be free to choose a car in the future, as well as to drive somebody’s car in the case of necessity.
As you can see, both types of cars have their advantages and disadvantages, so the choice should be based on the personal preferences of the driver. We hope that our review will help you to make an informed decision and to become a confident driver in the future.
