Taking a driving test in auto?

Foster

Didn't learn to drive until I was 24, but I passed first time for both

nick67

We had a similar discussion with our son who said 2 of his friends couldn't wait to drive so they opted for the auto route, they both now 1 year on regret their decision and will be getting their full license in the next few months.

It's been mentioned about hire cars whilst abroad and courtesy cars if the need arises.

What about when she eventually wants to move out of home and move house.

Who's going to drive the white rental van?

mjn

Nobody who passed their test after 1997

Over by there

How heavy is the white rental van and what age is the driver. Though CPC is the biggest load of cobblers going as a qualification.

Delvey

Get her a scooter.
May sound a little far fetched, but if she does a CBT (not very expensive) then the 2-3 years she spends using the scooter will massively help her come her driving lessons. It will probably be cheaper as well than paying for public transport for college/Uni

MarkyPancake

I drive autos - in fact thinking about it, most of my driving years have been in autos now - and only drive a manual if I have no other choice. That said, I would do the lessons and test in a manual, as limiting yourself to autos can be a disadvantage, as others have pointed out.

Bl4ckGryph0n

I agree with most comments already made. Manual tuition all the way. Our current three cars are all automatic. So we have to buy another one to teach my eldest....We think it is worth it for her...

outoftheknow

My daughter learned in a manual here with the instructor but all other driving was in autos. Her first car is an auto - as others point out she just felt she needed the manual licence for whatever comes up.

Very different here though - in Canberra you can get an auto licence and after 12 months go and swap it for a manual. Theory being the road craft is learned in the auto and after a year you are nowhere near such a menace as you peer at the stick and stab the clutch looking for a gear at the roundabouts

Over by there

Be thankful for synchronised gear boxes.....

nabby

When I was working as a driving instructor I had a 17 year old pupil who had learned to drive through combination of taking courses at Mercedes Benz World for underage drivers and driving games on his console.  He was easily one of the most natural drivers I ever had in my car and passed first time with flying colours.

My main point being if you have a child who's not yet 17 and seems keen to learn (fewer and fewer 17 year olds are these days) then spending a bit on a course like the ones at Mercedes Benz World so they can try a manual car out in controlled conditions might not be a bad option.

My other points would be:
1) one big selling point for manuals is being able to use clutch control at slow speeds, especially for reversing manoeuvres.  Autos tend to be far harder to control in these situations.
2) autos are great if you're doing a lot of town driving in traffic. If you're doing mainly higher speed driving then a manual is just as good, if not better.
3) as others have said, road craft and real world experience is more important for passing your test than whether you're in an automatic or a manual.
4)  someone who is motivated to pass will pass quicker than someone who sees it as a chore or onerous task.  If your teenager isn't motivated then it may not be the right time yet.