I have 3 daughters and I have said their entire lives that their first cars would have manual transmissions. This is the way I was raised, I guess. My dad taught me to drive in MT and I've always loved it. Besides being fun...I just think it's a great life skill to have.

One thing I've noticed, though, is how few people share my point of view. When I was in high school, there was hardly a guy in my class who wanted to drive a car with AT. We all had MT unless money was an issue and we inherited first cars from a benevolent grandmother.

I have nephews now with NO desire whatsoever to shift gears. It's as if it's too much effort to learn and WAY to much effort to have to shift in order to actually drive someplace. This has strengthened my stance on the subject. I want my girls to be the ones who can jump behind the wheel of a MT car in a pinch when their male friends haven't a clue.

But...my wife and I are having a bugger of a time finding good used, safe, welll-kept cars in our daughter's price range WITH manual trans. It's like every time we find something that initially looks suitable...it's got AT.

What's the deal?

Meantime, my eldest now has her license and is driving a "classic" 85 Supra with 5 speed I picked up about a year ago. She loves the car but, frankly, I don't want my 17 yr old out on a dark road--or states away at college--in a 30 yr old car which could have mechanical issues.

She's learned to drive it pretty well (proud dad here) but I'm asking myself if I'm being unreasonable insisting that her first "nice" used car be MT. Is her knowing how to do it good enough?

Her momma would be really happy if I relaxed my standard a bit and just picked up another solid reliable car with AT.

My kids who are 10 and 7 have been shifting gears while I drive in my /6 and my wife's WRX since my oldest was about 6 years old. I want them also understand how to drive a manual transmission when they are able to drive. It is one thing to know how to drive it competently and another to have to own one. I think as long as they can demonstrate the ability on a regular basis it would be fine not to actually own one.

Probably the worst thing I could think of for a younger driver is that the "designated driver" drinks too much and someone else would need to drive. Even at my age, when I go out drinking with friends I am watching the intake of the "designated driver" in case I need to cut off or not drink at all. I can't afford a ticket and want everyone to make it home safe.

I taught my twin girls and my son to drive a stick ... no automatics for them (until they bought them themselves).

They needed to know the joy of rush hour traffic and a manual transmission!!!

If you can drive a manual, you can drive an automatic....doesn't work the other way around.

I was told that much of the armed forces use auto since kids no longer grow up on manual. Personally, I would rather my kids drive auto and have one less thing to focus on while they are concentrating on the road and other cars.

That is the biggest argument, IMHO.

..I told both kids that they could take my teener out whenever they wanted...but there is little desire to learn to drive a MT...kids today! I've also read recently that all, probably most, manufacturers will be going away from MTs, even P cars. The technology is improving for ATs...MTs could become an expensive/rare option. MT = old school, "Honey, could you get my cane?" Bummer.

My father taught me early and I''ll teach my children soon. I agree, it's a great life skill that so few kids nowadays ever get the opportunity to learn. I met my wife in high school and taught her to drive a MT.

I have had the pleasure of teaching 3 young ladies how to drive.
A step daughter, a niece and my wife when she was 17.
All learned to drive a manual transmission first..
I wanted to be sure no matter where they were or who they
were with, they could get in any car and drive themselves
home.
Step daughter drove my 96 Camaro 6 speed
as a reward for Excellent Report Cards at school.
She actually took her driving test on a manual.
Her slug of a boyfriend could only drive an automatic.
made me laugh....
Niece still owns a manual.. 2009 Civic SI

Wife is driving an A4 tiptronic after shoulder surgery..
hopefully she gets back in her 911 soon...
She learned in my 6 back in 73

... Plus if they get good enough to drive a MT, you can show them how to "pop start" or push start their car. Saved my ass a few times and I'm sure you'll appreciate not having to tow them home for something simple. Learning on a manual transmission, I believe, also grooms better, thinking drivers. You're engaged with everything the car is doing which means you're using your brain, something most teenagers don't actively do.

I have to admit the sheer enjoyment of going with my
niece when she did a "test drive" in a new Civic Si was something I'll never forget.
The Honda Salesman was a big guy, so I sat in the back seat
during the "test ride" The expression on his face
as she pulled 8000 rpm shifts on entrance ramps to Rt 95 was priceless.
I did my best Cheshire Cat grin while listening to the Vtec come on.
When we got out after the ride, he looked at me and said
"you obviously taught her to drive".. Then said he never had a clue
what the Si really was all about. Took a girl to show him..
Proud doesn't come close to what I felt at that point

Manuals might stop being manufactured soon, but it will be a long, long time before we stop seeing them in everyday life so having the skill to drive one will never be a bad one to have.

It’s handy to know, but it isn’t that important any more. Let’s face it automatics are taking over. Once you know how to drive, learning a manual isn’t that big a deal. When I bought my first MGB my dad took me out to an empty parking lot, and I got behind the wheel and started driving. It was a half an hour later and I drove home.

Learning to drive only on an automatic is like learning to cook only in a microwave. Sure, you can drive and cook, but your options are severely limited.

And I agree with the previous poster that driving a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission makes a person THINK about what's going on out there .................

The Cap'n

While I agree that the basic mechanics of learning to drive a manual transmission.
Such as moving from a stop without stalling the car and shifting 1-2-3-4 can be
fairly simple... Getting the car to move isn't that hard..
Really DRIVING the car is another matter all together..... It is a learned process that takes time.. and experience...
Just like a lot of other skills.. many can do it, but not that many do it well.

But it’s fairly safe to say that a kid learning to drive today will see the internal combustion engine regulated to a hobby like sailing is.

Exactly, all of our cars/trucks state side are AT, but while I was deployed all the cars we used were local, so they were all MT. I was really surprised at the amount of people who had no idea how to drive at MT and were actually afraid to try. I am glad my Dad taught me on a MT, and I plan on doing the same with my kids when they are old enough.

Well my two cents is that unless you wanna drive scooters and mom mobiles your whole life you need to learn to shift. Ducati and other bike manufactures aren't running to fit cvt transmissions. If I wanted to motivate my daughter I'd buy a dirt bike and tell her she has to learn to shift. The motorcycle industry is gonna be so screwed when a whole generation can't move some cogs around in a box. I guess people aren't motivated unless its digital these days...

Learning how to drive a manual transmission car makes me a better driver now.
I find myself much more aware of everything around me and am able to be more
focused on driving. And let's face it, I can't spend time texting and talking on my cell phone very easily if I'm shifting gears! There's nothing wrong with driving an AT but I'll stick to my manuals until I can't anymore....and that's not gonna happen anytime soon! Jon

I've owned and driven MT since I was 17 up until 5 yrs ago when I needed a truck--and Ridgelines only come with AT. Quite literally, I was going through MT withdrawal to the point that I would actually have driving dreams in which I was stirring the gears. (The 914 was on jackstands during this time). My wife's sister bought a Mini Cooper with 6 spd and would let me use it any time I needed a fix.

Part of what love about shifting gears is the nearly full body experience of it. I ride a motorcycle also and I love the finesse and coordination that it requires to control of these vehicles smoothly and safely.

And personally, I hate some of this crap they are adding to modern vehicles like linked brakes for Front and Rear wheels on bikes and automatic engine speed sync upon downshifting--like in 370Z's. These things are complicating the vehicles and removing the requirement for the feel and skill once needed by the operators.

And one more thing. I have no data on which to base this last though other than my own personal experience with ownership, but a cared-for manual transmission will outlive an AT--except for maybe a clutch or external seals.