have him learn 5 speed from the start?

[moribundman]

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My 16 year old son has his intro license ie has passed the written test but has yet to take the driving test. *snip*Is it preferrable to have him learn only on an automatic and then pass the test with said vehicle AND then learn how to drive a standard?

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He should learn how to drive a stick shift first. The reasons have been named by others. Let me just add that humans tend to be comfort creatures. Someone who learns driving an automatic will likely never want to bother driving a stick shift -- thus missing out on a good part of the driving experience. I my home country it's a shame to learn on an automatic. The license is then valid only for cars with automatic transmission. Only total klutzes learn on auto.

 

[rokky]

Young Drivers of Canada.

Best $700 I ever spent.

 

[blackdiamond]

If he learns how to drive a stick and then takes his test with the automatic he is sure to pass.

I will have the opportunity to teach two kids to learn how to drive a manual in the near future. I plan to use my 89 4Runner that has twin transfer cases (3 low range combination) so that we can start with low enough gears that stalling isn't possible (I can hold the brake to the floor at idle and it will turn the rear tires in low low) and they can get used to the clutch feel. Once they figure out how to use the clutch I plan to work up through the gears until they get to high range.

Another important thing in my opinion is teaching them how to "hold" a car on a hill using the clutch without stalling. I have driven very few cars that I couldn't start on a hill with very minimal roll back.

I have driven sports cars and also rock crawlers so I have been forced to learn the extremes.

Have fun!

 

[pidster]

For me I had no choice but to learn to drive a stick shift. After tons of practice on the side streets I could operate it smoothly. Put me in traffic, I'd get nervous, stall and jerk and mis-shift. Maybe some practice on the stick on the side streets and the first few ventures out into large intersections, lane changing in traffic etc with the automatic first would be a good plan.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I was forced to learn on an Automatic and trust me, I wish I learned on a stick. Unfortunately, I had no one to teach me.

 

[moribundman]

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If he learns how to drive a stick and then takes his test with the automatic he is sure to pass.

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The question is, would you want your kid to pass a driving test if he can't manage? Well, maybe you'd want YOUR kid to pass, but what about everyone else's kid? Think about it!

 

[01rangerxl]

My learning was kind of 1/2 and 1/2, which seems to have worked well for me. I got my truck before I had my license, so I learned on it (manual Ranger), along with an automatic Ranger, and an automatic Blazer. I was proficient with the manual Ranger by the time I had to take my test, but I did the test in the automatic Ranger and passed, even with a grumpy old wannabe drill sargent DMV worker riding shotgun. 3 years later I have never had an accident, which is more than most of my friends can say.

 

[blackdiamond]

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Quote:

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If he learns how to drive a stick and then takes his test with the automatic he is sure to pass.

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The question is, would you want your kid to pass a driving test if he can't manage? Well, maybe you'd want YOUR kid to pass, but what about everyone else's kid? Think about it!

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The point is that if you can drive a stick an auto is easy. I wanted to take my test in my dad's K5 Blazer that was a 4-speed just to have fun with the instructor, but I got stuck with the auto car. I actually got cut off and nearly ended up in an accident.

 

[VaderSS]

Most people tend to get pretty nervous when being examined. The autotmatic takes some of the stress out of the equation. The examiner adds more than enough to make up for it...

 

[NYEngineer]

I primarily learned on an auto, took my test and got my license. My first car was a 69 Charger with a 383 and a 4 speed. I'm completely self taught. I got in that car and drove it home. No one was going to do it for me. By the time I did 3 or 4 starts, I was doin' it.

 

[wantin150]

I learned on a 5 speed (Nissan Pkp), took the test in the same vehicle, and passed on try #1. Teach the stick FIRST, in a parking lot as mentioned. Try some mid morning drives after that with little traffic. Find a neighborhood with hills and let him safely practice there as well.

Buy some magnetic signs for "New Driver" and apply them when you go out. This may help with other driver's attitudes.