Which is better to first learn? Automatic or Stick?

[HK_Rage]

I'm fortunate to have to opportunity of being able to learn both and I want to know which should I start learning first.

[Ghost]

Manual. If you want to learn automatic you can just buy Dirt 3 and a steering wheel.

[Excon]

Automatic, learn to drive first before you have to worry about all that extra stuff.

[Thunderjolt]

I'd say manual. Always good to know how to drive manual if you ever need to.

[Mcdoorknob]

standard is probably more important to learn. either way you will learn how to maneuver a vehicle and drive. but standard will make you more open to your options of what kind of cars you are able to drive. Standard is also more fun if you are looking for that, and almost always cheaper than an automatic.

[Hans Christian | Teri]

Manual, definitely manual. There's nothing to learn about automatic other than start and stop (engage and disengage brake pedal). Trust me I learnt to drive a car with manual transmission from the start and have driven several cars with automatic transmission since. If you have a guy who can actually teach you you should have driving a manual down in less than 10 minutes. After that you may occasionally stall, but it's not really a problem and you will very quickly be over this as well. Bonus points as the door knob above mentioned, it's a lot more fun driving a car with manual transmission, you feel way more connected to the piece of machinery you're manoeuvring about.

[Camul]

I don't drive, but I'd say manual. Everyone over here seems to pick it up pretty easily. 

[BadBlack]

The way i learned is that i first learned to control a car in automatic and then learned with the stick, and i think it is a pretty solid method and in that way you are going  to ask questions about the stick system and not what to do in order not to crash, and i actually drive a manual car.

[bob345]

I say whatever is more common in your country.  But I personally would say stickshift as it helps you learn to control the car better 

[chaozbandit]

Manual; better to build up your driving skills as early on as possible, plus it opens doors for vehicles you'd be able to operate in the future. There's not much to an automatic anyways. In the end, as long as you learn proper car control you're golden.

[alpenwasser]

Pretty much everyone first learns manual where I live and seems to be able to

switch to automatic very easily later on (such as myself, it's really not difficult),

whereas the other way around seems to cause people more trouble (mostly with

foreigners who come to live here and haven't learned to drive manual).

Concentrating on gear shifting etc. while driving at the same time comes naturally

with a bit of practice, you will barely even notice that you're shifting gears

manually after some time.

I should note though that if you do the driver's exam with an automatic where I

live you are not allowed to drive stick until you pass the driver's exam with a

manual, if that's not a factor for you then the incentive for learning manual

is naturally a bit smaller. But personally I just think any self-respecting

driver should learn manual, and learn it first (learn to walk before you learn

to run, or something like that ).

[Guest]

Manual - after about 10 hours you won't notice that you're driving a manual as your actions become automatic. Round where I live, if you only get your automatic license, you need to go do your test again if you want to drive a manual.

[JAKEBAB]

manual because then u arnt restricted to a car and manuals are generally cheaper to buy also it is alot funner driving manual.

[alpenwasser]

Round where I live, if you only get your automatic license, you need to go do your test again if you want to drive a manual.

Nice to know we're not the only ones who do it like that.

[Wulfgar]

It's not useless to learn a stick shift, but tbh it's becoming more irrelevant everyday. It won't be long before cars, on a mass-produced scale, drive themselves and you just hit a destination and sit back.

[JaeDee884]

Manual, cause drifting in an auto is fucked up when it changes gear and you regain traction. 

[AlexGoesHigh]

like everyone manual is just necessary you get it right and you can drive pretty much any car that is no bigger or longer that a suv after that things get a little hairy on maneuver deparment

[HK_Rage]

Also, how long does it usually take to learn how to shift smoothly?

[Ookami]

Also, how long does it usually take to learn how to shift smoothly?

Depends how well you can adapt to it. Soon enough youll do it automaticly without even notice nothing.

 

And yes - manual as a start is best...

[J3v400]

Go manual, and if you are in a hilly area practice hill starts as much as possible. After that auto will be a cake walk in comparison. 

[coen113]

Manual. It makes you feel the car

[Night]

Urrghhh auto, Yuck, Learn manual first. Auto is horid, I feel like im missing limbs when driving autos.

[Ramzez]

Nice to know we're not the only ones who do it like that.

 

Same applies to Finland. If you don't want your driving license to be restricted to cars with automatic transmission, you have to do the driving test with manual car.

 

I also would like to point out, that in Europe, manual cars are much more common than in USA and Canada. So don't be surprised if many europeans recommend driving on manual.

 

It's not useless to learn a stick shift, but tbh it's becoming more irrelevant everyday. It won't be long before cars, on a mass-produced scale, drive themselves and you just hit a destination and sit back.

 

That's still like 10+ years away. It's not likely that we see self driving cars anytime soon. Nobody is willing to use computer operated cars before they become extremely reliable. You have to remember that a single mistake or delay the pc does, might kill you.

[Ps_domingo]

STICK!

[atrash]

Manual first. You will become much more aware and sensitive on how your car behave as well as nuturing a good driving style. Most of the people I know who can only drive Automatic tends to have worse driving skills/manners for example they keep stepping on the brakes/throttle back and forth because they are not that sensitive on how fast the car goes/cruise and they tend to be much much more heavy footed.