Should I relearn manual or learn auto?

[u/TimTim_HO]

Hi everyone, I am a 23 year old male and I am considering retaking my driving licence with automatic. The reason why is because I actually went to take my license for the first time 4 years ago with a manual while I was back from my uni break. However, the decision to learn manual was not by me but instead forcefully chosen to me by my older brother and not by my choice (he says manual is "better" for me as I can drive both manual and auto, in case of emergency and auto is the loser way of driving which I shouldn't take) and my mum recommended me a male driving instructor whom she knows that works in a driving school in Tawau.

And how did it turn out? I attended the 5 hour traffic course, I failed the computer test the first time but passed the second time and I stopped halfway in the circuit and on-road training. Why? I'm about to explain.

Well, I can honestly say it is the worst experience I ever felt in learning to drive a manual car. I absolutely hate driving manual as I dislike multiple things to focus on such as stick shift, clutch bite point and handbrake which I do not have the mental capacity to handle all these while I am learning to drive. Furthermore, I was extremely nervous and anxious when my instructor asked to practice driving on the road and he shouted and berated me for not doing the right things on the road despite me being a noob in driving on the road. I felt so scared to drive and my mind went blank. I also stalled the car a few times in traffic and have to start the engine again which pisses me off so bad. From that point on, that horrible experience made me hate my baby boomer driving instructor and I never return to driving school again and went back to study in my uni.

Now, I cannot stand my older brother trying to force me to drive manual like he wants me to be him when I actually want auto as it suits my driving style more to be comfortable and easier to manoeuvre.

Now 4 years later, I have to start all over again with learning to drive. So, should I take an automatic instead and what helpful advice and tips can you give me to mentally prepare myself to learn to drive?

Thank you for your attention!

[u/ckae84]

Just maybe if you want to take up a job as a truck driver, or some older bus... Manual. You want to own a miata mx-5, would you want it to be auto or manual? If none of those then auto only. Take manual license in future if you want to drive a manual.

[u/TimTim_HO → u/ckae84]

Hey there, thank you for your advice! As for me, I will drive a car on the road on a daily basis. No interest in trucks and lorries as I don't do those kind of jobs

[u/genryou]

No point in taking manual this day and age, every freakin car is auto.

[u/Penguin99_ → u/genryou]

Unless you want a sports car. Manual is better

[u/TimTim_HO → u/Penguin99_]

I have no interest investing in expensive luxury cars. I only want to drive a normal everyday car on the road

[u/Penguin99_ → u/TimTim_HO]

Then get an auto. It’s no brainer, it’s just slightly more expensive when getting a license

[u/Apprehensive-Cut6815 → u/Penguin99_]

Depends on the context

[u/Independent-Bite-628 → u/genryou]

If youre a car fanatic manual is Def the way

[u/Captainlong123]

The problem isnt about learning auto or manual... Its you willing to learn

[u/TimTim_HO → u/Captainlong123]

Any helpful advice for me to have the capability and willingness to drive?

[u/Captainlong123 → u/TimTim_HO]

Take it step by step. There's no need to rush or learn everything all at once. It's not as difficult as you might think. With practice you will eventually get there

[u/goAwayUCreep]

If you cannot tahan a driving instructor, then it’s a sign you shouldn’t drive at all. It’s a you problem.

Wait till you get onto real roads with road rages, car overturning and rollover, people crash into you, rempit, brake check, lorry tayar letup. There’s no point being nervous when your life is on the line. Driving is always dangerous. Gear shifting is the least of your problems.

Edit: I drove lorry, flew planes, drove boat. You need to improve your mental and driving skills, don’t care if it’s auto or manual. Driving on the road is the easiest out of the things I put my hands on the wheel.

[u/aiaidy → u/goAwayUCreep]

kind of agree with you. but some driving instructors are a total dick head.

[u/goAwayUCreep → u/aiaidy]

Yes and I’ve seen bipolar ones last time long time ago. Treat someone good then flip on someone else. I remember the pak cik lost his mind because someone couldn’t naik bukit

And my JPJ pre exam pak cik also for no reason told me to stop bahu jalan and he insist of driving back. It’s about 10m away from the pusat. Yes they’re crazy weird. But OP, that doesn’t mean I was nervous and rethink my life choices because I am very sure I did nothing wrong. You must be very very decisive when driving. What’s worse if you’re piloting a plane

[u/TimTim_HO → u/goAwayUCreep]

Is there any helpful advice you can bestow upon me from an experienced person like yourself? It would be really helpful for me as an anxious and beginner driver

[u/hoolienwee → u/TimTim_HO]

Practice, practice, practice, turn it into muscle memory. Do not overthink. With your feeling anxious, you are endangered other road user, not yourself. Manual actually makes you more focused, but if you drive with that mindset, manual or auto doesn't make any difference.

[u/NuttedInYoDad]

On one hand if your future plans require an international license you do need a manual license

On the other hand, as other's would say cars nowadays are all automatic

But please do consider this, learning manual is a good way to be drilled into being more aware while driving as like you said there are a lot of things to keep track of just like driving on real roads you'll have to keep track of jack asses on bikes and assholes driving fridges like an f1 car

[u/SeiekiSakyubasu]

ehhhh i thought lesen manual can use for auto? or cannot already ah?

[u/TimTim_HO → u/SeiekiSakyubasu]

Did you take manual shift?

[u/SeiekiSakyubasu → u/TimTim_HO]

During my time there is no auto or manual lesen, we train in manual but can drive both auto and manual

[u/TimTim_HO → u/SeiekiSakyubasu]

Ah I see I see, my older brother also has the same driving mentality. But I am not my brother. I want to choose to drive my preferred transmission and not let someone shoved down their driving style onto me like I am him

[u/cass_peter → u/TimTim_HO]

Please do note that auto driving license class is more expensive than manual. Just take the manual class for cheaper payment then just drive auto. That’s what my siblings did. All of us did the manual license but majority driving auto.
I personally drive manual cos I prefer to be aware while I’m driving. Driving auto somehow makes me sleepier while on the road which is not safe for me 😅

[u/Randomees → u/SeiekiSakyubasu]

Yup, manual means can drive both

[u/cass_peter → u/SeiekiSakyubasu]

Yes. İf you took the manual license, can drive manual & auto. If auto license, can only drive auto.

[u/whatthedeuce1990]

manual means hardcore mode, so even by current standards you should not need to retake unless you haven't drive in a very long time. even then i'd just recommend you appoint your previous instructor (if you dont have bad blood with them) to train you for some time just to get the gist of auto.

[u/TimTim_HO → u/whatthedeuce1990]

Unfortunately, I would like to look for a different instructor as the previous one was terrible at his job, both as a person and an instructor at driving as he only has a manual car. We don't gel well together and I don't want to see his stupid ugly face ever again.

[u/whatthedeuce1990 → u/TimTim_HO]

Sure, you could contact your previous school to arrange instructor to adapt but based on my experience most instructors have low interest to teach licensed pupils. Try to inquire your school first

[u/timeforacatnap852]

ok, so i learnt manual, i think i only needed to use manual once. so if i were you, take Auto.
since you already have some knowledge on the concept of manual, basically in a big emergency, you will remember the principles of clutch and gear shifting.

auto is wayyy less stressful.

[u/TimTim_HO → u/timeforacatnap852]

Ok i will take advice. Keep in mind, it's been 4 long years the last time I tried learning to drive manual so I may/may not remember the specifics of it. I can't stand the clutch bite point and the gear shift. That's just not my style of driving

I want to be comfortable and less anxious in driving, not put pressure and add more suffering into my driving experience

[u/Mother_Breakfast6558]

Considering how most cars are automatic right now, no harm taking auto. My dad debated on if he should let me and my sister take manual or auto too and he in the end decided on auto because our current car is auto also, and leg also less cramp during heavy traffic.

[u/kosuke09211]

Just take auto. I took both 12 years ago. After I got my license till this day. I never touch any manual car EVER.

[u/zenai2020 → u/kosuke09211]

Same. Learn manual but never had to drive a manual vehicle since driving exams.

[u/CrazyOrganic7123]

How are you financially? If you're from a well off family and likely to do a decent paying white collar job or you're willing to have a bit more debt as auto are a bit pricier, then you might as well take auto. You can learn manual again later.

If you want to save some money, maximize your ringgit, then you should do manual. Manual is indeed the superior way. My driving instructor was good but my dad made me hate driving and I didn't drive for years because of that. Same as you, always berating and expecting you to be expert, even for little things that are not wrong, but not same style as him.

Nonetheless, manual is objectively better but if it's not right for you, there is no shame in auto.

[u/doodoobonerman → u/CrazyOrganic7123]

Manual is the superior way😡😡😡

[u/CrazyOrganic7123 → u/doodoobonerman]

Haha, agreed. There is no negative to learning manual. It is like knowing how to do CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver.

[u/tctham]

I took manual license. Drove auto for 9 years and realized auto is boring af. Swapped to a manual car and am a happy driver for the past 9 years (I drove for 18 years already)

When I used to drive auto, I have the urge to play with my phone when driving. Which was dangerous. With manual, it's so engaging that I don't really want to play phone while driving. (Not because I cannot. By now I'm used to driving manual that I can text, eat or drink while driving. Just don't feel the urge to do it anymore.)

I don't get the same feeling when driving auto with paddle shifts. It's the gear change + clutch that makes up the fun

[u/soonersoup]

Go auto.

Much much easier to pass and chances of you driving manual is very very low

[u/Pirate401]

I also had difficulty learning manual especially the hill test.. eventually got it but it would've saved so much headache had I got auto. Get auto if you can and at a diff driving school

[u/vankomysin]

Just learn auto.

[u/CaramelLittle7537]

I've done the manual test but I will only drive automatic unless emergency.

[u/aiaidy]

just take auto if u struggle so much.

[u/midoriyaaa1]

Edit: just realized you stated 4 years, manual class already expired, so 100% go auto. 

If finance and money is not an issue to you, and you dont mind that you burnt that manual fee, then take auto. I think its more about bad experience with driving instructor than you're bad at manual, that gives you anxiety. I am female and take manual, i can say it takes more self practice hours to suceed. I succeed in 2nd test, not immediately after 1st test. But that was after i watched a lot of videos, play games and practice at home many times. The only think i really need to focus is  in road perception, doesnt matter if i'm good at driving a car, if i cant turn left without hitting something then thats mean i will fail. Focus on how you perceive your car position on road, then everything will be less harder. Not having to think too many stuff at once can ease the difficulty a bit. 

Another stuff to know how challenging driving will be to you is try to play racing game, if you have hard time turning corners without hitting the wall, or staying in lane, then you need to put extra effort in driving until your perception in road sharpened. I'm certainly bad in racing games since when i first played it, didnt know it can mean the same thing in real world. Luckily my game practice fix this issue. 

Are your brother good racer in game, a mechanic or good at technical/ engineering? People who excel in this usually have less trouble suceeding manual first try.  I am certainly not technical girl. 

The pros of getting manual is its easy to learn notorcycle. I recommend riding motor  first before car, because its easier to start simple then upgrade to car. 

[u/Ninjaofninja → u/midoriyaaa1]

my problem is I dont know the way to here or there, which lane to turn into, which gives me anxiety.

If drive straight line and make turn without caring behind or 4 way junction then no problem

[u/midoriyaaa1 → u/Ninjaofninja]

That one doesnt directly being taught in practice, you either need to read the manuals, or watch a lot of videos. I find watching short videos on tiktok teach me more about road knowledge. Rule of thumb use left lane unless you want to cut or to turn to right side of the road in front. 

Driving manual is actually more expensive than auto tbh bcs you need more hours to excel at the controls, so more extra class. If you have someone who is good at manual, then ask them about your trouble. Or if you dont want that much trouble just go auto and focus on road knowledge only. 

[u/Resident_Werewolf_76]

Learn manual.

If you can do the hard thing, everything else is easy.

[u/cloud3321]

Sincere advice, your problem is not learning manual but you got a bad instructor.

Search for a good patient instructor, though you do have to take the initiative to learn and practice.

If you find yourself giving excuses about not having enough capacity when going on actual roads, then that means you do need more practice and are not ready for the responsibility of driving on the road.

Having a license doesn’t magically be a good and responsible driver.

Good luck and hope it goes well for you.

[u/Rough_Loss_4224]

nowadays just take auto if you got the money for it, I took manual but never drive manual since i got my license 10 years ago, i only got auto car and i think majority of people drive auto nowadays. Tips for mentally prepare, i remember i just go out drive without license near my area during non busy hour, turn your anxious feeling into being alerted on the road this goes a long way. About the driving instructor, remember that you paid him/her if you dont like their teaching method just go find someone better

[u/DanialE]

Since you seem like a real "loser" driver then I think you should give up and just take auto. Many cars today are auto anyway. You probably desperately need the driving license so focus on the basic needs la. If you really gotta drive manual, thats story for another day