When the new driver learns in manual shift, he or she acquires the skills from the beginning. A greater variety of driving aspects may be taught as well, including optimal gear selection for various speeds and terrain, fine control of acceleration and deceleration, and the benefits of planning ahead to avoid problems. A driver who knows manual shift can always learn automatic with a minimum of difficulty. A driver with manual shift skills can practically drive anything. All kinds of vehicles from motorcycles to trucks have manual transmissions.
Automatic cars are expensive, whereas manual shift cars are comparatively cheap.
The student should also consider the kind of car that is available to practice on between lessons. It is always advantageous to learn in the same kind of car that the student will be driving at home. At CSS, we offer training in automatic or manual shift cars. Many students take all their lessons in a manual shift car, and the road test in automatic. Others take all automatic lessons, and then buy one or two extra lessons to learn manual shift.