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I can drive relatively competently (if slowly) in an automatic. I've passed theory and know roads well from two decades of cycling (I think safely) on them. But yes it's the technical aspect of manual gear changes that I worry will throw me. Hence fixie skidding around London's famous London.
CYOA-
it's the technical aspect of manual gear changes that I worry will throw me
Look at all the people currently driving manual cars. Do you seriously think you could possibly be a bigger idiot than all of them? I've seen how a lot of them drive, and I'm startled that they've even mastered tying their own shoe laces, based on their general competence :)
gbj_tester
I think I did about 15 hours total in a car before passing, although I already had a motorcycle licence. The technical aspect of manual gear changing is a very small part of the process (more now than when I did it, since modern engines with digital management are much harder to stall and much more tolerant of being in the wrong gear). For the time being in Europe, not having the option of driving a manual transmission is a serious restriction both for hires and in terms of buying options, especially second hand. It's likely to become less of an issue as robotised gear changing becomes more prevalent, but as there's no downside to being qualified on a stick, it just seems like a waste of time and money to get a restricted licence.