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I didn’t take my car test until I was 30-something. Drive around in the auto for a bit to get used to it probably a good idea.
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No point in manual these days. I’ve not wiggled a gear stick in 15 years.
The only difficulty with an auto is slow speed control.
The only difficulty in learning to drive as an experienced rider is slow speed manoeuvres in a big box with shit visibility, like reversing and parking.
The hardest part though appears to be finding an available test slot. -
Yep. Like you I'd have been happy to never ever drive a cage, but I gave in eventually.
I got my car license 18 months ago, a few years after the bike license. I did a manual test because I knew I'd need it for driving a van (for bike transportation).
Manual is easy, you already know how to use a clutch and anticipate junctions.
Only issue I had was getting my head around parking, and how awful deathboxes are in general.
18 months on I still hate driving a cage, but I do it happily knowing the next journey could be on the bike instead.
Get it done with a manual. Even if you never use one again after at least if you ever need to move one you can.
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Oh something I can answer, I learned last year in a manual. I passed with 1 minor for not overtaking a slow lorry on a short dual carriageway (definitely not bitter on that) ... Anyway, the biggest obstacle people have is confidence on the road. As I had been riding my bike and I'm 30 roundabouts and tricky junctions did not bother me and hitting speed limits was a breeze.
The first two lessons I just stalled the car a bunch but every lesson I forgot about the gears more and more. Honestly the gears are the least difficult part, it's being confident and you have that advantage.
I currently drive an auto and we also have an old golf which I haven't been arsed to sell and it's manual, I never have to think about the gears at all when I drive it to the recycling centre once a month.
Manual licence for me as I love older cars and autos on holiday are still expensive...
Edit. Pass your theory and book a test slot, you can then use an app to auto book a sooner slot, I was able to get a test within a month that way.
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@DethBeard
Has anyone learned to drive a car "later in life" after riding bikes for a few years?
I've never had the urge to drive a car, but MrsDeth has hinted more than once that it would be helpful if we could share driving duties occasionally (I read this as pick her up after a night on the sauce)
Zero chance of her getting on the bike.
She has a car (automatic) is it "easier" to learn in an auto?
I know you are limited to only auto so "better " to get a proper licence, but chances are I will only have access to her car or rentals on holidays (which would likely be auto too)
If I can learn in half the time with autos, I'd do that route.
(reluctantly)