Manual or automatic?
While in the United States automatic cars seem to be the norm, in Europe still most of people drive manuals. Why? Nowadays, even on our continent the prices of both types of vehicles are comparable, so that's not the reason. It's also not very difficult to find an automatic on the market, whether new or used, so it's not a matter of availability, either. It's easy enough to even hire an automatic for a vacation abroad, so is there really a justified reason people still prefer the manuals?
The main argument I hear, is the fact, that when you pass your test on a manual car, you can drive an automatic, but not vice versa. This is true, but be realistic: if you're planning to buy a car once you've passed, what difference does it make to you?
The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to take a trial lesson on a manual and see how you like it. As a driving instructor, I can tell you, that some people really struggle to understand the gears. It makes it very difficult and takes all the joy out of the learning process. And it should't be that hard! So by all means, try a manual, but if you don't like - don't hold on to it, just because it someone told you it's better. If you have a choice, choose what you'll actually enjoy.
