Should I buy a manual car and learn to drive it? How hard would it be?

[ascentia]

I'm 20 and looking for my first car, and have noticed that many of the cars which appear decent and fit my price range (cheap! i.e. $2-4k) have manual transmissions. I have driven a stick shift before (in fields and country roads with my brother) and have a basic idea of how to get going, shift, etc. but that was years ago...so basically, I have very little experience.

So, how crazy would it be for me to buy a standard car and then learn to drive it? How long would it take to get good enough to drive in town and stuff? I live in the country and do mostly highway driving, but it's inevitable I'll be in town eventually. I've had a few people say to just get an automatic because I'll destroy the transmission learning and waste a tonne of money...is that true? Is it really that hard to get the hang of it?

Plus, I really hate being restricted to automatics just because I don't know how to drive a stick shift...I find it frustrating and lame and just really want to learn haha. It would making driving more interesting and give me more control of the vehicle, and it's kind of a unique thing for girls around here to drive a stick shift. Guess I just want a challenge haha :P Thoughts and advice, anyone?

[FishFind]

you will be a good drive in a stick in a week or less. Once you learn you will like it more.
Every friend that I have that had a automatic and went to a stick will never buy a automatic again.

You can save alot of gas also.

If you pull a trailer then a automatic is better but besides that go stick.

[ascentia]

Thanks for the reply! Now, I have friends who are telling me that I will likely destroy the clutch, etc. and lose a bunch of money if I buy a standard car to learn on. Is this true? I wouldn't have thought learning would be THAT hard on the vehicle, some extra wear and tear until I get the hang of it, yeah, but not enough to ruin it. Hmm :O

[danielsatur]

You might consider renting one for the weekend and practice 1st.

[Jamesfranklin]

Manual means you do it manually (by yourself) and if it is automatic then it is automatically done for you. This is all about your taste what you like most. And nothing is hard and impossible in my opinion if you are willing to learn manual car deriving you can do it easily once you learn you will stick to it. Most interesting thing is that you were having many of the choices in manual cars to choose model.