just to throw a spanner in the works, with increased progression in Virtual Reality, will that become the new norm for starting to learn to drive?
No massive outlay for instructors, you can learn in any vehicle, then once up to a competent level you can move to real vehicles.
Also, is the future driverless?
The issue is that with manuals you can select gears ahead of time, the auto has yet to be invented that can see a car 3 ahead in the queue ready to turn off, or read the drivers mind.
Admittedly good auto's these days are absolutely not a problem in terms of driving effectively on the roads, but tbh i for one find that for every "thank god im in an auto with this traffic" moment i get at least an equal if not greater number of "man i wish this thing was a manual" moments.
I always said I wouldn't get an auto, loved manuals, I now own a mk5 golf gti with DSG gearbox and I don't think I'd go back. It's so much easier, I can easily use my phone or drink my beer while driving, not to even mention 'favours' from the wife. On a serious note, several levels of auto, has next up and next below in gear already selected, sports mode, manual options to take control at all times. best of both