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FYI: almost everyone learning to drive in Norway now does so with automatic and as such get a license for automatic only. Guess the same will happen in the UK pretty quick.

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In my anecdotal sample the thinking is changing indeed from "I'll learn manual just in case I ever need it" to "screw it, automatic is available everywhere, and EVs are coming".

What about the cost factor? In the UK manuals are still significantly cheaper than automatics.

I haven’t checked. They are barely sold anymore. In 2020 ca 95% of cars sold were automatic (or electric). You can still get manual used and probably cheaper than used automatic because no one wants manual anymore (except some petrol heads and old people that don’t want to learn to drive automatic).

There's still a big demand for manuals here, not just from petrolheads either. They're popular generally but in particular with newly qualified drivers, and people who live in urban areas and drive only infrequently. They're just cheaper and more economical.

That being said it is shifting (haha) slowly- I think in the last couple of years the majority of new cars sold have been automatic. But most people buy used anyway so manual is going to be around for a long time yet.

What is significant? A few thousand dollars?

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