It also makes it much less likely that someone other than your child drives the car.


Interesting that you should point this out. We're looking at a used CR-V on Saturday for the kids, and it is a mnaual transmission, something DH and I both want the kids to learn to drive. I was thinking it was good for them to know how to drive one, and that they are typically cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to run.

DH, however, pointed out that their frieds would be less likely to know how to drive a 5-speed, and so they wouldn't be tempted to loan the car out. I hadn't even considered that as cars are just not something I would consider borrowing, but I guess DH isn't the only one who sees this as an advantage, and now that it has been pointed out, so do I.