As my kids got old enough to need their own cars I made sure they were manual trans. My daughter cried the first time she tried it and was convinced she would never be able to drive. I was suprised how she learned within 48 hrs to be an expert as she would go to bed one night unable to prevent the car from stalling -but would get up the next day and be 100% improved. I figured her brain was reliving the experience in her sleep and learning. I told her that she should never be forced to turn down driving the best sports cars due to lack of stick experience. She is very grateful now. As a bonus cars with stick are an absolutly cheap as used cars. Make sure the first car they ever drive is a stick! They are more attentive driving a stick and are safer as well.