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In the UK most people start off driving manual transmission. Later they may change to an automatic. It is just the way it has always been, with (until recently) automatics being few and far between.
I drove for 25 years before getting my first automatic. 25 years later I reverted back to a manual (it was what I could afford at the time). For driving pleasure I thing the automatic wins, hands down. For economy, it has to be manual.
Some driving schools are introducing automatics (one or two to their fleet), but they are rubber band driven CVTs (yes, I know they are not actually rubber belts).
Passing your test on an automatic gives you a restricted licence and you can only drive automatics. You must then sit a second test, on a manual, to get a full licence, which permits you to drive either.
I wanted my wife to learn to drive and suggested she learn on an automatic. Once getting her licence and gaining confidence in traffic, and such, it would be a lot easier to make the transition to a manual. When you think about it, starting off as a total novice, who doesn't even know what the pedals do, learning to drive a manual, coping with other drivers, parked vehicles and busy roads, is a rather daunting task.
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