Have any of you ever driven a stick? My main vehicle is a manual and I have NO problem chatting on my cell while driving either in the city or on the freeway.

OP, teach your kids to drive a manual. You never know when they'll use it. Wait til they get to college, ride to a party with a friend, friend is too drunk to drive, so they get in the drivers seat and then realize they can't operate the vehicle. The college years was probably the most useful for me to have that skill.

Driving a stick is unfortunately becoming a lost art. But one everyone should know.

However that cell phone thing isn't exactly guaranteed. One you make it through the gears and are cruising at speed that hand becomes free again.

Op here. Yes its a 1998 but a bmw that has well maintained (but worth very little on the market). I am concerned about safety but it is built like a tank and has air bags.

We live in the city so parking on the street is the norm. Adding another car means less parking on the street. Our neighbor had 4 cars for 2 people and it was annoying to us all as we had to juggle to find parking near our houses which is why i don't want to keep it while buying a new car. Its possible but i find it not very considerate.

I would feel strange driving or having my child driving a car that old. So much new technology in cars today. Your car is a 1998?

Driving a stick is a great skill. My girlfriend and I took a 10 day trip to Ireland. We drove ourselves around. When we looked at renting the car, it was $100 US extra for an automatic. Knowing how to drive a stick saved us $1000 US plus taxes on the trip.

Agree with the PP's - when you kids will drive depends on your personal situation. My oldest has a car that we bought. It's new, but a small, no frills VW. However, its got an automatic transmission and I really wish we had taught her to drive manual. I learned how to drive on a manual and drove one for years. Automatic is easier, but knowing how to drive manual is just a reasonable skill to have - you never know when you'll need it. I also like the PP's comment about the cell phone! Never thought off that…My DD wants to learn how drive stick and we will probably try to make it happen this summer. Once you get a hang of it, it's easy and like driving a bicycle.

I would keep the 16-year old car, especially if it's not too big. Our original plan was to give my DD my old car that can seat 8 people and then I would get a new car. However, we quickly realized that we didn't want her to be driving a car that could carry that many people…not worth it. Get a nice car for yourself and then see what happens in a few years. As long as your kids are responsible having an additional driver in the family is always a nice and convenient thing to have.

I hated my parents for it, but they made me learn on stick and now I know I will do the same with my children. It's a great skill to have.

Agree with the PP that said to gives your kids the old car and you get yourself a nice, new one!

My oldest drives a stick. The rule in our house is you have to pass the drivers test on a stick. Give the kids the 16 yr old manual and get yourself a new car.

My teen DS drove a manual for 2 years, although learned on an automatic. Was great until he wore out the clutch. Agree there's no reason you can't keep the car for a year until your kid can drive. Presumably it's got no real trade in value so it's not like you are losing money while it sits. And insurance should be low.

I would keep the 16-year-old car for insurance reasons alone (especially if you have a boy!).

Seriously, the cell phone thing alone is a great reason to give kids a stick shift car IMHO. Apart from that, it's just a good skill to have because you never know when it might come in handy. My brother and I had to learn to drive stick on the family car in high school and we're very glad we know how.

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When a teenager needs a car depends on what they do and where you live. I'm in NOVA and ended up in a no-busing situation for HS, so they drove/will be driving as soon as they could.

Is there a reason why you can't keep the 16 year old car and buy a new car? We have 4 cars and 3 drivers! (40 year old car, 12 year old car, 6 YO minivan, and 2 year old sedan). but, I live in suburban hell and you have to drive everywhere.

I can't drive manual, but my husband thinks if we need a 'new" car for the next driver, it should be manual since there is NO way to pick up a cell phone while driving manual. Manual cars also get stolen less often (as if anyone would want to steal what POS my kids would drive)

Only you know if you see your older child driving themselves to activities in a year. If so, I'd keep the older car for them. Way cheaper than trying to find something used to buy then, and you won't know the car's history.

Lots of my friends drove stick shift cars when I was in high school. NBD.

I've been looking at new cars as i have a 16 year old (but low mileage) car. Its a good european car - in decent shape but a manual shift transmission. I have 2 kids - a 15 year old and almost 14 yearold. I am wondering if its worth delaying to buy a car another year or more as a car for my teenagers to drive when they get their license. Or is that just asking for trouble as learning to drive is challenging alone but manual shift makes it more complicated.

Or should i buy an automatic used car like a nice small SUV. I need something decent (not econobox) as i sometimes take clients places.

When do teenagers really need a vehicle beyond the cars the parents have? (we live close to public transportation but lots of extra curricular activities)