re: 4kq for a teen?

[William Elliott <William.Elliott@mail.mei.com>]

<<Further, start the person on an _automatic_.  Why?  It's much,
much more difficult to learn to drive and learn to operate the car at the
same time.  Starting on an automatic made things much easier for me; I
could focus on cars around me, navigating, etc. and less about how to
shift, do the clutch, etc..._then_, I started driving the stick after I had
been driving for several months on the automatic.>>

Afraid I have to disagree here.  I'm an engineer... at least 
was one in a prior life.  I think no one can properly drive
without having a full understanding of the engineering
of the car.... the relationship between engine, transmission, 
chassis and ground.  You simply don't sense this with
an automatic.

Additionally, far too many bad habits can develop in starting
on a slushbox.  Inattention is one of them.  Having to
drive a stick takes more concentration and a more
acute awareness of one's speed.  

While I understand your point that focusing on one's
surroundings is crucial to the new driver... but before one
ventures out he should be completely comfortable 
with a manual transmission.  That being said, I
_did_ choose to take my driver's test in an automatic! 

BTW, I've started him out on a 6-sp dirt bike.  So far, 
that's working well.


Bill Elliott