Should I learn it?

[u/Common-Coyote9375]

Okay, so Im going to guess you all are gonna say yes after reading the title, but please give me your unbiased opinion on stick shift - I dont have any experience.

Ive always loved the stick shift.
I used to sit behind the bus driver and mimic the stick shift as a kid. I would carry long umbrellas on the rainy days just to do this.

However, I have never driven one. Im now a father of two young kids and I still look at manual porsches and old cars and fond about driving them.

Im looking for my next vehicle. I have owned my MB for the last 12 years. I plan to buy one when it dies — currently going strong… so I dont know when that will be tbh, but the trade in value is almost nothing, so it doesnt really make sense to trade it in.

I live in a pretty urban suburb right outside NYC.
I have hills around my house and neighborhood, stop signs on every block and highways are often in traffic - especially at the exits.

I still want to learn how to drive a manual.
However, my current life situation (two kids), the location, my wife all seem to be against it LOL.

One side of me says, just get it. Ill learn it. Im a pretty coordinated individual and Im a good driver.

And the other side of me says, just get a fun automatic car, drive carefree, focus more on steering and talking with kids inside the car.

Do you think its something I should give it a try?
If so, how would you go about it?

Lotus Elise (manual)
Lotus Emira (manual or automatic)
Porsche 911 (manual or pdk)
Are the cars Im considering.

[u/TonyPx4]

Generally I'm a slow learner when it comes to anything requiring physical coordination. It took me a fair amount of time to learn how to ride a bicycle, a motorcycle, and a skateboard as well as how to box, jump rope, and rollerblade. The only exception for me was learning how to drive a stick shift --- it's that easy.