Is he going to learn with a manual? Not only are equivalent cars much cheaper (if buying second hand), the additional car control and understanding of the dynamics are a must in my opinion, at least for the for few years. Learning in an automatic  makes it too easy to "point and squirt", I sometimes think it makes new drivers too confident.

I agree unfortunately both our cars are auto but I plan on getting him lessons in a manual :-)

When my twin girls turn 16 then I'll be a nervous wreak lol

Peter