Chen -
I hope this is not too late to help... My credentials could help with your parents: I am a 50-something father who bought a Manual tC for my daughter last year. I'm a registered professional mechanical engineer (conservative, educated) who has driven many dozens of different cars for business in addition to the few personal cars I've owned since I was 15 (experienced with manuals and autos both). The cars range from sub-compact econoboxes through sport sedans/coupes, family sedans/wagons/minivans, almost muscle-cars, and monster trucks with 400 HP....
I recommend the manual for all the reasons in 1. below, and that's why I got it for my daughter.
Here's my suggestions:
1. Utilize the data the others have provided (cost less, ultimately better control, better acceleration for merging traffic, good skill to learn/know, it is much more fun, clutch IS warranted unless it shows evidence of racing, etc...). Do NOT even try to use the argument that a manual makes you pay more attention to your driving (it's true, but that takes your attention AWAY from the other things around you - and your parents, especially your dad, will know that).
2. Openly acknowledge the fact that learning a stick will take some time - in fact, it could take months before you get proficient. Also acknowledge the fact that driving in stop and go traffic will sometimes be a pain; and that stop and go traffic on inclines is a real pain. But you will learn the proper way to handle it without complaining/whining about it.
3. Agree to driving only with your father in empty parking lots until you and he get comfortable with your clutching/shifting. That training should include emergency stops and accident avoidance maneuvers (your dad can just holler out "STOP" or "TURN RIGHT" , or "DOWNSHIFT" at any time, and you need to be able to respond quickly and properly). This also needs to include some sort of "starting on an incline" training, which IS very tricky (where you can learn to use the handbrake if you need to).
4. Then you have to agree to hit the streets only with your father until he is comfortable that you can handle the clutch and shifter without taking your attention from the traffic around you (i.e., you've practiced enough that clutching and shifting are second nature - you automatically do what you need to without having to think about it).
Alternatively, you could do some research to see if there is some commercial organization in your area that teaches drivers how to use a manual transmission (advanced driver's ed?).
The bottom line is that you have to show them that you are mature enough to see their side and accept some limitations, even if they seem severe. Don't whine if they don't come to your side right away. Ask them to delay getting the car if it comes to that. You often have to give something up to get something else that you want - that's the real world for most people. Even a few months is short when compared to years of fun driving the stick.
If they relent, but you can't wait weeks or months to drive by yourself, maybe you can convince your dad to swap cars until you are "ready". Believe me, he'll have fun with it.... Good luck!
