I wouldn't get too excited. Driving with a permit beyond sucks. You have to drive with your parents sitting next to you, and it's so damn annoying listening to them complain about things they do constantly. That, and i'm a lazy bastard. If my Mom is going to be in the car, I'd rather she drives so I can kick back and doze off
Now a license is a different story, because you have the ability to leave. But the permit just bites the big one.
And driving automatics sucks too. Talk about a boring drive.