AMERICAN Reacts to Why do Brits Drive MANUAL Cars?? *what's a clutch?*

Check out my other channels!
Anna & JT - @annaandjt
JT Outdoors - @jtoutdoors
JTReactsLive - @jtreactslive
.
Follow me on Twitch!
www.twitch.tv/jtreacts11
.
Send items to the PO Box!!
JTReacts
PO Box 452
Hardinsburg KY 40143
.
Follow me on Social Media!
Instagram - @jtreacts_
Twitter/X - @jtreacts_
TikTok - @jtreacts_
.
Email for Business ONLY: [e-mail]
.
#british #britain #unitedkingdom #uk #americanreacts #UkvsUS #britishcomedy #london #jtreacts #reactionmeme .
.
Bama Country - Country by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@neilstothard]

In the UK if you pass your test in a automatic you can't legaly drive a manual so the majority learn and pass in a manual that way you can drive either type in the future.

[@ukbusman]

Though the exception to this rule is in buses and trucks. All test buses and trucks are auto, but when you pass you can up grade your licence to a manual for free. (Bus Driving Instructor)

[@neilstothard]

@ukbusman not many manual buses and trucks left, I drive HVG's and not seen one at any of the companies I've worked for in the last 8yrs.

[@_Professor_Oak]

@@neilstothard the big cattle/livestock trucks seems to be manuals most of the time, with no silencers on the exhaust 😂😂

[@julieb737]

More kids today are learning in automatics , more than you think . There’s more manuals on the road now than ever before .

[@beastoned8596]

I had a manual till 5 months ago, a co-worker had asked why I alarm my car when hardly anyone could drive it! Lol

[@patriciaburke6639]

As others have said before to Americans reviewing this subject, having a manual car in America is a natural ‘Anti Theft Device’ - as most Americans wouldn’t know how to steal it and drive it away!

[@lottie2525]

Haha, that's so funny.

[@Rachel_M_]

Excellent point 😂

[@Drew-Dastardly]

There are loads of vids on YT of thieves stealing a car and ending up not being able to get it out of the car park because they couldn't deal with clutch and gears. Absolutely hilarious. These date back 10 years ago.

[@singingsam40]

😂

[@Aeronaut1975]

If you spend a lot of time sat in traffic then automatic is probably the way to go, but if you really want to feel the car, and feel like you're in control, and you have roads that twist and turn, with elevation changes, then manual is definitely the way to go, it puts the FUN back into driving!

[@stevekenilworth]

if you read road ahead well you plan not to stop, when traffic moves you do not race to back line you plan to arrive when it starts to move again

[@alfiekelly5914]

I passed my test at 17 and in 40 years of driving, I only drove an automatic once. It was so weird. I kept going for a non existent clutch. I'll stick to manual!

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

i hate automatic cars

[@clarelawton4653]

After 35 years of driving manual still love manual drive cars, I think automatics take the fun out of driving 🚗

[@alfiekelly5914]

@@clarelawton4653 I couldn't agree more. Sadly, I'm not allowed to drive at the moment. Not Drink driving, but epilepsy

[@clarelawton4653]

@@alfiekelly5914 sorry to hear that, I’ve had a long break recently too due to heart surgery, don’t go far now but hope to continue a while yet, best wishes

[@alfiekelly5914]

@@clarelawton4653 Same to yourself. Hope you're on the mend. Many thanks and take care.

[@lottie2525]

I'm surprised that American tourists are allowed to hire a manual car in the UK if they've never driven one. Crazy!

[@ChimpManZ1264]

Yeah Manual should be a requirement on licenses now because if someone doesn't know how to drive a manual the main problem is they are not going to be driving it properly and might even make a mistake that causes the vehicle to lose control.

[@Sir.T]

It's crazy. Considering that if you're a UK citizen you need a manual license to drive manual.

[@Sally4th_]

Any hire company will need to see your license before they let you drive off in a car. If it doesn't say you're qualified to drive manual I'm pretty sure they won't let you have one - it's not in their interest to let you take one of their cars out and trash the gearbox. They usually give you a choice of automatic or manual anyway so it shouldn't even be an issue.

[@brentwoodbay]

@@Sally4th_ I dont think N American licenses say anything about manual or automatic? Mine does not. Also what is the visibility of automatic rentals in the UK?

[@vtbn53]

@@Sally4th_ Australian licenses don't mention type of transmission.

[@shaunrye7740]

Finding the biting point on a clutch can be difficult at the start but it soon becomes natural.

[@Sir.T]

Yep. But also need to add the right amount of gas depending on the situation, such as moving off uphill. Some learners rush off the clutch on hills and stall, or don't add enough gas and try use the clutch alone to move off.

[@johnellis7445]

Hi , JT. Here in the UK with a manual car, we have more control you are driving the car, not the car driving you.

[@leesamurphy1110]

I've always driven a manual. I hate automatic I find them boring 🤭 nothing like changing gears when you're building up speed it's a different experience. Automatic feels like driving a child's go kart 😄

[@beastoned8596]

Sadly I’ve had to down grade to auto 😔, 61 & clutch in slow moving traffic was killing me!

[@leesamurphy1110]

@beastoned8596 sorry to hear that😔

[@beastoned8596]

Thx Leesa , I really do miss it!!!

[@daynegilbey3674]

A boring child’s go kart you say? Hire a Tesla for a day and open it up down a country lane 😉

[@leesamurphy1110]

@@daynegilbey3674 love to 😁

[@michaeljohn1978]

As far as I'm concerned, manual IS driving

[@bmc9504]

1000000%

[@michaeljohn1978]

@@bmc9504 Yes, if you’re not shifting gears then what the fuck is it?

[@nicolad8822]

😴

[@michaeljohn1978]

@@nicolad8822 Somebody can’t drive stick

[@mjb6442]

​@@michaeljohn1978can't stand that snobbery. Why do you five a shit how someone drives? I just need a car to get me and children from a to b

[@lucylindsay3442]

I am British (learnt to drive manual) and moved to Tennessee. I bought a car from a large chain but wanted a manual and had to have my little car brought in from Texas because that was the nearest place they had a 'normal' car.

[@matriculus2]

With manual gear boxes you can adjust your gear for the situation. Eg in ice and snow drive at low revs in high gear to reduce wheel spinning and down hill drive in lower gear to apply extra engine breaking so manual gears give you an extra element of control.

[@fredshred5194]

yep, and a lot more.

[@beastoned8596]

Manuals are great for my Winnipeg winter!

[@elmurcis1]

I also like feature of parking it within gear - sometimes can even forget that handbrake exist.

[@BoostWorx]

Agreed

[@shithappens1975]

Also automatics take All the fun from the experience of driving.

[@rosiehedgehog]

I've driven both and, given the choice, I'd always pick a manual. The way you can balance the gear against the engine power against the way the road is moving is an absolute joy. Driving an automatic always feels a bit disconnected and chaotic by comparison to me.

[@TheTopG420]

Automatic cars were actually only used for disabled people in uk and posh people but when u say im going to learn to drive then you just expect a gear stick 😂😂

[@mjb6442]

I'm learning in an auto

[@Shoomer1988]

You can take your test at 17 in the UK.

[@beastoned8596]

15 1/2 = school course, 16 to get beginners here in Manitoba 🇨🇦

[@michaeledwards427]

You need to be 17 in uk before you can learn to drive on a public road. As far as I'm concerned driving a manual is easier than walking, and also preferable!! I'm 55 passed my car test in 87, Heavy Goods Vehicle licence in 93 and I've been an artic (tractor trailer) driver ever since. The only automatics I've driven are trucks, as they 90% are now, but when I passed my truck test 99% of trucks were manual. I definitely prefer to drive a manual, car or truck. I can honestly say not only do I actually get bored driving an automatic truck but my legs get really stiff after a few hours behind the wheel, so when I first get out of the cab when I stop for a break or a delivery, I look like a cripple until I walk around a bit. When I drove a manual truck I was constantly moving around in the seat changing gears. I've got about 12 years until I retire, if there's one dream truck I'd like to drive before then it'd be a manual, especially if it had a 16 gear ZF with range change and splitter switches on the gearstick.

[@stevekenilworth]

but very rare cases uk it can be 16 with disability. Young people in the UK with a disability who receive a higher or enhanced rate Mobility Allowance can learn to drive in their own car from the age of 16, a year earlier than other drivers. You can also apply for your provisional licence 3 months before your 16th birthday, a year before everyone else. even 17 scary to thing you share the roads with them

[@user-oj7ig3su4f]

Hiya JT , Im 60 now and have mostly driven manual cars here in Birmingham UK , i experimented with a couple of Automatics over the years but to be honest i couldnt take to it , it felt like driving a bumper car (Dodgem i think you guys call em lol) it felt detached from the car , whereas with gears you are in tandem with the cars reactions and performance 🤣🤣

[@oopsdidItypethatoutloud]

Aye, people go speeding through shop windows in America, cos the car will simply keep speeding up when pulling away 😮

[@weejackrussell]

I recently heard on the radio that a lot more people are taking their driving tests in automatic rather than manual cars in the UK because of electric cars growing in popularity. It's more difficult to hire an automatic car here because not so many people, until recently, drive them. Remember if you only passed to drive an automatic you are not allowed to drive a manual car in the UK. It would be illegal to do so. I don't know about other European countries but I should imagine they have similar laws. British driving licences specify what someone can drive and it's mainly based on the driving test one took.

[@mjb6442]

I'm trying to start automatic lessons again and can't find an instructor as they are all manual.. Make it make sense :(

[@Philippakis52]

Hi, in Britain passing your driver's test in a manual car allows you to drive a automatic, if you take a driving test in an automatic , you are not qualified to drive a manual

[@Chris_GY1]

In England we learn to drive at 17. Stop calling a liquid gas, Jeremy Clarkson mentions this in clips of Top Gear when he has a go at americans. Gas is used to heat houses cook on the hob and in the oven.

[@insoft_uk]

Gasoline is commonly referred to as a liquid. It is a refined petroleum product that is typically liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, gasoline can vaporize easily, and its state may change from liquid to gas when exposed to higher temperatures or lower pressures, such as when it evaporates in a fuel tank or when it is sprayed into an engine for combustion.

[@lorddarlo6194]

​@@insoft_ukYes but Gasoline is what I would expect A Gas when it is a Jelly say to be called It is called Petrol or Diesel you can only a Car on Gas or any Veichle on Gas when it is powered by CNG Compressed Natural Gas

[@martinscott-reed5379]

Two major reasons for driving a manual car. It is a much more involved driving experiance. If you drive a manual you are able to drive economically. Whereas in an automatic, gear changes are fixed at certain points in the rev range.

[@tardeliesmagic]

Times have changed,autos are the same or better mpg. For example the Toyota Yaris 1.3L CVT does better on fuel that the 6pseed manual....the 6th gear on the manual has a higher gear ratio which is impressive. Some small manuals the clutch doesn't last long ie The Aygo,Citroen C1,Pug 107.

[@chrissampson6861]

@@tardeliesmagic I strongly suspect as with most manufacturers mileage figures that it's situational and they are giving figures for the best case scenario - I can believe modern autos probably are slightly more efficient on motorway and possibly urban driving, however I'd need more convincing on UK A,B,C roads where historically autos have really struggled and ended up hunting through gears.

[@user-ox9ec1id9x]

It's manual because you need to be able to drive properly on our bendy, narrow, busy & hilly roads, & changeable weather conditions. The clutch is the plate disc between the gearbox & the drive shaft, which the clutch pedal operates. The precise control is much better in manual drive cars, because you can go down or up the gears quickly as needed, where an automatic does not. You can only drive a manual in the UK if you pass a manual test, an automatic test pass does not allow you to drive a manual transmission. Automatic transmission is not good enough in some situations, for example on snow & ice or very wet conditions. Roads in the US are generally wider & straight for long stretches & much easier to drive. You could have self driving cars in the US most of the time, this would be much more difficult in the UK or Europe.

[@LB-my1ej]

We drive manual vehicles because we can, you have far more control over a manual car than an automatic one

[@user-co4ec3vz7j]

we all tend to think of automatics as a disabled car, were here in the UK, we have two licences you can get a manual licence and you can drive an automatic car, but if you get a automatic licence, then you cannot drive a manual car

[@mjb6442]

Wtf I'm Scottish and learning to drive in an auto. That disabled comment is way off

[@user-qz3wv7tq6v]

It's common knowledge that a manual gearbox is superior for driving 'off-road'. Given the state of British roads, its like driving 'off-road' when you're driving on ANY road. THAT'S why we prefer manual cars.

[@jazzx251]

You should see Cambridge at the moment! I used to scoff at people who bought a 4x4 just to take their kids to private school, and back, in Cambridge - hardly a mountain top! Not any more - the state of the roads is shocking, and has surely caused most cars significant suspension damage. Turns out they were the smart ones.

[@davidrobinson970]

I was taught to drive in the RAF, so my first drive was in a crash gearbox Land Rover. (You need to double-declutch to change gear up or down..) So when I drove a syncromesh, it could cause problem, as I was listening to the revs and 'slamming' the gears! I did pass my civilian test in an automatic geared car as I had sustained injuries to my left leg whilst serving, which made using the clutch awkward...

[@beastoned8596]

Sounds complicated!

[@Drew-Dastardly]

I remember driving a friends restoration Lotus Elan +2. It had the double declutch gearbox and no synchro. Absolute nightmare to me, but when it got in gear it went like the clappers despite only having a 1.6 engine 120HP.

[@stevedickson5853]

A car with a clutch is a real drivers car , you decide when to change gear or if you want to wheel spin etc, you are in control

[@mjb6442]

Automatic is streets ahead

[@stevedickson5853]

@@mjb6442 only for who can't handle a clutch

[@mjb6442]

@@stevedickson5853 why bother when you don't need one?

[@andybrown4284]

In the UK if you learn & pass your test in an automatic your license will reflect that and you won't be allowed to drive a manual but those who learned & passed in a manual can drive any car. Hybrids and electrics are automatic so the numbers for new cars might well be different. I've driven an automatic a few times and found my left leg kept moving to press the clutch as the engine sound came towards changing gear even when the pedal was missing. They were good at straight line acceleration but felt weaker going out a corner where I could change gear and use the power better.

[@jazzx251]

Car insurance is compulsory in the UK - you get a criminal record and your car confiscated if you don't have any Needless to say, the insurance companies have a field day fleecing the motorist But those who drive automatic cars end up paying 50% more in car insurance premiums than those who drive manuals - with similar specs/terms That's because manual drivers are seen as more skilled and competent and safer by the insurance companies (and also, repairs to a manual often cost less) - they operate on statistical facts that seem to bear this out

[@theshiv3296]

The worst thing about car insurance in the UK is that your premium goes up after an accident even if aren’t at fault. Not a clue how that isn’t illegal

[@jazzx251]

@@theshiv3296 "No Claims Bonus" is the true scam ... they make it sound like your "Protected No Claims Bonus" stops you from increased premiums, even if you have an accident that was your fault It's all hogwash ... ANY accident, not your fault, goes against your record - it's meaningless and costs more Not getting 3 points against you is the ONLY way to save money on car insurance - which is why it is ALWAYS worth taking the "speed awareness course" for your first speeding offence .. rather than the points, which equals a lifetime of increased premiums (those points legally go away after 7 years - but the insurance companies look at your entire life; those points never go away ... ever)

[@lindaparkin61]

Driving a manual, is REAL DRIVING 😂

[@The12simon34]

I'm British, I drive a manual transmission car it's common for us but in saying that automatic transmission is becoming rather popular here in the UK nowadays

[@fionanoble8609]

I passed my test in 1976 in a manual, I had to drive a friends automatic and I hated it. Such a lazy way to drive and I never felt like I was in full control. I became Department of Transport Driving Instructor in my early 30's and this was my main Job for over 20 years. I also taught Advanced Motoring and not once was I ever asked If I taught in an Automatic car.

[@jsmith498]

Some people actually like driving. I love it. Manual gives you total control of the vehicle. If you don't like driving, get an automatic.

[@rosskj9187]

Insurance is considerably higher in the UK if you only have an automatic license, automatic cars on a manual license are also higher in insurance. The statistics show that automatic license holders are more likely to be involved in an incident by a significant percentage.

[@colinbrown9549]

I passed my test in a manual in 1980's UK, first drove an automatic in early 2000's from Atlanta to Nashville, I found it pretty easy to switch but with one caveat, in a manual, assuming you are in the correct gear the power kicks in as soon as you hit the accelerator, in an automatic there's a delay, you automatically tend to push the accelerator further which leads to a surge and when the power does kick in you get more than you wanted, 20+ years later now living in the US with a few 100K miles driving here I still sometimes instinctively do that, my wifes face usually drains of color when she hears the roar of my 3L V6 Outlander engine roar

[@peterward1698]

I grew up in the UK and live in Canada now. I learnt to drive in a manual and didn't drive anything else. One day I went over to my dad's and he had one of those "new fangled automatics" This was very rare in the 70's. He gave me the keys and I jumped in. Started her up looked at the shifter and decided on D. Set off and then without thinking I pushed my left foot down to change gear and hit this big assed brake pedal. Nearly went through the windscreen. After that my left foot was planted on the firewall. Lived in Canada for 43 years now and driven an automatic for most of that.

[@KeithFLOOK-wd3uw]

In the UK only around 2.7% of learners sit their test in an automatic car and so then restricted to automatic cars only.. the rest take a manual test then can drive both manual or automatic.

[@billyoneill7381]

There is a channel called Motorcoach world where the guy is a chartered bus/coach driver from Illinois. He said in one video that in the 80s/90s the buses were manual as the drivers had experience driving manual cars before driver training. From the late 90s onwards, the new recruits first venture into manual was the buses and it showed by the amount the clutch replacements they ended up doing. So after they switched to auto.

[@BoostWorx]

I loved the video please come to Yorkshire ill show you how to drive manual. Heel and toe down shift, rev matching, left foot braking and most importantly how to enjoy driving on a windy mountain road 😁

[@strangelyjamesly4078]

Switching regularly between both sometimes you forget you are in an automatic and your left foot starts hunting for the clutch. It invariably finds the brake before you remember. Tends to happen, when it does, at junctions and when traffic slows. A pain in the arse.

[@jaythfc]

I drive a Lorry for a living & we have both types. I always ask for the Manual as I can’t stand driving Autos, you have so much more control with manuals rather than waiting for the auto to respond.

[@_Y.J]

The most American thing I've read today: " what's a clutch" 😂😂😂😂

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

As a Brit, I swore by automatics because I could use left foot braking, which was much faster because you could get on the brakes later and accelerate earlier. Since I've gotten older and cost has replaced speed as the priority, I tend to prefer the control you have with a manual. The ability to keep a higher gear and skip gears is more economical and if you want speed, you just have to change gears quicker and learn how to use heel-and-toe. The real annoyance of automatics is driving commercial vehicles, which tend to be manual, because you'll do a LOT of gear changing.

[@DylRicho]

Toyota is working on a manual transmission for electric cars. In reality, it is still one continuous gear, but it responds to the clutch and gear shifting of the driver to make it feel manual.

[@tobycollins1636]

I had been driving for 10 years before i drove an automatic car. I came to a traffic light and went to dip the clutch before breaking and nearly put everyone through the windscreen. I forgot there is no clutch pedal and proper stomped the break!

[@Brandon.Reacts]

Serves you right for driving an automatic 😂

[@Drew-Dastardly]

I've only briefly driven 2 automatics in my life and you are absolutely right. The muscle memory takes over and suddenly you are slamming on the brakes. LOL.

[@RandomNoob]

@@Drew-Dastardly You soon get used to it, I went electric back in 2020 which while not "technically" automatic due to a single fixed gear they are classed as an automatic, the first time I was trying to use the brake as the clutch and it didn't go well as you can imagine lol but after a couple of mins I got used to it and can now easily jump between the two.

[@ryanparker7258]

I’ve driven both types and will always go for a manual drive, one reason is if you have to brake quickly going down the gears does slow you down faster than just using the brakes, as I’ve had to do quite a few times mainly because of idiots pulling in front and breaking.

[@carldufton1286]

Yo JT I hope you and Anna are good, I love your videos so leaving a comment to help the metrics. Much love from the UK

[@RLIND94-GAMING]

I'm a Brit and since i passed my driving test at 17 I've always driven manual cars

[@MollyCasey369]

I much prefer manual , you feel more in touch and in control of the car..

[@Elizabeth-rh1hl]

I wasn’t aware that most Americans can’t drive a manual car. I’m American, I’m 66 years old and I can drive a manual.

[@lornaparadise6796]

ive actually sent you the british highway code and theory test. its just cleared customs so will be with the po box soon

[@tsr207]

Traditionally in the past UK, automatics were extremely expensive to repair and thus difficult to sell.

[@Kn8ght6930]

I’m in the UK and drive an automatic. It’s really difficult to find automatics here. Automatics definitely use more fuel than a manual. Automatics also are more expensive than the same manual model.

[@stevekenilworth]

also seen figure you can pay up to 43% more to insure

[@lewismitchell3751]

@@stevekenilworth and road tax is also higher on autos

[@KathrynScotland]

JT. In a zombie apocalypse... let me tell you, I will make sure I'm driving if it's a manual car. Trying to drive away from the zombies whilst you're stalling every five seconds, not a chance pal! 😂

[@jazzx251]

There's no escape from the zombies in an automatic Because of the way automatic cars are constructed, even a battery failure results in complete stasis If your battery fails in a manual - you can put it in neutral and get some friends to push you down a hill to jump-start the car! Then you can drive around and pick them up before the zombies get them (hopefully) Your brains are zombie-food in an automatic

[@markhutton6824]

Driving a long distance on a motorway/autobahn/highway is the same experience in more manual and automatic... you get up to speed and then cruise in the top most efficient gear. One thing the video didn't not was automatic petrol/diesel engines produce more CO2 emissions than their manual counterparts. The big one for me though is manual is more FUN, you are in control of the car, you can climb better than an auto especially in snow. Just after I passed it snowed in my village and I picked up the guy I went to work with and I approached the hill slowly. He told me to reverse and get a run up and then stay in the highest gear that the car would turn the wheels. We got out of our little valley no problem in my little 1.4l front wheel drive car and then had a free run to work. Manual is more fun and entertaining to drive as you have to be present with the car and the journey... driving across the Western side of the US covering 2.5k miles I was so bored on the roads but also in the twisty roads in Yosemite, California Highway 1 there was no input before or out of the corners, also US drivers just seem to look at their bonnets/hoods and not anticipate a corner so breaking during a corner oh my days. My wife has video of me watching sawing at their steering wheel and braking mid-corner which is a loss of control while travelling at 10 mph with me crying "why are you here, how did you pass your test, you are a flipping incompetent flipping driver". Still the best time was when we had stopped at Carmel-by-the-Sea, and after sightseeing and refuelling the SUV for the drive to LA, a McLaren and a Ferrari pulled up filled up with petrol with a girl as a passenger and set off, the should was beautiful. Ten minutes later we caught them up on the coastal highway, and followed them for another five miles... I thought they were brake testing me initially but no it was the look at the bonnet/hood/sawing at the wheel driving at each bend no matter how open and easy it was... another video of me laughing at them being shocking drivers wasting the cars they had loaned to impress their lady friends. When a dirt look over point arrived they both pulled over and we passed them and they immediately pulled out... after the second corner I never saw them again and I wasn't driving above the speed limit.

[@CazTanto]

I've driven automatic a couple of times, and it's never been a problem. However, I still much prefer manual. A big part of it for me is that I feel it makes you more aware as you drive. You have to remain more switched on as you have to consider what's happening ahead and how that effects what gear you need.

[@samstevens7888]

When i was learning to drive my driving instructor had a manual and my girlfriend had a automatic, so i drove both. My own cars have all been manual. In the next few years i will probably have to change to a automatic even though i dont want to, but because of disabilities sometimes driving is now becoming painful. I love driving. I dont know why anyone would want a car that drives itself. The freedom of driving is a gift. I will also say i was 30 before i learnt to drive because my area has really good transport, bus stops 2 min walk from my house and literally across the road from the train station.

[@urbanshadow777]

Same. After passing my test I was given a company car which was auto and had my own manual car. Switching between them was easy enough because I wasn't so used to one or the other and that just stuck. I can drive either without any problems.

[@OKR1982A]

I passed my test at 17, 41 years ago and have only had 2 automatics in that time, one was a jaguar S type and the other was an old vauxhall,it took some time to get used to.

[@Elementloaf]

Manual is a way better drive than automatic. Did the animator forget the uk is part of Europe at first 🙈😂

[@thorn2170]

I live in the UK and passed my test in a Automatic car which was so easy to do...downside I'm only allowed to drive automatics, I can just bout drive a manual but prefer a Auto.

[@mjb6442]

Me too

[@lynette50]

Cant stop seeing Mickey Mouse or taking you seriously, when your headset was on the side of your hat at the start lol

[@laserman9566]

Due to the increase in plug in hybrids here in the UK a lot of new cars are now automatic as the car decides what is best

[@neilrwilliams218]

All my cars here in the UK have been manual up until I got an electric car two years ago. Earlier this year i had to hire a car in Ireland that was manual and it took me a few minutes to get back in the swing of it. I do miss changing gears, but the electric car has only one forward gear and one reverse gear so there's nothing to change.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm a retired mechanic, so I've driven just about every kind of transmission there is. I've nothing against autos, many of them provide a very pleasant driving experience, but for my own car I choose manual, mainly because they cost less to buy and run. My 6-speed diesel Kia Ceed averages nearly 60 mpg, all year round, and was around £1000 cheaper to buy than the auto version.

[@xorsyst1]

In the UK at least, over 65% of new cars are auto - the tide is shifting quickly. Newer cars tend to be heavier anyway, and the transmissions have got a lot better in the last couple of decades. On top of that, EVs are a rapidly increasing market share, and are (inaccurately) classed as automatics.

[@Wiiggz]

I used to swear by driving manual, my past two cars have been automatic. I won’t go back to manual now unless it’s a old classic restoration. Automatic is lazy driving but I love it. My work van is manual though so I drive both transmissions everyday.

[@cjlister8508]

Ive only driven an automatic once and it felt so weird not having that extra control.

[@thomasgarwell8214]

I've driven an automatic once when my dad bought one, it being an MG Magnet c.1964. Then we went to the US on holiday three times, and my hubby drove the automatic then, and the first time we visited, we met up with some Americans in a park, and the lady driver had bought herself a truck (as you Americans call them (not lorries)), it was a manual, and she asked us how to do an uphill start in it, as she would touch her footbrake to let the drivers behind her that she could roll back. We explained that this is the time when you really have to use your handbrake (emergency brake(?)). And proceeded to show her. The pity was, that she didn't have her car with her, so we could show her uphill starts, not only forwards, but backwards as well. Anyway, in your country, its better to use auto as you drive mostly on straight wide roads, over here in the UK and most of Europe, we have narrow roads, lanes, tight turns and corners, so its actually quicker to change up/down gear than an automatic would. In the UK, the earliest you can get your licence is 17

[@Chuck_87]

Manual cars are more fuel efficient (Automatics transfer power through fluid) and the driver has more control of the car. I’ve seen so many automatic cars get stuck in awkward situations

[@Danimaz3211996]

17 to drive here :) it's crazy how easy it would be to get an American girl , speak let her hear my accent and tell her I drive manual she's literally gagging for it ;) 😂

[@rainbowsparkle1]

I'm really short (just under 5') and I struck out time and again in a manual (struggled to reach both pedals at the same time 😂), until one instructor suggested I learned in an automatic. It made such a difference. Passed my test first time. It was so much easier for me.

[@georgehelyar]

Driving long distance on a major road is the same in either. In a manual you just stay in the highest gear the whole time. The biggest difference would be at traffic lights and stop signs, because when you're driving in the US and you're not on a highway you have to stop a lot.

[@warmsound9972]

I learned to drive in UK and had driven a manual the whole time. I ended up with an automatic courtesy car for a day and no one explained to me that you only have to use one leg. I pushed the break down with my clutch leg, automatically down to the floor at high speed and almost bust my nose on the dashboard and left my lungs half way down the motorway. I'll stick to manual!

[@darryltoombs1076]

Learning to drive a manual should be mandatory and getting a manual license should be the only option. Once you have your license if you wanted to drive an automatic then not a problem but there could come a time when someones life could depend on you being able to drive a manual car.

[@UncleNewy1]

My wife used to have an auto Vauxhall Astra and it was terrible on fuel consumption. It's because the car decides on which gear relative to revs, so you could be cruising on along steadily at 40/50 but the car would be screaming away in 4th. I had to use the tiptronic manual override and put it in 6th myself..........It would only ever go into 6th on it's own once you were on the motorway and cruising at 70...........Autos are shit and boring!

[@knightwish1623]

You can always see the automatic cars when going downhill, the drivers are constantly on the brakes. In a manual car you just shift down into 2nd or 3rd gear take your foot off the gas pedal and let the motor brake the car. Taking your foot off the gas pedal only allows the amount of fuel to the motor as if the motor is idling, choking so to speak the motor.

[@grrfy]

MY AUTO (SLUSHBOX Honda)changes down and holds a gear when going down hills if it needs to, most noticeable up to 30mph I dont have to ride ther brakes

[@davem12dim17]

Its not "Why do Europeans drive manual cars", its not even "why does the entire world virtually drive manual cars" Its more "Why is America about the only country in the world that has not figured out to drive manual cars" :D

[@koolandkrazy8217]

probably becaise most americans are lazy and not very good at learning things. I have heard that all electric cars are automatic, If true ut would explain how electric cars have took off especially with this generation of brain dead tic tockers always on their phones. so cant use both hands to change gears and hold steering wheel as they need to be wa//king over their phone.

[@RandomNoob]

More and more of the UK is going automatic though, something like 30-40% of all new licenses are now automatic, All EVs are classes as automatics too so as instructors move over to electric then this number will surely increase. The vast amount on the road are still manual but it is slowly changing. I also know plenty that have now switched to automatic and vow to never go back to manual.

[@davem12dim17]

@@RandomNoob depends where you live and what you use for car for I guess. Wouldn't want to drive an automatic around Cornish coastal roads. But fine for just taking the kids to school in Norfolk

[@lewismitchell3751]

@@RandomNoob autos are only getting more popular in london, most test centres outside of london have normal figures for auto and manual, closer you get to london the higher the auto tests

[@nick7076]

In the US big, high torque engines were common. Early auto trans were inefficient so needed a big engine. Small displacement engines common in EU wouldn't work with auto trans. Now auto trans are effectively a computer controlled manual box so are as efficient for small cars.

[@kellymoses8566]

Best of both worlds is a dual-clutch transmission that can be switched between automatic and manual with the flappy paddles on the steering wheel.

[@BigSteveBlackpool]

One reason Europe was slow to use automatics was that automatic gearboxes with torque converters use a lot of power so were not very efficient with our smaller engines a lot of the newer automatics are essentially a manually gearbox that changes gears electronically so no not need the heavy torque converter

[@Brandon.Reacts]

I think it comes down to laziness. Americans let’s be honest have a tendency to do anything they can with less effort, and pressing 2 peddles with no arm movement is their kind of thing. Europeans are just more willing to drive manuals. It’s also better for the environment as you can change gears when you want at certain revs causing less pollution (not that it’s the main reason why but it definitely helps)

[@franticstorm7411]

When you have past your driving test in Germany, gaining cat B through to cat C + E. have driven right hand drive and left hand drive vehicles. when you have driven both manual and automatic cars, when you have driven manual and automatic trucks, throw in a twin splitter as well. when you have also driven a left hand drive truck in the UK and when you also have cat H, FLT and Reach truck. sorry. what was the question? On the odd occasion when I hire a car, I get asked if an automatic ok? Just read that first bit again. Have to bung in this additional edit. Automatics also have a clutch. it just that you don't get to use it when you want to.

[@Judge_Dredd]

Well, we have four cars here, a 1973 VW 4 speed manual, a 2000 Audi 6 speed manual, a 2014 Citroen 5 speed manual, and a 2018 Toyota 6 speed manual, I'd never buy an automatic, but did run a V8 Automatic for 12 years on LPG, until the UK Government made LPG not make any sense anymore as a fuel.

[@chazM6116]

uk here i had a automatic back in the 70's also If you passed your driving test in a manual vehicle, you're qualified to drive in both manual and automatics. However, if your test was taken in an automatic, you probably hold a Category B Auto licence, meaning you must retake your test in a manual vehicle. New cars are subject to the standard 20% tax rate.

[@jaynadiah5498]

In the UK generally especially with used cars there is a massive premium on automatics... generally if a manual car cost lets say £6000 the same car automatic version is likely to cost you around £8000 if not more.

[@lewismitchell3751]

then on top of that autos have a higher insurance cost and higher road tax.

[@XPLOSIVization]

As someone who grew up with manual gears in the 80s in the UK i must admit ive never been a fan, as soon as i found out automatic existed that was my go too and loved it, and it seems in 2024 more young drivers in the UK are choosing automatic , and with all electric cars being auto it looks like manual will eventually become obsolete or very rare at least in a decade or so

[@BigAlCapwn]

Another thing is that in the UK if you learn and pass your test in an automatic you are restricted to only driving automatics on your licence, whereas if you do it in a manual your licence covers you to drive both. So it just makes sense to do the latter to have the broader choice later and once you're only experience is a manual via your lessons you'll gravitate towards that option naturally when you buy your first car. Electric cars are by definition all automatic so in the future this won't be a thing anyway

[@robertengland4410]

In the UK if you learn and pass your driving test in a manual you are qualified to drive both manual and auto but if you learn and pass in an automatic you are not qualified to drive a manual

[@lynn69jackson]

I not only drive a manual but can drive both right and left hand drive manual transmission when I visit my brother in France. You can get your licence in the UK at 17 . I'm not sure about the rest of Europe.

[@garybarnes4169]

Yeah, I drive a manual Land Rover. It has high and low box, and an overdrive, so technically 16 gears, but only about 10 are really usable (You can't use low box or first or second high with overdrive.) Yes, that means I have three levers. Four if you count the one for engaging four-wheel drive in high box.

[@jackiecox8959]

I passed my test in a manual and have always driven manuals. 2 years ago at 41 my grandfather passed away and left me his car which was automatic. My insurance went from £640 a year to £960 and I couldn't understand why until I started reading these comments. I have business insurance and i thought it was because I now had a newer car which is probably part of it but the fuel consumption is so bad in this car too and yes repairs are more. So much more expensive to have an automatic and because of the fuel consumption being worse so much worse for the environment. I do miss driving a manual car. Such a difference in the driving experience

[@dantheman9228]

a "clutch" helps you have the car under your control a lot better than any auto can do but i get it why you use auto`s in the US its so big and you have massive freeways where in the UK we have lots of back roads where control over your gears is what you want for that complete driving experience,in the end it comes down to actually learning in a manual it has always been the choice as you can drive both with a manual licence where if you only have an auto licence then you cant drive a manual.

[@ronkelley5348]

I passed my test at 17 back in the 70s and learnt and drove manual until 2009 and I've only driven auto since then. Back in the 70s the design of auto boxes was such that they sapped a lot of power out of the engine on what were generally low powered cars, which is one reason they weren't widely used. Modern engines and modern auto boxes are so much better that it's not an issue any more.

[@bryanromans2331]

A lot of new cars are auto's but with flappy padles that can be used as a manual - but no clutch

[@colingoode3702]

I've had manual cars all my life (UK) until, I had problems with my left knee after football injuries when I was younger. Doctor said to get an auto to save having to have an operation. So here I am 10 years later on my 2nd Auto gearbox. Even without a bad left knee I'm not sure I would go back to a manual now. Wait until kids start passing their driving test in EV's & will therefore not be allowed to drive a manual (UK).

[@royclarke8455]

I’m from the uk,been driving 18 years,passed in a manual,both gearboxes have there place,in a sports car around country roads the manual has more enjoyment but an auto for everything else ,that said I’ve got it backwards as my daily van is manual and my weekend audi rs6 is auto 😂

[@davidwallin7518]

Liter? Wasn't that Felix, who was in some of the James Bond films? We fill up with litres in the UK - but we still work in gallons for consumption!

[@carolineann5518]

In the uk we are taught to drive a manual car with a clutch to change gear. It’s very easy to learn in a manual car and you get a full license which means if you pass your test in a manual transmission then you can drive both types of transmission. In my car which is a Vauxhall mokka it has dual transmission. So I drive it in automatic and when my son drives it he puts the transmission in to manual and uses the paddles on the steering wheel to drive.

[@Brandon.Reacts]

Yeah but flappy paddle manual isn’t proper manual, it’s a semi-auto

[@mjb6442]

I found manual very hard to learn in so now learning in an auto

[@milanondrak5564]

Manual transmission gives you more control of the vehicle. On steep downwards hills roads you just use a lower gear rather than your breaks to slow the car down. You can spend less time in first and second gear to save fuel. You can use the engine to assist breaking for better deceleration and you can control when the car changes gear for better acceleration. I've yet to drive an automatic car that gives as precise control and better effeicency than any manual car I've driven.

[@jacquieclapperton9758]

You can also go down or up more than one gear at a time, eg from second to fourth without going through third. My driving instructor showed me that when I was learning on narrow, winding, rural Scottish roads but warned me not to do it in my test! I actually learned to drive at 15 as the legal age of 17 is only for driving on public roads; many rural children learn earlier on farms and other private roads. I actually learned out in the desert on hard packed sand in the Middle East when I first started.

[@vast001]

In the Netherlands the age to get a drivers license used to be 18 but nowadays it's 17 and a half. But you need to pass your theoretical exam before you can do your pratical exam to get your drivers license. You do your drivers lessons at a licensed driving school in their cars which has a double set of pedals. When you do your practical exam in an automatic transmission car you get a drivers license to drive in an automatic and you aren't allowed to drive in a manual transmission car. The otherway around is not a problem.

[@janetburrows137]

I’ll tell what JT. I took my manual car in as it had a big problem of just cutting out. They lent me an Automatic. Never driven one in my life. The amount I wanted too change gear going home, I nearly gave myself a concussion!!!!!! Cos as we were coming upto a roundabout or junction. My left foot went straight too the brake, which I thought was the clutch. You press harder on the clutch than the brake. Nearly killed myself so many times. With massive breaking. It was a wild ride home for sure. 🙈🤣😅💕❤️👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@philiptodd6255]

I’ve driven a left hand drive manual but it took some getting used to as I change gear with my left hand not my right no so much a problem with an auto as you put into drive and off you go