American Reacts to Why do Europeans Drive MANUAL Cars?

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[@TomKruhs]

Fun Fact: A manual transmission is the best anti-theft device in the USA. 😁

[@drunkenrockstar23]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

Here it a defect petrol indicater - nobody steals a car with an empty tank 😆

[@automation7295]

Consider most younger Americans never learned to drive manuals, then yes, manual transmission is the best anti-theft device in the USA.

[@oldtimer7635]

Hilarious! : )

[@DasIllu]

@@ane-louisestampe7939 Russia? 😀

[@jandemanist]

fun fact, if you take your car driving license exam here in the Netherlands with an automatic, you are not allowed to drive a manual car here! but if you take your car exam with a manual, you are allowed to drive an automatic!

[@datwistyman]

Same here in Australia 👍

[@TheJama64]

Same in Finland.

[@yoshibastef1493]

Same in Belgium

[@espneindanke9172]

Same thing in Germany.

[@Troy-McLore]

Same as UK

[@TomH2681]

"look at that, we got 3 pedals" Me, as a frenchman: "well yeah, it's a normal car."

[@MrOpacor]

Me, as a long term Mercedes driver: Well, that is one less than I had for many years (the "handbrake" was a pedal a well, with a lever release).

[@draculakickyourass]

@@MrOpacor I was going to comment the same....My first time experiencing 4 pedals,loooong time ago,was on a Vito,it took me a moment to realise how to release the,,hand brake,wich was on foot,haha

[@erejnion]

Me, as a bulgarian knowing what the slang for 'gay man' is in my language: "well yeah, it checks out that a frenchman would have three of them in his car." Joking aside, it's kind of sad how electric cars are kinda doing away with the experience of manual transmission little by little.

[@LexusLFA554]

The Mercedes Vito we have at our company does as well.@@MrOpacor

[@IWrocker]

🤣🤣

[@benf2682]

No wonder fast and furious changes gears 100 times just to reach 5th gear. The american director had never seen a manual before 😂😂😂

[@mell3109]

Traffic is so bad that manuals are a pain.

[@edikaramuratful]

Lol

[@kalmaar125]

i always think why they do so many gear shifts. and thats why :)

[@MyFaithShines]

​@@mell3109dude europe is so small that its literally one big traffic😅

[@rkan2]

​@@MyFaithShinesLike driving with the longest gear for long distance matters much if you drive a manual or anything else lol. 😂

[@ShatteredF1re7733]

When I worked at Honda in America 10 years ago, a woman came from Europe to service her car. We gave her an automatic loaner. After seeing the loaner, she came back in and asked why we gave her the handy-capped accessible car. We had to tell her that almost all cars are like that in America.

[@florincars]

Oh, yes, you're right, as some cheap cars like Trabant and whatever each country had, were modified for handicap persons with acceleration/clutch/brake on/around the steering wheel for the manual transmissions. But the more special conversions were automated manuals or just used straight original automatic cars. Good point for the lady 😂😂 , I bet you all had some laughs 😂

[@MegaGABI1968]

😂😂😂😂

[@terencejay8845]

In my early trips to the USA from the UK, when I first drove someone's manual car, I was surprised to see the pedal arrangement is the same; Left ft clutch, Right ft Gas & Brake. I expected it to be reversed. That made it simple to drive. I think every rental car I've had there over the years has been automatic, though I have vague recall of a Gremlin or a Pacer being manual (mid 70's)

[@calebmunuru3598]

😂😂😂

[@LeoH3L1]

LOL no, she got it right!

[@ashscott6068]

A manual gearbox can predict the future, because it has an advanced system that scans the road ahead, and can see things like changes in gradient and surface. That system is referred to colloquially as "The driver". On tricky roads and surfaces, automatics are often caught out in the wrong gear at the wrong time.

[@joso7228]

well you look ahead and accelerate or decelerate early in an Auto. But then again we are talking about the land of MAGA.

[@hanuman9]

Exactly. On mountain roads, automatic is always on the wrong gears. Even on flat surface, I test-drived both a Volkswagen Jetta manual vs automatic cars. Manual drives super smooth without ever requiring to push the engine. On automatic, if I want to pass someone, it starts too slow on the wrong gears, wakes up in shock, and then races to try to recover the lost time. Sorry I can't drive automatic.

[@wisnoskij]

Does this matter in practice? Yes, the driver can see the upcoming hill, but the automatic can react instantly to an increase in grade.

[@colin5577]

@@joso7228What has MAGA got to do with it? One could as easily say that liberals like automatics because there’s no government department to send an official to change their gears in a manual. Or because manuals are racist. Or sexist. Or both. Maybe MAGA people tend to be more middle and working class and prefer manuals because they don’t mind a bit of extra work for a little extra reward? Or maybe politics has nothing to do with it. Jesus. Give it a rest.

[@richmondvand147]

my dsg has never been caught out and is never in the wrong gear

[@allanedwards5349]

As a UK driving instructor for 30 years I have had several clients from the USA wanting to gain a UK licence - They all tended to think it was going to be a couple of hours to be shown the ropes then take a test. Unfortunately they soon realised that the standard required to pass a UK (or most of Europe) driving test was far higher than they expected,

[@cehaem2]

Yes, in the US or Canada you pass as long as you're not involved in an accident, exceed the speed limit or don't do anything stupid.

[@CabanonGuitarHero]

@@cehaem2entirely false for Canada, requires a lot more than that.

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

True in my country you must drive at least 20 class but have option if you never drive first time sit in car you can drive 40 class one class is like in school 45min

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

And after that you have two test one is in classroom with police and you have answers A,B,C,D all about sings first help everything about traffic have 20 page for 45min and after that go again with your instructor and policeman drive test in city parallel parking parking in rear and only can use mirrors if you turn head you fail immediately then drive in city where is most heavy traffic and that's all! I wasn't know to drive car at all bcs we never have a car I was drive 40 and after that I was know to drive car but I was drive my 40 classes all year remember drive in snow and at heat in summer all 4 season's me and my friend 😂

[@MrAkaacer]

US aren't use to roundabouts as well. They find it scary Lol.

[@andreasmerkel5717]

in the most case when you are driving manual Cars and for some reason you changed to an automatic one, in the first 30 minutes you accidently stomp hard with your left leg on the brake pedal because you think it is the clutchpedal.... all your passengers and the car behind you are very thankful for this experience

[@dushikorsou1]

Or the other way around you stop in front of a stoplight and forget you have a clutch and stall..

[@Jubanen12]

I know... its one of the things everyone reminds people who go from manual to automatic for a while that you have to deliberately remove your left foot from the usual spot it is in when ever you drive automatic... so that you dont accidentally push break while moving at fasts speeds.. etc (in a way manual is completely natural to me, I dont have to think about switching gears, but I would have to pay more attention when driving automatic lol)

[@angusevans0621]

I changed from a manual to an electric car and did that for the first couple days on and off. Auto is just so weird lol but electric cars are cool.

[@andreasmerkel5717]

@@angusevans0621If you don't want to drive long distances or have to pull heavy trailers with horses, for example, then electric vehicles are probably cool

[@angusevans0621]

@@andreasmerkel5717 which is my situation!

[@Hdcrafter_lp]

In Germany it's often said that automatic is for elderly.

[@r0guepix3l50]

Ha, same in the uk.

[@rjj00]

​@@r0guepix3l50 Not really? 80% of new cars sold in UK for last 5 years have been auto

[@iaing9028]

@@rjj00, the car companies don’t want to give us the choice, I admit that automatics have got much better, but automatic cars with small engines are still quite terrible to drive. This changes when the car has some power.

[@animeturnMMD]

Same in latam. :V

[@windhelmguard5295]

@@rjj00 yea and 80% of people don't buy new cars.

[@TheInsaneTeddy]

American (30) here. I wasn't allowed to get my license until my dad watched me be able to take off uphill on gravel in a 5 speed Ford Ranger without rolling downhill, OR spinning the tires on takeoff. I'm a firm believer that learning to drive in a manual will make you a better driver in the long run, even if you end up with an automatic. It forces you to pay attention while driving.

[@matthew8153]

My dad had the same rule, except it was a Chevy S-10, and it was a mountain instead of a hill (West Virginia). I’m 32.

[@rtwiceorb770]

in Europe when I was getting my drives licene we cant get it unless we show that start under handbreak and ofc hold off on clutch on smaller inclines. But now people get drivers licence on Automatic. Some countries give options Automatic or manual but if u go Automatic u cant drive manual by the law but if u take manual u can drive anything so well

[@Markbell73]

You had a good father. Like I did. I learned to drive a three on the tree and steer a 65 Chevy stepside pickup when I was 4 years old. I sat on my dads lap and drove it 25 miles first try. My dad operated the clutch, cause I was 4. When I could reach the pedals, I was driving manual, ever since. I can't stand crapamatics. Flappy paddles too. They all suck. Don't care if they shift quicker now. Those tenths of seconds mean nothing on public roads. I am bored out of my mind in one after I sit down in it.

[@panteaflorin]

@@rtwiceorb770 Yes, if you get the driver license on automatic gear you can't drive manual because on licence is a code UE 78 in my country.

[@Lonaticus]

Taking off an incline without letting the car slide down is actually part of the license exam here. We take our exams with cops and if they feel unsafe and apply the brakes, that's it. You failed.

[@robdangerfield7129]

Ironically, every American movie chase scene shows the driver cranking up and down the gears. There must be a lot of confused movie goers in America😂😂

[@lordhumungous7908]

I notice that too. To Americans, it makes the driver look super skilled that they are driving a "stick".

[@BloodyMobile]

It's just fiction after all 😏

[@Jayskiallthewayski]

And in the wrong way most of the time. Like when you see 'm shifting up when they suddenly have to go faster, sorry bro, you have to shift down a gear irl.

[@juanmartinreborati7928]

@@Jayskiallthewayskihahaha… that’s not correct on a regular manual transmission. You go up, then down, then up… etc. The same backwards. Down, then up, them down… etc. ( in some cars first is up, on others down)

[@robdangerfield7129]

@@juanmartinreborati7928 it is correct, if you want to accelerate fast you go down. If you are speeding along, you are already up. Same if you hire a car. You always drive in a gear lower than you normally would. Thrash the ass off of it 🤣🤣🤣

[@vuyoboltina1617]

In South Africa, manual transmission vehicles are common. People often prefer automatic transmissions for high-capacity engine cars and larger vehicles. Smaller engine capacity automatic cars tend to struggle on uphill inclines and can compromise safety when overtaking, even on slight hills. In contrast, a manual transmission allows the driver to downshift to the correct gear, gaining momentum and releasing more torque for uphill overtaking. This has been my experience. However, automatic cars have their advantages. They are easier to drive in congested areas and bumper-to-bumper traffic during peak hours. Additionally, automatic transmissions can be more accommodating for less skilled drivers, who might otherwise burn out the expensive clutch in a manual transmission vehicle.😅

[@RastaAfricanGentleman]

Enkosi bruh. Nice breakdown

[@mark98115]

Agree 100% on congested areas. I have had cars with both transmissions and do not want a standard when in stop and go traffic. Another case too has to do with my knees. Sometimes they act up a bit and driving with a clutch can be unpleasant

[@thomaskamp9365]

As an old man and a professional driver, I have had so many situations in my life where I would have absolutely lost with an automatic transmission. Whether I have to drive on black ice in Germany in winter or drive on the beach in Miami. The clutch and gearbox always give me the opportunity to precisely regulate the torque and speed. Whether on ice or stuck in sand, a clutch and gearbox will always get you further.

[@grybauskaitespakalikukluba970]

With manual transition its easy to drive out from mud ditch

[@Merrsharr]

Oh, now I finally understand the amount of accidents whenever it freezes in the US

[@ЮлияИванова-т8ц9л]

I currently live in a remote rural village in Bulgaria, where my road turns to muddy slime in spring time. My car is automatic, because my American wife doesn't know how to drive manual. It's extremely difficult trying to mimic behavior of manual transmission by using both gas and brake pedal simultaneously in automatic car in order to get out of the mud. Yes automatic is wonderful in paved cities, where one needs to stop at traffic lights continuously but manual gives much better control of the behavior of the car.

[@jakesolo2872]

100% this. A manual transmission isn’t just about shifting gears. It’s a whole other method and level of control. I’ve driven an automatic car once and I absolutely hated it. It felt unreal and fake, like a toy car, or like a dodgem car at a fairground.

[@relaxation2380]

​@Merrsharr that's actually because of tires and lack of training.. many states never freeze so they all use summer tires and have no idea how to drive in bad weather so when those states do freeze its bad 😂

[@daedaluslv2032]

Drinking coffee and eating with “manual transmission” is a skill in itself.

[@spiritmelodies8811]

From the Philippines here, ive done that in addition to texting sms.

[@weirdlotofrepairsralph2055]

Nah, quite easy actually...

[@Welcome2TheInternet]

very easy. try driving with your knees while roiling a joint on the motorway.

[@jannejohansson3383]

Drive your manual, when right leg is broken (bone x multiple pieces) 1. Took some 400mg OxyContin 2. Search stick's 3.Drive to hospital and doctor tells "It cannot be broken because you could manage to here" 4. Go home and next day with ambulance different hospital and they instal long pipe, screw's inside femur and everything is good. 5. Go back to drive

[@ravenfin1916]

@@weirdlotofrepairsralph2055 Yes, when you add smoking and talking on the phone to that, you start to get into on point. The best still put on makeup at the same time.

[@gueto70]

Many years ago I spotted a ram 1500 sitting on the back of a dealers lot, half off the sticker. Odometer had 75 miles on it at 7 months old. Salesman didn't want to show me the truck. Explained, several people ask every day but it's a manual 5 speed. Now at 230K, runs great.

[@ironmanmachine]

That was their upsell truck. 😂

[@antilogism]

I still drive my 1997 F250 with a 5 speed. Still shifts great.

[@ukspizzaman]

The fact that we had to learn to drive a manual in order to get a license, kept most bad drivers off the road. It takes some skill to do it without stalling or going sideways every time you shift. Sadly this is no longer a requirement, but it will say in your license that you are not allowed to drive a manual (Norway here).

[@hanskneesun123]

In the UK manual drivers look down on automatic drivers, like surgeons looking down on dentists.

[@Mean-bj8wp]

I don't look down on them I feel sorry for them they're missing the true driving experience. However in slow city traffic I sometimes wish I had an auto but then I also have a motorbike so city traffic is something I simply pass by.

[@fritzmeier1717]

And they are right: Automatic is for women and sissies.

[@bobdrooples]

Been there, done that, now I've had fun Audis with DSGs It's a ball ache to have a manual for a daily.

[@dxb8086]

Not true.

[@unhippy1]

Yes, yes we do

[@billdevany3303]

back in the 80's I was car jacked, the guy jumped in to find my car was a manual trans. he didn't know how to drive it! the look on his face was priceless!

[@Renee_R343]

Did he bail out or did you lose the car?

[@stevedickson5853]

I think the clutch pedal is your answer 😂

[@ABa-os6wm]

"Americans don't have a clue on how to drive a manual." I would correct to: "Americans don't have a CLUTCH on how to drive a manual."

[@mort8143]

Yep. That's funny, but scary. I've had road trips with drivers who can't drive manuals. It's not worth the kangaroo hops, crunched gears, and stalling. They're baggage. 🙃🇦🇺

[@mort8143]

​@@Renee_R343he was automatically sent to jail, and manual labour.😅😅🇦🇺

[@spudo6]

In many countries to have a full license you need to take your test in a manual. So it doesn't make sense to take it in an automatic for most people and your kind of looked down on if you cant pass your test in a manual. I would say in places like the uk we can afford automatics for sure but people in the uk learn manual and often stay manual.

[@davetomlinson9063]

Speaking as a 6 speed manual owner it’s way more fun and engaging to shift my gears.

[@redslate]

It certainly is. ...except in traffic. 💀

[@OnYourLeft]

Yup.

[@axe4770]

My first time driving a manual and the car shake like a tractor 😂 when I released the throttle the car slow extremely fast and I kept wondering holy sh*t is manual car engine braking is this powerful? and nearly stalled whenever I released the throttle 😂Because that time I only ride fully manual motorcycle. But when I drive for like a small 100 meters lap and I stop and look around me I realized that I forgot to release the handbrake and I felt so dumb at that point 😂 I never felt so dumb and more embarrassed in my life and so I released the brake and go another round and it felt so much smoother and better lmao.

[@miguelpereira9859]

Its fun but it's a pain in rush hour

[@xavicuna3754]

heel toe down shifting .you never get bored with a manual

[@Fizz-Pop]

In the UK there are differing driving licenses. If you passed your test in an Auto you cannot legally drive a Manual, but if you pass the Manual test you can drive both. Almost everyone does the Manual.

[@fixi47711]

Yes because brits may be stupid and have ugly teeth, but their brains are still intact and know that manuals are just safer and better option I personally would only buy automatic in extremely hilly area or a supercar.

[@denisguibert7186]

same in France

[@kxjx]

Automatics are useful for people who cannot drive manuals due to disabilities

[@demonsluger]

yeah but surely the auto license is on a rise in sweden i think most have started to get auto licenses.

[@chriistiianlink5762]

Here in Germany since 2021 you are allowed to learn on automatic and drive manual afterwards. A big mess, if you have never learned to properly operate a clutch

[@atleandersen1924]

The clutch is the joy pedal. It's also the pedal that allows you to express your driving style. It lets you be relaxed and butter smooth, and at a flick of the wrist and a quick left foot tap, become a Sweedish rally lunatic.

[@ne0395]

Well said Sir

[@Yankijs24]

Yup yup yup 👍

[@arisplugis5197]

automatic gearbox is more fuel consuming and is much more expensive to repair.

[@VonDutchNL]

​@@arisplugis5197Okay.. just say you don't know how to drive manual.

[@richmondvand147]

you've never driven in a large congested traffic light happy city have you

[@ethanjohnson1231]

Not gonna lie, I find this form of reaction content better than most. I like that you actual gave some insight on how you feel about the topic and further backed it up by showing your opinion in action. You drove a manual and explained that it's a good thing and you took the video that you reviewed and made it a part of your content rather than making it your content. Pretty cool that you cited the source for the video too. Gold star reaction content!

[@blaumupi]

At driving school (1979 🙈) I practiced on manual and automatic cars. All those years later, I never wanted to drive an automatic. I simply have more control over the engine in a manual car. For example, I can use the engine to brake and drive with more control in the snow. Greetings from Germany

[@superskrobb]

ha ha ha, more controll with a manual, I cant imagine, so mister ,i got my drivinglicense in 87, learnd on a manual, drove maual cars to around 2000 ,and been driving auto since, and there have been zero problems with using the gearbox to gear down on an dowhill ,or in the snow for thath matter. I live in norway so ,snow and ice is normal in the winter......and i have no problem using a manua even tho i've been driving a auto for dayli the last 25 years .

[@zloychechen5150]

You can engine brake with an auto, that's what those 3-2-1 shifter positions are for. However if you have a lead foot and a road to suit, a manual is significantly better. I've been to situations where i had to choose between overheating my tranny (because it was feeling unhappy when it got hot, refusing to shift into 4th, i think by design) or my brakes (because of the lack of engine braking), so i would alternate, and it was about +30 outside. If you're in a really hilly terrain, your trans temp rises on uphill sections, and it also rises while engine braking, and stock brakes do not cope either. With a manual you just don't have this issue.

[@cybercat1531]

@@superskrobb That's a rather obnoxious and pretentious way to respond.

[@jukka2180]

@@zloychechen5150 Here in Europe not many cars have the 3-2-1 shifter stuff, it's usually D-N-R-P and some let you use the semi-automatic shift ( + / - ) , although for those options you have to use them from the start of the trip as you can only switch modes when fully stopped :(. Also, I didn0t know the 3-2-1 shifter positions worked for that type of stuff, first time I get the explanation!

[@lynnm6413]

That‘s exactly right….I probably would have died if I had driven an automatic one day on snow…pretty close deal with my Golf II

[@darren100880]

fun fact: in the UK if you pass your driving test in an automatic car you are not permitted to drive a manual car but you can drive either if you pass in a manual car.

[@raisan5989]

Same in the Netherlands, we see it as a dummy car and dummy licence. driving lessons start in a manual car, if you can't manage those you get transferred to a automatic car and you get a licence with a code on it that only permits you to drive automatic cars.

[@muppeteer]

Given the choice my manual license offers, given that choice I would always pick manual

[@Schmokkie1984]

It used to be the same in Germany. Until now, drivers who passed their driving test on an automatic car were not allowed to drive a car with a manual gearbox - the so-called automatic driving license contains the key number 78. With the abolition of this regulation as of April 1, 2021, learner drivers can take the category B test on a vehicle with an automatic transmission and, under certain conditions, obtain permission to drive a car with a manual transmission. Motorized two-wheelers are not covered by the new regulation.

[@automation7295]

@@muppeteer You would rather pick manuals, but you're still allowed to drive an automatic. Manuals are fun and you're in control of your vehicles, but manuals do have some disadvantage in traffic jams.

[@matsv201]

Even funner fact. If you pass your car driving test in a automatic. If you then get a buss or truck license you are only alowed to drive automatic buss or trucks regardless of If the truck or buss you do the test in have manual gear box. Because its the car license that dictate what gearbox you use. How do I know that. Well my wife have a handicap so she can't drive manual. But she also have a truck license. Lucilly. Basically all trucks are automatic.

[@user637-r9d]

diving manual is like meditation to me. becoming one with the machine is pure freedom. for the love of the ride. greetings from germany.

[@DrTheRich]

I drive unsynchronized manual, even more of meditation, no handholding, just raw straight gears....

[@Chargath81]

Last car I had before switching up was a Hyundai Accent manual...loved the everliving heck outta that one...fast, agile and an easy 3 week pr tank going to and from work every day...now I get 1 week at most pr tank...and yeah...not the same joy at all. 😊

[@Rayven007]

Dafür das du deutsch bist hat sich das ganz schön amerikanisch angehört 😂

[@tomdns4273]

Great explanation

[@sierraecho884]

Yeah until your girlfriend drives the car and it does this GGRRRRRRRR sound when she fails to change gears in the red RPM band at like 6000RPM from 1st into 2nd gear ahhahaha

[@robertoklimas5894]

When I got my licence, the only option was to take it on a manual car. What surprised me is, after 20 years or more driving an automatic one, I needed to get once more a manual and I still drive it as if I never had changed it. Like riding a bicycle, the muscular memory remains!

[@bertoldoua]

Same thing! After 15 years of driving automatic, i got the manual rented. First 5 minutes of driving it I was complaining about the old stick, but then completely forgot about it as it was never there

[@pierrebe4492]

For me driving manual is about getting to know your engine and then feeling control about how you want to drive, using the clutch pretty fast becomes second nature and playing with gears can be verry fun. Biggest disadvantage of manul in my opinion is when you are in long traffic jam, having to constantly use the clutch becomes pretty exhausting with the stop and move few metters cycle after some time, automatic is way more chill in this situation. Still the pleasure of manual is something i don't want to give up. But with EV, manual are becoming rarer in europe.

[@Slothisticated0252]

You know when you stand still you can just put the gear in neutral and you will be able to let go of the clutch

[@cdgncgn]

EV is artificial trying to make money on you as well as poor. The sanctions are working after all.

[@robertblair2035]

On manual. Double declutch is good to learn. Probably most would say it’s not necessary but it definitely has fun.

[@adm58]

I'm in the UK and have only ever driven manual transmission, as have most drivers here. Changing gears gives more control and is just sheer fun!

[@fishenwater]

The only time I have driven an automatic was when I drove a Nissan GTR around a track... which was great, and it was nice a clean drive, but you engage more with a car that requires more than just... stop and go.

[@coliukedo]

I am a woman 🙋‍♀, I live in Lithuania and I have been driving 🚗for 20 years. I have had cars with both manual and automatic transmissions. But only the manual gives me so much driving pleasure and joy 🥰 Although I don't race myself, I am a big fan of motor sports and worked in the organization of rally competitions for about 10 years 😎

[@promalec86]

After driving for like 20ish years manual cars, commercials and heavy ton trucks, i took my cousin's monster GL Merc for a spin. Entering, seeing two pedals and a stick going only front and back was scary

[@Justdizzy]

There is an car cleaning and detailing service at the local mall. I decided to get my truck deep cleaned so I took it to them and parked it out front in their parking area, paid the cost and went off to the mall with the wife. They told me it would take 4 hours to deep clean the interior and to wash and wax the exterior. We did shopping, ate lunch and caught a couple of movies. About 6 hours later I returned to the parking area and found my truck in the same spot just as dirty as it was when I left it. At first I was like crap, I must not have left the key. But a quick check of my pockest revealed that yes I did hand them the keys to the truck. As I pushed the door to their office, the cleark handed me my keys and an envolope with the money I had paid telling me they were unable to clean my truck. When I asked why, she told me that no one in the company could drive manual and could not move it to the wash bay. We exchanged an awakard laugh and I left. 1991 Mitsubishi L200 'Double cab' (Still driving it today)

[@vihreelinja4743]

I would have just pushed the car in and out and not tell the customer that our staff is too dull minded to even google how to put a car on gear and release the clutch in order to creep it inside.. Or simply go out and wash there by hand. But it seems that being dumb is more accepted in the usa then here in Europe where all you're friends would remind you about you're stupidity every chance they have.

[@hanuman9]

@@vihreelinja4743 How the F* would they know how to put it on neutral?

[@alexpullen8015]

@@hanuman9 a quick google search will tell them all they need to know. And assuming it was parked in neutral it would only mean dropping the handbrake.

[@hamstercanibal]

L200 is a SOLID car, I had one for a month, it rattled my kidneys, but I liked it.

[@joesteppin]

DO NOT SELL IT im a Mitsubishi mechanic and those old l200s where amazing 100 times better than the newer ones if you want a new truck take the money you want to spend and use it to restore your old one trust me mate

[@thereggaeinstitute]

In my home country, which is Romania, there's a common saying among experienced drivers: You don't buy yourself an automatic right away, because a manual will teach you how to control a car and you will be able to really appreciate an automatic once you have it. Plus, it is much harder for someone who's inexperienced to drive into someone else by fault. We've had some really bad accidents with people mistaking the throttle with the break...

[@shelbyv2658]

Suntem saraci, asta e adevarul

[@McSenkel]

In Poland we have a saying: "Your instructor will teach you how to pass the exam. Your first winter will teach you how to drive." ... We don't have any real sayings about automatic cars. Though if you pass your exam in an automatic car, you're only allowed to drive automatic cars. It is a bummer, coz most of the cars here are manual.

[@mitrut34]

Thats so true, im from Romania and when i was learning for the drivers exam, the instructor told me that he was teaching me how to take the exam, not how to drive xD@@McSenkel

[@rollzmoist5061]

the first time i drove an automatic i mistook the brake for the clutch and slammed on for no reason lol

[@gampie13]

@@McSenkel We have a simmilar thinking in norway. Wich is also why it is mandatory to also have ice driving experiance before you get your licence. They are frankly quite fun lessons to take if you want to, you get to drive on a track with ice and snow, and it is quite fun both to drive and spectate :D

[@Oumegi]

One single biggest weakness of manual for me are traffic jams. I prefer manual 99% of the time I drive, but stuck in a jam for hours, I would trade anything to have automatic there. 5hrs+ of clutch, gas, brakes dance every few seconds is a torture for your feet/legs.

[@sierraecho884]

They suck. I have never had an automatic until now. Just bough my new Toyota Corolla Hybrid and it finally has an automatic transmission. The only reason in this day and age to get a manual is because it´s cheaper, that´s it.

[@mikepurmessur420]

​​@@sierraecho884Hybrids don't come in manual transmission. Or at least most of them don't. I also own a corolla hybrid, very fuel efficient that one

[@sierraecho884]

@@mikepurmessur420 No, they don´t that´s exactly the point I tried to make. Hybrids will kill the manual car. I love the car, did you get the hatchback ? 1.8 or 2.0 engine ?

[@donebaa6424]

It maybe hurts your legs if ur cutch is shit or if u are weak af ive driven 100k kms so far and my legs get fatigued usually around 300km of driving then its a 15 20minutrs break and im as good as new, for me manual cars are more fun to drive and allow of so much better controll over ur car aaalso u can drift thats a bonus 😅

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

@@sierraecho884 Nope. Manual is much nicer to drive in general. However the traffic jam point is valid.

[@bajajoes1]

AT AGE 80 I HAD TO GIVE UP A LIFETIME OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO NUEROPATHY IN MY FEET & LEGS. I FELT VERY SAD BUT BECAUSE OF MY NEUROPATHY I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PEDAL W/O LOOKING. EVERYTHING LASTS LONGER W/MT.

[@carlmauser1515]

German guy here. My first BMW had manual transmission. This was great. My second one had automatic. Very comfortable, but you obviously had a slip and lag, not from the turbo. My current BMW have a 6 speed manual transmission again. Feels better. Faster response better motor control. The feeling you get driving around the south eastern Europe coast with a decent car and manual drive is something you don't get with comfort focused automatics.

[@vpx23]

Unfortunately you can't buy a new manual BMW anymore in Germany unless it's the lowest class or an M2, M3, M4. Same with Audi and Mercedes.

[@bbb462cid]

Going into a turn and being able to upshift before you enter to cut torque is a useful thing on occasion. So is being a gear high in snowy conditions.

[@BodilessVoice]

I love this

[@PixelTrooper]

​@bbb462cid upshift into a corner??

[@bbb462cid]

@@PixelTrooper No, not upshift into a corner. I didn;t say that. I said before. The gears are torque multipliers. Reducing torque is a way to prevent oversteer. Not all cars have traction control. Tires lose grip when torque overcomes traction.

[@lisamahoney6332]

It took a lot of effort to find my 2015 Honda Fit in a manual 6 speed. I had to go to a dealership an hour away to find one. The salesman could not drive it! My dad would not let me buy a car until I could drive a stick shift. He never wanted me to be stranded because I could not drive something. Once you learn you will always have the skill. I have taught both of my children. Neither of them knows anyone their own age who can do it. My 16 year old son has just started driving that Fit as his daily driver and is doing great. I did my part for the next generation. :)

[@secondtrooper477]

Thanks for keeping the legacy. 😊

[@charlesmcwilliam8727]

I watch quite a few American reacts channels but it's really refreshing to watch a guy whos a proper enthusiastic and knows what theyre talking about, a graat job!

[@jankypox]

So wholesome too, with a genuine reverence for all kinds of motoring.

[@Keltorus_]

German guy here. My first car was a Seat with manual transmission. I switched to an electric wich is obviously automatic, but ever since I really miss the feeling of manually downshifting two gears at once and going full throttle.... being able to control the engine in this way is just so unbelievably enjoyable I can't really understand how people can be affright of that! I bet non of them have ever tried it.

[@landerviguera9575]

They dont like driving...they only wnat to go from point A to B and in america is all designed to do it by car.

[@murphychurch8251]

Fellow German here. I drive an old, little Honda, not a big car...but the manual transmission actually is the only one thing that is actually enjoyable to me when driving. All the other aspects of having to drive in cities just suck.

[@Hrochnick]

The last automatic I drove (a hire car years ago, I have only owned manuals) had that built in: when you put your foot fast and full to the floor, it dropped two gears and off you went. It was quite cool actually. I'd be surprised if they didn't all do that now.

[@boloMK24]

My first driver's license was issued by the US Navy. I learned how to drive in a truck with a four-speed stick in 1973. All of my vehicles have been manual up until 2008. I hate automatics.

[@theyeetus1428]

@@HrochnickYeah, pretty much all automatic transmissions in existence do that. If they didn't, it would be very slow to pass anyone or accelerate while driving an automatic. It's still more fun with a manual though!

[@iddet8867]

I'm a 70 yeaars old Icelander. During my life I have mostly driven manual. At the moment I have a automatic and it feels as I have less control over the car, especially in icy condition and snow.

[@stephenpender3912]

Totally agree! I picked up my son from a Scout hall once after a camp. Someone had driven the gear trailer back and then had to go. But is wasn't parked in the Scout hall's garage. A woman yells to all the parents milling around... "Can anyone reverse a trailer?" I say "Sure!" She says "Thank God." She gives me the keys, I go to get in the Landcruiser they used and she screams "Wait!" I look back thinking 'Oh sh!t, what could it be?' She says, "It's a manual, can you drive it?", she's almost beside herself with panic. "Yeah, I got you. No worries." And I'm thinking 'what is this world coming to? 13 parents and no one can reverse a trailer in a manual car. We're doomed' Nice content, mate.

[@pioneerman9568]

With the electic cars coming in to replace the combustion engine one the issue becomes redundant.

[@samusaron5000]

XD at my work there's an 85 dodge 100, we do uhaul so I have to back trailers all the time, that old truck handles em no problem, it's also a stick shift, 4 speed. My car is also a manual. a friend who had come over asked if he could use my car to go to the gas station to get a fountain drink, I tossed him my keys without thinking about it. A minute later he comes back in with a look of confusion on his face and said it wouldn't start. Thought oh crap, then realized, the clutch has to be in all the way for it to start. Asked him if he had the clutch all the way in and he asked, what's a clutch. Wound up driving him to the gas station.

[@edmundblackaddercoc8522]

Getting the image of Peter Griffin trying to reverse his speedboat down that ramp😂

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

Why oh why don't rally and formula1 drivers use automatic and just concentrate on the steering? Because manual is SUPERIOR. You are in control and know the engine and know what revs at what gear is best at each moment in different terrain. Automatic can't handle complicated calculations on what's best in each moment.

[@ironmanmachine]

Most people don't need a trailer, so never learned to back one up. You aren't better than them buddy.

[@stevenpike7857]

I learned to drive on a manual when I was 16. Drove manual to about 20. I am 52 now, and could get into a manual and still drive it and pass the hill test. It's like riding a bike or swimming, you never forget.

[@techcodenet]

It's like bike - the actual part of mindlessly shifting gears with basically just muscle memory doesn't seem to go away. Thought there are those moments like forgetting to press the clutch to either turn on the car (wife realized after 2nd car with manual mysteriously wasn't starting 🤣), or like me start and drive a manual just fine (hills, traffic lights and all) - and then forget the clutch when you finally park the car at the end of trip (yeah it stalled/choke). The more dangerous switch is when you're initially getting used to automatic after driving a manual your whole life. That first few harder breaks where your left feet tries to hit the nonexistent clutch pedal - resulting in both feet slamming on the bigger/wider break pedal.

[@louisrobitaille5810]

Destin from Smarter Every Day: riding a bike *can* be forgotten. He even talked about it in his talk at NASA 😂.

[@77leny]

not true but ok. every cluch is diffrent. some let go in the begining and some in the end. it takes some driving to learn that cars cluch. i have Audi a3. when i sit in other people car. their cluch is totaly different

[@BruceHoult]

New Zealand, 61 years here. I got my license in a manual car at 15. I'd been driving manual tractors and trucks -- with no synchro -- on the farm for years. Motorcycle license a few months later, and truck at 18. At first I always had manual cars. But since the mid 90s well over half the "new" cars sold in NZ were used imports from Japan, and almost all of those are automatic. A lot of cars sold new in NZ are still manual, but I'm guessing it's only 5% to 10% of used cars now. My current car is a 2008 Subaru Outback with 2.5 256 HP turbo engine and 5 speed auto. It has paddle shifters, lock-up in every gear at higher RPMs, and pretty nice rev-matching on the shifts. When you're driving sportily it's very much like an easier manual. Re fuel consumption: it's basically identical to the 1997 2.5 Outback I had with 5-sp manual plus hi/lo range, at around 9.1 l/100km. The auto actually uses less fuel on a trip -- best of 7.9 vs 8.6 -- as it is significantly higher geared doing 2300 RPM (peak torque, incidentally) at 110 km/h indicated vs 3000 RPM in the manual.

[@MrShadow1617]

@@77leny That also depends on how worn the clutch is. Sometimes a worn clutch lets go earlier compared to a new one.

[@Stenkish]

Finnish driver here. I've driven both Manuals and Automatics, and from my experience I prefer Manuals in Winter and automatics in summer. You have so much more control of your vehicle when you can 100% release torque from driven wheels by depressing the clutch, when your tires are losing/have lost their grip on slippery surfaces, especially in the winter. You can also free your stuck car way easier when you can sway back and forth by engaging and disengaging the clutch. And a plus side in small manual cars, is that they're a lot of fun to drive on roads with a lot of curves. And at any day of the year, I prefer my -03 Almera Hatch with it's mighty 1.5L 67kw engine than a larger sedan/family/sports car with way more power. You just can't beat 5.0-5.5L/100km (39-42mpg) on Roads, and 8.0-10.0L/100km (23-29mpg) in cities. With careful driving, I've been able to get as low as 3.9L/100km (60mpg) of fuel consumption. Try that with your 3.0 V6 ;) Oh, and a fun fact; At least in Finland, when you're getting your driver's license, you drive it using a manual. IF you want to drive your license with only an automatic, you can do it, but you will get a marking in your license which only allows you to drive automatics. If you're then driving a manual car, and police stops you, they can fine you for driving a vehicle you're not allowed to.

[@Xanthopteryx]

On our Volvo we now today have automatic and i must say, regarding safety, it is safer than a manual. If you slip, in a manual you have to register that and press clutch down. It can take a while even for an experienced driver (human reaction time have a limit...). Here, on this automatic - if you slip, the car will handle it. Using engine brake and it slips? Then it disconnects the gear box, instantly. If you slip going on speed, then the car will adjust (gearbox, engine, brakes and everything). I have tried pushing it on safe places and for real, as soon as you feel like "Oh, now, here she goes!" the computer kicks in and... back on track. Ridiculous actually. No way i could have done that on my manual cars i have had. The computer tech, gyros, accelerometers and all are way to smart and quick. Speaking of fuel conomy: Volvo V90 D4 AWD. Automatic, eight speed transmission. Fully packed (above 2.000 kg - tested it on a road scale) with stuff and people, 470 km road trip, outside temperature around 0, studded tires: 0,50 l/10 km. The same trip during summer: 0,49-0,50. Shorter trips, 37 km with some smaller roads and 20-25 km motorway (110 km/h), to work during summer: Around 0,55-0,57. All year around, all trips, since new (closing in on 100.000 km), including parking heater, measured at the fuel pump (i have full statistic of all fueling for my four cars i have had): 0,67 l/10 km. My Mazda 6 i had before, manual, petrol, i could never go that low. Despite lighter car, and manual, and i know how to eco drive.

[@paulkroon4931]

Same in the Netherlands: if you do your exam in an automatic, you will get a mark in your licence that you can only drive automatics. Most cars here are manuals. However, the number of automatics is increasing fast due to the hybrids.

[@Stenkish]

@@Xanthopteryx That's true that modern cars with computers have much better response times than humans, and are often safer in different driving conditions. But it all still depends on the driver. A computer can only do so much preventing accidents if the driver was driving too fast for the conditions. And from what I've noticed, is that people trust the computers in their cars way too much. One glitching sensor can make the car do funky things before the computer notices the problem. Everyone should every once in a while disable all of the Electronic Stability Control, traction control and other such systems of their cars and get a feeling on how the car handles without them. Most people would most likely lose control quite fast. My 2 current cars only have ABS in them, and have found no need for any other systems/assists.

[@alexmayer9159]

@@Stenkish Completely agree. A friend of mine has a Tesla, when he has the autopilot on, on a motorway, the sensors seem to think overhead bridges are hazards and will break in the middle of the motorway. Scary to imagine! He has to keep his foot on the accelerator at all time, just in case it happens!

[@Bosspigeon230]

Same in the UK with your licence, 'small manual cars, is that they're a lot of fun to drive on roads with a lot of curves' UK country roads in the summer are what the old MG's, Austins, Morgans etc were built for. Drivers of all these little sports cars pretend to be flying a Spitfire at least once during a journey!

[@batkata001]

After years of driving 16 speed manual HGV (heavy goods vehicle) driving and parking any car after that is like a walk in the park. The old Mercedes Actros was with 4 low and 4 high gears, each one of them divided in halfs... the reverse gear was also done in 2 halfs low and high 😂 It was fun definitely!

[@TheBellsandwhistles]

Another couple of advantages are that you can bump start a manual (ie push it or roll it down hill and then let the clutch in. This will start the engine if the starter motor is not working or the battery is low). Also, if it breaks down on a level (grade) crossing or other highly dangerous place, you can put it in low gear (1 or reverse) and simply hold the key round and use the starter motor to drive it out of danger. Wrecks the starter but could save your life!

[@pudermcgavin4462]

This doesn't work with modern manuals anymore sadly

[@joshmac7245]

​@@pudermcgavin4462depends on the country, what your talking about is the clutch switch , they are mandatory here in Canada but they aren't in the US, and some manufacturers sold cars there without the clutch switch. There's some funny/terrifying clips out there of people using remote start on manuals when they've been left in gear

[@teezettsb]

a bump start works, but you should not use it, because it wrecks the catalyst

[@joshmac7245]

@@teezettsb if bump starting your car wrecks your catalytic converter then it's had problems for a while but if your battery is just low from leaving lights on or use at a drive in or something then a bump start won't hurt a thing

[@klausstock8020]

@@pudermcgavin4462 Took a minute or so to figure it out, but it still does work with many modern cars. Maybe not as easy as turning the ignition key, but with a bit of timing, you can get the car confused enough to start.

[@stuartfirth2970]

I served in the British Army, and when serving with a NATO unit in Portugal, I taught dozens of Americans and Canadians how to drive 'properly'. Taking a buddy of mine for a ride in my old Mk2 Golf GTi was a particular highlight.

[@Piett_]

Mk2 Golf GTI. 😍

[@alexsimion7190]

😂

[@alfaeco15]

On the left side?

[@stereotoned]

​@@alfaeco15Portugal drives on the right sunshine

[@nitnemsingh3588]

Manual is great for sporty drivers, for mountain roads with lots of hairpin turns, and to get the best out of the engine in not straight roads. Its a rewarding skill in itself.

[@globalist1990]

Dude, is walking or breathing a skill? You need to be a skilled driver to drive fast, or faster than anyone else, not to use a manual car. When you know manual, it's as simple as walking. Sure, some people won't be able to, just as some can't walk.

[@CerdicTheGreat]

@@globalist1990 nice to see someone miss a point by a country mile!

[@globalist1990]

@@CerdicTheGreat by making a different point? Ok, dude.

[@hikingcook]

exactly! I received once an automatic (rental) car for a trip in the Alps, it was terrible, a struggle to drive swiftly and safely and not getting the car overheated. On German autobahn automatic is okay, but when getting around quickly in city traffic, when having to passing on narrow country roads, in mountains, on snow-covered roads I surely prefer manual transmission....

[@reptidan]

Amen! I love the additional control you have with manual..

[@kaelin000]

"small" 2.2L engine. we have 2 cars in our household (Italy) a Hyundai Tucson with a 2.0L turbo diesel, and a Hyundai Getz with a 1.3L petrol engine. point of interest, when you buy a car in Italy you have to pay to transfer ownership, the base cost is about €170, then there's an additional €4-6 (varies per region)PER KW of engine power for the first 100KW, the tucson above comes in at 103KW so that's an additional €400-600, the additional 3KW is the added on at a higher rate.

[@poupoupidoum]

one big advantage of manual trans that i don't see often mentioned, is that it greatly reduces the risk of some bad driver accidentally ramming the gas pedal when stressed or leaving parking, and ramming into other vehicles or storefronts, sometimes in reverse.

[@sandracardoso2602]

I see that happen in usa but I never understood how that happens. And it's usually so incredibly fast, I guess they were trying to hit the brakes and instead hit the gas? Can you have the car in gear and standing still without pressing anything?

[@ezioauditoredafirenze5453]

​​@@sandracardoso2602No. If you don't press clutch down when you turn the engine on and you have for example the first gear selected, then the car will stall or lurch first a little and then stall. I've read that in some older cars it was possible to move very short distances before the engine stalled but I can't verify that.

[@pontiacg445]

@@ezioauditoredafirenze5453 I have used the starter to limp a car with an exploded slave cylinder home without a tow, and that was a little baby i4. So yeah, if you start in gear (or in gear with the clutch in and the slave not doing squat, so still 100% in gear bypassing the safety interlock) with the gas pedal down, it will start and take off all the same as an automatic car...

[@JuicyJLee]

​@ezioauditoredafirenze5453 depends on the car ..

[@HaroldSchranz]

It is one of the major disadvantages of automatics ... only two pedals ... easy to pick the wrong one under stress ... hence cars going through storefronts or over cliffs because the automatic driver picked the wrong pedal and panicked. Almost impossible to do with the 3 pedals in a manual.

[@patricemalo2094]

I've always driven manual trans here in Canada. My wife too so when my daughters had to learn to drive, they had no choice. Today, now that they each have their own cars, they stuck with manual transmissions and LOVE it. My wife's car is a Subaru Outback which isn't small but still has a manual trans on it. Funny thing is my daughters had to teach their boyfriends how to drive manual for them to be able to drive their cars when need be.

[@dankline9162]

Thats awesome. I bought a vw diesel, bc I had an internship at a biodiesel plant, and it is a manual. My dad knew from driving old muscle cars, a bit different, but tuaght me how to drive it. Now its all I can drive, love it.

[@magnificenthonky]

I know women who prefer manuals. They can't find guys to control, so they had to find something else with a stick.

[@HSNPSA45]

My father "forced" me to drive a manual transmission for the first few years, although I wanted an automatic transmission from the beginning. His reasoning: you only learn to drive properly with a manual transmission, you understand things better and know what to look out for. In hindsight, I'm grateful to him, he was absolutely right. Fun fact at the end: on my very first car, which I thankfully only drove for 3 months, second gear didn't work. So I had to accelerate so much in first that I could jump straight into third 😂

[@marco_grt4460]

My old car had got problems with the third gear when it was cold, so 1-2 and jump to 4, i still do that with my new car in the city to have less changing gear

[@xarisstylianou]

Here we have two types of lice one for ato and one for manul I have found that younger people perfer ato Being of the older gen i love manul also iuse to drive a lorry

[@MikkelL03]

It is pretty common to skip gears. If I drive in traffic i'll go from 1 to 3 and then to 5

[@stanneh1978]

My Mr2 Turbo will pull off in 3rd with ease :)

[@pelsdot]

​@@marco_grt4460what?!😂

[@sailor67duilio27]

Lovely sound when you change gears. I'm glad you enjoy it.

[@nozimoto]

I grew up loving cars and always wanted to drive a manual. Everyone kept telling me “you’re was going to hate traffic” and “you’ll get tire of it eventually”. I managed to get a manual as my first car and loved it. It’s been 11 years since I got my license and I’ve only owned manual cars. Granted I’ve only owned 2 cars but still, I have no regrets.

[@tnolddawg]

The only thing that might throw someone off that does drive a manual is if it's old enough to have a 3 speed column shift instead of a stick 😄 I learned on "3 on the tree"

[@Dizzykitty817]

I love driving manual, but getting stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for hours is way less fun in a manual.

[@tnolddawg]

@Dizzykitty817 I'm well out in the country here, so I don't have that issue Nearest city is Knoxville,Tn with a population of only about 60k With today's craziness, you couldn't get me in a city over 100k at gunpoint 😁

[@kenlykkeslett7501]

Traffic jams isn't that exhausting, really. Just put it in neutral whenever you are standing still, and suddenly it's a piece of cake.

[@talibong9518]

Once you get a feel for the clutch and know the best gear for the speed you're doing, manual isn't hard.

[@simonlodge733]

As an Irish person who did some driving in the US found that the street grid system and 4-way stop signs were a prime reason to use an automatic. I drove both a manual and automatic while there and the manual was very busy in suburbs.

[@rogerwilco2]

I think that might have something to do with it as well.

[@biggest23]

Yeah, 4 way stops are the reet-harded ginger stepchildren of the driving world.

[@vampire4312]

As a european who drove/drives both, manual and automatic i've to say: Automatic is nice and cozy for long trips and/or especially stop-and-go-traffic inside a (badly designed) city or in a traffic-jam. But Manual is just more fun to actually drive a vehicle, especially if you just drive because of the joy of driving. Doesn't matter what crappy thing you drive, in manual you always feel a little bit like a race-driver. I would even argue, in normal traffic, a "crappy" little manual car can be way more fun than a high-H.P.-Monster, because you basically drive it nonstop "at the limit" a.k.a. in "race-mode" because that's all you're going the get out of this "heap of crap" anyway.

[@redcrafterlppa303]

Yeah, what's the fun in having a car that can't put it's power down the road off the drag strip. Ontop of that you need to drive it with kid gloves in everyday traffic situation. Nothing beats going full throttle and then shifting gears

[@BW022]

Remember there are a number of key differences in the US (Canada and the rest of North America) vs. Europe. 1. North Americans do drive much longer distances. 2. North Americans have much larger families. 3. North Americans have larger vehicles -- including trucks, SUVs, vans, mini-vans, etc. 4. North Americans are far more rural than Europeans. Far more live on farms, the country, suburban areas, etc. 5. North Americans are far more into outdoor activities. Summer cabins, beach houses, hiking, fishing, hunting, etc. again more trucks, need to carry more stuff, etc. 6. North American is not well suited to passenger train travel. 7. Costs are far less in North America -- including the vehicle, gas, parking, larger roads for bigger vehicles, etc.

[@AuDiGo6]

Don't be a stereotypical American. Only the first point is true, the rest is BS and your limited point of view.

[@a.c.e.7568]

I started driving a manual when I was 8 in a parking lot and at 12 I was on the road in city traffic. Now 50 years of driving, zero accidents and zero insurance claims on two and four wheels. Both my Porsches are manuals, but on the track I am using a PDK transmission.

[@GroovyDean]

driving a manual is like becoming one with your car... you can actually feel it in your bones in your muscle, and the sound of the engine when you drive ..... you know your car. YOU KNOW! the car becomes a part of you... and that is the best feeling ever.

[@raffaelkern1020]

I just drive for 2 Years now and yeah i can hear it if the Motor does not sound right or the vibrations are unusual

[@wiktorgreda2124]

I have my driving license for barely 2 years now and I can't drive automatic trasmission car because I dont feel the car especialy when it has that electric power steering so it is to easy to turn the steering wheel in such a car I feel like Im HUMAN IN A CAR and i cant feel that car so it is dificult to drive for me

[@TheGalifrey]

You know how much your ankle hurts after 4 hours in M25 traffic 🤣

[@Ratskank]

😂😂You feel the car cos of the pointless extra effort 😂😂

[@gazgf]

You sound like the crazy guy from the “Christine “film……or was he.?????

[@IronmanLIIII0]

I'm a 65-year-old American expat living in the Philippines. Soon after I arrived, I bought a 20-year-old Ford Ranger. It's a 4 door, double cab, 4-cylinder 5 speed manual diesel which is a particular option package that isn't available in the US. The small truck is an absolute blast to drive and is super fuel efficient! just like Europe, most cars and trucks here have manual transmissions.

[@Obeyscreek]

is your Ford Ranger color orange? hehe

[@2loudway2much]

The best part "bro can I borrow your car?" Me: "it's a stick shift" Oh ok, I'll ask somebody else..." 🤣

[@redslate]

Until you get someone that makes an attempt, and they grind your gears. 😅

[@michelleb7399]

I’m from the US and I love driving on manual transmission. However, they are harder to come across than they used to be. They really are more fun to drive.

[@MrBillyrayjimbob]

Fun Fact: With a manual you can work down through your gears approaching intersections, which saves your brake pads wear. Also if you have a flat battery you can just roll start it.

[@trackingcalin1988]

Americans don't know what engine brake means.

[@redsite001]

​@@trackingcalin1988it's all I drive. I hate automatics. 6 speeds, 10 speed, 13 speed eatons are all I use.

[@batira]

Fun fact: hybrid/EV cars even recharge batteries with engine brake, so you get back some of the energy you spent on accelerating the car. This lowers fuel consumption and pollution. So, these type of automatic cars beat ICE cars at their own game. Also: many automatic cars have manual mode, so you can still decide when you shift gears, you just don't have to handle the clutch.

[@trackingcalin1988]

@@batira I found it quite difficult to climb the sidewalk with a car with an automatic transmission. When you have a clutch, it's something else.

[@theshemullet]

Engine breaking

[@elkins_guy]

Being able to pop the clutch from a push to start the car is a big bonus, too. Starter dies, get a push, and pop the clutch. Same with the battery and several other things. I'd much rather have a stick shift than an automatic.

[@Schimml0rd]

When I was in highschool I was driving a golf pretty much without a starter, was pushing it every morning 😂 I loved that car ❤ got it to 220 once 😮

[@JoshFloorp]

That sounds awesome! My first car is going to be a Nissan Versa S. 5 speed manual, pure driving :D

[@secularnevrosis]

@@Schimml0rd Had an old Volvo 142 with a bad battery. You had to use all 3 pedals at once when coming to a stop. Interesting when driving in the city as the car would stall the moment you took your foot of thee accelerator. I made a habit of letting it stall and step out of the car when the traffic lights turned red. When they finally turned green I would push the car 1-2 meters, jump in and throw it into 2'nd gear...and of I went. (I finally got a new battery that fixed the problem)

[@marctoleafoa5864]

@@secularnevrosis😂😂😂

[@Schimml0rd]

@@secularnevrosis lmao thats wild :DD

[@pascalolivier4458]

As a European living in Quebec, I've seen people claiming they knew how to drive manual. Actually, they know how to change gears upward to gain speed. But they don't know it downward to use engine compression. On my car, I was able to keep my brake pads and discs for a much longer period than automatic cars by using compression.

[@waynesmith2287]

True. You can also do this with Toyota automatic models with lock up torque converters.

[@mriverbach6276]

Idem pour moi Pascal. Mes disques et plaquettes tiennent 100.000km sans problème. Le fameux frein moteur est comme le nom l indique aussi un frein. Je trouve aussi le dosage de l embrayage en manuelle beaucoup plus facile. Si je veux je peux avancer à 1cm par seconde en dosant l'embrayage. Alors qu'en automatique j ai toujours peur de sauter de 30 cm d un coup. Question d habitude peut-être.

[@mriverbach6276]

@@johnsmith-z8y tant que je le pourrai je roule en boite manuelle. Mais en Europe, cela devient aussi compliqué. De plus en plus de voitures sont uniquement disponibles en automatique. Hormis le petites citadines et certaines entrée de gamme. De toute façon si on passe à l électrique faudra si habituer à ne plus passer les vitesses.

[@noelanderson8915]

One problem I found with slowing down, just normally or using the gearbox here in Oz, is that the idiots behind can't comprehend that if the brake lights don't come on, you must not be slowing and they almost drive into the back of your car.

[@lynnm6413]

@@noelanderson8915 oh, that‘s interesting to hear….we took the rented Toyota Yaris out of Cairns and were thinking how badly the Aussies‘ reactiontime was in traffic…makes so much more sense now!

[@Sebbuska]

It’s easy to do many other stuff while driving manual, because you used to pay more attention on whats going on on the road while you pressing clutch, changing gears and doing all that manual moves

[@luis_sa78]

Manual gives so much more control! When the road is slipery you can brake with the engine so that you don't have to hit the brakes hard; when you want to take a slower car in front of you can reduce a shift and have more horsepower and accelaration; when you are driving in steep road you can control the strenght you need when going up and down.

[@EgonSorensen]

Another great thing about using the engine to break - saving fuel I usually engine break, instead of using mechanical brakes - and my Diesel 2L hatchback (factory says runs around 19 km/l on avg) can be extended to 22-25 km/l (going at the speed limit, nice acceleration then maintaining same speed, but reading the traffic and adjusting speed/distance with clutch) High engine rev = free acceleration power, if the engine was used to break from 5'th gear and now is in 2'nd or 3'rd.

[@ollep9142]

Couldn't agree more. From a driver's perspective manual is all about control. Automatic and cruise control goes hand in hand, you better use one with the other. When driving automatic I find it difficult to keep a constant speed, but it's nice when driving in urban areas where you frequently have to stop and go.

[@luis_sa78]

@@ollep9142 Maybe it got better, but it annoyed the hell out of me when I driving on the country side at 80 km/h and automatic would constantly change from 4th to 5th.

[@ollep9142]

@@luis_sa78 Can't have been half as annoying as when I drove a Chevrolet van with manual gearbox at a similar speed and had to do all that shifting manually... The gearing steps were totally off for that car/motor combo.

[@luis_sa78]

@@ollep9142 bad gear ratio, perhaps? But you can always choose an high rpm (if there's traffic or bad weather) or low rpm (if you're just cruising). It's your choice and you're in control.

[@gegeroker]

plus very old manual cars sometimes need a new clutch and when you replace it, you are so used to that old and heavy clutch that it feels like having a new car

[@1957mattes]

I am a retired truck driver. I started in 1978. With a double clutch system. And with 16 gears. Later it was in any case with an air-assisted clutch. You understand that I now drive an automatic. In the past, automatic transmissions weren't really good. But nowadays with the two clutches it's a smooth affair. If I received 1 Euro for every time I pressed a gear or clutch in my life... I would be very, very rich.

[@erikziak1249]

@@nickmerrylees8478 Oh yes, the times before synchronization was a thing. Now THAT is some shifting. Experienced drivers could "crash" gears without pressing the clutch pedal at all. And without any RPM dial either, just by sound and feel. If done properly, it was smooth.

[@1957mattes]

@@erikziak1249 with the engine brake

[@EwanMarshall]

yeah, think of a dual clutch transmission as 2 manual gearboxes being switched between by the computer :D this is much lighter, smaller and more efficient than old torque converter based automatic transmissions and is just about on par with manual transmssions. One can also add flappy paddles manual shifting or other shift by wire techniques as it is actually a computer controlled manual transmission.

[@klausstock8020]

@@erikziak1249 Yesterday, I injured my left left. Drove to the hospital myself, in a car I wasn't used to. First shit without the clutch wasn't very smooth; while the turbo reacts pretty fast, there was still noticeable turbo lag which I didn't anticipate (I had the pleasure of having a B52N25 for years; it emulates the throttle via variable valve lift, very responsive and smooth). Second clutch-less shift was smooth already. The gearbox had synchromesh, of course. Wouldn't want to drive a Unimog 406 (big gearbox option, of course) with an injured leg. No synchromesh, so right foot would adjust the RPM, left leg for steering, both hands to throw two gear sticks simultaneously...no wait, I'd turn off intermediate gears with the fifth stick, so I can shift with one hand while the other hand operates the throttle ("Handgas", there's a lever for that), right foot (and leg) for the clutch (and steering). Seems the Unimog designers thought of everything! No, it doesn't have five gear sticks. It has six. If you find a seventh one...that's just another brake, so you can brake the trailer independently.

[@erikziak1249]

@@klausstock8020 Ich habe nie einen Unimog gefahren. Muss bestimmt sehr interessant sein.

[@anonNemo]

I prefer manual because it generally keeps me safer. Keeps me focused on driving i have both hands and feet engaged and its difficult to text and drive or do anything else really besides driving. Someone has to fees me fries if im driving manual but everytime i drive automatic i have my right hand doing all sort of things taking my attention off of driving

[@debiconner6377]

I have always danced to the proverbial different drummer. I love driving a manual transmission vehicle. Everytime I end up with an automatic, I learn again why I love the clutch.

[@Lonaticus]

Manual cars are good for control. They're especially good on unpaved or uneven terrain like steep inclines and in uncertain conditions like rain, snow and mud. All cases where having as much control over your car is possible is the safest. I actually drove an automatic through the mountains once and got scared. Felt like I didn't have enough control. Over-applied the breaks and had to stop to let them cool off once. Engine braking is a lot easier to do on a manual and it's actually safer and recommended for cases such as snow/mud. Automatic cars are good in crowded/boring/exhausting places where the conditions are stable like in a big city, or on a highway. Cases where you want to relax a bit, or where you'd get tired shifting gears all the time. Was stuck in a 1 hr traffic jam with a manual car once and felt exhausted after it.

[@klausstock8020]

@@Higherbusa Nope, not good enough. Downhill on black ice, with a reasonably high powered engine with high compression (like in a box truck), engine braking may already strong enough to lock the wheels. Okay, you can switch your automatic gear between N, 2, and 1 all the time, but without the subtle control a manual clutch allows. Note that even with a manual transmission, trucks may use automatic engine braking. There'll be a switch on the dashboard to disable this feature when road conditions are bad. Oh, and selecting 1 on your automatic transmission is merely a suggestion. It won't shift down if it doesn't feel like it. If the brakes fail, and engine braking is denied by the automatic transmission...well, you might just participate in a July 7th 1987 Herborn reenactment. Six dead, 12 houses completely destroyed. Manhole covers were ejected at distances as far as 700m form the crash, cars were sent flying, all firefighter and disaster aid in a 100km radius were summoned. Since transmissions are considered *not* relevant for vehicle safety in Germany, it's wasn't the transmission fault. But the accident could have been avoided if the transmission had obeyed the driver's "suggestion" - or if it had been a manual transmission with a synchomesh.

[@redslate]

Automatics usually have low gears (1, 2) available, but I've honestly never had to use them. They're mainly for towing. I have both Auto and Manual cars.

[@Higherbusa]

@@klausstock8020 You've taken a valid suggestion so simple and benign, and turned it into a long explanation involving box trucks, icy mountain roads and suggestive gearboxes with minds of their own. Thanks for the lol's.

[@Furzkampfbomber]

For the same reason I hate those automatic handbreaks with a passion. Sure, it works, most of the time, but you can't really work with it when driving on slippery, snowy or muddy ground.

[@QuattroSG]

I got my current daily with a auto because I've been living in a city for the past 5 years, it sucks. I'm moving in July though and plan to get myself an old na mx5 again, had one for a few years before I moved here and I miss it, but manual isn't even fun to drive when you barely even get to touch third gear and stop every minute or so at a light.

[@wanhalles9476]

Some mechanical advantages to Battery dies? You Kan bumpstart it (clutchdrop in 2nd gear) And if your clutch is fryed you can drive it without using the clutch by Rev matching with gearbox (advanced driving skills needed)

[@dlewis9760]

I drove sticks for 37 years and yes I've done all that. I aged out. Hip and knees started hurting. The worst thing about sticks is snow storms and bumper to bumper traffic. 10 feet, stick it in gear, take it out of gear. 10 feet again, do it again, rinse repeat. I haven't driven a stick since 2011. I don't miss it. I had a 20 something mile drive to work one way. I counted the shits once. It was over 120 shifts in the 20 something mile drive.

[@kandy8382]

@@dlewis9760 you counted what?

[@gadushholl3469]

​@@kandy8382each shift of gears

[@impalesone5938]

Also, if a gear fails in a manual, you can bypass that gear and still drive your car until you can get it to the mechanics shop. You can't do that in an automatic

[@theyeetus1428]

@@dlewis9760You might want to edit that comment... "I counted the shits once."

[@aleksandaram]

In fact, the hardest part of the driving course is learning to use the clutch smoothly and in perfect balance with accelerator and learning to parallel park between two very close cars in a very narrow and busy street with impatient drivers cursing you for causing a traffic jam. When I took my driving course I was so envious of Texans for having wide streets and big parking spots. But now I bet most Texans with long driving experience can't do those two things.

[@thierryvanmol9167]

I live in Belgium and I'm 56 years old. I have driven a lot of cars, both manual and automatic, in my lifetime. The thing I like with the manual transmission is ; at any time I know exactly what power/acceleration I have at my disposal. Not so in an automatic car. Also, with a manual transmission you can brake on the engine without having to touch the actual brake.

[@rayray-xs6xu]

That's why the breaks on a manual last at least three times longer than an auto. You don't use them as much.

[@Nickayz2]

How so?

[@thestrum71]

Belgium here; I choose manual, I've driven trucks, army jeeps, Leopard tanks, Unimog field units, cars, motorbikes, whatever. I like how I can control the rpm's all over the spectrum. When the wife had to pick a new company car she picked manual: it was over a 1000 Euros cheaper. Historically: Henry Ford (USA) came up with automatic cos shifting gear in the early days was very difficult. European carmakers opted to finetune manual shifting. The difference in geography plays a big factor too...

[@paulvenneman7539]

fellow Belgian here. I agree with the control argument. you select a fixed connection between engine and wheels and you decide what part of the powerband you will be using. automatic is like negotiating that with a separate entity.

[@currentsitguy]

In the US during the 1950's when automatics first became common, they marketed them as being "easier for women to drive". It's not something anyone would even consider saying today, but it was common at the time to say women were lousy drivers.

[@paulvenneman7539]

@@currentsitguy difference is we don't say it anymore. we just know ...

[@thestrum71]

@@currentsitguy That's a red flag to say the least... There's people that suck at driving. True. From what I notice: most of them are men.... And from all the driving around I ever had, my wife does it better....

[@rameynoodles152]

@@paulvenneman7539 LMAO!

[@ddan1558]

As we say in Europe, the driver controls the car, not vice-versa. When you can control the car speed at a pace of a walk in the park, using the three pedals, that's when you can master driving a manual transmission car.

[@SN-zb7ew]

I’m American very first car I learned to drive for the stick shift.. And I agree with you..

[@SLOBeachboy]

Since I started driving at age 16 nearly 50 years ago (in the USA) all the cars I have owned have been stick shift but even I think that what they supposedly say in Europe is kind of silly. For one thing 95% of the drivers on the road in both Europe and North American are barely competent enough to keep the car between the lines. In other words, they are far from in complete control of their cars. For example, if I were to hide in front of a big truck parked at the side of a road with a 50mph speed limit and then I were to quickly push a shopping cart out into the path of cars just a half second before they would cross its path, virtually all of the drivers (both American and European) would crash into it. Heck even if I gave them a full second to react - which is an eternity - most drivers would still hit it. Furthermore, the ones who did manage to react would just hit the brakes even though at that speed and that short distance the brakes would be pretty useless and so swerving would be the only way to avoid impact altogether. And let's face it, very few drivers indeed are competent enough to bring the car under control in an oversteer situation. And I could go on and on. The point is that a truly skilled driver is in control of his car in the same way that a professional gymnast is in control or his or her body. The average driver on the other hand is only in control of his car the way a child is in control of his body just a few months after first learning to walk. As for using the clutch I would tend to agree with you, although you would only be using two pedals (clutch and accelerator) to keep pace with a person walking. That being said, holding a car stationary on a steep incline using only the clutch and gas pedal is much more difficult than simply driving very slowly on level ground. And holding a car stationary on an incline without using the brakes is something I naturally mastered before I was even 17 years old. This is why I can stop on a steep incline and start moving again without rolling backwards even an inch just by using the clutch, gas, and hand brake. But since many manual cars these days come with electronic parking brakes that do this for you automatically I’m afraid that this will soon become a lost skill. Another lost skill is shifting without using the clutch at all should the need arise - such as when your clutch cable or clutch hydraulics go out. Many times in my life I had to drive a friend or coworkers car to their home or to the shop to save them the cost of a tow after the clutch cable broke because they did not know how to drive it and make smooth upshifts and downshifts without using the clutch.

[@clintonlangerak7972]

​@@SLOBeachboy riding the clutch on an incline like that will roast your clutch. Sure, it's a skill, but a skill with absolutely no mechanical sympathy. Don't do it, use the handbrake, or more likely just the foot brake and master the skill of quickly catching the engagement point of the clutch as you move your right foot across to the accelerator pedal.

[@SLOBeachboy]

@@clintonlangerak7972 - LOL! It seems that you somehow managed to misinterpreted what I was saying. I did not say that you should just sit there holding your car in place without using the brakes every time you stop in a hill (not sure what even gave you that idea). I simply said that this is more difficult to do than just going very slow on level ground. I was simply making a point. However, since you brought it up - and now that I think about it - this actually IS something one should practice a bit, particularly if you live in a very hilly city like San Francisco. The thing is that when you start from a stop on a hill you are basically holding the car in place with the clutch for a split second anyway as you release the hand brake (if you are doing it correctly). And if you cannot do this well then you will always end up rolling back a bit and will then either lug the car or get the rpm too high when taking off and possibly getting some clutch burn in the process. So basically, spending some time practicing holding the car in one place on a hill with only the clutch and accelerator until you get the hang of it will actually cause less extra clutch wear in the long run compared to consistently not having smooth transitions from hill stops. And because the rpm's will be under 2000 on a moderate hill if you are doing it correctly you will not get any burn. Naturally of course the more time your clutch spends being half engaged the faster it wears but the short time you would spend practicing this would at most take maybe a week off the life span of your clutch disc. And as I said before if you live in a place when you have to make a lot of hill stops your clutch may actually last longer since you now have the skills to make smoother hill startups. Just to clarify again - since in my first post you did not seem understand what I was talking about - I was always talking about the starting from a stop on a hill using the hand brake. If you are doing it correctly however you are neither rolling back nor jumping forward but rather you are holding the car in place with clutch for a split second as you fully release the hand brake and then you transition smoothly into forward motion. If this is not the case then you are doing it wrong and you are putting more stress and more wear on your clutch.

[@panteaflorin]

@@SLOBeachboy To shift without clutch you have to bring the engine to exacly RPM in neutral before attempting a shift,i learn on old european trucks and i do this with higher gears.

[@permartinlarsson1980]

I'm 61 y o. I've driven most manuals. And as a truckdriver i've definitly changed gears more than most. Earlier in Europe the cars were smaller, having small engines and the automatic were sluggish and less fuel efficient as the automatic had an internal resistance that had to have more velocity to come to its right. That's not so today and the manuals are getting rarer. In trucks today there's automatic computer assisted manual transmissions. But they're slow to change gears. Especially when jumping gears

[@TheHaymeadow]

Middle age Aussie woman here, all my cars except 3 have been manual, including the 2003 CV8 Monaro that’s now in retirement in the shed after 10+ years of daily driving. Couldn’t find a manual when moving into a ‘nanas car’ for transporting grandkids so now I have an X-Trail. I’ve had more speeding tickets in that in the last 2 years than all the time driving the Monaro! Long live the manual!

[@johnadriaan8561]

Oh wow! Mine's a manual 2002 CV8 that I've had since new: 325,000 kms (200,000 miles) on the clock. I've recently got an EV, and I laugh that I've gone from a three-pedal car to a one-pedal one - and I hate the automation. Can't argue about the fuel cost difference though... But I've still kept the Monaro, precisely because it's a "driver's" car. They say that people who love driving love driving manuals. People who just want to get from A to B don't understand why you'd want to make it more difficult for yourself.

[@sirhcmi3]

US dad here… I’ve always driven a manual. My son just got his license and went the same route. Save the manuals!

[@sierraecho884]

It´s quiet funny and nice to see this much love for the manual. I just recently shifted (no pun intended) from a manual 2010 VW Polo to a new Toyota Corolla Hybrid with an automatic transmission. Oh I am from Germany btw.

[@antilogism]

My sons first drive a few months ago was in our Sentra with a 5 speed. He's since drove my F250HD with a 5 spd and my A4 with a 6 speed is what he practices in. Gen Z'r seem to have a lot of interest in manual so that my help save them.

[@thirstyguy4652]

There is a historical element to consider too. In the '50s Europe was rebuilding after WW2 and car ownership was low and most cars had engines of less than 2 litres and often less than 1 litre. The smaller roads in Europe were often not very wide and favoured a smaller more maneuverable vehicle. Old style automatic gearboxes were inefficient and really worked best with larger engines hence their predominance in the "luxury" end of the market. Add in the high cost of fuel (all imported) and manual gearboxes became the standard. This is starting to change as technology has made the use of automatic gearboxes practical on smaller vehicles and of course all electric vehicles are effectively automatic.

[@aaronkelley3865]

One of the main factors for the switch to automatics and the popularity of them in recent years is the performance sector. Modern cars are very performance driven in design. Modern cars keep getting faster and your average car today will beat majority of all the muscle cars from the 70’s in a race. Manual transmissions used to be king in the performance sector. However, with technology, automatic transmissions have gotten better, and finally surpassed the Manual. That’s basically the straw that broke the camel’s back. Performance minded drivers now prefer the automatics, at least in terms of the performance numbers.

[@peekaboo4390]

I removed the CVT from my Audi and did a manual 6 speed swap. A manual shift is an intrical part of the driving experience.

[@Koncs86]

And how much did that set you back?

[@Weneedaworldcaliffat]

what a waste of money on a shit box ..

[@429supercj]

Audi is odd way to spell Volkswagen

[@nallid7357]

If there's one thing I learned about CVTs is that they don't belong in an automobile. You did a good thing here.

[@klausstock8020]

No one like them. That's why Audi discontinued them rather quickly, despite sinking a lot of money into advertisements. The sound of engine revving up is part of the experience. And even the jerk when shifting gears. Some dual-clutch gear boxes are actually programmed to have a longer shift time during which the engine can rev up, making a shitty car feel like a sports car.

[@verstraetenandre]

Hello from Belgium! I drove automatic, and ofc, manual (my normal) - Automatic is ok, but as a "control freak", it feels weird having a car that shifts gears by itself..... You know, driving a manual by default, i think, even alters psychological perspectives like that! in a manual, you're the boss, in an automatic, you're the passenger! It feels like i'm the bus driver in an automatic! :D

[@geministargazer9830]

I feel less connected to the driving experience in an auto. It's also kinda boring

[@s7umpf]

You nailed it with the "diver" vs "passenger" description. I absolutely feel the same, and you know what? Both can be nice ;-). But if I had to choose, I'd always take the manual.

[@level1804]

In the UK, we are taught from 17 what a clutch is. Nothing too technical, but understanding how the drive gets to the wheels, and how to control that input along with throttle and brake control. Now whether that makes you a better driver is debatable, but it does make young people understand how their car works.

[@kc5402]

Yes it does make you a better driver, because the driver has more control over the way engine power gets to the road. In situations where grip levels are not ideal, manual control of the drive train is not only advantageous, but *SAFER* too.

[@CerdicTheGreat]

@@kc5402 on ice in an automatic just take the car out of drive when stopped. Simple.

[@lanabmc3519]

I dunno why you think were taught from 17? We can take official lessons and pass a test at 17 but most of us not in big towns and cities have been driving a lot younger than 17.

[@blucif6210]

@@lanabmc3519yeahh any rural areas outside of the cities, every 10+ yr old knows how to drive

[@lanabmc3519]

@@blucif6210 a lot of them do even younger than that. I learned about nine and both my ten and fourteen year olds can drive, but most of us learn sometime in highschool so 12 upwards. Probably fifteen sixteen ish. That’s what happens when your village has two buses a week. My dads family are from Ireland and it’s the same there

[@ziree22]

I have a fiat panda 1.2 2011 , weight 935kg , tax per month €20 , gasoline use 1l/ 20km gastank 35l , gasoline costs €1,89-€2,10 per liter this variable 📈📉 , 5 gearshift. Drives very good 😊

[@papalaz4444244]

If a bloke had an automatic car in Scotland he would be laughed at lol It's like driving a dodgem car.

[@norb0254]

There a thousands of autos in scotland ,some models only come with the auto..They are mainly dual clutch and you have the paddles on the steering ,but most just leave them to change themselves ,,The majority of trucks nowdays are Autos

[@Troy-McLore]

Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Porsche, McLaren, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini + many others & almost every single Hypercar? Seriously ?😄 They are not getting laughed at due to their gearbox !

[@Anna-fw7lm]

Italian here, once I asked my uncle who experienced it why he didn't like to drive automatic, he said: 'cause auto it's like a videogame, when I drive I want to DRIVE

[@GoldenCroc]

@@norb0254 I seriously doubt most automatics in Scotland are dual clutch models considering how uncommon those are compared to torque converter ones...

[@gunner38ED]

So Scotland doesn't have a single hybrid? Because all those are automatic, unfortunately.

[@footube3]

Manuals are more fun, more engaging and allow more refined gear changes, but the thing I really love is the ability to engine break, giving the car greater stability when needed, and the ability to stop way faster than disc breaking alone; both perfect for tearing cars around country lanes, not to mention the satisfying art to it.

[@GeeTrieste]

I will often push the clutch down when coasting is more appropriate. I feel it saves the engine and gas.

[@cyan_oxy6734]

​@@GeeTriesteThat's just plain wrong. When you push the clutch when coastung or going down a slope your engline uses petrol as it need to keep the oil pump, coolant pump, electricity, A/C running. When you let coast with your clutch engaged the fuel system shuts off but your engine keeps on turning because it's connected to the wheels.

[@williebrort]

@@cyan_oxy6734 both points are valid. If you keep the clutch engaged the engine will slow you down more, thus you'd need to spend more gas on keeping the same speed. If the clutch is unengaged, there's a lot less friction slowing you down, thus you'd be able to travel further without the need of pressing the gas pedal. Which of the two points is more benificial is unbeknowst to me, but I'd love to see/do some research on that. Edit: a later thought I had; @GeeTrieste every time you engage the clutch whilst driving there's a little wear on the clutch system, so you might save the engine and some gas, but you wear down the clutch system faster. (probably not that noticable, but neither is the other effect of engine wear noticable)

[@Welcome2TheInternet]

@@cyan_oxy6734 He never said it DOESN'T use gas when coasting. He said he SAVES gas, and he is correct. You are wrong. Coasting uses less gas than driving with the clutch engaged, Please learn how a car works.

[@kmortensen9312]

@@Welcome2TheInternet Not to mention you save a lot of wear and tear on your brakes by engine braking.. and about engine wear all car engines are designed to engine brake, in fact they had to invent a whole system for diesel cars to engine brake as its not nearly as simple a thing as it is for a petrol car

[@helenag.9386]

Getting a perfect hill start on a very steep hill in a manual is the best. I love manual. It always gives me a thrill driving.

[@MrSquareZB]

As a car journalist , here is explanation . For AT you need ( up to maybe 2010) -power ! And , in US ( as you stated) 2-liter engine is small. In Europe , it is considered as big , and even a luxury ( so you will pay extra tax ) . I belive 90% cars in Europe iz with 1,2 -1,6 liter engine . Nowadays , in this E and EH age , engines are comical /tragical . Imaging almost 2-tons heavy hibirid with - 1,2 3-cylinder petrol engine ! And , back to average small car - with power in range 60-110HP , it is clear that geardrive must be with lot of gears , and shifting must be very quick and often . 30 years ago AT were mostly big , US-made 3-gear plus OD lazy chunks . First modern AT i drove was ZF - 7 speed auto coupled with mercedes TD . In same care ( Cherokee) in same same day , we tested to completely different “schools” . One was with GM V8 5,7 HO ( 200+HP) and 3-speed auto . Another was with MB R5 TD , ( 170HP) and 7-speed ZF . US powered car was brutal, rude , unpleasant to drive . Other one was smooth, agile , and quiet ! Today , Europen opt for AT . More than MT . Hybrids can’t work with manual gear , and modern micro-engines need a lot of shifting . So , Stelantis group curenrly “rules” with (Aisin-made) double-clutch 8-speed auto . And , of course , you can shift it manulay , using “formula -1 type” paddles on both sides of steering wheel . So , yes , we switch to auto . But, very , very different .

[@sniglom]

I'm from Sweden. Nowadays automatics are quite common, but in the 00s and 90s they weren't. The usual reasons I heard were reliability, cost, fuel consumption, weight. But there was two more good reasons for choosing a manual car. 1. It can be pushed to a start if the battery is dead. In a cold country the 12v battery can lose a lot of power quickly, so that was useful. 2. manual cars can be towed behind other cars. If your car breaks down, any other car on the road can tow you out of there. If you lived in a rural area, that's an important difference. Say that you bought a car in the 80s or early 90s. You could either get it with something like a 3 speed torque converter or with a 5 speed manual. The manual car was cheaper, lighter, more reliable, had better fuel mileage and better performance. The manual car is also towable and possible to start even when the battery is dead. The automatic on the other hand was more comfortable to drive. With all that in mind, it becomes more clear why the automatic was viewed as a luxury. A manual car was cheaper to buy, cheaper to drive and more practical to use. Choosing a gearbox today is so different. Take a DCT transmission for example. It has high efficiency, more gears than a manual and shifts faster too. So choosing a manual is not for performance or mileage anymore. Cars have gotten heavier, so the weight difference is less significant. Portable power boosters are widely available for cheap, so being able to start the car by pushing it isn't as important anymore. Personally I drove a manual car for many years and now I drive an automatic. Driving the automatic is more comfortable, but it's not as fun and the sense of losing some control over the vehicle is annoying for sure. Having a manual clutch is both fun (drifting) and useful (towing/starting).

[@GoldenCroc]

Most autos are still torque converter and high spec ones offers the same advantages as dual clutches, more or less.

[@sniglom]

@@GoldenCroc Sure, I drive a 6 speed torque converter with lockup myself, it's decent and all, but I still believe a DCT has better efficiency and the benefit of more gears.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@sniglom Modern autos have more gears than DCTs. I have not heard of a 9 or 10 speed DCT in a normal car, something that exist in torque converter form.

[@sniglom]

@@GoldenCroc Do you have the model name of such a torque converter for normal cars?

[@jasonbrault5273]

Canadian here. Miss my 1990 Celica GTS manual. Was great for letting you know the road conditions. Also, in the snow, down shifting in a corner and then using throttle control to slide through a corner is amazing fun. (More throttle, lose front wheel traction, go wider, cut throttlw, engine braking plus regain traction tighten up). I don't understand the semi-automatics though. There is something about the ability to fullu disconnect the engine with the clutch. Semi's feel like an automatic driver take on how they understand manual (like, what is with the flippers or + / - on the stick). It might be something to do with the synchronizers, where the car might "fight" you if moving to too low a gear (or if someone was rougb with the car, and some gears were harder to enter (like my celica was when I got it from auction)). Linkage to actual physical components (vs drive by wire), give a driver almost a supernatural sense of how all the car components are working together. I think it's that lack of feedback (and soft suspensions) that has led to drivers to forget they are piloting multiple tonnes of steel and aluminum down the road. (And made worst drivers for it)

[@jakubadamec3243]

my company ordered a latest version of VW Golf for me for business trip ... and it was automatic! It took me an hour to get use to it and I almost crashed when leaving the parking lot. Hell ride it was. But then I appreciated the ease of driving it. Only accels were pain because the car took some time to realize I want speed to go around a car - with manual I would just shift down and kicked the gas right away.

[@dragonalfaata]

Shifting gears it's not fun while driving in the city. Other idiots in traffic expect you to be doing 50-60 km/h since that's like the legal speed limit. If I don't go that fast I get honked at. And if I do want to go that fast and get decent fuel economy I have to drive in 4th gear. In driving school I barely got to use 3rd gear lol.

[@charliecharliewhiskey9403]

I learnt in a manual, then when I was 20 I had a severe car crash that crushed my knees beyond repair and gave me a literal stroke. I went and refamiliarised (a sort of non-binding redo of your driving test) a few years later, and I insisted on refamiliarising in a manual, even though I knew I'll probably be driving automatic for the rest of my life, simply because it's best to know you're still capable of driving one. If you can drive a manual, you can drive an automatic. If you learn in an automatic, you can't drive a manual, not without difficulty. Knowing how to operate a manual means you know how to operate pretty much any vehicle on the road, gives you a better understanding of what's going on, and even makes it easier to learn to use other types of vehicle like boats and prop planes, because you're already used to one set of complex muscle-memory actions.

[@Pedgo1986]

I am not against automatic but i also thing with that and, cruising, and lane assistant etc. and all that semi automatic BS people just becoming more and more incompetent drivers and also they do all kind of s...t behind the wheel like makeup, eating, texting etc. they are minimally engaged in driving and i think its problem.

[@charliecharliewhiskey9403]

@@Pedgo1986 100%. There's a definite tendency to not concentrate as much. I find myself fighting the urge to zone out quite a lot in my current automatic because I'm not engaged at all. My hands can stay on the wheel, so they naturally move to a comfortable position instead of a hold that is useful for quick reactions. My legs stay completely still apart from one foot (and you can get away with no feet if you do use cruise control). Since you're not moving your body at all, your body relaxes, which invites everything from elevated tiredness to boredom. I absolutely feel like my automatic is making me a worse driver. I can't really do anything about that given my knees, long journeys are far too painful for me. Wish I could go back to manual.

[@Pedgo1986]

@@charliecharliewhiskey9403 then answer is semiautomatic that would be best from both world for you, no pedals but you manually shift gears or can switch to full auto

[@sebastienchristol-cu7zw]

But when you are used to a manual, your first steps with an automatic are really tough, especially if you have to make an emergency brake. Your left foot, that is used to press the clutch pedal, tries to press something, and automatically shifts right to the brake pedal, with far more strength than needed.

[@AbCd-lw5vs]

What’s a literal stroke?

[@5p0ng3b0b]

worth a mention that if you pass your driving test with an automatic in the uk, you cannot legally drive a manual without retaking your test which bites you later in life if u get a company car, van or rental etc.

[@1281bexta]

As I said in reply to someone else saying this but for Norway (I think) “Same for any sane country”

[@sailor67duilio27]

I love driving manual cars, i have driven for 53 years and driven across the whole of europe from west to east,from north to south. Believe the roads sometime are challenging,especially parking. I have driven an automatic car but they are not fun.

[@nikosevangelopoulos3605]

Greek guy here! I remember many times that you could only put 1st gear and punch it, to get up on a steep uphill. Any attempt to put 2nd would simply slow down the car and you couldn't make it to the top. The auto would fail pretty bad in these situations.

[@ΤάσοςΚαυσοκαλυβίτης]

εξ ου και η γνωστή φράση "δεν τραβάει στην ανηφόρα"

[@BloodyMobile]

An AT that fails that is indeed a trash AT. Normally they got special "modes" for such things. I remember that my dad's Mercedes back in 1990 already had "1-2-3" after the "D" mode, so you could tell the thing that it should stick with the chosen gear instead of just doing the usual. It's normally meant for going downhill without glowing out your brakes, but I'd expect that it would also work for uphill cases. And modern ATs /should/ be smart enough to notice that shifting up isn't a good idea if you're going 80% max RPM in 1st gear but only move at relatively low speed. But then again, the steepest "hill" I've had mine deal with was a park house ramp.

[@sirgeremiah]

While I personally prefer a manual transmission, an automatic transmission should be fine in that situation. Firstly, they have the option to be put into low gears (sometimes only one choice), and they are also responsive to how you use the accelerator, so by punching it, you'd end up in first and likely stay there. The best automatic transmissions also have what's sometimes called "auto-stick" - the ability to change to a manual shifting mode - that mercedes mentioned in the beginning of the video almost certainly does (mine did).

[@q1337]

bro you got old af autos with P N D L 2 1, your comment is not valid for any sane design

[@Nakata2021]

AT cars have a "Slope mode" where it fix the gear in a more powerful one to go up

[@edwardphillips8460]

Okay. So 60 yr old Canadian here. The only stick shift I ever operated as a teen was my dad’s old farm tractor. The real challenge of driving his tractor, was the “full” revolution of play in the steering wheel. It was anything but fun to operate. So I drove for most of my adult life with automatics. 2 years ago my van broke down late in the fall. Pretty quickly I figured out the van was done and time to move onto something else. Had my brother take me to a local car auction. We were running a little late so no time to check anything out. I just knew I need wheels. As long as I could afford to pay was my only concern. So this little Mazda coupe came up good looking car and the bids where in my favour. I was happy when the auctioneer slammed the hammer down “Sold!”. I went and paid for it and got the keys. Out I go to look over the new ride. Opened the door and stared! Manual transmission. My brother must have seen the look. “Well how is it?” My response that’s yet to be seen, guess I’m learning how to drive standard. I got in fired it up and jerkily drove home. Once I made it home I had my brother take it for a run. He’s drove standard for years so knew what he was doing unlike myself. The auction place has a 24hrs mechanical grace period. With him at the wheel the car was great. So that meant it was up to me to figure it all out. Next morning I got up to see an inch of snow on the ground to be sure things would be interesting. Now going on two years later I love my little car. I know now, for all those years of driving automatic, I wasn’t really driving I was just pointing the vehicle up the road. I like driving plan on doing it a long while yet! FYI: I am of the opinion if you’re just starting out with standard, snow is a blessing.

[@dlgregory35]

If you cannot drive a manual you habe no right to be behind the wheel.

[@michaelhorsman3380]

​@@dlgregory35why's that?like he said he was used to autos,so a manual is new to them,but once driving he got used to it

[@edwardphillips8460]

@@michaelhorsman3380 and loved driving it!

[@MrChipcho]

Good choice, Mazdas have absolutely buttery smooth shifter, from all the cars i drove, i love their shift feel the best. Ironically after 20 years of driving manuals i now own an automatic Mazda.

[@deborahgauvin44]

Manuals are for folks who love driving. autos are for folks who just need to go place to place.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm a retired car mechanic in the UK, so I have driven, and serviced, many different cars, in manual and auto form, which has given me the opportunity to choose the best one for my own car. I chose a diesel Kia Ceed, manual in preference to auto, for mostly practical reasons - it was around £1000 ($1250) cheaper than the auto equivalent, gives higher mpg and is in a lower CO2 emissions-based tax band here.

[@esaedvik]

and nowadays the mpg and emissions are better on automatics, as well as faster shifting than manuals.

[@SteveWray-sp2uj]

in UK if you pass test in auto but you cannot drive manual but if you pass. manual you can 'drive auto without taking a auto test.also autos higher price to buy and service and repair .UK v4 and v6 fords older cars and vans engine petrol various other makes have various combination in diesel and diesel

[@Juliangame000-lq4uk]

My pa drives 3-4 daily manual-cars. I am age 14 and also drive manual car sometimes here in germany.

[@lyaneris]

Also something to consider: cars with manual transmission usually can tow more. Since it's common to tow caravans with your own car that plays a role. (Can be as big a difference as 2.5t manual and 1.5t automatic)

[@krejci92p]

True, sadly. I had Mitsubishi L200 with 4-speed automatic. I could tow 2.2t and with manual it can tow 3-3.5t.

[@schoko-fan4370]

We had the VW Tiguan with DSG (automatic) and it could still tow our 2.5t Caravan very easy. So not always true, depends on the car

[@JackoTJK]

nearly all late model vehicles the autos have a higher tow rating than the manual (3.0t vs 3.5t etc). Think about getting a 3.5t caravan moving or reversing with a manual verse an auto and there's a lot going for them

[@lyaneris]

​@@JackoTJK Do tell Ford that automatic should have a higher tow rating please (1.5t vs 2.5t manual for a transit) ;) While getting a caravan moving is nicer with an automatic, a lot of times it's better do handshift them anyway, since it's often using higher rpm on auto with higher fuel burn and less acceleration. If you're towing 3.5t you probably bought a car just for that. However, if you want to rend a caravan, that's usually max 2.5t (more commonly around 1.8t). I have towed around 1.8t actual weight with both manuals and automatic and have not had any problems to start rolling. A big factor with that is that manuals nowadays give you some power while releasing the clutch before you need to press the pedal. This somewhat mimics letting go of the brakes with an automatic. I find that it allows me greater speed control, especially while backing up (which I also learned on a manual during drivers training). Automatics often need a lot of brake pressure while stopped, which can get annoying. Also, you bet I'd have a good mover underneath a 3.5t caravan. If I can spend that kind of money, I'm not parking it manually. (I'd also have all the other fancy stuff, like ATC trailer control). Imo the best arguments for towing with an automatic are traffic congestions and automatic distance holding cruise control.