Why are the majority of cars in the US of A Automatic?

[HAL9000]

In the UK 84% of cars are manual.
In the US of A 6.7% of cars sold are manual.


Why?

Side note, do you guys have two driving tests? One for Automatic and one for Manual + Automatic, like we do?

 

[nickbits]

Two driving tests? No. You are tested on whatever car you bring.

I have never driven a manual and probably never will nor do I have any interest in doing so. I suspect most Americans are that way.

 

[Throckmorton]

There is only one driving test, with an automatic.

Why autos? It's solely about gas mileage IMO. Gas has never been taxed to 5x its actual price here, so Americans developed a culture of big cruisers with automatic transmissions. Even musclecars mostly have autos, which are good for drag racing.

Europe is well on its way to being mainly automatic just like us now that automatics are more efficient. Does Jaguar sell manual transmission cars? Most Benzes are automatic. Ferrari doesn't sell a single manual transmission anymore. Jeremy Fucking Clarkson drives an automatic Mercedes.

I get the impression that in Europe an automatic is considered a luxury feature and most people would probably rather have the auto. In America the automatic is considered standard, and manuals are for enthusiasts. The problem is there are so few car enthusiasts in America now. The current generation of kids learning to drive only care whether the car has an iPod jack.

 

[jlee]

There is only one driving test, with an automatic.

Why autos? Probably because gas has never been taxed to 5x its actual price here, so Americans developed a culture of big cruisers with automatic transmissions. Even musclecars mostly have autos, which are good for drag racing.

In most places you take the driving test in whatever car you bring - not necessarily an auto.

 

[Throckmorton]

In most places you take the driving test in whatever car you bring - not necessarily an auto.

Oh yeah, I guess that's true. I was thinking back to my test and it was part of my drivers ed class.

 

[ussfletcher]

Also, America is effing huge, nobody wants to worry about shifting when you have a car loaded with kids driving 12 hours.

 

[Railgun]

Having moved to the UK recently, I will say this.

The driving tests are based more on little procedural things than actually driving.

I've been driving for 20 years. I like to think that I'm a good driver. I've driven in RHD countries before for extended periods and had been driving in London for nearly a year before I took my test. I failed during the first practical. I apparently didn't look to my left before exiting a roundabout. Not likely. What I DIDN'T do is look enough to satisfy the tester. I was hit on things like speed. Side streets here have, typically, a speed limit of 30. Common thing is to go less than that. I wasn't going under the limit enough. I'm sorry, if the limit is 30, you can't hit me on doing not enough under the limit.

When starting from a stop...look nearly 270 deg around you, do NOT use the normal brake. Signal, put it in gear, ease up on the clutch while easing off the parking brake. Second to that, at a stop, use the p brake after stopped and do not sit on the normal brake. Do not signal your intent to turn into another lane while someone is next to you as you may scare them.

It's stupid.

As far as the whole manual/auto thing, yeah, it's essentially two tests. If you test in an auto, you can't drive a manual. If you test in the latter, you can drive both.

And don't even get me started on the written.

Here's a q from it.

You come upon an accident and there are injuries. What do you do?

I'm sorry...that has what to do with driving exactly?

Not to mention that many I see here suck at driving in general.

As far as manual v auto, I prefer a stick any day. American's just want convenience...and can't drive manual anyway.

 

[Railgun]

Also, America is effing huge, nobody wants to worry about shifting when you have a car loaded with kids driving 12 hours.

That's irrelevant. If you're in the boonies, you're not going to shift that much. That's all highway.

NY, LA, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, San Diego, Seattle, etc...

How's city driving any different than London, Munich, Rome, Barcelona, Geneva, etc...

Europeans have kids too.

 

[michal1980]

because at the end of the day for most people auto>manual.

and in general Auto>Manual.

 

[sdifox]

because Americans can afford Automatics.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Because are legs are too fat to work the clutch and our blubber hangs over the shifter.

 

[7window]

I drive a manual and now tired of it. A car now to me is to take you from a to b. I used to despise auto but now thankful for it. I was teaching my son how to drive a stick and he was getting it but the worry of him getting to an accident driving a stick is not worth it. He is a senior worrying about his grades, accidents, using a clutch in a hill and crazy drivers so I just put him in an auto and I am done with it. No lawsuit to worry about.

Now his friend got an evo for his 18th and one month later rollover but lived. Now Shopping for another evo.

I am thinking of continuing teaching him stick in a mustang this weekend but he is scared to drive it in a parking lot. His experienced with auto for 9 months now with no issue. Peace of mind.

 

[NutBucket]

Its all about mindset. Even after living immigrating over 40 years ago, my dad refuses to buy a car with an automatic. I'm sure growing up around this contributed to my preference for a manual (and aversion to automatics). But now having been driving for over a decade I still prefer a manual and it has definitely influenced some of my car buying decisions.

EDIT: I should also add I learned to drive with a manual and took my test with one. If you can't work the clutch/shifter and pay attention to what's happening around you then get off the road. Seriously.

 

[AdamK47]

manual > automatic

Doesn't need explaining.

 

[LTC8K6]

I spend most of my time cruising on the highway.

My auto doesn't shift much, and neither would I with a manual.

Even the city driving is mostly cruising, just at a lower speed.

A manual would be a waste on me. I wouldn't really be using it.

I have only driven a manual for Uncle Sam. I didn't have any real problems, nor was it much fun in traffic.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Because driving in rush hour traffic with a manual isn't any fun

 

[JulesMaximus]

In the UK 84% of cars are manual.
In the US of A 6.7% of cars sold are manual.

Why?

Side note, do you guys have two driving tests? One for Automatic and one for Manual + Automatic, like we do?

Because you can't text and shift at the same time?

It makes drinking coffee impossible?

It is harder to apply makeup while driving?

Truth is that Americans are just fat and lazy... that's why.

 

[manimal]

because Americans eat while they drive. Its weird.

 

[foghorn67]

Maybe we don't give a shit about trivial statistics.

 

[Arkaign]

In the UK 84% of cars are manual.
In the US of A 6.7% of cars sold are manual.


Why?

Side note, do you guys have two driving tests? One for Automatic and one for Manual + Automatic, like we do?

I don't think those numbers are accurate any more. I visited the UK back in '07, and saw plenty of autos over there. Also I'd be surprised if the US had even 6.7% manual, it's probably actually 5% or less (and no, I don't consider DSGs/etc to be manuals, a real manual has a clutch pedal and a proper gear shift with linkage directly available to the driver).

With fuel economy becoming better in autos than manuals thanks to computer nannies making things extra boring and efficient to help meet fuel economy standards, the numbers of true manuals will continue to drop. Want to buy a Ferrari or Lambo with a real manual? Good luck with that. Even the elite supercars are dropping manuals, bah.

I've only owned a single automatic vehicle out of about a dozen cars *shrug*.

 

[RockinZ28]

Man it would be a nightmare in Los Angeles rush hour if everyone had manuals. Half the population should not be on the road, could only imagine them with further complications added.

Heck I don't even like getting stuck in traffic when I'm out with the Trans Am. You can spend miles with your foot off the brake and gas in an auto just letting it idle forward. Manual it's non stop clutch in, clutch out, maybe I can shift to 2nd gear for a second, nope engines about to start lugging, back to neutral, complete stop, back to first...

 

[96Firebird]

I dread sitting in traffic in my Trans am, plus my clutch pedal is hard and it really wears out my left leg... I usually let the car ahead of me get a few car lengths ahead before I even consider moving. Luckily, I don't hit traffic often.

 

[DaTT]

Because driving in rush hour traffic with a manual isn't any fun

I find this statement to be untrue. I have been driving manual for many years and used to think like this. But now it's just second nature and I really don't think about it anymore. The only car that bothered me while driving in stop and go traffic was my Thunderbird Supercoupe as the clutch was fucking heavy. Nowadays clutches are pretty light and it doesn't cramp your leg up.

Hell, when I drove a 2010 Shelby GT500, the clutch was featherlight compared to my 2005 GT

 

[thedarkwolf]

The whole traffic things is BS. Back in the day when cars had cable/mechanical clutches and actually took some effort to push it made sense. Driving your average car today with a hydraulic clutch takes no strength at all. It takes more effort to push the brake pedal so you might as well do away with that while you are at it.

 

[pauldun170]

I find this statement to be untrue. I have been driving manual for many years and used to think like this. But now it's just second nature and I really don't think about it anymore. The only car that bothered me while driving in stop and go traffic was my Thunderbird Supercoupe as the clutch was fucking heavy. Nowadays clutches are pretty light and it doesn't cramp your leg up.

Hell, when I drove a 2010 Shelby GT500, the clutch was featherlight compared to my 2005 GT

Agreed
My wife has an automatic but I've haven't had a auto as my daily driver since 1992.
NY traffic? Prefer Manual. Keeps me from zoning out and its not like I'm doing a lot of shifting in traffic. Otherwise, its second nature and I don't really have to think about it.

Fuel consumption? I can beat MPG ratings no problem in any manual car I drive. (Too be honest..I dont really care about the difference between auto\manual mpg estimates. A 1-3 mpg difference is insignificant to me)

Even in my current snooze mobile I can get some entertainment value setting up the chassis prior to curve in the road, matching the revs perfectly with each downshift with precise control over power to the ground.

Throughout all the cars I've owned I haven't had to sink a dime into transmission maintenance or repair.

I understand why folks prefer automatics, no matter what kind of justification they try and come up with.

I just enjoy driving a stick and I'd rather a car entertain me in the way I like, when ever I want rather than sacrifice some enjoyment for convenience features.