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

[HAL9000]

Sigh. if it is a chore, most people will pick the path of least resistance, in this case, auto tranny. It is simply the way things are. ZV already outlined the major differences in circumstances that led to the dominance of auto tranny in NA.

Yeah I know, got the reason a while ago, I said thank you to him.

 

[mmntech]

Why not just go out and buy the manual?

Would love too. Been eyeing a Mustang, Civic SI, or Fiat 500 Abarth. I understand the basic principle. Gently ease off clutch to get going, clutch and brake, use parking brake on hills so you don't roll back. I'm just worried I wouldn't shift properly or burn the clutch.

 

[pauldun170]

Would love too. Been eyeing a Mustang, Civic SI, or Fiat 500 Abarth. I understand the basic principle. Gently ease off clutch to get going, clutch and brake, use parking brake on hills so you don't roll back. I'm just worried I wouldn't shift properly or burn the clutch.

Depending on the car
First week will be stall fest and maybe crunch fest
Second week you are no longer a nuisance in traffic
Next couple of weeks experimentation (downshifting properly, picking proper gears for situation, learning the general do's and don'ts)

It quickly becomes second nature unless you are a multitasker when driving (phone, conversations with passengers, texting, interpretive dance) then it may take a little longer.

Clutches in most cars take a lot of abuse and will last 100K+ miles with zero maintenance (unless manufacturer calls for service intervals). I've never had to replace a clutch in any car I own. Historically I've replaced cars at 140K on the clock.

 

[KentState]

Would love too. Been eyeing a Mustang, Civic SI, or Fiat 500 Abarth. I understand the basic principle. Gently ease off clutch to get going, clutch and brake, use parking brake on hills so you don't roll back. I'm just worried I wouldn't shift properly or burn the clutch.

Without much experience, I purchased a manual and learned to drive on it. Didn't do much damage past the first week which was the roughest.

 

[nerp]

Lots of things do a better job than I would, but that doesn't mean I want something else to do it for me, it feels like disappointment and a loss of control.

Scratch ABS, speedometers (what, you can't calculate by counting seconds between telephone poles?), air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, etc.

You're just being stubborn. A new modern transmission does not take away from the driving experience. This is coming from someone who only drove a stick for years. I actually have more fun with my new car with the 8-speed ZF tranny since I can concentrate entirely on the road, the wheel and the pedal. Putting a stick in my car would make it perform worse and get worse mileage, so there's no advantage other than nostalgia and some perceived notion that I'm "not in control" despite the fact you're not really in control with or without a stick.

 

[Crono]

Scratch ABS, speedometers (what, you can't calculate by counting seconds between telephone poles?), air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, etc.

You're just being stubborn. A new modern transmission does not take away from the driving experience. This is coming from someone who only drove a stick for years. I actually have more fun with my new car with the 8-speed ZF tranny since I can concentrate entirely on the road, the wheel and the pedal. Putting a stick in my car would make it perform worse and get worse mileage, so there's no advantage other than nostalgia and some perceived notion that I'm "not in control" despite the fact you're not really in control with or without a stick.

Maybe we should just all use Flintstones style cars. None of that fancy engine power stuff, I want to feel the road and be in real complete control!

 

[HAL9000]

Scratch ABS, speedometers (what, you can't calculate by counting seconds between telephone poles?), air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, etc.

You're just being stubborn. A new modern transmission does not take away from the driving experience. This is coming from someone who only drove a stick for years. I actually have more fun with my new car with the 8-speed ZF tranny since I can concentrate entirely on the road, the wheel and the pedal. Putting a stick in my car would make it perform worse and get worse mileage, so there's no advantage other than nostalgia and some perceived notion that I'm "not in control" despite the fact you're not really in control with or without a stick.

Having not driven an automatic I can't really comment. My car has a stick... Lol. It's wooden and I found it in a Forrest, should probably chuck it out.

 

[Yongsta]

50 years from now when cars are driven by computers, new argument: ZOMG no more control, I want control.

 

[sdifox]

50 years from now when cars are driven by computers, new argument: ZOMG no more control, I want control.

I can't wait for auto drive.

 

[freegeeks]

there are other reasons over here (Belgium) why people drive manuals.
- a DSG on a Volkswagen or on a BMW is a 2k-3k euro option
- co2 emissions are generally higher on the auto versions, lots of taxes here are calculated on co2 output

 

[waggy]

my first 10 cars where manual. I would continue buying them but it's hard to find them on anything other then cheap cars or sports cars.

 

[Jinny]

lol i eat and drive in my stick shift car all the time.

 

[Ben90]

Scratch ABS, speedometers (what, you can't calculate by counting seconds between telephone poles?), air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, etc.

You're just being stubborn. A new modern transmission does not take away from the driving experience. This is coming from someone who only drove a stick for years. I actually have more fun with my new car with the 8-speed ZF tranny since I can concentrate entirely on the road, the wheel and the pedal. Putting a stick in my car would make it perform worse and get worse mileage, so there's no advantage other than nostalgia and some perceived notion that I'm "not in control" despite the fact you're not really in control with or without a stick.

While I do completely agree that modern automatic transmissions can be more efficient and can extract more performance from the engine, I disagree about the conclusion.

Some people love that mechanical control of a vehicle. I personally dislike power steering, although I do understand its near essential on a lot of larger vehicles. I feel even more passionate about transmissions, and will absolutely not buy an automatic vehicle regardless of its performance.

While people have different preferences, somethings are just intangible to other people. Try explaining why mechanical keyboards are better to computer illiterate people.

 

[HAL9000]

lol i eat and drive in my stick shift car all the time.

That's illegal over here, is it not over there?

 

[Zenmervolt]

That's illegal over here, is it not over there?

No, it's not. And it should not be.

ZV

 

[Ben90]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J52xUG_wvos&feature=related

 

[power_hour]

lol i eat and drive in my stick shift car all the time.

Hope you like prison food when you accidently run over somebody because you were too busy eating. Avoid the gravy ;-)

 

[Throckmorton]

What's wrong with eating while driving? Can't they do two things at once in Europe? Maybe that's why they almost got taken over by the Germans twice. "Le Germans are rolling into my village but I'm busy eating le cwoissant". Meanwhile GI Joe was dropping bombs on Hitler while eating a shrimp burrito.

 

[NutBucket]

No, it's not. And it should not be.

ZV

I think its grouped under "distracted driving" which is ticketable.

 

[HAL9000]

No, it's not. And it should not be.

ZV

Hmm we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. People shouldn't be allowed to: Text, Call, Eat, Read while driving.

 

[Crono]

Hmm we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. People shouldn't be allowed to: Text, Call, Eat, Read while driving.

Why not? It's totally safe, trust me*!

* Not me

 

[HAL9000]

Why not? It's totally safe, trust me*!

* Not me

 

[Zenmervolt]

I think its grouped under "distracted driving" which is ticketable.

It's only ticketable in most jurisdictions if the driving itself is actually impaired (e.g. swerving, wandering out pf your lane, etc.). If you're eating a Snickers barwhile otherwise driving perfectly they can't ticket you in most jurisdictions. For distracted driving to stick, you have to actually be distracted; simply eating by itself does not necessarily rise to that level.

ZV

 

[GoatMonkey]

I'm not even going to comment about this transmission crap. That horse is beaten to death daily on this site.

Eating while driving is interesting though. I have no problem with people eating while driving, as long as they are eating the right food. You're not going to be eating a plate of spaghetti while driving. Standard American fast food is no problem while driving. Burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, etc. are all no problem.

And drinks are even easier. That's one thing that has been pathetic in BMWs until recently, the cupholders were all complete crap. Americans have big drinks. A small is usually 20oz at this point, which is a little over half a liter. A large drink is closer to a liter. That won't even fit in an old BMW cupholder, and if it did the thing would probably snap off.

 

[Don Karnage]

Because there is no use for a manual transmission anymore. Give me a 7 spd automatic anyday.