Poll: Can you drive with manual transmission?

[Satki]

Shift>>>>>> Automatic. Automatic just feels wrong to me, and I like having the control

 

[Fingerprint]

Yes, there are a lot more manual cars in the U.K. than automatic cars.

 

[Gruthar]

Obviously Europe has cities, but you guys aren't as sprawled out as we are, nor do you have as many cars per capita and, by extension, as much murder-inducing heavy traffic.

True, we aren't as sprawled, but we are far more densely populated and urbanised (especially the UK). We may not have as many cars per person, but those cars are squeezed into a much smaller area. Not to mention most of our roads are cart tracks compared to yours.

Oh sure, but what I'm getting at is that I think the higher population density actually cuts down on the number of cars you have on the road. You can actually walk places, and have respectable public transportation! These are novel concepts that don't really exist in America, outside of major East Coast cities like New York. If you want to do anything here, you get there in a car, and virtually everyone has at least one.

Your roads may be narrow, but your cars are generally much smaller, and I think traffic is handled much better across the sea (ex. roundabouts vs four-way stoplights). I am however just going from memory. It's been several years since I visited Britain, Germany, and Austria, and I certainly wasn't old enough to drive then. But Chile is probably pretty similar to Europe in terms of the road layout, and my experience there is that the downtown areas are comparable to American stop-and-go driving, but the outskirts of the city and everywhere else requires much less stopping.

 

[Gruthar]

A Real Man's car has a manual gearbox. Automatic transmissions are for grannies and Americans.

Alright, this one I gotta nitpick. Granted, manuals are superior in just about all applications, but automatics are better suited to turbocharged cars, as well as cars with serious horsepower. The former because it allows you maintain a load/boost on the engine despite the gear change, and the latter because messing up a shift on a car with a lot of HP is not a pretty sight.

Also don't forget that most automatics can be 'forced' to remain in a certain gear.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

It's been several years since I visited Britain, Germany, and Austria, and I certainly wasn't old enough to drive then. But Chile is probably pretty similar to Europe in terms of the road layout, and my experience there is that the downtown areas are comparable to American stop-and-go driving, but the outskirts of the city and everywhere else requires much less stopping.

Well, admittedly I've never been to America so I have no 1st hand experience, but if you've never driven in a European city or the surrounds then, no offense here, you don't have a fucking clue. But then again I have no idea about the US, so really we are both arguing about something we know sweet fuck all about.

 

[Gruthar]

It's been several years since I visited Britain, Germany, and Austria, and I certainly wasn't old enough to drive then. But Chile is probably pretty similar to Europe in terms of the road layout, and my experience there is that the downtown areas are comparable to American stop-and-go driving, but the outskirts of the city and everywhere else requires much less stopping.

Well, admittedly I've never been to America so I have no 1st hand experience, but if you've never driven in a European city or the surrounds then, no offense here, you don't have a fucking clue. But then again I have no idea about the US, so really we are both arguing about something we know sweet fuck all about.

Haha! Touche, sir, touche...

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Technically speaking, I don't have my driver's license, but really I am able to drive a manual transmission car. I just haven't done the test yet.

same here, i have tried an automatic before and just cant get my head round them , that being said i'm not THAT much better with a manual >_>

 

[Lord Azrael]

It's mandatory in the UK to pass your test in a manual car (our driving test is one of the most stringent in the world!) You cannot do it in an automatic unless you are disabled.

 

[Mezrev]

At least in Finland you've got to drive your test with a manual transmission car. I honestly have to say that it comes to me as a bit of a shock that it's so common to get a license without knowing how to drive a manual tranmission car.

Or well, you can drive your license with an automatic one, but then you are not allowed to drive a manual transmission car, and at least personally I don't know anyone (or heard of anyone) who'd driven their license with an automatic here.

 

[Zacharine]

It's not like our car industry is doing worse than yours, ours generally consume less fuel (due to higher power output/cc of cylinder volume) without a noticable loss at power or speed. Oh, and let's not forget that ours also look better (though this is purely personal opinion).

In all fairness, we drive slightly bigger cars than the rest of the world because of safety regulations packing cars full of air bags and re-enforced beams. More weight=less power.

Same airbags that come as a stardard this side of the puddle too? Along with the support beams? Some models even have built-in roll cages comparable to rally cars. And while allowing European cars to retain similar speeds and acceleration curves despite 10% or even 20% less cc in the engine?

Really, making a car heavier is not a problem(Just use more iron instead of aluminium and plastics). Making cars lighter while retaining the safety aspects is.

Just face it: Fuel economy hasn't been a factor for American car builders nearly as long as it has been for Europeans.

 

[Zacharine]

At least in Finland you've got to drive your test with a manual transmission car. I honestly have to say that it comes to me as a bit of a shock that it's so common to get a license without knowing how to drive a manual tranmission car.

Or well, you can drive your license with an automatic one, but then you are not allowed to drive a manual transmission car, and at least personally I don't know anyone (or heard of anyone) who'd driven their license with an automatic here.

Did they change the law or something? I drove my lisence in 2003 at southern Finland and no automatic transmission what so ever were allowed for the training cars if I remember correctly.

 

[Evilvikingking]

Every freaking day through traffic. I've never owned anything other than a standard. Now, I live in Texas and yes. It is appauling how few people know how the properly drive a standard, ie. not sucking at it.

I love that Avatar.

On topic: Manual transmission is what cars are all about. If you have a manual gearbox you go around corners and know that you had ALL control over it.
Automatic just replaces your hand with an electronic circuit.

 

[Mezrev]

At least in Finland you've got to drive your test with a manual transmission car. I honestly have to say that it comes to me as a bit of a shock that it's so common to get a license without knowing how to drive a manual tranmission car.

Or well, you can drive your license with an automatic one, but then you are not allowed to drive a manual transmission car, and at least personally I don't know anyone (or heard of anyone) who'd driven their license with an automatic here.

Did they change the law or something? I drove my lisence in 2003 at southern Finland and no automatic transmission what so ever were allowed for the training cars if I remember correctly.

I'm not completely sure, but if I recall correctly, you can get a license for automatic only in special cases, like in case of some disabilities. Not sure though, just what I've heard and I'm too lazy to start making an extensive search right now.

 

[Trivun]

Yes, in the UK that's what you learn unless you request automatic, I believe. I'm still taking lessons at the moment but I always drive manually, and that's what I'll do in my test. In the UK (unsure about other places), if you do your test in an automatic you can't drive a manual without passing the test again for manual. But if you pass in a manual car then you can drive manually or drive an automatic...

 

[joystickjunki3]

Yeah, I can. And about half the guys I know can too, but not nearly as many girls can (just furthering the stereotype that girls can't drive (sorta)) and I've always wondered why it happened like that. I know my dad didn't teach my sisters to drive stick because he barely trusts them to drive as is.

 

[fletch_talon]

I don't see the point in learning to drive manual, seems like a waste of time considering I'd only ever buy an automatic. I don't know the advantages of a manual and I'd go as far to assume any advantages that do exist wouldn't apply to me.

Yeah, who needs silly little things like fuel efficiency and actually being in control of the car?

Oh of course Trolly McTrollerson, and here I had forgotten that I seem to swerve all over the road whenever I drive because I have absolutely no control over my automobile.

My fuel efficiency seems fine, even if the difference is anything considerable I have no trouble paying for petrol and considering my income is from part time work at a retail department store my car must be doing something right.

As for RAKtheUndead, thank you for actually answering the question, as opposed to stroking your E-ego like the above poster.

But in both cases I still don't see the need for a manual car or license, its a personal belief, and if control is the best argument then I want to make it very clear that as long as I control the speed and the direction (which I obviously do) I have all the control I need. Anything more than that would serve only to make things more complicated than needed.

 

[UltimatheChosen]

My dad tried to teach me once, so I could probably (barely) eke my way through in an emergency, but I marked "no", because I really only have 10 minutes of experience.

 

[Skeleon]

Heh, I only know how to drive cars with manual transmission.
Never tried an automatic before, but I bet it's even easier.

 

[Gally-Kid]

Shortcommings? What shortcommings? I drive "stick" and i can get much better performance or economy than an auto just be selecting the right gear. Its much more involving and comes in dead handy when you need to over take a truck quickly.
The automatic is seen more a lazy persons choice where i live.