Do you Americans/Canadians ever drive manual cars?

[Bramimond]

14 hours ago, Montana16 said:

How?

 

There are tons of them, at least in Germany.

I live in Germany and have never seen an automatic car. But you have to look inside to differentiate them and everyone I know has a normal car.

 

Maybe people that know a lot about cars can spot them without looking inside, but I do not know enough about cars to tell them apart by something other than their color.

 

If the car drives entirely by itself, that is a lot more convenient than automatic. I have to confess that I actually hate driving cars, so I'm anticipating a future where I do not have to bother with that anymore. But as long as I have to drive and get a choice, I'll choose normal cars over automatic ones, since that is more fun.

 

On the subject of electric cars, they are cool I guess, but whenever I have to drive, I need more range than they have. I don't own a car, since I don't need one for day to day things. My last vacation was a road trip, where I was driving between 12h and 15h a day. That wouldn't even have been possible with an electric vehicle.

 

Maybe they get more range eventually, but I have a feeling that's not gonna happen. Though, if all cars are self-driving and on demand you could just switch cars during the trip. It's a little inconvenient, though.

[s_k]

I know loads of people with Automatics, both in the Netherlands and Germany (I have a lot of friends in the Ruhr area) but I absolutely hate them. I prefer to decide when the car shifts gears. That said, many people (most...) Would be better off with Automatics

 

[Beerzerker]

38 minutes ago, Bramimond said:

I live in Germany and have never seen an automatic car. But you have to look inside to differentiate them and everyone I know has a normal car.

 

Maybe people that know a lot about cars can spot them without looking inside, but I do not know enough about cars to tell them apart by something other than their color.

 

If the car drives entirely by itself, that is a lot more convenient than automatic. I have to confess that I actually hate driving cars, so I'm anticipating a future where I do not have to bother with that anymore. But as long as I have to drive and get a choice, I'll choose normal cars over automatic ones, since that is more fun.

 

On the subject of electric cars, they are cool I guess, but whenever I have to drive, I need more range than they have. I don't own a car, since I don't need one for day to day things. My last vacation was a road trip, where I was driving between 12h and 15h a day. That wouldn't even have been possible with an electric vehicle.

 

Maybe they get more range eventually, but I have a feeling that's not gonna happen. Though, if all cars are self-driving and on demand you could just switch cars during the trip. It's a little inconvenient, though.

This is one thing I woudn't want to see at all.

 

You know how it is with anything that's public and you can guess what state those would probrably be in on average - Not to mention probrably what you'd find or what's happened in them too at some point along the way. 

If I can't have my own ride I believe I'll walk first, thank you very much.


 

[dalekphalm]

On 12/4/2021 at 6:10 AM, Skiiwee29 said:

Everyone should learn how to drive a Manual. 

As a blanket statement, this is wrong.

 

It highly depends on where you live and what kind of cars you would expect to have access to.

 

Let's take Canada, for example (Ontario, specifically):

I don't know how to drive manual (I understand the basics and fundamentals, but have never "done" it). This has literally never been an issue.

 

I've rarely even seen a manual car in Ontario in the last 15 years. They do exist, but the vast majority of cars in Ontario have automatic transmissions, and most new cars sold here are automatics - this has been the case since I started driving in the very early 00's.

 

Will I ever need to know how to operate a manual transmission? No, probably not.

 

Now before someone brings up the argument "driving manual makes you a better driver" - prove it.

[jones177]

17 hours ago, Montana16 said:

How?

 

There are tons of them, at least in Germany.

 

As someone who drives both (with overall more experience in manual cars) I don't agree one bit. Sure you have to do less in an automatic but driving in city traffic or during a traffic jam automatic cars are just a lot more chill. I thought the same when I just started driving and never had the experience with automatic cars but now after driving both for quiet some time I honestly rather take the automatic than the manual car.

You may not have driven the right manual car.

 

Back in 2012 I drove a WRX hatch that had a 5 speed. It was my 4th WRX with a 5 speed so I was not unhappy with the model. All that time my commute was on the expressway so not an issue with a 5 speed. In 2013 my commute changed to the street with backups and the WRX was horrible to drive so I replaced it with a 6 speed BRZ. The BRZ could easily crawl through heavy traffic since it had enough tuque to do 1mph and up. I replaced it with another BRZ(with brembos) in 2017.  I retired in 2018 so I got a 2019 WRX STI since no more heavy traffic commutes but I replaced it with another BRZ two weeks back since it is still my favorite car. 

[Actual_Criminal]

1 hour ago, jones177 said:

You may not have driven the right manual car.

 

Back in 2012 I drove a WRX hatch that had a 5 speed. It was my 4th WRX with a 5 speed so I was not unhappy with the model. All that time my commute was on the expressway so not an issue with a 5 speed. In 2013 my commute changed to the street with backups and the WRX was horrible to drive so I replaced it with a 6 speed BRZ. The BRZ could easily crawl through heavy traffic since it had enough tuque to do 1mph and up. I replaced it with another BRZ(with brembos) in 2017.  I retired in 2018 so I got a 2019 WRX STI since no more heavy traffic commutes but I replaced it with another BRZ two weeks back since it is still my favorite car. 

Oh wow, what a coincidence!

 

One of my dream (realistic/affordable) cars of mine is a WRX. I hoped to get one in 3-5 years or so once I have some more driving experience and can get cheap insurance (due to no claims discount bonus). I want to get a classic Blue one with all the Gold decals etc lol.

[Montana One-Six]

6 hours ago, Bramimond said:

I live in Germany and have never seen an automatic car. But you have to look inside to differentiate them and everyone I know has a normal car.

 

Maybe people that know a lot about cars can spot them without looking inside, but I do not know enough about cars to tell them apart by something other than their color.

No It is pretty much impossible to see from the outside if it is a manual or an automatic car unless you know the car.

 

But out of all people I know in Germany probably 1/3 drive automatic.

Also Pretty much any luxury car you see thats not older than 15 years has an automatic transmission of some sort.

Maybe you have never driven or sat in one but you most definitely have seen one.

 

3 hours ago, jones177 said:

You may not have driven the right manual car.

Sure the actual car matters a lot in that decision making and my statement probably reflects that as I like my automatic car overall better. Now if I had a Lancia Delta HF integrale Evo I would be driving manual all day every day.

So, lets say I had two identical cars one manual and one automatic in that case I wouldn't really care either way I think.

[jones177]

3 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

Oh wow, what a coincidence!

 

One of my dream (realistic/affordable) cars of mine is a WRX. I hoped to get one in 3-5 years or so once I have some more driving experience and can get cheap insurance (due to no claims discount bonus). I want to get a classic Blue one with all the Gold decals etc lol.

I had a 2007 in blue. it attracted too much a the wrong attention so the rest were either gray, silver or white. 

[Actual_Criminal]

1 hour ago, jones177 said:

I had a 2007 in blue. it attracted too much a the wrong attention so the rest were either gray, silver or white. 

Yeah, that always worries me about buying a 'nice/popular' or 'expensive' car... that's why a lot of rich peeps buy a major sports car like a Ferrai or Lambo then sell it after a year and just buy a Range Rover or something. 

 

Did you have a lot of dickheads messing with it?

[Alcarin]

My previous car was a manual. I hated it.

 

Automatic is so much nicer from a convenience and ease of use standpoint, which is worth more to me than a miniscule amount of extra fuel efficiency in manual transmissions. However, I don't drive for pleasure or recreation... I drive to get from point A to point B (mostly work or shopping). 

[jones177]

2 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

Yeah, that always worries me about buying a 'nice/popular' or 'expensive' car... that's why a lot of rich peeps buy a major sports car like a Ferrai or Lambo then sell it after a year and just buy a Range Rover or something. 

 

Did you have a lot of dickheads messing with it?

The cops gave me tickets and Civics wanted to race.

I let my Son take over payments and I bought white one and I was invisible again.

 

I thought that I might get attention with the big wing on the STI but since it was dark gray it was invisible too. 

[Ultraforce]

On 12/4/2021 at 6:09 AM, Actual_Criminal said:

I am learning to drive in the UK where most people use manual cars. However, automatic-only licences are becoming more common because more and more people are just using automatic cars, like the States where I believe automatic is really popular.

 

My driving instructor even said there is no point going for manual these days and I should just go for automatic.

 

I am doing manual lessons because my new job soon will require driving around 10 hours or so per week and might be driving different cars.

 

Still, is my instructor right and is there really any point in doing manual lessons these days? 

I don't know if I've actually ever been in a manual car while living in Canada. Seems like an annoying extra step and just another reason to not drive a car. Though my word shouldn't be taken as gospel I live in a big city and just hated the experience of driving a car in general so let my learners permit expire.

[Beerzerker]

11 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

As a blanket statement, this is wrong.

 

It highly depends on where you live and what kind of cars you would expect to have access to.

 

Let's take Canada, for example (Ontario, specifically):

I don't know how to drive manual (I understand the basics and fundamentals, but have never "done" it). This has literally never been an issue.

 

I've rarely even seen a manual car in Ontario in the last 15 years. They do exist, but the vast majority of cars in Ontario have automatic transmissions, and most new cars sold here are automatics - this has been the case since I started driving in the very early 00's.

 

Will I ever need to know how to operate a manual transmission? No, probably not.

 

Now before someone brings up the argument "driving manual makes you a better driver" - prove it.

No, this is right and where you live doesn't matter one bit about it. 
It's just a good idea, (Note I said Idea) not a mandate to learn how if you can, no matter where you are.

Can't hurt to and it does open up options for you if you know how..
No, just knowing how to drive a manual does NOT make you a better driver.

TBH it's really up to the driver, as in the individual but I still agree it's not a bad idea to learn how if you can.
And if not, I feel for you if you're ever in a situation you'll have to, but cannot because you never even bothered to learn how.

[GreatnessRD]

I wish I would've asked my parents to teach me how to drive manual. I feel I'm too late in the game to try and learn now, lol.

[Bramimond]

11 hours ago, Montana16 said:

Maybe you have never driven or sat in one but you most definitely have seen one.

This is getting kinda philosophical. 

I'd say I haven't seen any automatic car so far, since I am unable to identify them. 

 

Like when the police comes and asks whether I have seen a suspect and I didn't notice despite him passing right by. 

 

On the other hand, I've seen plenty of electric cars. But then, I wasn't even aware that electric cars do not have manual transmission until this very thread. Sure, it makes sense, but I never thought about it. Never sat in one, either. 

[MultiGamerClub]

Manual is dying, but you should learn it.

Not that im from the US, but norway.

[Beerzerker]

4 hours ago, Bramimond said:

This is getting kinda philosophical. 

I'd say I haven't seen any automatic car so far, since I am unable to identify them. 

 

Like when the police comes and asks whether I have seen a suspect and I didn't notice despite him passing right by. 

 

On the other hand, I've seen plenty of electric cars. But then, I wasn't even aware that electric cars do not have manual transmission until this very thread. Sure, it makes sense, but I never thought about it. Never sat in one, either. 

Easy to identify.

Manuals have three pedals on the floor.
Going from Left to right: Clutch, brake, gas, and autos have just two pedals (Brake and gas).

Autos also have a labeled shift pattern with the letter "P" (For park), manuals don't have that or a "D" for drive either.
Manuals are all numbers (1- whatever) with an "R" for reverse and that's it.

As for whether it's column or floorshift, it can go either way but manuals on the column haven't been made for years (In the US at least), that was refered to as "Three on the tree" - BTW I learned how to drive with one of those.
Virtually all manuals made since then are on the floor.
Even today an auto can be made to be on the column but the majority are on the floor too.

That's a basic rundown but the biggest hint are the pedals, that's a dead giveaway between the two.

[dalekphalm]

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

No, this is right and where you live doesn't matter one bit about it. 

Highly disagree - there is literally no reason for me to learn how to drive a manual unless I want to for fun.

 

You have to go pretty far out of your way in Canada to need to drive a manual car, outside of niche applications (eg: classic cars, or your entire group of friends and family are all "car people" who drive manuals).

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

It's just a good idea, (Note I said Idea) not a mandate to learn how if you can, no matter where you are.

It can certainly be useful, yes. But it's so niche here that there's no practical reason to need to.

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

Can't hurt to and it does open up options for you if you know how..

Certainly it doesn't hurt, I agree.

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

No, just knowing how to drive a manual does NOT make you a better driver.

The only reason I brought that up is that I've had many arguments with "manual" fanboys who insist that driving stick shift "makes you a better driver" because some BS about them paying more attention to driving because of the manual shifting. Despite the fact that needing to pay attention to RPM's and shifting literally means less of your brain is paying attention to the road itself.

 

Now I'm also not arguing that driving manual makes you worse - I think it has essentially no impact one way or the other.

 

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

TBH it's really up to the driver, as in the individual but I still agree it's not a bad idea to learn how if you can.

I agree that it's up to the individual driver - it certainly doesn't hurt to learn the extra skill.

12 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

And if not, I feel for you if you're ever in a situation you'll have to, but cannot because you never even bothered to learn how.

In Ontario, there's basically never going to be a situation where I need to drive a manual car. Every rental these days are automatic (including every moving and cargo vans I've ever rented, etc).

 

Now, with all of this in mind? If you live in an area where manuals are more prevalent, like many parts of Europe? Then yes, it's a skill that makes more sense to have "just in case". For Ontario? I will likely go my entire life without ever needing to know how to drive a manual.

[Bramimond]

5 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

Easy to identify.

Manuals have three pedals on the floor.

How do you observe the pedals when looking at cars you do not own from outside?

[nadifish]

I have heard that Canadians are very conservative in all matters concerning the car. And that's why they mostly drive a car with manual controls. 

[rikitikitavi]

4 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

Highly disagree - there is literally no reason for me to learn how to drive a manual unless I want to for fun.

Well, in this case (thread) it kinda falls into the same bucket as making periodical backups, being a bit more active, having a white shirt and a sport jacket, some extra cash on you that you never touch, etc.

You just might never need any of those things, but, if you need it - you have it, and you are glad that you made the effort to [...].

[rikitikitavi]

4 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

It can certainly be useful, yes. But it's so niche here that there's no practical reason to need to.

#1 useful thing - no more "can I borrow your car", that's it lmao

 

4 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

The only reason I brought that up is that I've had many arguments with "manual" fanboys who insist that driving stick shift "makes you a better driver" because some BS about them paying more attention to driving because of the manual shifting. Despite the fact that needing to pay attention to RPM's and shifting literally means less of your brain is paying attention to the road itself.

 

Now I'm also not arguing that driving manual makes you worse - I think it has essentially no impact one way or the other.

I would say It might make you a better driver only if you got very poor education/practice - so you get a better understanding of the engine-transmission relationship, and when you can confidently overtake positions, with the car backing you up with the torque. As for attention boost, I can't really say...

 

As for changing gears, matching RPM etc - it becomes a second nature very early on, I never think about it unless I want too... don't remember the last time I was keeping my eyes on tachometer.

[rikitikitavi]

2 hours ago, Bramimond said:

How do you observe the pedals when looking at cars you do not own from outside?

You creep people out by approaching every car on the block and inspecting the interior, duh

[Beerzerker]

5 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

Highly disagree - there is literally no reason for me to learn how to drive a manual unless I want to for fun.

 

You have to go pretty far out of your way in Canada to need to drive a manual car, outside of niche applications (eg: classic cars, or your entire group of friends and family are all "car people" who drive manuals).

It can certainly be useful, yes. But it's so niche here that there's no practical reason to need to.

Certainly it doesn't hurt, I agree.

The only reason I brought that up is that I've had many arguments with "manual" fanboys who insist that driving stick shift "makes you a better driver" because some BS about them paying more attention to driving because of the manual shifting. Despite the fact that needing to pay attention to RPM's and shifting literally means less of your brain is paying attention to the road itself.

 

Now I'm also not arguing that driving manual makes you worse - I think it has essentially no impact one way or the other.

 

I agree that it's up to the individual driver - it certainly doesn't hurt to learn the extra skill.

In Ontario, there's basically never going to be a situation where I need to drive a manual car. Every rental these days are automatic (including every moving and cargo vans I've ever rented, etc).

 

Now, with all of this in mind? If you live in an area where manuals are more prevalent, like many parts of Europe? Then yes, it's a skill that makes more sense to have "just in case". For Ontario? I will likely go my entire life without ever needing to know how to drive a manual.

All of what I posted was from what I saw earlier:

On 12/7/2021 at 11:45 AM, dalekphalm said:

As a blanket statement, this is wrong

Sounded like you were indicating that for everyone, not just for yourself and if you were I must disagree.
Your situation isn't the same as another so your needs aren't the same, instead they would be unique to you and you alone as you've made the point yourself by your last:

5 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

I will likely go my entire life without ever needing to know how to drive a manual.

And that's fine if that's your choice, because it is.
All I'm saying about it all is knowing how to drive a manual is just another skill you could pick up on if you wanted to and there is no disadvantage to knowing how.

[Middcore]

Why would we?