American Reacts to Why are Manual Cars Popular in the UK and Europe?
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
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In this video, I react to why manual cars are so popular in the UK and Europe. As an American, we're used to driving automatic cars, so I was curious to learn more about the differences in driving culture in the UK. This was really interesting and now it makes a lot of sense why manual cars are still so prevalent in the UK and Europe, despite the rise of automatic transmissions in recent years.
Whether you're a car enthusiast or just curious about the differences in driving culture between the US and UK, I think you'll find this video informative and entertaining. So sit back, relax, and join me as I explore the world of manual cars in the UK and Europe!
Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this reaction please give this video a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comments and click the subscribe button to follow my journey to learn about my British and Irish ancestry.
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In the U.K. if you learn to drive solely in an Automatic car you can only drive an Automatic car, but if you learn in a Manual car you can drive both..
You are right although it is determined by vehicle at the actual driving test.
In the UK and I believe throughout Europe, if you do not learn and pass your test in a manual, you cannot be licensed to drive a manual transmission.
Same in Australia
I think it's throughout Europe, in the Netherlands it is
Came here to say the same thing 😂
If I could quote an elderly neighbour of mine, I think she's 84. She changed her car last year, I asked her if she'd gone automatic, she looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and said, "I'm old, not disabled."
Good for her! I hope to be just like that at her age.
I'm disabled and fighting to stay out of a boring automatic! I totally get where she's coming from
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Boring automatic
Legend 😆
I remember reading an article where an American woman hired a car at Heathrow. She set off on the M4 and somewhere in the West Country the gearbox exploded as she had been driving in 2nd gear the whole way. She had only ever driven automatics.
All I can say is OUCH!!
ROFLMAO 😂
So she did find the second gear...
That's fuckin' hilarious 😅
You would have thought the car hire people would have established that she could drive manual since she was American (they'd get hundreds of yanks a day there). I find this a bit hard to believe. Plus, if someone can't drive manual they wouldn't get anywhere would they?
The joy of dropping down a gear to overtake someone is enough to always go manual
Heard of kickdown? Press the pedal far enough and the automatic will run the red line and be just as fast.
Only professionals would shift faster than a DSG automatic because it has dual clutch and preselect next gear.
You can do that in an automatic.
In an automatic, take your foot off the gas, then floor it. It will drop down a gear and go like a rocket.
in modern ones you don't need to even mess with the throttle, they usually have 2 paddles behind the steering wheel and change quicker then even a human could - even basic autos like my seat ibiza fr
@dardavi8901 yeh you can but take an automatic for a blast down a country road then take a manual for a blast down a country road and the manual js more fun every single time
one half of my family are american or married to americans , and they said passing a UK driving test here is harder than a lot of university degrees
Agree. I was chatting to an American who, having worked in the UK, emigrated here after retirement for the NHS health care. He claimed the UK driving test was the hardest exam he had ever taken.
Doesnt say much about US university degrees !
@@marycarver1542 learn all 100 pronouns and u get a degree 🤣🤣
I passed the old way back in '9,0. I then completed a degree as a mature student in '96. I think my degree was harder.
It might be the toughest road test outside Germany or Scandinavia.
We do have some trucks in the UK but they are generally reserved for bell ends
That's Audi and BMW owners.
@@vallejomach6721 Yes, the German Car Owners Club (full of idiots who think they own the roads).
Yup. They have names like 'Warrior' and 'Comanche' in huge letters down the side too, just in case you missed the size of the tiny dick at the wheel.
I think the main reason for more automatic cars coming onto the roads is the rise of electric and hybrid cars
I think it's also regulatory: Old style torque converters use more fuel, the new ones (automated manuals or dual clutch boxes) in fact take less, and make it easier for manufacturers to pass emissions requirements.
Electric cars don't have transmissions it's just a phase switch
And more lazy young drivers who can't think for themselves about what gear they should be in. Why would I want to take the fun of driving out of my car? There is more chance of getting the right (and wrong) gear if you drive a manual. Gas mileage? Modern cars are no better than the old ones. I used to get 52-54 to the imperial gallon. I now dribe a diesel which gives me 52-54 to the gallon. Both of the gave me about 58 on the motorway.
@@mothmagic1 gas mileage on newer cars would be even worse without the automated gearboxes, just by growing in weight - rule of thumb with cars is, carry an additional 100kg around, that will increase fuel consumption by about 0.5-1l/100km. so that's about 5-10% more consumption for your average economy car, with every 100kg. A base model Toyota Corolla was 900kg in 1990, 1030kg in 2000, 1225 in 2010 and 1360kg in 2020. That's putting on almost 400kg in 3 decades, while at the same time keeping fuel consumption pretty similar. Now imagine though how little a 1990 Corolla with those modern technologies retrofitted would use, and how much fun a modern 150-200hp engine in such a lightweight car would be.
@@decnet100 Actually, an automatic gear shift is more fuel consuming, because you don’t have a direct drive shaft, but a torque converter, which work with oil. Your automatic drive shaft is like a boat propeller in the water but more efficient because it’s in a closed compartiment with oil in. Today some automatic have also a direct drive shaft to be more efficient when your drive at a certain speed.
the simple reason is engine braking - there are a lot of hills in the UK, you can set a lower gear to go down a hill without burning out the brakes
being able to just idle along at low speeds also helps.
I think that here in the UK we like to DRIVE the car rather than just be a passenger behind the wheel.
@@zo7034 If you drive a manual van all day long it can be nice to climb into an auto afterwards to go home; that said my current car is a manual as most of my own cars have been, I've only owned a single automatic ( A Mondeo) which was lovely but this is by far the best car I've owned.
Wrong! Only fools in the Uk drive manuals 😂 higher end cars tend to be autos! I’m most definitely not old and I’d never drive a manual again unless it’s a sports car.
cars in UK are not powerful enough for auto, but now that's changed as 60 percent of all cars sold now in the UK are auto. UK is just decades behind the rest of the world
Why wouldn't you want to be a passenger behind the wheel? I don't understand the appeal of the less comfortable driving experience? I'm from the UK and I got my license pretty late at 31 and decided to get Auto only because we were getting an EV and could feasibly not ever own a car that even has gears. I love how easy it is to drive. Even compared to Automatic ICEs I've borrowed from Family.
@@ShasLaMontyr I have driven automatics, it was a while ago so they might have changed now, and I never enjoyed them. I've always preferred being in control with a manual transmission.... and perfectly comfortable.
Also, I think it keeps the drivers attention on their driving more than an auto what with the adaptive cruise control and other driver assist features that are available today.
Different strokes, I guess.
🤷♂
It's not a case of STILL driving a manual, it's choosing to do so.
hear hear
Indeed. I don't want an automatic, they're for people who don't like driving.
Agreed. I like driving, not just steering! Lol
@@sharonmartin4036
An ace 100% comment Sharon.
@@Obi-Jsome who drive automatics have no choice, they may be disabled, your comment is disrespectful, and EV cars are automatic
I never really break the speed limit but I absolutely love getting there quickly, getting the revs up, skipping from 2nd to 4th and so on. It is just plain fun, and there's something brilliant about being in tune with your car, learning it's capabilities, making judgements like what gear I need to be in for this hill I've never driven up before, and so on. An automatic seems like it would feel joyless and soulless.
Pickups are still unusual, although you do seem them more often, we also don't have that many boats, if you are towing something it is more likely to be a caravan (and they can be pulled by normal cars). We tend to drive smaller cars because of fuel economy (it's much more expensive than the US). People that might need a pick-up carry capacity for a business, tend to instead have transit vans as the stuff inside is easier to secure.
Pretty much everyone in the UK take a manual driving test (even 17 year olds today) which entitles you to both manual, EV and automatic. I’ve driven all over the years and you’re far more connected and in control in a manual. The UK driving test is actually really hard, with only a 50% 1st time pass right.
Having been an instructor in California, I can say without the slightest possibility of contradiction that the first time pass rate over there is close to 90+%..... and it shows, christ does it ever.
@@iandennis7836 i learnt to drive in the uk, and then went to live and work in the usa for a while. As i'd had my uk licence less than 2 years and was under 21 at the time, I had to take a us test. Did it in an auto and i think it was less than 20 mins and I passed easily. Then managed to get a manual truck which i drove when I was there.
The way people drive, especially round NY, though made me wonder how many even had a licence lol.
@@iandennis7836"I'm an instructor in California" therefore an expert in UK driving. 🥴
@@mrtrickay7111 er, not quite. I'm a UK resident with dual citizenship and we spent 18 months in San Diego when, amongst other jobs, I was a driving instructor in San Diego county......quite an experience, I decided that as some of the kids had had "driving lessons " from their parents, I was eventually going to die horribly and went off to do something safer, like applying to be a police officer! Only had 5 O levels and 4 GSE's so wasn't qualified as I didn't have a high school certificate........Uk licence holder (cars) since 1983 and bikes since 1981.
My mother was a Uk driving test examiner. She says 1st time pass rate was around 50%. So Californian driving instructor is totally wrong.
The main reason there are very few pick-up trucks is because we use our cars to tow most of the time, but for anyone who needs to carry a lot of stuff, vans are infinitely more useful because of how much more stuff you can hold for the footprint compared to a pickup truck.
More people who tow in UK have 4 wheel drive like land rovers, range rovers etc
I met 2 types of truck owners in Czechia. Those who just like it and farmers. Sometimes carrying like a little bit of hay for horses etc.
I was taught to drive to use the gears as braking power, instead of using the brakes you change down a gear, or if you are going down a steep hill use a lower gear to stop the car running away. You have far more control in a manual car.
My first car was a 1958 morris minor with drum brakes. The only way to stop the thing was by going down the gears
@@Vonononie narrow wheels as well.
I learnt to drive and passed my driving test in a manual car but I drive automatic. I just thought if I go through the pain of passing the test at all, I might as well take one which allows me to drive both if I want to. I passed the second time with no mistakes, but I drive automatic as it’s definitely easier to drive in a city.
@ines_uk when did you get your licence?
I'm looking to get mine - I have no doubts - I will get a manual license.
My wife however had lessons in manual then in automatic. I told her your line of thinking - if I'm going to the cost and effort to acquire this document, I get more value for money by having the manual license.
She however is dead set against manual. "Why make life difficult?"
All I can see is a false economy - saving money on lessons and failed test attempts. However more is spent later on dearer and more complicated maintenance, availability of hire cars (home and on holiday) and insurance.
I want to see solid insurance premium figures of manual vs automatic only licence holder as drivers of an automatic car.
@@liammhodonohue I got my license 8 years ago. I agree with you that it’s better value to get a manual license, but not everyone is up for it. It’s more difficult for some people and automatic is easier, no doubt about it. You can’t really force it. I haven’t driven a manual car for a long time now and would need to refresh my “memory” a bit. Just do what’s better for you personally. Good luck!
@@liammhodonohueManual is definitely more difficult but at least from my personal experience it’s not hard and goes from having to pay attention to doing to muscle memory very quickly.
Manual isn't all that hard to drive, the biggest problem during test is following rules precisely and having perfect observations.
In 50yrs of driving I've driven an automatic once, and swore never again. I honestly don't even need to think about when to change gear, the engine note tells me all I need to know
Exactly, you use the gears for safety. If you only have a break then you're more likely to spin out and have an accident.
Yeah screw automatics 😂 they are dodgy lol
i drive a Tesla manual
@@hassyg4083Doesn't exist you little troll.
Ditto, in 48 years of driving I have spent only one day in an automatic. When changing cars I won’t even consider an auto.
When we learn and pass our tests in a manual we can drive an automatic once passed. However if you pass in an automatic we arent allowed to drive manual we would have to get driving lessons and retake a test in a manual vehicle to upgrade our license to be able to drive both so thats why alot of people will learn to drive manual vehicles
Not many people in the UK have a boat to pull. There are a fair few pick ups over here. My husband drives one, he is a farmer.
I’ve got my first automatic at the age of 45 and must say I do love it.
One significant reason is that typically / historically automatic transmission was much less refined on smaller engines and in the UK, cars typically have smaller engines than US cars.
Because people in the uk can multitask with ease
🙂
and insurance companies don't exist in the UK because we are so good at driving eating and texting as we multitask.
@Azureecosse obviously you have lost, or never had the ability to multitask, try reading a light hearted comment and smiling at the same time, you never know you might get to like it.
@@michaeloates5804 He's probably one of the many, many, many, excellent drivers, who keep their essential phone in their hand while driving.
Here in the US, if a person near you checks their phone they WILL run into you 😢
Trucks, or "pick-up trucks" as they are more commonly called here are more popular than may think, but are mostly driven by construction workers or farmers. You only really drive a pickup if you actually need one for the practicality.
Although in most cases a 4 x 4 SUV will do the same thing, BMW X5, Range Rover, Discovery, Defender, Mitsubishi Pajero, Shogun
@luvstellauk yes, they often can but often people get a pickup for the ability to quickly throw their tools or equipment in the back without the fear of damaging any upholstery or any contamination to the cabin. For example I know many farmers who wouldn't drive anything other than a pickup as they can stick hay bales or lambs in the back and not have to worry about marking the upholstery or damaging the vehicle. Some people however who do buy them just buy them for the looks!
@@luvstellaukno bed on the back thou
7:30
Richard is the perfect guy for that. He's a driving instructor (the car behind him is the car he uses), and I believe he has a video all about the British driving test on his channel.
I watched an American horror movie once where a guy was trying to escape a murderer but the car he got into was a manual and there was a 2 minute scene of him trying to figure out how to use it. It was so funny to me because everyone I know here in the UK who drives does so in a manual. I know they tend to be cheaper than autos both on the sticker price and at the pump but to me they’re just more fun.
oh i get you one better. there was this lady manager asking us if we knew how to "drive an automatic" to take the car to the back of the store for her because it was OH so difficult to do i swear i never laughed so hard before.
Bear in mind with mpg figures that the US gallon is smaller than in the UK (3.875 litres against 4.55 - around 17% different).
Automatic gearboxes tend to be an expensive option on smaller cars, sometimes up to £2000, so it's quite an addition to the cost of the vehicle. CVT type automatics are used on the smallest cars but don't have a great reputation based on some of the earliest versions, although those issues have been resolved for a long time.
Driving schools mostly buy manuals due to the cost, so 90% of tests being in manuals is as much due to that than anything else.
Newer dual clutch automatics have increased the popularity, and hybrids tend to have automatic gearboxes. Electric are counted as automatic despite generally having just one forward and one reverse gear.
Every car I've owned has been manual until my current car which is electric. It's certainly less engaging than the manual, but much easier, especially in traffic.
The ban is on the sale of new cars, petrol and diesel cars by 2030, hybrids by 2035. It's expected to change, but that's politics.
Easier conversion of Imp to US gallons. 1 imperial gallon is 1.2 US gallons . Or 10 US is 8 imperial.
There's other considerations for driving schools like the fact that you want to teach your students to drive the most common types of cars in the country and the fact that manuals afford more control to the teacher in a car with dual controls as European autos tend to be electronically controlled and will not shift into, say, neutral without certain conditions being met (e.g. the brake is pressed and the throttle is not, so if the student panics and stays on the throttle the instructor might not be able to prevent a collision).
I think you'd enjoy finding out about how much we have to cover when learning to drive. From what I've heard about American driving tests, they don't come anywhere near what we have to be able to do in the UK. I heard one American saying they passed their test in a parking lot. That's just laughable to us here.
If so how is that even safe? Also I find it weird, from a safety perspective, that whilst most US states require Vehicle Inspections the rules are much more loose and they are not really a road worthiness inspection like in the UK.
www.youtube.com/@ashley_neal he is a driving instructor in the UK you makes videos whilst do lessons. he also analyses peoples driving clips.
@@richardcastro-parker3704 In the USA the responsibility is down to the owner of the car, if you are involved in an accident and the reason was because you had not properly maintained your car, then you go to prison (Your call).
I've done the driving and motorbike test in the UK and US. The US test was less rigorous. However I got the sense that the test person knew I could drive (since I had recently moved from the UK), so basically asked me to drive around the block so they could get back to coffee in the back room more quickly. I don't know how much extra would have been required for a new driver. In the UK I had to reverse around a corner, do the emergency stop, parallel park in a tight spot and stuff like that. In the US test I had to drive around and pay attention. The Motorbike test in the UK was reasonable. Ride around with the tester following you with a headset in which he told you what to do. In the US it was taking a training course then getting a bit of paper from the trainer which I submitted to get my license upgraded along with a parking lot skill tests to show you could ride slowly in tight spaces.
Also no M.O. T 😮 saw a car is USA widows held in by tape , worn tyres, trying to over take looking about to fall apart😂
When I was younger I enjoyed a manual drive, now that I'm older and a great deal more sedate in my driving I don't see the need for anything more than a go pedal and a stop pedal so it's been automatics for me for over a decade now. My current car practically drives itself, it's not self driving but it has smart cruise control which automatically adjusts speed down and back up to the pre-set speed to keep 3 car lengths behind the car in front (you can set it to 1,2,3 or 4 lengths) and lane follow so it steers itself around bends in the road which are not overly sharp, on a motorway the only reason to do anything is because the car knows if you are holding the steering wheel and gets increasingly annoyed and shouty if you don't hold it.
Trucks have blown up here over the last couple of years. I grew up in South Africa and only ever knew trucks and when I moved to the UK 20 years ago, I noticed immediately that there were no trucks. It's pretty different now.
Unless your a farmer...theyve had em more then that even with a defender at the helm.
I learnt how to drive in Scotland. When you drive in the snow or potential black ice, you use the gears to slow you down which is definitely safer. If you have an automatic you only have a brake.
That's why the best car chases are in Europe. In the US you have less control.
you talk like it doenst snow in usa lol. u on crack
Yes but in an automatic it's easier to "crawl" (driving without using the gas pedal) through the snow at very low speed.
@@flitsertheoyes but they’re still really skittish on ice!
@@flitsertheo a diesel manual car can do that too.
Coming from England, the 60% automatic car figure really shocked me!
The pickup truck is generally a vehicle used by tradespersons, often self employed, as it's a good compromise between a family vehicle and a van. This is partially because it's classed as a commercial vehicle, and so is taxed less than consumer vehicles.
That number is a bit misleading because a large percentage of that increase includes electric or hybrid vehicles, it doesn't really mean that people are buying more ICE automatic vehicles.
@@module79l28 Yes, 25% of new cars are electric or hybrid. They aren't really automatic, because they have gears at all, electric motors don't need them. But because there is no gear stick to change, they are classified as automatic and people with automatic-only licences can drive them.
Well, that’s only 60% of new cars, and most cars on the road aren’t new
@@katrinabryce AFAIK electric cars have fixed gear ratio as electric motors usually tend to rotate quite fast.
@@MrToradragon The important point here is that electric motors have good torque over a wide range of rpms, whereas diesel and petrol engines have a sweet spot, lower for diesel than petrol, but nevertheless there is a limited range.
What exactly is a pickup for ? You want to drive, you get a car (with a normal gear stick), you want to haul something, you get a van, and the van doesn't always need to be huge like the American pickups. Those with boats tend to park them in water far as I know, and sometimes pull them with a car that has a connecter on the back. Don't see many of those hitches, extra expense, just like automatics.
It’s best to learn in a manual, but they are much easier and safer on our narrow country lanes. Far safer on cornering.
Nonsense.
It is best to learn in a manual. I had an automatic and you could change it to a manual if the driving conditions warranted it - they never did. How can a manual be easier on narrow country lanes when you are constantly changing gears? The same in built-up areas. You can concentrate on the conditions better if you aren't changing gears plus you'll never stall the car. It's also just a more comfortable driving situation. I don't drive anymore as I don't need to and cars are a constant drain on funds but if I ever bought another car - it would be an automatic.
@@user-dr9qu7qt9oyou concentrate more if you do more.
A straight long ass boring roads has a lot of crashes because drivers are on autopilot and are barely awake.
We have meandering roads your always steering when your driving straight 😂
The driving experience is far better with a manual on narrow windy roads. I’ve driven for 50 years. I actually learned to drive in America in an automatic in 1971 never driven before. Passed my test in 3 weeks. Test was a joke. You have to be a much better driver on UK and European roads. If your stalling your car your not a very good driver.
Driven both auto and manual for forty plus years. Automatic is far better especially on pull off, hill starts, and around town driving so no constant gear changes. I once believed I was more in control in a manual. Not any more! Automatic these days are fantastic, especially in slow traffic.
I've never heard of 'stick-shift' Steve - that must be an American term. As automatics are in the minority here, we tend to call them 'automatic' and everything else are just 'cars'! Quite a few modern cars are semi-automatic, which can be a mixed blessing in hilly countryside off the main road network, as the gears it selects aren't necessarily suited to the topography of the land. There are financial incentives for driving smaller cars in the UK, hence smaller, twisty, hilly roads are not the main reason we favour them. The other major consideration is Global warming and rising sea levels caused by the melting polar caps and, with many Southern European countries experiencing record-breaking daytime temperatures as we speak, it is becoming increasingly clear that parts of the world will become uninhabitable over the next couple of decades unless countries such as the US start taking the threat seriously... I'm pleased you've found this channel by the way - the guy is a driving instructor and has a large number of driving tuition videos as well as visits to different places around the UK and beyond.
Climate change is relevant how?
@@HorusHerotic Smaller vehicles emit less carbon.
What I think of as "stick shift" are US cars with a lever (like an indicator stalk) that is used to change gear. We don't really have any manual cars with steering mounted gear changers like that here in the UK. The gear lever is always in the centre console.
@@calibraxthat's what I'd call a column-shift (I'm from the UK)
It's not just the USA that should reduce there dependency of their cars also India Pakistan China & a few sth American countries as well
As he implied in driving country roads, automatics cannot predict what gear you want through the bends and immediate acceleration
Exactly and where I live I'm surrounded by country roads.
what automatics are you driving, ones from like 80 years ago 😆
I drive a car with a DSG gearbox and it handles country roads with ease, I even tow a horse trailer with it and park in fields at horse shows. The dsg handles it with ease and I now prefer it to manual gearboxs
Newish automatic models have "Sports Shift" or similar, so if you're driving in an area like that you can still select the gear... But suppressing the clutch response takes a moment when jumping between the two
5:09: “how would someone pull their boat to a lake or ocean?” The answer is simple, with any car equipped with a hook, it can be a family estate, a suv, a small 4x4,etc.. and if the boat is a big heavy sailboat or motorboat then it would be with a tractor and if the boat is bigger it would be pulled by a full size truck (not a pick-up).
9:11 it is kind of misleading for an American, we didn’t switch to automatic gearboxes in such a short period of time because “automatics are more efficient” or so.., but we switched to hybrides and full electric cars that both only use automatic gearboxes. That’s the reason, we’re not talking about diesel/gasoline cars.
I was working for proctor & gamble in the 1980s an American visitor hired a car and drove from Hampshire to Wales in second gear.
I do believe automatics have got better now but I've only driven one automatic and it was hellish. When I was young, a very long time ago now, in the UK we generally viewed automatics as "disability cars" and not much more. My gran had an automatic because she was disabled and being able to work the clutch was very difficult for her to do, and it was her car that I once drove. We lived in a very rural part of northen Scotland at the time it struggled so much on our hilly, and often dirt and gravel, country roads because it just didn't know when to swap up and down gears depending on the terrain. In the winter the car was pretty much unusable with all the snow and ice.
Even though I know that automatics are apparently much improved now I still couldn't consider getting one. You just have so much more control over a manual car which makes it much safer. It's also a way to keep your brain more engaged with the car which I only see as a benefit, it stops your mind getting distracted by other things when you're driving and forces you to watch what's going on around you.
The ZF 8 speed or DCT are the only autos I would consider for an internal combustion car. Most autos are still horribly unresponsive and CVT is the worst of the lot.
It's just a much better driving experience in a manual. Plus you have better control with gears.
I agree. The driver of a manual car is "the driver." He/she selects the gear appropriate to the road and the load etc. An automatic driver doesn't drive - she/he simply guides the car. Where's the skill or fun in that?.
I hate the car telling me which gear to use as I live in a very hilly part of Wales and its not always relevant
Honestly compared to my first lessons as a teen in a manual, and driving my sisters automatic for a bit. Finally decided to get my license in my 30s and just I don't see myself ever owning anything without an electric motor. Learned in a Hybrid, and bought an EV. Having almost the entire range of torque at any speed is just the best. Go my whole life never having to do a hill start, I honestly feel like I have more control than either, it does what I tell it to without any complication.
@@pixie706even in Kent where I am you can come across plenty of hills. I am disabled in my right hand so may eventually need an automatic.
@evecalvert1350 Most modern automatics come with paddle shifters, allowing you to drive them almost as if you were driving a manual car. The shifts are faster than a human can make them and, if you become too relaxed and the revs become too high or low, the car will go back into full auto mode.
Here in the UK we dont say we drive a manual, its just a car we dont make the distinction, only if its an automatic.
Its weird because ive never really asked the question, I guess we just mostly drive manuals because thats just always been the way.
I feel like you can take care of a manual more on your day to day use. General careful use like keeping clutch wear to minimum, moderate engine breaking and overall more rev control, whether that would be for less engine wear and/or fuel savings.
After all fuel/gas has always been cheaper in the US hence your big gas engines etc, so probably the last bit on fuel savings has not been much of an issue for you guys.
But hey that's just my 2 cents.
I have always driven manual, my old Ford RS Turbo back in the 90's was a joy to drive, even my dear Mum loved driving it. You could floor it overtaking a stream of traffic on two way traffic roads & driving on the A & B roads of highland Perthshire or the Highlands of Scotland in general was just superb. Marvellous!!
I used to have a white Escort RS Turbo back in the days, loved that thing😂
Oh man, that car was my literal dream car for a while! They looked so amazing and yet sensible
Generally manuals are a bit cheaper, and are also a bit cheaper to maintain. They are also a bit more fun to drive (in my experience).
Yet if you come to sell an automatic, you might well get less for it than a manual car. Probably because people worry about maintenance and reliability.
@@video99coukI think there‘s obvious reasons for exactly what you mentioned … you can‘t look into the gearbox oil system in an automatic (only into the level), but that alone can be an extra 1k€ to exchange if necessary. And with 90+% of people having a license for manual, why take that risk if not for a lower price?
A manual vehicle are a bit more fuel efficient
@@maly2ts408 Which was never an issue in the USA, in 1970 petrol was 37 cents a gallon, and you could buy a Cadillac with an 8.2 litre engine that had loads of torque, that would easily last for 500k. General motors make bomb proof automatics.
@@maly2ts408 I think the newer automatics are pretty similar to manual, but I still like to drive using my gearbox.
The UK driving test is one of the hardest in the world, although it varies by state some tests in the US are ludicrously easy (because you’re so reliant on cars)
If you want easy I've heard it said that the driving test in Cyprus is so easy that if you can get out of the parking space, round the block and back into the parking space it's a pass.
As a Swede living in Scotland I can tell you the British test is a walk in the park compared to Sweden, Brits think it hard compared to other countries it not its just has Stricker pass rates and it more expensive, Passed my UK test in the mid 90s it was not difficult I failed my Swedish test twice because of very minor technical errors, too slow to apply the handbrake and too slow to indicate that's not even counted in the British test, the British test needs to be much harder and drivers particularly young drivers need to be evaluated every year to make sure they have not slipped into bad habits, the driving standard in the UK is woeful , you will know that if you are a driver, so it just goes to demonstrate the test is too lenient and not tough enough. The Swedish test is comparable to the British IAM test( Advanced) which very few people bother to take, I have taken it and passed it.
@@Azureecosse I've heard that said of the Finnish driving test, too. They do produce a lot of racing drivers!
easiest driving test I ever did was the Irish driving test, sent of for a provisional licence and they sent me back a full licence, no test taken.
@@mothmagic1that was my instructor test in California.......I wii leave you to draw your own conclusions 🙄
Drive a manual from 60 years ago with no synchromesh, so you have to double de clutch which is so challenging and enjoyable to do. It's an art. You have to drive the vehicle!
The vehicle you mentioned early on in the street is a Van here. Larger ones become lorries (lorry singular).
I have always had a manual car (and small). In Colorado I had an old VW bug and thoroughly enjoyed going steadily up an icy snow-covered hill while watching larger, automatic cars sliding slowly backwards.....great!!
To me thats a 4x4 or (4 by 4). Sometimes a Jeep or an offroader never called something like that a van as it's not. Btw i'm from the uk too. I know to call it a Jeep is daft, but it's like calling all vaccums hoovers
@@TheGlovener1985 I think he was refering to the van that was parked in the street when clearly the video is refering to the (Ranger?) parked in the driveway, which we would know as a jeep or 4x4 but in the US would be a truck.
I think he was referring to the blue pickup in the driveway. It funny how Americans call large SUVs and pickups "trucks". They wouldn't be called that in the UK or Australia (where I am). Having said that, they should be here sometimes as the Ram is becoming popular here and it's gigantic!
Automatic is much more common now. Most people don't want to change to an automatic, but i would say a lot of people that actually do change to an auto don't miss it as much as they thought they would.
Most people that like manual is people who like driving, accelerating around country lanes etc.
For me, getting stuck in traffic and constantly changing gear from first to second and pressing the clutch in became an absolute pain to the point where it can actually cause pain after doing it hundreds of times in 1 journey being stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours.
I actually got cramp in my leg once driving a manual. My gf had to take over
In hilly country an automatic can constantly "hunt" for the correct gear.
In Austria it is law that when you drive an automatic in your test your drivers license will be limited to only automatic cars.
Same here in UK.
Got a manual BMW 320D from 2001, it's got 198,000 miles on it... just came back from 4000 miles to Southern Spain and back and the MPG average on the trip computer got to 70... back down to 58 now.
I drive a manual because i have more control than i do with automatic. I seriously dislike automatics. It does take more dexterity to drive manual cars, abd a lot of us feel its dumbing down to drive automatic.Also i live in rural Cornwall, i have hilly bits and winding lanes, i think i get better mpg than in an automatic.
same, and living here in cornwall I always go for a manual. if i lived in a city i'd choose an auto no question.
Especially when you slip it out of gear going down a hill!
Compared to a modern 8 speed automatic, a manual won't get better economy. The additional gears make the auto much more efficient.
@calibrax I can't afford a newer vehicle, mine is 2006...
@@highlyunlikely3698 I know what you mean mate, been there myself. Recently I had no option but to get a newer car, as my 2004 model was not going to pass its next MOT. On the plus side, the newer car (2015) is cheaper to tax than the old one, and gets better fuel economy even though it's a lot more powerful.
That stat is because all electric cars are classed as auto and all electronic change gearboxes are classed as auto even with padel shift, so the amount of autos are shown in the stats
My first interaction with an automatic car scared the bejeezus out of me.
I was on a motorbike at the time, pulled up beind a car at traffic lights (not quite enough space to filter), chucked it into neutral and waited for the lights to change.
Imagine my shock when the lights went amber on the traffic lights, and the reverse lights came on from the car in front. I thought I was gonna get squashed and some harsh words were screamed.
Turns out, you've gotta go through reverse to change gear.
UK resident here, have only ever owned manuals and will continue to only drive manuals. I'm a car enthusiast and with EV's attempting to phase out car enthusiasm, i'm part of the few that are fully reluctant to going over to EV's and to an extent, automatics too.
I currently drive an 18 year old Subaru, manual and 18mpg on average and i wouldnt change it for the world.
In terms of pickups, the further out you go to the countryside, the more you see, however, if you go to the drift scene, there's a surprising amount of pickups, they're pretty much totally different cars underneath but still seems to be a popular thing. My go to modification shop, the owner drives a 2JZ swapped Toyota Hilux, slammed and cambered, welded diff, a proper drift truck. Also know another boy who drives some form of Chevy pickup, couldn't tell you what model but its also 2JZ swapped, there's also an old mazda minitruck and a Subaru Brat that have both been engine swapped (20b in the Mazda and an SR20 in the brat)
I drive an an automatic now and love it. When I first started driving I swore by manual cars, I found automatics really frustrating because they didn't change gear when I wanted to and I felt constantly lacking in power. Technology has improved a lot though and now I am a full convert.
Are you using more petrol with your automatic?
ok troll
Pick up trucks are common in the UK, but they only tend to be used by people who use them for work. Construction workers, gardners etc.
they are bought as a loophole around tax as company cars, the owners can claim back the VAT
Hi Steve, I drive a white van (I'm a self-employed Gardener) So I am refered to as 'A White Van Man', and you may be surprised to know that in the U.K. there are around 5 Million Vans on the roads most days. They are from big traders such as Amazon, The Royal Mail etc. Of these 5 million vans approximatly 3.4 million are self-Employed.
@peterjo-gamer I can't see light commercial and heavier moving to electric.
I can't see this no more diesel or petrol after 2030. What do you think? It sounds like the government previously encouraging diesel due to better fuel economy - then they changed their mind.....
so we all have to buy new vehicles 🙄🤷♂️
@@liammhodonohue Hi, your right, the government years back did encouraged us to buy diesel vehicles and then just a few years ago did change their minds and asked us all to buy new petrol or change to new electric, the cost would be to much for most, so I think petrol & diesel vehicles will be around for a lot longer. 🙂
I’m in my late 50’s and have driven a manual car ever since I passed my test in 1987…I’ve only driven an automatic car for a period of about two weeks in that time, and hated every minute of the experience. I have no intention of driving an automatic again unless I’m forced to. I really enjoy driving and a manual car is a huge part of that. My three kids (32, 29 and 23) all drive and prefer manuals too.
Live in the UK and I once drove an automatic, and it felt like I was controlling a go-kart. Also, if you learn in an automatic, that's the only type of car you drive, whereas if you learn in a manual you can drive either.
Definitely prefer manual!
makes no difference in future EV have no gears
@@hassyg4083 😂😂😂 don't tell me your falling for that crap.
@@orwellboy1958 falling for what? combustion engine is being phased out by usa and europe
@@hassyg4083 no it's not, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars are supposed to be stopping but the German car companies are already saying it's not possible to produce that amount of cars by that time and they are having to cut back on production of new EVs as they are not selling. The EU is not Europe other countries in Europe are making no such claims, the EU it's self has put its deadline back to 2050 and I'm willing to bet that will get pushed back again. The US as a whole is making no such promises either.
@@orwellboy1958 all cars don't come from Germany relax. Japan UK USA China Korea all produce EV. EU is not USA or UK so doesn't apply. US is more strict on car emissions than EU. US ban is 2035. Greta is the Queen
The white van at 4:17 looks like a tradesman's van. They are very common in the UK for this, much more so than open pickup trucks. Some trades prefer pickup trucks, like builders and farmers, but not many people use them as personal transport.
Vans are generally better than pickups as work vehicles... you can carry more stuff, store taller/longer loads/tools in them and still keep the bloody thing locked. Pickups are mostly farm vehicles by design, it's so weird that they're almost the standard car type in the US, just behind their massive SUVs.
there was a twin cab pickup in the distance on the right... that's the one he was talking about. If you look closely you can see him circling it with his mouse cursor.
Believe it or not... they're also a good choice for a company car; as long as there's a minimum payload of 1000kg they're taxed at a basic rate rather than rising emissions rate like cars... so a pickup can be cheaper as a company car, than a Mondeo.
and one reason for more and more automatic cars is, that modern automatics come with both, automatic and manual shifting, normally with shifters on the wheel. Only the manual clutch is missing.
The UK doesn't have a pick-up truck culture because we have high fuel prices and lots of year-round rain. Also, we have hatchback and estate cars which give us the option of folding the back seats and putting bigger loads in the back out of the rain or attaching a roof rack when needed. We don't have the space to park vehicles with long back ends which are not often used. With the lack of big, accessible lakes, we also don't have such a boat culture. You are more likely to keep a boat in a nearby marina, and more likely to tow a caravan than own a boat.
It’s always been pretty rare to see someone with a truck in England, but I’ve noticed it getting more common recently, as with other American cars. Still rare, but getting less so.
For towing boats and stuff you’d mostly see people with smaller 4x4s like Volvos and Hondas, things like that.
I own a Range Rover automatic as my regular daily vehicle and for the occasional long distance run on the motorway. However, I also have a Mazda MX5 for the weekend. The Mazda is manual and so exciting to drive as I whizz around the country lanes in Ireland. While the automatic is merely functional, the manual is so much more fun to drive. I can't imagine life without the thrill of my .manual.
Had an MX5 pre-child and will get another soon. The best car I have ever had.
Uk resident here: 1L turbo Ford Fiesta manual, 57MPG. Manual for life!
We have an automatic, it's possible to change gear yourself too, only to the next gear up or down, you can't short shift, it's semi automatic.
There is more control with a manual box though, I live on a hill & when it snows, I can get up that hill with my manual car, most automatics park at the bottom of the hill, the occupants have to continue on shanks' pony.
If you want to see the driving test process, I would recomment the channel Clearview Driving. Aman (the instructor) regularly shows mock driving test videos with students showing you the full test process. If you are looking at learning to drive before the test, I recommend Ashley Neal and his driving lessons with Erin (in a playlist on his channel).
The channel 'Conquer Driving' with 'Richard Fanders' who he's using for his video is also very good. Watched his stuff to help me pass my test earlier this year. Watched a bit of Ashley Neal too, he's decent.
@@TheGlovener1985 yep, I've seen a fair few of the videos on Conquer Driving and recognised Richard straight away when I saw this! As someone who isn't from London, I find Clearview's videos very interesting due to the busyness of London and the extra challenges faced driving there. I also really like the way she edits the videos to make faults really clear. I'm so grateful for the amount of content here on RUclips from the many instructors as a young person learning to drive.
@@lee53_ good stuff
With the transition to electric vehicles the number of people choosing to take a manual driving test will come down drastically over the next half century. I know a few youngsters that have opted to take their test in an automatic for this reason. Also, i notice more driving instructors offering lessons in automatic cars than there used to be.
Learning to dirve in UK:
Learn highway code + theory
Take Driving Theory Test + Hazard Perception Test (done at the same time)
Learn to drive based on guidelines
Take driving test (follow satnav and instructions, test manuveres etc)
Done
Bonus tests for towing and heavy vehicles
Because its fun, windy road up hill, dropping a gear as you come off the curve, engine breaking for the next bend. Fun
It would be interesting to have an American sit our driving test and a British person sit an American test. After having worked with people from several countries, I honestly think our driving standards are far better. I actually got out of a truck when it was driven by a Spanish person, I got out and told him to be a passenger.
I took the test in Texas - it amounted to "drive around without breaking the speed limit, breaking any laws or driving dangerously. For ten minutes." No written or visual test (still an eyesight requirement), no manoeuvres (like three-point-turn) required.
I drove an Automatic once, horrible experience. I felt very disconnected from the vehicle.
This is why i dont want to get one. In the few times ive used them i didnt feel comfortable at all
Price difference is a factor for sure and because of our twisty roads people say a manual is a driver's car.
It's one of those skills which is better to have and not need, than to not have and need.
I decide when to change gears, I don't want my car doing it! My car doesn't know how high I want to rev it!
Petrol and Diesel. I believe other parts of Europe also have decided about the use of fuels, though their deadlines are much different to the UK.
no way they are going to meet it, this goverment can't tie a shoelace.
@@wibbledee I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that in 2030 most sold cars will be at least hybrids. Because even today, new cars that are 100% petrol/diesel are getting rarer. I think the evolution is going to happen naturally, regardless of the law, because a lot of car manufacturers are already offering more and more hybrid/EV models and stopping the production of some of the older petrol/diesel models. And if they introduce an entirely new model, it's very likely going to be hybrid or EV.
@@MaggaraMarine yeah but is the economy gonna be in the space where by 2030 common guy making minimum wage will be able to afford new or at the very least new'er car? cuz no joke i still see 2013 teslas for sale that looks like they about to fall apart and they still cost like 15k. much less talking about hybrids, when even 1st gen fk prius is over 5k.
@@luk4s56 Pretty sure we will see some affordable EVs in the near future. As the technology improves, it will most likely also get cheaper.
I mean, look at the evolution of Nissan Leaf in 10 years. The first model was 10k more expensive than the cheapest model today, but the cheapest model today has much better range.
There are already many EVs in the 25k-35k price range. Wouldn't call that truly affordable yet, but it's getting close.
All in all, those who are looking for affordable cars will look at the used market any way. And used petrol/diesel cars aren't going anywhere. They will most likely still be around in 2040.
All in all, they are only banning _new_ petrol/diesel cars. It's not like everyone will immediately have to get rid of their petrol/diesel car in 2030. It's just that all new cars will be electric/hybrid in 2030. And I actually wouldn't be surprised if a lot of car manufacturers had already moved on to 100% hybrid/electric lineup before 2030.
@@MaggaraMarine i dont think i ever would buy a new car, but the idea of them going to full electric terrifies me, especially with how poor the infrastructure is. in europe high majority of people live in apartments and i dont know about you but i cant imagine every parking lot having charging station or power out put to support such a thing, especially with all the fear around nuclear power i simply dont see us meeting the demand for full ev lineup.
if anything i hope car companies comes up with synthetic fuel that i heard they are working on.
Regular fuel efficiency on my manual diesel Peugeot 208 is 60 mpg (4l/100km), my record was around 71 mpg (3.3 l/100km).
As someone who's owned 3 manual cars, it the only way for me. The amount of control you get and the engagement with your car is unparalleled. The only time I will own a automatic is when I can afford a PHEV or Golf R 😄
I love manual cars they are so much better than automatics, you can go through the gears so much quicker. But I now live in a country where it's nearly impossible to get a manual and instead I have to drive and automatic which is like driving a damn go cart and no fun at all to drive.
rubbish in a drag race with two of the same cars l would not have to take my foot off the excelarter while you have taken your foot off at least three times dropping the revs
In a torque converter automatic that's true. But trust me, you're not changing gears faster in a manual compared to a dual clutch automatic. It's scientifically impossible so if you claim you can you're full of it. 😂
Can I just say...the reason so many are becoming automatic sales in the UK is probably because of the electric car boom happening here! It's not just turning to automatics, it's turning to electric!
It’s a real shame for the US with the lack of manuals. I have a 2015 Audi with a 6-speed but this is the latest model I can realistically get with a manual from Audi. Ofc before the R8 was discontinued you could spec it with a manual (but I’m not rich lol)
On UK Autotrader right now there are 216,801 manual cars listed and 230,504 automatic cars listed (48% vs 52%)
Wow, that's actually surprising that it's so close.
Manual is just...more fun. I definitely feel like I've got a lot more control over what the vehicle's doing compared to driving an automatic...but then, I like my cars to be as mechanically simple as possible (I avoid most modern cars for that same reason). Automatics tend to have a lot more that can go wrong, and when those "more" things do break...they're more expensive to fix, too.
I think part of it is down to roads. The UK has lots of tight, hilly, winding roads. Manuals are just better to drive in thet environment. Changing gear is second nature and manuals are more fun to drive.
love the guy doing heal and toe at the end of the video that's a skill even most uk manual drivers cant do
Australian Driving Test - 2 part process.
Part 1 - Electronic Theory Test - sit at a DMV (e.g VicRoads) computer and run through questions about road rules and safety.
A Pass requires correct answers on mandatory questions and sufficient ancillary questions.
Part 2 - Practical Driving Test
Book and Turn up to the DMV and meet your assessor.
If using a private vehicle, the assessor does a quick road worthy inspection - Driving School Vehicles are typically exempt.
You will be directed around one of several areas that will force you to encounter a number of scenarios, being assessed the entire way.
Bonus points can sometimes be awarded for safely reacting to unusual situations, and redeemed against minor infractions during the test.
Your professional driving instructor should have prepared you closer to the test by getting you familiar with the areas and routes you can expect to be tested on.
Much more control over car in a manual car.
Engine braking for example.
That is the reason why I drive a manual.
Far too many people do not use the gear box to slow the car.
One has much more control over the car in a manual transmission vehicle.
Hey there, another great video. You mention MPG around the 3 minute mark, don't forget that the UK gallon is bigger than the US gallon so naturally we get more miles per gallon.
If only there was some consistent international standard measurement for liquids 🤔 Oh wait...
Stupid UK and USA and their stubbornness for switching to metric. 😂 (I suppose the UK's a little better at it than the US, but it's a wonder they're not still using pounds/shillings/pence).
@@bencodykirk Well we do use litres here, in fact the fuel prices displayed at stations are per litre.
@@phyreztorm Good. Next on the to-do list: change all those road signs to km rather than miles.
yeah, and 60mpg is like a small manual car with a small turbo-Diesel engine, for example Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi, Peugeot 207 1.6 HDi, etc.
4:22 - the vehicle you're referring to is a light delivery van. Unlike an articulated lorry/truck,.it simply requires an ordinary car licence to drive one whereas to drive any vehicle weighing over 7.5 tons, an HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or PSV (Passenger Service Vehicle) is required, depending whether you intend to drive a bus, coach, or lorry/truck.
In the UK, servicing is vital, automatics are more expensive. As is insurance which is compulsory!
We call them gear sticks.
Hi there
Same in Ireland 99% drive manual. In my experience the people who drive automatics are usually either people who couldn’t pass their driving test so went for the easier option and done their test in an automatic and passed. (If you pass in automatic you can only drive automatics) people who drive big comfy cars just prefer to have automatic which makes sense to me. Or people with disabilities. Automatics here are almost frowned upon especially amongst young people. They are looked at as people who must be bad drivers. A manual is much more fun to drive if your taking your car on windy coastal roads or back roads. I have driven both but have never owned an automatic and I’ve had countless cars. I also have a lorry licence and nearly all new lorry’s now are automatic or simple gearbox’s with no high end gears. Just one more thing I remember that’s always told to someone who’s considering an automatic, not to get one because when the gearbox goes it costs 4 times the price of a manual gearbox. I’m sure there’s a lot more too it but that’s just the general consensus where I’m from.
exactly the reason i'll never buy automatic, to expensive to fix
I drive an automatic for convenience in heavy traffic in London during rush hour. If I'm on a vacation, i only hire manuals because I learnt and grew up driving them.
In the UK you apply for your test and wait for months for the date. The written test is usually quicker and must be passed before the practical can be taken. In the meantime you take lessons with a driving instructor until you are reasonably competent, then you drive your parent's car with 'L' plates and a parent in the passenger seat - anywhere they want to go, you drive (but not on motorways) - for the weeks you wait for your test. Then you take a lesson before your test to check for bad habits. Then you go to the test centre to take your test with an examiner (who is not your instructor) either in your instructor's car (expensive) or in your parent's car with an additional rear-view mirror for the examiner who will take you on a varied route for about half an hour. Then you either pass, or you fail and take more lessons.
The vast majority of people take proper lessons in a dual control car nowadays. It's pretty rare for parents to want to teach in their own car for obvious reasons.
As Brit, and whom has driven in many countries I personally really like automatics in the snow. But for longevity of transmission I prefer manuals - they also ( I have found) are cheaper to run. If you pass your test in The U.K in a manual you can drive a automatic without taking another test but if you took your test in an automatic you will need to take another test. The thing is, if you want to go in to sports mode then, manual is the way to go but then, a lot of people don't know about the trick of kick-down on automatics. The rest is in the comments. The ban on petrol and diesel cars is not only coming to the U.K but to many parts of Europe.
My first automatic lasted 15 years. My second automatic has now 14 years. Both Toyota's, that helps too of course.
@@flitsertheo And your point is? I have known more automatic boxes that have had to be changed than manuals - I have nothing against automatics
@@KRm627 The point is the first one never had problems with its transmission. The second one needed maintenance after 13 years only.
PLEASE look at the UK driving test, it’s so ridiculously difficult, with so many components!
Many people take it 5 times or more 🙈
I remeber on my test that my instructor thought i had failed because i got back to the test centre far sooner than he expected, i just drove it like i owned it (safetly though) and passed first time even after momentarily stalling mid junction. Its really not that difficult, just take a few extra lessons until your confidence is high enough to be capable of driving like everyone else.
Sorry I should have been more clear, I did pass my test around 15 years ago, but was indeed one of those people who had to take it 5+ times (shhhh!). The thing is, the standard was different by each instructor. By the last test I took (the one I passed), I did stuff I’d failed other tests for. I was certain it was a fail because of this, but it wasn’t.
I have also heard the UK test is the most difficult in the world. And also that it depends which town/ city you take it in. There are some with many busy junctions and roundabouts, and others with no roundabouts at all. The pass rates by town also demonstrate this.
In the VAG group cars - Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat, Porsche they have the DSG double clutch Automatic gearbox which much better than the old oil-slush torque converter .
In the James Bond films the Aston Martin DB5 has the old oil-slush torque converter, absolutely ancient technology
I drive a 3.0 litre diesel 8-speed automatic estate car and, if I'm obsessively, nerdishly sensible and careful, it will do 60mpg on a long run without big hills. It is important to remember how much bigger an Imperial gallon is than a US gallon though! When I was younger I wouldn't have dreamed of being seen to drive an automatic as that was only for old men and people who couldn't drive :) Nowadays automatic gearboxes are so much more advanced - light years ahead of what they used to be. I sometimes have a play with the gear selector 'flappy paddles' if I'm in the mood but 95% of the time I just let the 'box do it's thing these days. So much more relaxed in traffic too!
only ever driving a manual, an automatic car just sounds like a really boring experience.
It is, but unfortunately I have no choice now living in a country where it's nearly impossible to get a manual 😥
@@sammic7492 i live in a country only allows EV cars
@@hassyg4083 You have my deepest sympathies.
@@sammic7492 yeah no need for gears
Manual gearing is so handy for dealing with hills, both up and down, and slippery, mucky, snowy, icy, muddy weather, (..overtaking and racing too! 😃) ..I can't imagine using automatic but I guess electric is coming. 🙄
Electric it doesn't matter, the torque/revolution speed profile of an electric motor is very different, it basically matches a very similar curve to a gearbox in a internal combustion engine vehicle but it is just as we send more power to the motor (electronic speed controller is slightly more complicated than this, but that is the ultimate effect). One may need to use a fixed geared transmission to scale it to where you want it, but that is all.
Some electric vehicles might add some small variable transmission. I expect this to be rare with an electric motor on each driven wheel and this will be more for having different driving modes, like a sport mode for higher speed and less torque or a towing mode for more torque but lower speed. Also these things can be done electronically too.
Autos manage to drive up hills and the snow just like a normal car! Most people in the uk can’t even manage to drive in the snow anyway no matter what car they have 😂😂😂 so many misinformed people here about autos!
There are two classes of driving license in the UK. The full license is passed in a manual car and this qualifies you to drive automatic as well. You can pass your license test with an automatic but this doesn’t entitle you to drive a manual, which is obviously limiting to the available cars you can drive. After this manual or automatic is a personal choice. I’ve gone back to manual because it gives me something to do with my left leg and arm. The roads in the UK are also very variable and a manual allows you to anticipate oncoming corners, hills, overtaking etc and I like that level of control.
There are 2 types of driving licence in UK, "Automatic only" - illegal to drive manual - and "Manual" - permitted to drive Automatic