Driving Automatic Is the Norm in the USA and Some Other Countries - Is That for Real?

[LuxRiches]

I was randomly searching out of curiosity about the percentage of people driving automatic cars in the USA, and it showed me 96%.

Last year, during my trip to Malaysia, I noticed that the majority of taxis were automatic.

In my area and in many other places in India, automatic cars are often looked down upon.

I've personally faced many situations where people tried to demean me for driving an automatic.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[t2van]

UK, everyone (well most say a made-up 99%) learn to drive a manual, then once you have a manual licence, you can drive an automatic no problem.

If you learn auto you can't drive a manual.

Automatic given all the stop start is the way to go and they are becoming more popular.

All of my older cars are manual but my wifes car and some of our work vans are all auto, I prefer it. Easier on my knees as I get older I want less shit and make my life easier. I used to love driving but now I hate it.

Auto all the way for me out of choice.

 

[Octavia]

Where I currently live people use mostly manual, but with electric cars it is becoming more automatic.

But mostly they don't care if you drive automatic, just brand wars

 

[LuxRiches]

If you learn auto you can't drive a manual.

Exactly. If you learn on an automatic, I’m sure driving a manual would be a major challenge. I actually learned to drive a manual at driving school before deciding to buy an automatic because of city traffic jams. Driving schools tend to have only manuals, which turned out to be a good thing. So yes, I can drive a manual too and my car even has a manual mode.

Easier on my knees as I get older I want less shit and make my life easier.

This is the exact reason I went with an automatic.

Where I currently live people use mostly manual, but with electric cars it is becoming more automatic.

But mostly they don't care if you drive automatic, just brand wars

In my area too, manuals are much more common - there are very few automatics. But people tend to judge you when you say you drive an automatic; they talk as if you're incompetent.

 

[roydan]

I hate driving and when I used to work for a company I had to drive there, no way in hell that I'm driving manual.
These days I don't drive to work anymore, but I'm not going to manual simply because I don't hate myself.

Learned to drive on a manual, just not planning on driving one. Ever.

 

[LuxRiches]

I hate driving and when I used to work for a company I had to drive there, no way in hell that I'm driving manual.
These days I don't drive to work anymore, but I'm not going to manual simply because I don't hate myself.

Learned to drive on a manual, just not planning on driving one. Ever.

Any particular reason for not driving? I guess it's been many years of driving for you.

I only started about two years ago, so the thrill is still there for me.

 

[SilverClouds]

Ehhhhhh I'm so pissed at these tuktuk drivers that I'm seriously considering learning how to drive but I don't see road signs *cough* so maybe glasses first, if only just for driving . Don't worry, it's safe af to let me drive .

 

[LuxRiches]

I'm seriously considering learning how to drive

You should seriously join a driving school. My spouse and I both signed up on a whim, and when we were done, we ended up buying a car suddenly, with no planning at all. So yes, it's definitely beneficial, and trust me, God works in mysterious ways for our good.

but I don't see road signs *cough* so maybe glasses first

You won't believe it, but there are days when I don't even notice the traffic signals. One time, I was stuck in the middle of an intersection, and the traffic police made me reverse the car. So, yeah, that shouldn't be an excuse. But yes, it's my mistake; I need to be more careful.

 

[roydan]

Any particular reason for not driving? I guess it's been many years of driving for you.

I only started about two years ago, so the thrill is still there for me.

It's just boring to me. 100% technical.
I try listening to podcast but all they do is make driving bearable.
I Like tomatoes, @t2van doesn't. It's not a matter of experience or doing something for a long time. Some people just don't like tomatoes.

 

[LuxRiches]

It's just boring to me. 100% technical.
I try listening to podcast but all they do is make driving bearable.
I Like tomatoes, @t2van doesn't. It's not a matter of experience or doing something for a long time. Some people just don't like tomatoes.

You explain really well!

Ah, @t2van must have had a bad tomato experience in a past life. Maybe it was a ketchup issue?

 

[sam.hunt0710]

I learned Manual when I started in 2005 with the first car my Dad purchased.

3 year back I purchased AT and its an awesome experience for me . Specially when I am driving in traffic areas.

 

[t2van]

You explain really well!

Ah, @t2van must have had a bad tomato experience in a past life. Maybe it was a ketchup issue?

No I like tomato sauce, tomatoa blended or cooked into a sauce just not raw or cooked like a breakfast tomato

 

[LuxRiches]

I learned Manual when I started in 2005 with the first car my Dad purchased.

Same with me. I learned on a manual too, but only for a few weeks while I was learning at the driving school.

3 year back I purchased AT and its an awesome experience for me . Specially when I am driving in traffic areas.

Exactly - the knee and ankle pain is much less, and driving is a lot easier during traffic jams.

No I like tomato sauce, tomatoa blended or cooked into a sauce just not raw or cooked like a breakfast tomato

Honestly, I think raw tomatoes did something to you in a past life. No one avoids them this hard without a backstory.

 

[pursuit]

manual was a must in the 9ties, not any more, this days, 80% of cars from factory are automatic, we dont need the gears changing just because , we want to drive

 

[Vampire]

I only drive automatic, although i did attempt to learn manual at one point in life

 

[Dopious]

20 years ago, around 80 percent of passenger cars sold in Sweden had manual transmissions. Since then, a lot has happened: Of the 288,087 newly registered passenger cars in Sweden in 2022, 245,965 were automatic transmissions, which corresponds to 85.4 percent.

In total of all cars here, most of them are still manual though, and we learn manual in driving school, you can learn with automatic -- but then you are only allowed to drive automatics.

 

[Rem]

Ehh

Exactly. If you learn on an automatic, I’m sure driving a manual would be a major challenge. I actually learned to drive a manual at driving school before deciding to buy an automatic because of city traffic jams. Driving schools tend to have only manuals, which turned out to be a good thing. So yes, I can drive a manual too and my car even has a manual mode.

I learnt automatic first
and didn't learn manual for years later
it was annoying honestly and i would always buy an automatic car
but i do have a manual license

 

[LuxRiches]

manual was a must in the 9ties, not any more, this days, 80% of cars from factory are automatic, we dont need the gears changing just because , we want to drive

Exactly!

I only drive automatic, although i did attempt to learn manual at one point in life

Same here! I learned on a manual too at the driving school.

20 years ago, around 80 percent of passenger cars sold in Sweden had manual transmissions. Since then, a lot has happened: Of the 288,087 newly registered passenger cars in Sweden in 2022, 245,965 were automatic transmissions, which corresponds to 85.4 percent.

In total of all cars here, most of them are still manual though, and we learn manual in driving school, you can learn with automatic -- but then you are only allowed to drive automatics.

Driving schools in my city only use manual cars, so that actually turned out to be a big advantage for me. My car has both manual and automatic modes, which is another plus. That said, a lot of people here still think driving an automatic is just for beginners and take every chance they get to put you down for it but honestly, who cares?

Ehh

I learnt automatic first
and didn't learn manual for years later
it was annoying honestly and i would always buy an automatic car
but i do have a manual license

You know, my concern with manual cars is more about situations where we travel somewhere really far for a vacation and, for some reason, can't find an automatic rental. Not knowing how to drive a manual could become a serious issue. Or imagine any scenario where you're suddenly required to drive a manual and there's no other option.

Other than that, yes, I would definitely prefer an automatic.

By the way, do they issue separate licenses for manual and automatic cars in Australia? Here, we just have one license that's valid for both.

 

[Rem]

You know, my concern with manual cars is more about situations where we travel somewhere really far for a vacation and, for some reason, can't find an automatic rental. Not knowing how to drive a manual could become a serious issue. Or imagine any scenario where you're suddenly required to drive a manual and there's no other option.

Other than that, yes, I would definitely prefer an automatic.

99% of aus citizen cars uses automatic (dont quote my stats but as far as i'm concerned, nobody goes out of their way to buy manual)
but there may be edge cases where there is only manual. Like trucks/some busses etc
it's nice to have, but in australia most people actually don't have manual or know how to drive it. Newer gen wise.

By the way, do they issue separate licenses for manual and automatic cars in Australia? Here, we just have one license that's valid for both.

Same license, but the license is marked with an A or M
if u hold manual, u can drive automatic without the automatic exams

 

[Dopious]

but there may be edge cases where there is only manual. Like trucks/some busses etc

Must be old ones, here I have not seen manual trucks or busses in decades from the manufactures.