Cars in your Country - Auto or Manual?

Both my cars are manual transmission (one is 5-speed, the other 6-speed), but this is unusual. Most cars in the United States now are automatic transmission, maybe even including sports cars. I seem to remember a Honda salesman telling me that something like over 95% of their sales are automatic transmission.

Both....I live in Chile, I drive automatic cars only because I didnt learn manual....Simple....99% know to drive manual, I m in the 1%

in the US, unfortunately MOST people do NOT drive a Manual.

it's i'd say 90% automatics...10% manuals.

it's really unfortunate, because i believe people who drive manuals drive BETTER and pay more attention to driving......here, people drive around getting fat eating fried chicken while they pop the tranny into Auto.

sad sad sad.

I'll agree with that. Unfortunately, my car is an Auto. Oh well, it's just what's been handed down to me by the family. At least I know how to drive an manual. When I buy a nice car some day, it sure as shit is going to be a manual.

Spain 99% manual, 1% automatic,the people here think that automatic is synonymous of bad driver

Yes, most cars in the US are automatics because people need a free hand to eat, talk on their cell phone, put on makeup, shave, whack the kids, etc. They don't want to be messing with a shifter. Personally, I prefer a manual. They're more fun and give you more control.

The new 2009 Dodge Challenger will have an optional 6-speed manual and an interesting feature I've never heard of before: at a stop on an incline, the car will automatically apply the breaks slightly for a second or two so the car does not roll backward when you let off the break to apply the gas.

I've owned 5 cars in my lifetime, thus far. All have been manual transmission, although I came close to buying my 2006 Honda Accord with an automatic transmission. The mileage penalty for the automatic transmission is now down to 1mpg in many cases, so there is less and less of a reason to go manual.

There is also starting to be a distinction between purely manual transmissions (where choice of time to shift, decoupling of the flywheel, shifting, and recoupling of the flywheel are all done by the driver) and partially manual transmissions (where only the choice of when to shift is decided by the driver). This distinction is coming into play partly because F1-style transmissions (which are of the partially manual type) are now shifting in less than 60 milliseconds, which is faster than any human can shift manually. A computer is also used to do exact rev-matching on downshifts, better and faster than any human can, saving wear on the clutch.

This has caused Ferrari to move away from purely manual transmissions in their F430 and racing version, the 430 Scuderia. The new Lexus IS-F has done the same thing with a 7-speed automatic paddle shifter. Porsche's 997-series 911 Turbo actually has faster acceleration with the automatic Tiptronic transmission than with the manual 6-speed gearbox (0-62mph in 3.4 seconds versus 3.7 seconds), and the 2009 911 Carrera is now available with the new Porsche Doppelkupplung Dual Clutch, or PDK transmission (video here), which shifts 60% faster than the manual gearbox. Purely manual transmissions are not going to exist for much longer.


I believe this has been available in Subaru cars for years now, but someone else may know better.

Porsche actually invented this 'dual clutch' technology in the early 80s...however Audi introduced this technology to production cars in 2003 with the Audi TT with DSG gearbox. DSG is now called S-Tronic in various Audi cars...

it's an AMAZING gearbox.....so smooth and instant that it often just blows your mind. if you get a chance to test one out, do so....it really is the future of transmissions IMO.

I'm not entirely sure, but from what I know, Porsche, Audi and VW are all under one production company and ownership, and share sort of the same technologies.

Around here (Canada), I don't know the exact ratio, but it's Auto > Manual.

I prefer manual myself, but not an expert driver. I drive automatic. The new technologies pointed out by Astaroth sound interesting too (triptronic, etc..)

they're not really under the same company....YET.

porsche, audi, and VW have been sharing parts between them for a long time, along with formats, development, engineering, etc....however Porsche did invent the idea of the double clutch gearbox for their rally program in the early 80s....

that being said, these three companies PRODUCE most of their cars completely independent of one another, with different focus and their own technology. If anything, Audi and VW share more than Porsche does with either...

Yes, this is described briefly in the first few seconds of the video link I posted about PDK.


There are some things which I believe are not shared at all by Porsche. For example, the optional PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Braking system) is not used by either Audi or VW, although I know the Audi A8 has its own version of CCB that it uses. I think the Tiptronic transmission (which will probably be phased out by PDK anyway) is also solely applied to Porsche vehicles.

There is also lots of part-sharing going on between Audi and Lamborghini, of course, since Audi actually owns Lamborghini.

American muscle cars won't be the same without a stick and a clutch.

Gone In 60 Seconds Mustang (Eleanor) chase scene:

part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=242ixkBIz8w
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sisXI29E7S0

I love the shots of his foot-action on the floorboard.

Almost all automatics here, just the occasional manual transmission. Hubby prefers manual, though. He misses his old Nissan 5-speed with the great bose sound system. I must say, that was a nice car. But he now buys automatic for my sake - I don't know how to drive manual. A friend started to teach me to drive her manual car, but we were always drunk at the time (we were very young then). Now, I don't think I could drive a manual unless I'd been drinking (more relaxed). Probably not a good idea, though, eh?

Very interesting. Having learned to drive on a motorcycle in the US, gears came naturally to me. My old truck, Kouros I, was a manual. I found that manuals have many advantages for off-roading if you're good with the clutch, although many serious off-roaders prefer automatics for various valid reasons, and I think the two camps have agreed to disagree. I did discover only rather late that manuals have one serious disadvantage for outdoorsy and sport types - they are without mercy in the event of a leg injury.

My current truck (Kouros II) is an automatic because I got a really sweet deal on it. There are days that I regret my decision, and I catch myself reaching for a shifter that's not there. I agree that automatics are nicer in stop-and-go traffic. But they offer no real advantage for eating fried chicken. Trust me!

Awesome vid, maddie! God, I loved that movie.

Renato - do they have those God-forsaken automatic anti-skid brakes down under and in Italy? I'm really good with a skid (old dog), so I hate the damn things. Right or wrong, I feel like they don't let me stop as fast. I always let mine fail back to manuals, so I can dig that rubber down into the pavement (wet or dry).

LOL, lillybelle. If you get the urge to try a manual, give in (sober of course). You'll learn fast. And you'll feel ten years younger. Kouros III will be one for sure!

Oh yeah, I know all about that kind of torture. For a period of time while I was living in Berkeley, I owned two 4-speed manual transmission cars at the same time --- a 1984 Dodge Colt and a 1982 Mazda GLC. Being a poor graduate student, I had no off-street parking. So I had to move the cars frequently to make room for street cleaning. That was fine ... until I broke my left foot and was on crutches for 6 weeks. You can just imagine how much fun that was in Berkeley traffic.

Manual transmissions also suck if you have lower back pain, especially sciatica.

yeah, down here, I'd say its about 80/20 auto/stick just because of all the dumb, young morons with hopped up 4 bangers with coffee can exhaust systems made up of folgers cans and torro lawn mower engines.

that said, i have a 4 banger (sigh) and it is stick shift in the color dubbed by a friend of mine as "hello, officer red." all stock, mind you. no silly add-ons for it. the boyfriend's mustang gt, though, is auto. a different friend of mine calls its the phony pony... the boyfriend complains of knee pain from his previous stick shift pick up.

I'm hoping the next car i get will be a sporty little drop top number in, once again, red. maybe a mustang or corvette (if i can swing the insurence on it) and it will be stick. but, if i go with a jeep, i'm getting auto.

Hey Renato. RSA (an "anglo" country) we dont do autos.

In South Africa its probably around 80% manual; 20% auto.

I drove an auto rental car a few months back. It was horrendous!!! You have no control over the thing, and its so irritating. I couldnt stand it.

I'm one of very few people (percentage wise) in Canada who drive manual. Been driving it for over 30 years now, but now prefer automatic. There's too much gridlock here to enjoy shifting manual tranny.

I own two cars to share with my son. One manual the other auto, I never get near the manual - DS has his paws over it all the time.

My first car was manual trans, and I bought it without knowing how to drive with a clutch and stick shift! It sounds silly, but I did this so I would HAVE to learn it! After driving away from the dealership in 3rd gear - chugging, coughing, jerking, etc. - it only took me about 2 or 3 days to really get the knack of it! I have never regretted it. Currently our household has 2 automatics and 1 manual and I'm glad I can drive any one of them!!!

In LA? Automatics. I'd hate to be behind someone who has to juggle a latte, iPhone, Blackberry AND have to shift the car at the same time.

I have a 5-speed manual

Do we have traffic lights???
LOL the traffic light was literally invented South Africa.
Plenty traffic lights.

And the thought on Auto being desirable or not with regards theft is quite interesting. Im not sure.
But vehicle theft and hijacking is rife (massive understatement) in South Africa.

Like has been said of Americans in the above posts, we mostly drive automatics (myself included). There is still a counter-culture of manual shifters that get very uppity about the benefits of their transmissions. Most of the ones I know routinely drive into stationary objects while trying to shift and also doing random multitask things like talking on a cell phone or messing with the radio. When not assaulting trees and signs, they also enjoy replacing the transmissions they ruin due to not allowing a more capable machine than themselves to shift gears.

...

I actually think that it does- that and the fact that the car is screaming fuscia colored, or as Honda calls it "Red Camellia Pearl"

What self respecting car thief wants to be seen grinding the gears on that?

I doubt this, since I suspect most cars are stolen for parts. And since most cars in LA have automatic transmissions, I would imagine automatics are more likely targets, although probably not by much of a margin. I think other factors come into play much more, such as ease of theft, popularity of the model, value of the car's parts on the black market, etc.

I think also the likelihood of whether the car has a tracking device in it comes into play. Most high-end cars have some sort of tracking device in them now (e.g. Lo-Jack Early Warning, etc). These cars, when stolen, are often left to sit for a couple of days in a parking lot to see if the police come to recover them. For that reason, many thieves might choose to not steal them to begin with.


This hasn't been my experience. Most of the people I know who have manual transmissions treat their cars pretty well, because they can actually feel when the transmissions are getting strained. A lot of people with automatics will floor the accelerator from a stop, not knowing what kind of abuse this causes. It's also a lot cheaper to replace a manual transmission, and they are less prone to design flaws, since they are simpler.

Mostly manual as far as I can tell. Very few driving schools will offer automatic only training, and most drivers I know wouldn't get an auto unless they really had to (gearbox replacement cost puts most off I think). I've only known 3 auto car owners in my life, 2 were motorbility cars and had to have auto, the other is my mother in law who doesn't like clutches.
There's definately an objection to them here, having an automatic, or even worse an auto license, is often looked upon as if there might be some lack of capability on the driver's part. An ability to instinctively change and feeling the gears usually feature at some point in discussions on someone's new car.

I don't know whether they count as type a or b from your descriptors though. The last one I drove didn't seem to do either of those. Rather jolly little thing (if wildly overpriced for a Vauxhall).

I think one of the reasons Americans prefer them is that American cars in particular have very good auto trannies- so much so that for years Rolls-Royce, Honda and BMW bought GM Hydra-Matics rather than make their own.

I like having a manual, but I'm not traveling on the 405 at rush hour, going three feet and stopping, going three feet and stopping, for like 60 miles. For that commute I would like a circa '85 Cadillac, with seats plusher than my living room, A/C that could keep meat and one-finger steering. I drove one for a month or so and it's amazing- you start to turn into an old man in it; it's so comfy in there you can see no real reason to go that fast. 35 mph in the city seems just fine. Why go faster? No place you're going to get to is more comfortable than that Caddy...

hehe. i forget that the rest of the universe is not like south florida, sorry. ;-)

i was trying to be pc (i'm not good at it) but this is what i'm refering to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_burner

Think The Fast and the Furious, but looks only.

i'm more into hotrod american hot rods. Mustangs, Corvettes, hopped up older Chevys... i'm not a fan of the imports that most people my age seem to favor: toyotas, acuras, hondas, with huge spoilers/rims that doubled the value of the car/loud exhaust systems. the exhaust systems I was refering to are huge exhaust pipes that are about the circumference of a coffee can (foldgers coffee) but sound like a lawn mower (torro over here is a brand of lawn mowers).

Not in most of them- Cadillac has made an effort to change their cars. Most of then now drive very well. I think only the Escalade is carrying on the tradition of the old barges.

Something I actually find quite funny about big SUV's. Every generation doesn't want to drive what their parents drove, so this generation decides to rebel against their parents driving huge, chrome-laden pigs that handled terribly, got awful gas-mileage and were as technically sophisticated as a Conestoga Wagon, by driving the same thing, just with 4-Wheel drive...

Most of the cars in Egypt are manual. They're cheaper, and people have a (false?) belief that fixing a car with automatic transmission is more difficult than fixing a manual transmission car, and that an automatic car is more likely to have more problems.

I drive a manual transmission car, and I hate it with a passion. If you regularly get stuck in a traffic jam for a good half an hour shifting between the first and second gears, you'll know what I mean. It hurts your leg and foot, it makes you go nuts in 5 minutes. Call me a bad driver, I don't care, no more manual for me.