In this thread, I suggested that an American visiting the UK might want to spring for the automatic transmission option when renting/hiring a car, since many Americans don’t drive a stick…let alone being able to shift with their left hand. GorillaMan correctly pointed out that an automatic is WAY more expensive to rent over there.
I postulated that many if not most Americans under 35 don’t drive a stick. Time for an unscientific poll:
(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?
(2) What country do you live in?
(3) How old are you (roughly)?
Yes. I learned to drive on a stick. (and how to lay rubber)
United States
45.
Shifting/working the clutch on the opposite side would make the first 30 minutes of driving interesting. I would have to think about it instead of just driving.
It’s only right that I contribute to this, I suppose!
(1) Yes.
I learnt to drive with one, as 99% of Brits do. I did own an automatic for a while, which which was acquired from a friend as payment of a debt, and I thoroughly disliked it. However, I appreciate the greater benefit when using American street layouts, with traffic lights where we would tend to have roundabouts. And I can understand how automatics are (apparently) more prevalent in London than elsewhere. Similarly, cruise control is of little use here, but makes perfect sense when you actually have the opportunity to get onto long empty highways.
(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? Yes. All the cars I’ve owned since 1990 (except the van which is more of a 2nd car) has had a manual, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is the only thing I’d buy…I’d buy an auto tranny car if it was what I wanted.
(2) What country do you live in? US.
(3) How old are you (roughly)? 42/female
Yes, I learned to drive on a stick, a 4-speed Volkswagon Beetle. I loved that car. I always drove a stick until 1996, when I bought my first automatic.
As GorillaMan pointed out in the other thread, if you pass your test in an automatic in the UK, your lisense is restricted and you are not allowed to drive a manual. So pretty much everyone learns in a manual.
Yes. I learned on both an automatic (mom’s car) and a stick (dad’s car). I’ve owned my own car for 18 years and only the most recent car (a year old) is an automatic. If I could have justified the money, I would have bought another stick. I miss having a stick.
