Why are manual cars popular in the UK and Europe

Automatic cars have been available for over 80 years. In this video I explore the reasons why so many people in the UK and Europe are still driving cars with a manual gearbox.

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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in the UK, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

00:00 What people drive
01:11 When were automatics a reality
02:36 Manual is in decline
03:13 Why people use manual
04:18 Automatic is on the rise
06:15 Should you learn manual
06:58 Is it all about he money
09:37 Outro

[ZacDomamuo]

Good thing about driving manual in America is if someone breaks into your car they still cant steal it :P

[pacfic]

When I taught my sons to drive manuals, the argument I used was that their freeloading friends wouldn’t be able to drive their cars. Worked like a charm.

[vldy]

I'm European and I have mixed feelings about manual shifting.
When the road flows well it's fun to drive with a manual, and it kinda turns driving into a minigame where you try to perfect shifting, rev matching etc, it's really satisfying to just drop 2-3 gears when you arrive to a roundabout and just letting the clutch go with no jankiness at all.
On the other end driving in city traffic with a clutch can be really frustrating.

[benhurj]

I LOVE Richard living his Top Gear moment, blipping on the downshift and heel-toeing like nobody's business, really cool!

[dennisc]

Programmer in me: AUTOMATE EVERYTHING
Control freak in me: NO! MAINTAIN CONTROL
Me being Dutch: Ok, cheaper option it is.

[MickehPuppeh]

Gonna be driving manuals for as long as I possibly can. Rowing through the gears just puts the biggest smile on my face, and isn't that what life is all about?

[MentalParadox]

The only time in my life I've ever driven an automatic (I'm 34), is when I was on vacation to the US a few years ago and I got a rental. I hated how the gearbox shifted up too late for my liking sometimes. As a manual driver, you gain an instinct for when to shift, you hear it, feel it. And the automatic was just awkwardly staying in gears much too long, especially first gear when starting at red lights going green. I wanted my control back.

[tonnyhillaryodiwuor]

Am a learner from Kenya and your videos have helped me in clutch control.

[IamMarkHoppus]

"Why are manual cars popular in the UK and Europe?"
Because they know how to drive.

[andyhowlett]

I've always preferred manuals, I feel more in control. Autos make me feel like I'm piloting a boat.

[eddienkounou]

This was glorious...

The passion and personality of this presenter is amazing to watch.

Keep it up

[uuuummm]

I am from Kazakhstan. AT is so popular here that the driving school near my home does not provide lessons on manual. Only automatic. I had to search for other teachers to get some extra lessons to learn how to do some exercises (especially driving to a hill). Got my driving license as manual, bought a manual car and started driving with almost no practical experience (most of hours I spent in American/Euro Truck Simulator). So far so good, thanks to channels like this.

[brandonrobson]

Thank you for sacrificing your dignity running about like a looney goggling into people's cars. I passed just over a week ago and you were the first channel I found on my journey, very helpful! Keep it up Richard 😂

[richardgreenwood]

I don't think one has to be keen on 'speedy' driving to enjoy a manual. I enjoy the act of driving even if that is picking my way along a narrow country lane or through town or even sitting in a stop/start queue on the motorway. I simply enjoy being at the wheel of a car. For me, an automatic is just de-skilling the experience, like an artist being forced to only use painting-by-numbers. Autonomous cars would be like doing a dot-to-dot!

[raymundamansec]

Driving a manual transmission is a joy especially when doing long drives. I got to experience to drive what we called in the Philippines the "Luzon Loop"

[Rhyhmx]

Learning manual can give you the entire range of car selection while out for hunting instead of being limited which imo is a huge plus for a new driver where having a reliable cheaper car to gain more experience is usually the go to for most. It also gives you more control over your car in rain / snow if its an older model without a lot of computer aid.
Later switching to Automatic is really easy, however doing it the other way around is pretty difficult especially in most EU countries. If you learn on Automatic your license doesn't give you permission to also driver Manual but getting your license on manual does permit you to drive both. It just makes sense in most cases to not limit yourself over something that will happen in a long time especially if you plan on keeping your first car for 5 years or so if nothing goes wrong before upgrading.

[dayglowjim]

After years of driving automatics here in the U.S. I recently bought a Fiat 500 Abarth with a manual transmission. I drove a manual when I was stationed in Italy many years ago, and I enjoyed it then, but found that when I returned to the U.S. manual transmissions were hard to find. I am really in love with my little Fiat. It's a lot of fun to drive, and I have a sense that I'm actually engaged in an activity (driving) as opposed to just sitting there with my foot on the gas. I'm really sold on manuals!

[Monkey_on_Call]

I'm American, and the thing I like about manuals is that, in snow and ice, when braking is one of the worst things you can do, you can control your speed simply by NOT shifting. Living in a mountainous rural area and working in town, I remember, in freezing rain, getting to work in a front wheel drive KIA, and laughing at a coworker who couldn't drive down the street in a 4wd pickup.

[GreyKingBE]

Love that you embody the fun you can have with a manual with a car that makes driving manual a dream. I'm biased though, I also drive a MX5 ND, but I couldn't imagine a more fitting car for your story...

[jessicadee]

I'm from the Philippines and here, if you passed with an AT, you can't drive MT. But if you passed with a MT, you are allowed to drive both MT and AT. I of course got my license by passing with a MT 😊