why is it,
my american GF can only drive autos and is asking me to teach her to drive a manual, which I will do for sure.
but why is it that you aren't taught it at home?
I'm australian by the way.
2006-08-21 00:13:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Other - United States
Because stick shifts are a pain in the ass. The need to constantly shift in big city stop and go traffic is a good reason not to buy a manual transmission.There are very few if any advantages to owning one. American made automatic .transmissions are reliable as hell and basically bulletproof.
I know how to drive a stick shift , I just won't own one.
2006-08-21 02:47:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Probably because majority of cars made and imported to U.S. are automatic.. and by default, driving classes are taught using auto.
In america, the best places to learn to drive a manual are from friends, or in my case, a car dealership rep. This person spent about 2 hours with me, we were test driving in a mall parking lot. Awfully nice of em. i thought i got the hang of it, but was i ever wrong..
first day i bought the car (not the one we were driving), the worst thing happened - i backed into a fire hydrant while going in reverse. also in first week, i stalled on hills a lot. I was so excited at driving a stick that i lost my common sense...
2006-08-21 00:43:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At no time in my life at home did my parents HAVE a car that was not an automatic transmission. When i took Driver's Ed in high school, all the cars were automatic transmission. All my aunts and uncles had cars with automatic transmissions.
i am not sure that answers your question, but part of the answer is that there are not that many cars (comparatively) with manual transmissions for us to learn on. I think the car companies made fewer and fewer of them because they could sell cars with automatic transmissions for more money.
2006-08-21 00:58:25 · answer #3 · answered by nickipettis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because your GF doesn't know how, what makes you say all Americans? She was obviously taught on an automatic. We do have standard shifting cars in the US. When I learn to drive it was a standard on the column. Teach her that one!
2006-08-21 04:50:24 · answer #4 · answered by ASTORROSE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Classifying us all into one group, are we?
No, seriously. We have a preference...If you want to learn how to drive with an automatic, you can so that. If you like the control of a manual shift, you can do that too. MANY Americans can drive manuals, but a lot of us prefer automatic because it's easier and more convienent.
2006-08-21 00:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by amg503 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am American and was taught how to drive a stick at 16.
2006-08-21 01:49:10 · answer #6 · answered by boohoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dad bought me a volkswagon that was manual when I was 17, I was not doing well driving it. I wanted to go out of town to a concert, he let me go on one condition that I take the VW. I learned to drive on the way..lol. I agree I think everyone should learned to drive a stick, you never know when you may need it.
2006-08-21 19:10:46 · answer #7 · answered by Jan G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many years ago there was a limitation on a license but there is no reason to lean now, unless you have a car with a manual trans.
2006-08-21 04:35:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not true. A driving school will teach a manual, if you ask.
2006-08-21 00:20:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not true, I learned to drive on a manual transmission.
2006-08-21 00:19:47 · answer #10 · answered by Badkitty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋