are all cars in the uk manuals?

Question

do people in the UK not like driving automatic cars?

Answer 1

of course not....... there a loads of automatic cars in the UK.

Answer 2

There are lots of automatic cars in the UK, but the majority are still manuals.

Most people take their driving test on a manual, as it allows you to drive an automatic if you have to. If you test on an automatic you can't legally drive a manual.

The reasons for manuals are many - smaller engines, which are more common in the UK and Europe than in the US don't get their precious power sapped as they would by using an automatic transmission. This is because while the manual transmission couples the engine to the transmission with a rigid clutch the automatic uses a torque converter which bleeds off power, and wastes additional engine power to drive the high pressure hydraulic pumps required for its operation.

Because of that added complexity, automatic transmissions can be more expensive to service when things go wrong. Manual, properly driven, can still deliver better fuel efficiency. when you consider petrol prices in the UK you'd want to be more efficient too :)

There is also a tiny bit of social pressure - there is an impression that I've come across that automatics are for old people who can't shift gears anymore due to arthritis or similar conditions, or people who can't drive properly, or wanted an 'easy' pass in the licence examination. This is, of course, not always true, just as manual drivers aren't automatically better drivers.

Finally manuals are loads more fun, although I doubt that is much of a consideration in most people's minds who just buy cars as transport to get them from a-b.

Answer 3

not likely we rented and automatic from Avis a Renualt!