Updated: Feb. 03, 2023
Fewer Americans are learning to drive stick shifts, but Europeans prefer them. These are the reasons why.
Burning out the clutch and stalling as you roll back on a hill used to be part of learning how to drive in America. But these days, fewer and fewer people are driving cars with stick shifts in the United States. According to CarMax, 96 percent of Americans drive automatics. And, unsurprisingly given that statistic, people just aren’t buying cars with manual transmissions in the United States. According to Edmunds.com, in 2018, they made up just 2 percent of all vehicles sold.
“For automakers, it will be simpler when the manual dies,” Ivan Drury, a senior analyst for Edmunds.com, told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s kind of a hassle for them to offer both, same with dealers. Given market forces, it’s going to go away.” This fact might just be one of the34 things car dealers won’t tell you.
Contrast that with Europe, where almost everyone learns to drive a stick shift. Here are some of the reasons why:
Why more Americans drive automatics
Automatics are much more utilitarian cars that get people from point A to point B, says Lauren Fix, the Car Coach. As such, Americans are much more likely to be doing several things at once when they’re driving. That’s not the case in the rest of the world. “Americans eat while they drive and they multitask while they drive,” Fix says. “Europeans do not.” Although, it should be noted that eating while you drive is definitely one of the things you’re doing in your car that you shouldn’t.
Europeans are also more likely to own higher-end cars. You would never see a manual Porsche Cayenne in the United States. But you will in Europe.
Why Europeans like manual transmissions
The preference starts early. In Europe, 15- and 16-year-olds learn to drive on Microcars with stick shifts. Fix says she doesn’t know anyone in Europe who doesn’t know how to drive one. In addition, driving a car with manual transmission forces people to be more engaged with their car and what’s going on around them.
“They pay attention to the road much more so than we do here in the United States,” Fix says. “I have been all over Europe and nobody’s on the phone while driving. Not even on speakerphone. They just don’t. That’s just not part of their culture.”
That’s not to say that the Europeans don’t have fun on the road. Germany is also home to the Autobahn, where there’s no speed limit and drivers are often going well over 100 mph. Europeans also prefer cars with manual transmissions because they use less fuel—an important consideration when people in Norway pay an average of $7.82 for a gallon of gas, according to Sixt.com.
Who still drives manual cars in America?
Most carmakers in the United States have stopped making cars with manual transmissions, and pricing doesn’t really seem to factor in much with that decision. The idea that cars with manual transmissions are less expensive than automatic cars isn’t really true, according to Edmunds.com.
A few brands do still make them, including Volkswagen, Mini, and Miata, Fix says. Porsche has also gone back to making cars with manual transmission after switching to a PDK, or a paddle-shift, Fix says. Sports cars known for their loyal fans such as Mustangs, Corvettes, and Camaros are also still made with stick shifts. “You find them to be manual because it is a joy and a thrill to drive them,” Fix says.
Though the number of people driving manual transmissions in the United States is on the wane, there are pockets of enthusiasm. CarMax customers who live in Maine, New Hampshire, and New Mexico are twice as likely to buy a car with a manual transmission than the average CarMax customer.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a car with an automatic or manual transmission, just be sure you know these signs you’re about to fall for a terrible car deal first.
Sources:
- Lauren Fix, the Car Coach
- Edmunds.com: Manual vs. automatic transmission: Which is right for you?
- Sixt.com: Automatic vs. manual: What Americans drive automatic
- Chicago Tribune: The shift is on: Manual transmissions may be endangered but they’re also beloved
- Carmax: The Stick Shift Index: Do People Still Drive Stick Shift Cars in America?
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FAQs
Automatics are much more utilitarian cars that get people from point A to point B, says Lauren Fix, the Car Coach. As such, Americans are much more likely to be doing several things at once when they're driving. That's not the case in the rest of the world.
Why do Europeans not drive automatic? ›
Europe Has a Different Topography
Having a car that you can manually switch the gears on is essential to these kinds of streets. Plus, automatics waste a lot more fuel when going up or down a steep slope, which, as we mentioned, is something many Europeans want to avoid.
Why are European cars mostly manual? ›
Tradition: Manual transmission cars have been around for a long time, and they were the norm in Europe before automatic transmissions became common. As a result, many Europeans grew up learning to drive manual cars and simply preferred them.
Why is manual driving better than automatic? ›
Pros of manual transmission
The number one reason to choose a stick shift is that you like the feeling of being engaged with the car. You have more to do, and drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel often feel that manual transmissions are more fun than automatic ones.
Does most of Europe drive manual? ›
In Europe, 80% of cars sold have manual transmissions. In the U.S., it's only 1%. Only around 18% of American drivers can handle a manual transmission, according to U.S. News and World Report. You know: the clutch pedal and the stick shift—three on the tree, four on the floor or, I don't know, five to drive maybe.
Why no more manual transmissions? ›
There are various reasons for this decline that can explain why the manual transmission is disappearing in modern times. Here are some of the biggest ones: Improvements to automatic cars. In the past, manual cars often enjoyed better fuel efficiency, control, and performance.
Which country drives most manual cars? ›
In 2000, 89 percent of all new cars registered were equipped with a manual. In some countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, and Portugal, that number exceeded 95 percent. Norway and Switzerland were exceptions, where approximately 25 percent of new cars were automatics.
Is driving in Europe hard as an American? ›
The mechanics of driving in Europe aren't all that different from home, but the first day or two can be an adjustment. Drive defensively, observe, fit in, avoid big-city streets when you can, know how to operate your GPS (and have a good printed map along), and wear your seat belt.
Are stick shifts still made? ›
Despite the shift towards automation and electrification, some automakers continue to honor the tradition of the manual gearbox.
Why doesn t america use manual cars? ›
While convenience and ease of use is probably a big driver of the uptake of automatics, there is also the benefit of accessibility for elderly and disabled drivers, who can have difficulties driving “stick”.
Performance. Some UK motorists believe that a true “driver's driver” will opt for a manual because you get much more control over the performance output of the vehicle. That is, if you buy a sports car, a manual gearbox means that you can accelerate quickly with no lag, and take corners with greater precision.
Why do people still use manual cars? ›
One of the biggest benefits of driving a manual car is more engagement with the driving experience. When you drive a manual transmission vehicle, you need to make more decisions about driving based on road conditions, speed, road incline, and more.
What lasts longer, manual or automatic transmission? ›
Manual transmissions require less servicing to remain functional and don't need the same type of oil as an automatic transmission. Cars with a stick-shift usually last longer than an automatic of the same make and model.
Why do some people prefer manual over automatic? ›
Cheaper to maintain — With all of the added machinery that goes into the automatic transmission, it can end up costing you a lot of money just to keep it running properly. Manual transmission cars require very little maintenance, and generally maintenance and repairs end up being significantly less costly.
What percentage of Americans drive manual transmission? ›
For the 1980 model year, 35 percent of cars produced for sale in the United States had manual transmissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the share is about 1 percent. And just 18 percent of American drivers can drive a stick, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Are automatic transmissions common in Europe? ›
“They used to be a rare option in many brands, but are now more readily available and not as expensive as they used to be.” In 2020 Europe, Mobility Foresights estimated a 75 percent penetration of automatic transmissions.
