Holy crap, I didn't realise it was quite like that. I knew it was rare for people to know manual transmissions but why such a preference for automatic?
In Australia pretty much everyone I know can drive manual, most cars come with the option and most cheaper cars are manual. It was somewhat of a masculinity thing too, and still is according to my younger siblings.
To be honest I'm surprised the most that America doesn't have that same psuedo masculinity requirement thing happening. I am not saying it's good to have, just that I am surprised it's not there.
As far as myself, I have always much preferred manual and find myself utterly disillusioned with automatics. No engine braking so you're constantly between pedals, gearbox never in the best gear because it can't predict your actions, and they make even the nicest motors sound like droning slugs.
Even if you don't intend to go racing, a manual is just a bit more interesting and keeps you paying attention the whole trip, in my experience at least.
In Australia pretty much everyone I know can drive manual, most cars come with the option and most cheaper cars are manual. It was somewhat of a masculinity thing too, and still is according to my younger siblings.
To be honest I'm surprised the most that America doesn't have that same psuedo masculinity requirement thing happening. I am not saying it's good to have, just that I am surprised it's not there.
As far as myself, I have always much preferred manual and find myself utterly disillusioned with automatics. No engine braking so you're constantly between pedals, gearbox never in the best gear because it can't predict your actions, and they make even the nicest motors sound like droning slugs.
Even if you don't intend to go racing, a manual is just a bit more interesting and keeps you paying attention the whole trip, in my experience at least.