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Comment by J-dawg | Hacker News Reader

In the UK you don't need a medical reason, you can simply choose to take an automatic test. But then of course you can only drive automatic cars, just like in the Netherlands.

Ironically I believe an American who has never driven a manual would be able to come here and rent one, because (please correct me if I'm wrong) their licences don't distinguish between the two.

I think manuals are slowly on the way out here as well, although they'll persist for a long time on cheaper cars, and a few sportier cars.

A friend's new (automatic) Audi has both faster 0-60 and higher MPG (and lower CO2 output) than the manual equivalent, so manual gearboxes are becoming more difficult to justify, even for petrolheads.

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It's the same in Sweden as well. You can simply choose to do your driving exam with an automatic, but then you are not allowed to drive with a manual transmission.

Also, a year or two ago was the first year where half the new cars sold were automatic. The first time I ever tried driving an automatic was actually when first driving my own car; we bought our car just before I got my license, so I couldn't test drive it then but I could drive it home when it was delivered. I quickly decided that I would not ever be getting a car with manual transmission.

This is especially funny to me since I'm working on Need for Speed which is all about car culture, where people have a lot of passion for driving stick.

Manual transmissions could offer 2 advantages today:

1) They are most likely cheaper and lighter than automatics. They make more sense in cheap small cars. So if cost is an issue you may opt for this.

2) They could be more fun, depending on the car they're on. There are people who genuinely enjoy being engaged while taking a drive for fun. The more disconnected you get and the more stuff is done for you, the more it feels like you're a passenger instead of the driver. It's not just about getting better mileage, or better acceleration. The manual can be part of the fun.

For almost all other purposes an automatic transmission is the comfortable, efficient choice.

This being said, automatic transmissions can still be infuriating in some corner cases where they just can't pick the right gear. As long as there's a way to shift manually that shouldn't be a problem.

There are people who genuinely enjoy being engaged while taking a drive for fun. The more disconnected you get and the more stuff is done for you, the more it feels like you're a passenger instead of the driver.

As someone who drives both automatic and manual cars, and rides (manual) motorcycles, I take umbrage with this sentiment. It regularly gets trotted out in these types of discussions and is used as a way to dismiss anyone with a different view.

If you don't feel engaged while driving an automatic, the problem is with you, not the transmission. You may find manual shifting gratifying or fun, but if you need that to feel engaged then you need to stop and think about what your mind is doing while driving.

> I take umbrage with this sentiment

> is used as a way to dismiss anyone with a different view

I'm sorry but being offended that some people might like something different than what you like is not complimenting you at all. You complain about others dismissing your point of view while you're dismissing their point of view. And you completely ignore the fact that I didn't state it as a universal truth. It's even highlighted: "could be more fun". Your argument revolves around "I don't understand it or like it so it must be wrong". Under no circumstance do I have to like the same things as you to be right. When talking about my tastes I am always right. No exception. If you don't feel like this applies to you then it just means you're not in the target group for my statement.

The rest of your comment is just insulting which doesn't help you make a point or even make you sound like a reasonable person.

I don't enjoy riding a motorcycle but you don't see me offended by the fact that you do. Maybe you feel engaged snoozing in the train. Don't hate the people whose minds like more. And don't contradict or insult them about what they want or like. Makes you look petty and insecure. If you need validation for your tastes this is definitely not the way to go about it.

Manual vs. Automatic is gradually going to become irrelevant as electric drivetrains gain market share.

Except perhaps for a few exotic sports cars, electrics use fixed-reduction transmissions.

What if I have an Automatic Driving Licence (UK) and I go to America and rent a Stick Shift then the Police pull me over?

Also could I go to a developing country, get a licence there, then it is valid in the UK and America?

These questions came to mind when I read your comment.

These are interesting questions! I don't know the answers, but I guess international law is often bad at dealing with edge cases.

Is it an international law situation?

I am probably using the wrong terminology. I guess there are reciprocal agreements between countries to recognise each others driving licences. I'm not sure whether that counts as international law.

I doubt the police in the US would even mentally register that restriction, since it's a completely foreign idea to people in the US.

> Also could I go to a developing country, get a licence there, then it is valid in the UK and America?

Depends on the country you get the license from. https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence has a simple click through questionaire that implies your 3rd world license would be valid for 12 months. Looks like you can also get an IDP [0] which will be recognised in most places in the world, but again only valid for 12 months.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

The US doesn't care if you took the test using a manual or automatic, so that restriction wouldn't be recognized. You'd get a ticket (or whatever the appropriate action is for the offense) for whatever reason the cop pulled you over.

I think you’d have quite a hard time finding one. Maybe at a specialty rental place, but not one you’d likely find at an airport.

"What if I have an Automatic Driving Licence (UK) and I go to America and rent a Stick Shift then the Police pull me over?"

First off, you would have to find a rental manual transmission. I don't know if I have ever seen a manual in all the times I have rented here in the U.S.

The police will not care about that status on your license. They probably will not notice it.

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