Research figures from VicRoads show that many new and young drivers are choosing automatic licenses over the traditional manual. And in the last decade, the Aussie car industry has seen a steady shift towards auto transmission.
Indeed, sales of manual cars are declining so fast, some experts believe the ‘stick shift’ transmission and three pedals will eventually become niche, play things catering for wealthy sports car lovers.
Is it because automatic transmission technology has dramatically improved? Or are we just getting lazy?
As we discussed last year, automatics have the potential (according to the specific needs of the purchaser and his or her buying decision) to provide higher performance, better economy and even improved control in high-pressure motorsport environments.
We asked our Facebook audience what’s wrong with manuals. A few selected comments feature below:
Tony Robinson
It’s easy… that’s the way of the world now… it has to be easy…shame really. No one really knows how to actually drive anymore. Just ask anyone if they know how to heel and toe?
Kalid David Al-Musawi
With the growing number of road congestion I believe that has an impact because who wants to drive a manual on stop start for hours, gets very annoying. Autos have come a long way and far more comfortable to drive and performance is a lot better.
Jamaine Lee Prieditis Parry
I'm a part of this younger generation; the main issue was not having access to a manual vehicle to learn in. I bought my first car on my learners which was automatic, so I lost the motivation to learn how to drive manual, and just got my automatic license. Once I got onto my P plates, I actually needed a manual licence for work purposes. So I learned how to drive manual in 2 days and had the driving test on the third day, and passed quite easily in a massive 4WD.
Jaime Chen
It's an Aussie thing I guess, people are getting lazy here and purely rely on auto. Have a look at the cars in UK and other countries in Europe, manual are still very popular. Even Americans drive more manual than we do
Jonathan William Whittacker
Manuals are fun to drive, but as a daily driver it doesn't make much sense, autos are much easier to drive in stop-start traffic
Liam Clarke
People too lazy to actually learn how to drive a car. Should be no such thing as an auto only licence.
Des Lindsay
Without the stick you only learn how to steer a car not drive....
Andrew McCluskey
With the increase of speed traps etc.. Australia is becoming a nanny state. Less kids are becoming real car enthusiasts and more are just interested in cars solely as a mode of transport which carries more freedoms then public transport. People still like cars but are more enthused about the styling, the spec sheet and equipment.
Also back in the day, manuals where much better propositions, they would be 4 speed compared to 3 speed; 6 speed compared to 4 speed meaning not only where they faster but more fuel efficient too also auto options where usually more expensive making the decision much easier.
Today, automatics usually have more gears then manuals and can shift quicker too meaning in some cases there objectively faster and more efficient too. Also an increasing amount of cars come as auto only and in addition, those young people who are car enthusiasts may have a hard time finding the car they want on the used car market in manual just because most people ticked the auto box when new
Thomas Lodge
There's absolutely nothing wrong with manual gearboxes. It's my first choice of gearbox, every time. Despite manual gearboxes being the obvious choice for outright driving involvement, automatics (whether torque converter or GOOD dual clutch varieties) are either as efficient, or nearly as efficient.
Some dual clutch gearboxes are a bit quicker than a well driven manual. But, despite paddle shifting available on the automatic variations, and automatically blipping the throttle on downshifting, NO auto can match the fun of heel and toe downshifting in a manual car, and a crash box manual truck
Brad Warren
Cats. Bunch of cats you auto drivers. I'll never own an auto until I'm too old to push the clutch in cos my legs have seized up !!
Bob Cilia
If you can't control a vehicle you shouldn't get a license. Auto license should only be an option for special circumstances.
Have your say below…