Leo Sfikas spent nearly 18 years in a general management position at Currie Motors Auto Group in Chicago. He has nearly 40 years of management experience at dealerships in the state. During his career, Leo Sfikas has gained a depth of automotive knowledge, such as the differences between manual and automatic transmissions.
Manual vehicles feature three pedals: the brake, the accelerator, and the clutch. Drivers must manually shift between gears using the gearbox and clutch. On the other hand, automatic cars shift between gears automatically.
In the United States, an estimated 96 percent of American drivers own automatic vehicles. One of the reasons for the popularity of automatic transmissions in America is the convenience of not shifting gears while driving to the wider selection of makes and models.
American drivers tend to be utilitarian, multi-tasking drivers who are less likely to purchase high-end cars than European drivers. Luxury cars like a Porsche Cayenne rarely feature automatic transmissions. However, more high-end automakers are giving drivers this option in hopes of eliminating manual cars and simplifying design and build processes.
As mentioned, automatic transmission cars are not the international standard. In England, for example, manual cars are more common, particularly when it comes to smaller cars. European drivers often learn to drive on microcars with stick shifts, which has given way not only to a preference for manual transmission but a driving culture that does not engage in distractions.
According to Car Coach Lauren Fix, European drivers are less likely to use their phones while driving, thanks partly to the need to continuously engage with the stick shift.
