Why mostly manual cars in UK

[VicParticipant @vic]

“Sealed for life”, “Parts not available”, “£100 a litre for oil” … All sound like good reasons to choose a manual unless you buy a new car every few years.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

I drive a Honda Jazz with auto gearbox, it’s a dream to drive and with the paddles I can select any gear that seems necessary. The comments in this thread have made me think back to my time in the services when I used to have to drive ancient Bedford de-icer tankers that had awful gearboxes and the steering wheel was about the size of a railway turntable, no power steering in those days just huge biceps.
Dave W

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Vic on 07/12/2019 10:03:29:

There’s not a lot to go wrong in a manual gearbox. I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

Just wait till the dual mass flywheel quits on your manual box, that'll make your eyes water

[Dave Smith 14Participant @davesmith14]

I have driven a lot of automatics, but why do I still prefer a manual? As with everything its personal preference, I LIKE changing gear and it also allows me to have the car in the part of the power band I want it in not what the car thinks its wants to be in.

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Posted by Vic on 07/12/2019 16:21:14:

“Sealed for life”, “Parts not available”, “£100 a litre for oil” … All sound like good reasons to choose a manual unless you buy a new car every few years.

All main dealer hype I'm afraid and simply not true. With most auto boxes you can drop the sump, change the filter and refill with fresh fluid quite easily. Main dealers don't seem to employ engineers anymore, even service reception at my main dealership is 'manned' by young girls who haven't a clue about cars. They always say leave the car for a day even for the simplest thing. It's all geared up to selling complete units and preferably a new car!

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by Dave Halford on 07/12/2019 19:09:45:

Posted by Vic on 07/12/2019 10:03:29:

There’s not a lot to go wrong in a manual gearbox. I’d hate to see the repair bill for a modern auto box though.

Just wait till the dual mass flywheel quits on your manual box, that'll make your eyes water

My car doesn’t have a dual mass flywheel.

[vintage engineerParticipant @vintageengineer]

The only reason modern cars have dual mass flywheels is they can cut costs by using weaker crankshafts and gearboxes. It's cheaper to make a dual mass flywheel than stronger cranks and gearboxes.

If you fit a solid flywheel to most modern cars you will snap the crank!

[Mark Gould 1Participant @markgould1]

Posted by Dave Smith 14 on 07/12/2019 19:41:01:

I have driven a lot of automatics, but why do I still prefer a manual? As with everything its personal preference, I LIKE changing gear and it also allows me to have the car in the part of the power band I want it in not what the car thinks its wants to be in.

a lot of modern cars these days Allow you to choose between automatic and manual. I have a Audi with an S-Tronic box which I can leave in “D” or change to “M” which allows me to use the paddles to change gears. Best of both worlds I suppose.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by vintage engineer on 07/12/2019 21:54:52:

The only reason modern cars have dual mass flywheels is they can cut costs by using weaker crankshafts and gearboxes. It's cheaper to make a dual mass flywheel than stronger cranks and gearboxes.

If you fit a solid flywheel to most modern cars you will snap the crank!

I repeat, my car doesn’t have a dual mass flywheel and it’s not yet three years old.

[vintage engineerParticipant @vintageengineer]

Any clues to what you drive?

Posted by Vic on 08/12/2019 10:06:44:

Posted by vintage engineer on 07/12/2019 21:54:52:

The only reason modern cars have dual mass flywheels is they can cut costs by using weaker crankshafts and gearboxes. It's cheaper to make a dual mass flywheel than stronger cranks and gearboxes.

If you fit a solid flywheel to most modern cars you will snap the crank!

I repeat, my car doesn’t have a dual mass flywheel and it’s not yet three years old.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

To return to the original question (but why change the habits … etc) –

Before WW2, most cars had gearboxes that required experience and skill to operate. So, most drivers avoided changing gear, and looked for cars which did not require such skills. Meeting the demand, makers used low compression engines with unexciting valve timing and big flywheels, and these cars were capable of about 5 – 50 mph in top gear. At the time the UK speed limit was 20 mph, so there was no incentive for much progress. As a result, the enthusiast (who had, or tried to have, the needed skills) relied on a specialist market place os what we would now call sports models, if he could afford it.

In the 1930s, fluid flywheels, and then synchromesh, were developed and much of the problem went away. At the same time, the removal of the 20 mph limit and the wider spread of tarmac in the countryside encouraged the use of valve overlap (shock horror), and lots of smaller-car firms turned out 'sports cars' – Wolseley, MG, Singer, Frazer-Nash, Riley, Alfa-Romeo, etc. The divide between 'ordinary motors' with saloon (sedan) bodies, and old-fashioned performance, and 'sports cars' with touring (open) bodies continued the idea that 'proper motoring' required skill, and anything that took away the need for skill was regarded as only for women and old men – and this included easy-changing systems. And such notions tend to stick – you only have to look at Top Gear to be reminded of this.

In other countries away from the UK with its restrictions and aged traditions different rules applied, of course.

I hope this bit of background is helpful.

Cheers, Tim

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