Why aren't most cars in the UK automatic?

Question

Why aren't most cars in the UK automatic?

Answer 1

In the past automatics have in the main only been fitted on large engined cars, the small engine cars which make up much of the British motoring stock was not suited to run with automatic gearboxes plus the fact that to fit a auto box as an option on a new cars would cost around a £1000 a price that many British buyers were not prepared to pay.

In recent years with the onset of both more inefficient small engines and more efficient auto gearboxes the numbers of automatics on UK roads have been growing.

A car salesman told me recently that he could easily sell every second hand automatic car he gets in stock i.e. for him demand is outstripping the supply.

Answer 2

'cos we love to DRIVE !!!

Answer 3

Because in the UK people are under the impression that they are "in control" . There is still the train of thought that manuaL transmission is more economical and easier to service.

However I am noticing an upwards trend in the amount of vehicles with automatic that I see

Answer 4

Because we aren't lazy.

Answer 5

Americans are lazy drivers and we really love the feel of driving.

Answer 6

Because most people in the UK are manual.

Answer 7

Why aren't ALL cars manual, after all, they are more economic to drive.

Answer 8

Why do most women slap me when i approach them? ;-)

Answer 9

Because most drivers in the U.K. don't want automatics.

This is called the law of supply and demand.  If people don't want it, manufacturers won't make it.

Answer 10

Seriously?

Automatic tranny cost more.  And British people are cheap.

I'm being serious.

===

Why are cars in America mostly Automatic? Because Americans really are lazy and don't want to learn to drive properly.

You know I'm serious now!.

Good luck...

Answer 11

Most people in the UK learn to drive in a manual, and are too quick to dismiss automatics without even driving them.  I know a number of people who badmouthed auto's untill they had to drive them for work, and then decided that they wern't so bad after all.  Two actually bought automatics after that!

Older cars with auto box's were not very fuel efficient but this has improved in recent years.

Another reason to do with cost is that they need servicing (change transmition fluid and filter) and some are not very reliable (eg Renault in the 80's and 90's) although modern ones are much better.