This is so dumb.

1) No, it doesn't make you a better driver. Here's a study about it:
Results: Subjectively, participants report being more attentive while driving in manual transmission mode. Objectively, participants drive safer in the manual transmission mode.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17085632/

2) Unless you are living in the country with no traffic, there is no point. It's not fun in stop and go traffic, which is what we have here in DC.

3) there's no longer any fuel efficency to be gained. https://pitstop.rumbleon.com/automatic-vs-manual-gas-mileage

IF you want to enjoy a manual car on the open roads of the American west, go for it. Puttering around the beltway, however, will be a huge pita.

When automatic spark advance was invented, people probably said manual spark advance makes you a better driver.

Initially it might make you pay attention more, but I’ve been driving a manual since I learned (30 years ago?!?) and at this point I don’t have to think about it at all, it’s just driving. It’s like does the turn signal make you think? Or the windshield wipers? You just use them automatically at a certain point. When I have to drive an automatic rental, that makes me pay attention more. My clutch foot is hitting the floor and my hand is going for the shifter that’s not there.

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

I would argue that manual cars make you a worse driver. They distract your attention from driving because you have to spend extra mental energy on operating the clutch and the shifter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it make you a better driver?

You have to pay attention more to your driving and the conditions.

+1

Lol. Put bald tires on your car. It will make you pay a lot more attention to your driving and conditions than any manual car.

too much of a pain in traffic

At least in some countries, financial aspects and even taxation come into play. Even in many such places, however, automatics are slowly taking over.

Around here, the traffic is so unbelievably wretched nearly everywhere and all the time that a manual can be a huge hassle. I will never forget driving a borrowed pickup truck in heavy traffic for a week. It was awful.

Due to the nature of the roads and traffic abroad you can’t do anything else than drive anyway. Which reduces the need for an automatic car.

Anonymous wrote:manual transmission is SO MUCH FUN! except in stop and go traffic (and when you have to stop and start on a hill, I always worry the engine will stall out!)... SnG traffic is par for the course here so I understand why there aren't a lot of manual transmission drivers but I agree it's a better driving experience

+1. We had a standard until 2018, and it was tedious in traffic. I also didn't enjoy driving it out of underground garages where you have to pause on a steep slant and then drive over a sidewalk to get out.

manual transmission is SO MUCH FUN! except in stop and go traffic (and when you have to stop and start on a hill, I always worry the engine will stall out!)... SnG traffic is par for the course here so I understand why there aren't a lot of manual transmission drivers but I agree it's a better driving experience

NP. Not so sure that's true. I had several friends in high school and college who drove sticks and I wouldn't say they were any more attentive while driving than anyone else. They got just a bit more creative when trying to shift and eating/drinking at the same time, for example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it make you a better driver?

You have to pay attention more to your driving and the conditions.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

How does it make you a better driver?

You have to pay attention more to your driving and the conditions.

Anonymous wrote:Why?

Manual makes you a better driver

How does it make you a better driver?

Why?

Manual makes you a better driver