Use of EN and not DANS in the 'Transport' section above.

Question

In he lessson: 'Monter can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning', the following example is given that uses EN not DANS.
Nous sommes tous montés EN voiture.
Could you please explain why DANS is not used as the 'Transport' section above states that DANS should be used.
Thank you.

Accepted Answer

Hi Stewart, 
If I may just add...
"Nous sommes tous montés en voiture." would translate, "We all climbed into the car.".
The expression here is 'monter en voiture'.
When you use 'dans' , it often means inside in English .
J'ai laissé mon sac dans la voiture. (I left my bag in the car.)
Les enfants sont dans la voiture. ( The children are in the car.)
'En' is most used for modes of transportation 
Nous y sommes allés en voiture. (We went there by car.)
Hope his helps!

Answer

There is a no real difference in meaning between using en voiture and dans la voiture. They are synonymous.
But not so using aller. 
Nous sommes allés en voiture. -- We went by car.
Nous sommes allés dans la voiture. -- We went in the car. 
-- Chris (not a native speaker)..

Answer

Thanks Chris, I now understand.

Answer

He is in the car ,, en or dans?I'm getting very confused, thought there was a lesson saying en if vechile like bus train à if single

Answer

Hi Carol, 
If you refer back to my example above 
Les enfants sont dans la voiture = The children are in the car 
so
Il est dans la voiture = He is in the car
would be correct for he is inside the car.
If you said -
Les enfants et Marcel vont à la plage en voiture = The children and Marcel are going to the beach by car
This would highlight the fact that they drove there just as :
Il est en voiture = He is ( travelling) by car = He is driving
Hope this helps!