What do you call a car without an automatic transmission?

[DawnM]

Just curious.

[DawnM]

Growing up we called it a manual car, but when I moved to the States I always heard stick or stick shift. (West Coast)

 

I had never heard the term Straight Drive until I moved to the South. My friends laughed when I asked what a Straight Drive was.

 

Dawn

[....]

A manual.   :coolgleamA:   What the heck is a Straight Drive?

[LaCEmom]

I've lived in the South my entire life and I've never heard the term straight drive. Seems like I've heard the other 3 pretty equally though.

[LisaKinVA]

I actually have referred to it as Standard, Manual and Stick.  When we were in CA, we learned to drive a stick.  Terminology for purchasing, though was always standard...the cars we are looking at in Italy refer to manual transmissions.

[Callie]

I've lived in the South my entire life and I've never heard the term straight drive. Seems like I've heard the other 3 pretty equally though.

Agreed.

[Laura Corin]

In Britain it's mostly just 'a car'.  Automatics are fairly rare.  If a distinction needs to be made, I think they are usually called 'manual'.

 

We have separate driving licences for the two kinds of car: if you pass your test driving a manual, then you are covered for automatic, but not vice versa.

 

L

[Melissa in Australia]

they are called manual here in Australia

[Kim in Appalachia]

I voted stick, but I would say stick or manual.  

[craftyerin]

I voted standard, but I say manual pretty often, too.  DH's car is a standard and I love it! I didn't learn to drive one until we got married, and I'll be sad when he replaces it.  He'll likely place it with an automatic since he does more driving in traffic now and it's annoying. 

[snowbeltmom]

Stick, standard and manual. I have never heard of straight drive.

[Mama Geek]

I voted other because I have used all the terms other than straight.

[LaxMom]

Standard (though more and more they are not), manual, or stick. I've never heard straight drive.

[DawnM]

Do you use all of them? The question wasn't what you have heard but what you call a car without an automatic transmission.

 

I voted other because I have used all the terms other than straight.

[DawnM]

That was true in Kenya as well. All of our cars were manual transmission cars.

 

In Britain it's mostly just 'a car'.  Automatics are fairly rare.  If a distinction needs to be made, I think they are usually called 'manual'.

 

We have separate driving licences for the two kinds of car: if you pass your test driving a manual, then you are covered for automatic, but not vice versa.

 

L

[DawnM]

Changed the poll to include multiple answers.

[DawnM]

Well, it was odd because I was in a group with all Southern women and they all knew what it was and I didn't. They all chuckled and told me it was a Southern term.

 

So, this is just my experience, although I did google and someone else said it was Southern as well. It could be regional Southern

 

I've lived in the South my entire life and I've never heard the term straight drive. Seems like I've heard the other 3 pretty equally though.

[bettyandbob]

Never heard of straight. I've heard standard, manual and stick used equally. I personally say "stick." I'm in the mid Atlantic.

[Kathryn]

I've lived my whole life in the South and never heard that either. I generally call it stick or manual.

[MrsMommy]

If I was talking to someone about buying a car, I would use the word manual. In casual conversation, though, I'd probably just say stick.

[Pod's mum]

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

[Cosmos]

I think I usually say "manual transmission", then clarify with "stick shift" if I get a blank look. I've never heard of "straight drive".

[DawnM]

You completely lost me.

 

 

 

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

[Mrs Mungo]

I voted standard, but I use manual and stick shift too. It depends upon the type of conversation or to whom I am speaking at the time. I don't think I have heard the term "straight drive" before now.

[Parrothead]

I use standard, stick and manual interchangeably. I've never heard straight drive, and lived in the Deep South of the US for 23 years.

[carriede]

I would say stick in conversation, but I understand both standard and manual to refer to the same. I voted stick.

[wintermom]

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

 

Hey, that's too cool. I've heard the term 'four on the floor' and now I understand exactly what it means. I haven't seen many 'on the tree' shifting systems, though. I wonder if it's easier, harder or the same to blow out the clutch with this?

[Erin]

In our house it's interchangeable; standard or manual.

And that's all I've own for nearly 20 years.  We prefer them.

We currently have three vehicles with a manual transmission.  

[Pod's mum]

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

 

 

You completely lost me.

From Wiki...red is mine..."

Alternative positions

Column shifter in a Ford Crown Victoria.   Also known as "On the Tree"  and if an old three geared car, this would be Three-on-the-tree.

Gear sticks are most commonly found between the front seats of the vehicle, either on the center console (sometimes even quite far up on the dashboard), the transmission tunnel, or directly on the floor. Some vehicles have a column shift where the lever is mounted on the steering column—this arrangement was once almost standard practice in the United States until relatively recently, which had the added benefit of allowing for a full width bench-type front seat (though some models with bucket seating as an option include it). It has since fallen out of favor, although it can still be found widely on US-market pick-up trucks, vans, emergency vehicles..."

If the stick change is on the floor, and a four geared car, then this would be Four-on-the-floor.

Makes perfect sense. Sort of. In an Australian way.

Clear as  mud?

[wintermom]

On a similar line to this topic, I was listening to an old Bill Cosby stand-up comedy CD where he talks about driving in San Francisco with a manual transmission. It's hilarious! I can relate, as there was this one stop sign at the top of a big hill in my city growing up. I HATED that stop sign!!! :coolgleamA:

[Heather in Neverland]

I call it a stick or stick shift but here in Malaysia they call it a manual.

[Wilma]

Stick shift or manual are equally likely to come out of my mouth.

[Twigs]

Stick, standard and manual. I have never heard of straight drive.

 

:iagree:

 

Changed the poll to include multiple answers.

 

The poll would only take 1 response from me.

[DawnM]

Thank you.

 

I don't think I have ever seen one "on the tree" so I had no reference point.

 

Dawn

 

 

From Wiki...red is mine..."

Alternative positions

 

 

Column shifter in a Ford Crown Victoria.   Also known as "On the Tree"  and if an old three geared car, this would be Three-on-the-tree.

 

 

Gear sticks are most commonly found between the front seats of the vehicle, either on the center console (sometimes even quite far up on the dashboard), the transmission tunnel, or directly on the floor. Some vehicles have a column shift where the lever is mounted on the steering column—this arrangement was once almost standard practice in the United States until relatively recently, which had the added benefit of allowing for a full width bench-type front seat (though some models with bucket seating as an option include it). It has since fallen out of favor, although it can still be found widely on US-market pick-up trucks, vans, emergency vehicles..."

If the stick change is on the floor, and a four geared car, then this would be Four-on-the-floor.

Makes perfect sense. Sort of. In an Australian way.

Clear as  mud?

[xixstar]

Manual or stick shift mostly and standard transmission on occasion too, though I'd worry less people would understand the latter.

[awisha.]

Manual

[Pawz4me]

Lived in NC all my life. Straight drive is a common term, but the others are used too.

[Cinder]

I voted stick--in our house we say stick/stick shift or manual transmission. I have heard it called standard shift but don't use the term. Never heard of straight drive.

[Wildcat]

Growing up we called it a manual car, but when I moved to the States I always heard stick or stick shift. (West Coast)

 

I had never heard the term Straight Drive until I moved to the South. My friends laughed when I asked what a Straight Drive was.

 

Dawn

 

:confused:  Straight Drive? I have spent my entire lif in the deep South and have never heard this. Could it be sub-regional? The strangest thing I ever heard of was "three on a tree" for old trucks with the gear shift on the steering wheel column and only three gears.

 

I usually use the term "stick" but will use the term "manual" when speaking to car salesmen/repair shops. I don't know why I do that, but I do lots of weird things! :lol:

[Cinder]

I don't think I have ever seen one "on the tree" so I had no reference point.

 

Lucky you. We have an old Cutlass with the shifter on the steering column. Hate it.

[ThisIsTheDay]

I grew up on the West coast and call it a stick.  I've never heard of "straight drive," although I live in what is considered the south now.

[Wildcat]

I've lived in the South my entire life and I've never heard the term straight drive. Seems like I've heard the other 3 pretty equally though.

 

 

Me, too, except for the Straight Drive term.

 

Well, it was odd because I was in a group with all Southern women and they all knew what it was and I didn't. They all chuckled and told me it was a Southern term.

 

So, this is just my experience, although I did google and someone else said it was Southern as well. It could be regional Southern

 

 

I posted before reading other responses, so I missed this, but yes, I wonder if it's a 'regional southern' thing.

 

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

 

Ha! And all these years I thought it referred only to trucks! Thanks for that wiki link!

[WishboneDawn]

A manual. :coolgleamA: What the heck is a Straight Drive?

A trip to the next town in the prairies.

[*********]

As a teen, I called it a stick shift.  I still do occasionally, but since dh works in the automotive industry as did I in my life before kids, I try to remember to call it a manual transmission; it sounds more professional, I guess. :D

[WishboneDawn]

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

Four on the Floor!

 

You brought back a memory. There used to be a sketch comedy team with that name on tv here. They weren't around for ling but they paved the way for The Kids in the Hall, a more famous Canuck comedy team and you might still here the odd Canadian singing the FotF classic, Boot to the Head.

[WishboneDawn]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a2F2Y-ygXh4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da2F2Y-ygXh4

 

Can't mention it without a link to the song.

[Dandelion]

I've always called it a manual transmission or a stick shift.  Nowadays, I generally call it a manual transmission so that was my vote.

 

I've never heard of a straight drive.  

[Dory]

I grew up hearing this saying too.

Then of course your manual is either "on the floor" or "on the tree" (steering column).

As in old holden utes being "three on the tree" (from memory) or others being "four on the floor".

 

We call it a manual, although I'm pretty familiar with the term standard as well and have used it myself now and then. I always though the term stick shift was an eastern thing as the only time I've heard that is from people who were from the east. Never heard straight drive before.

[gardenmom5]

You didn't give an option for more than one.  we call it either a stick when being casual, or a manual. 

 

I learned to drive on one, and all the kids learned to drive on one.  the boys complained the most.   they're all glad they know how to drive them - and the only car we have left that is a manual is the kid-car.

 

 

[gardenmom5]

On a similar line to this topic, I was listening to an old Bill Cosby stand-up comedy CD where he talks about driving in San Francisco with a manual transmission. It's hilarious! I can relate, as there was this one stop sign at the top of a big hill in my city growing up. I HATED that stop sign!!! :coolgleamA:

I hated driving west - east in downtown seattle with a stick.   hated it. foot on the clutch, other foot on the gas, car in gear, hand on the parking brake . . . . otherwise, I like driving a stick.  you have more control.