Can you drive a stick shift/manual car?

[Tap]

Can you drive a stick shift car well enough that you could jump in one and drive today? (you can have an hour or so grace to kill it once or twice if you haven't driven one in a few years  :auto: )

 

Lets qualify 'well enough' with meaning:

get around your town in normal traffic (without a panic attack)

park in any parking place you normally would 

start/stop in traffic on a hill, and take off again without killing it

park/start the car on a hill if needed

 

 

 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Yes.  I learned to drive on one.  Drove it for years.  Drove an automatic for more years.  Last year I was given a loaner that was stick shift - it took me 5 minutes of lurching to remember how to drive it, then I drove it just fine.  

[fraidycat]

Yes, I can drive stick. Just this past spring I took my brother's old Camaro out for a rip. No lurching or bucking at all!

[Matryoshka]

Yes. Love stick shift!

[albeto.]

Yes! Cut my teeth on a stick.

Haven't used one since the rabbit died (VW Rabbit).

Got a motorcycle license two years ago and I get to play with a clutch again!

Squee!

[Tap]

I have been teaching my 16yo daughter to drive a stick shift car.  She gets her license tomorrow and she is going to take the test in my car (an automatic) but will have a manual car for a daily driver.  She is doing great and could totally pass the test in the stick shift/manual if she wanted to, but it has a cracked front window so she can't test in that car.  

 

It got me wondering how many people can drive a stick shift confidently in town.  I say 'confidently in town', because I know lots of people can drive a tractor/farm truck in fields and a private driveway but that isn't quite the same as the stop and go, hilly starts, and parking of a car in the city. 

 

For me:

I bought a stick shift car before I could drive one at 18yo. My mom and I traded cars for 3 days until I could learn and then I took it back and drove it for 8 years. We have almost always had at least one car with a stick since that time.  Dh has a stick shift VW Golf TDI currently (the car dd16 is going to drive) and I have no problems jumping in and driving in town.  It is kinda like a bike, once you know how, you never really ever forget.  I will admit to killing it once or twice when it has been a few years in between me driving it and not driving a stick shift.  I usually forget to shift it back to first when I :driving:  am at a traffic light. Oops!

[LibraryLover]

I learned to drive on a stick. Automatic is easier I suppose, but to me, stick is real driving.

[Audrey]

Yes, I can.  I can also drive a semi, which is a whole 'nother world of shift.

[laundrycrisis]

There wasn't an option for being a rocking kick a$$ expert stick shift driver, so I went with yes I can limp around town.

[albeto.]

Yes, I can.  I can also drive a semi, which is a whole 'nother world of shift.

 

Hot. Damn.

[Laura Corin]

Probably.  I learned to drive in one (most Brits do) and my first car was a manual.  Husband had a manual until recently and I drove it a few times, but I really don't like them.  I think I could do all the things you mention, but I wouldn't be enjoying myself.

[Kiara.I]

There wasn't an option for being a rocking kick a$$ expert stick shift driver, so I went with yes I can limp around town.

 

Right?  ;)

 

Until I got married, I only drove stick.  I did my very first driving lesson ever on an automatic, and after that it was standard all the way.

But my husband owned (sigh...) an automatic.  And we're a one-car family.

[SemiSweet]

I much prefer driving a manual. My current vehicle is automatic but I don't love it, it just happens to be the only way they make Honda Odysseys. My last car was a zippy little manual Mazda 3 that I loved so much. Someday when I have fewer kids to haul around. :)

[Retired]

I drove a 2011 jeep wrangle 6 speed stick in tight traffic on a hilly road.  Its a lot of work driving in that traffic.  I feel like I was on the clutch the whole dang hour.    I'm very comfortable with manual and off road 4 wheel drive.  I've taught both of my boys for "just in case" situations.  My dh collects cars/trucks.  WE have  4 that are manual not including our diesel tractor.

 

I prefer a manual but usually drive one of the stick shifts one a week.  We prefer our sons drive the automatics just do to inexperience and high traffic.   Its not like when I was a kid and you rolled back and touch bumpers.  Are any of you old enough remember this happening and they lock up.  We would jump on the pumper unlock and drive off in high school LOL.  Am I that old?.    IF you drive a manual now - you better be good.   There is no forgiveness with a roll back like the old cars.

 

  I drove my dh's street race all pimp out 2011 dodge challenge 6 speed and yes  its a ticket magnet :laugh:  

[AndyJoy]

Sadly, no. I learned to drive an automatic at school and my dad was too busy/ADHD to ever get around to teaching me on a manual. He took me out twice when I was 15 but my smart-mouthed 13-year-old sister basically heckled me from the back seat and I was already anxious about it. My husband took me out once but we haven't made it a priority with small kids and life busyness. Now he's sold his truck so we no longer have a vehicle with a manual transmission.

 

My sister learned as a teen because she often spent her after-school hours cruising around town with teen friends who taught her quite a bit. Plus when I went off to college my parents sold one car, leaving only one with a manual transmission for her so she had to learn. She didn't have me heckling when Dad took her out ;)

[lailasmum]

Yes but they are the norm in the UK and most people usually learn fully manual unless they have a really good reason not to (say a disability or something). Automatics are getting more popular but they still mostly seem to be the more expensive option so I doubt we'll all switch over to not learning manual any time soon. I'd like an automatic as I have problems with my left knee and it hurts to drive sometimes.

[happi duck]

Not.at.all.

 

Dh tried to teach me. It just does *not* make sense to me!

 

I wish I could though!

[Jamee]

I put maybe, but it wouldn't be pretty. I had to learn when we lived in Italy, so I could drive to the base to catch a train to Venice to meet my husband. That was motivation enough, and the last time I tried.

[Pawz4me]

I learned to drive in a car with a manual transmission, and my first two vehicles had manual transmissions.  So I'm quite adept at it.  And also very happy that I don't have to do that any more. ;)

[TheAutumnOak]

No, I have never driven a stick shift car...I learned on an automatic and have only driven those...

[Melissa in Australia]

I can only drive a manual. the very few times I have had to drive an automatic I hed to keep telling myslef to not forget to put it into park

[LMD]

Yep, love driving a manual. Until 2 years ago, when we inherited an automatic, manual was all we owned. Auto is so boring.

[Mama Geek]

I voted yes, but the description with it isn't right.  I learned on a stick and drove nothing but sticks for probably 15 years.  I am more than comfortable with it.  It might take a couple of days to adjust to driving a stick again since it has been a couple of years but no biggie.

 

[creekland]

I voted maybe.  A few moons ago when I was in my teens that's all I had to drive.

 

Since I've gotten married 27 years ago I've only driven automatics.

 

I've no desire to go back to a stick shift.

 

Could I still drive one?  It all depends upon how much I could dust off those brain cells.  Not having tried, I need to stick with the "maybe."  In an emergency, I'd definitely try.  For fun?  I'm not sure I'd care to.

[Jenny in Florida]

You offered only one "yes" option, so I took it. But it's not really accurate. I not only "can" drive a stick shift, but vastly prefer it to an automatic. My current car, as well as most of my previuos vehicles, is a manual. So, I drive it around town, on the highway, from state to state, anywhere I want/need to go.

[DawnM]

Yes, I owned 3 stick shift cars (and drove them exclusively) before buying an SUV that only came in automatic.  One of them we still have and I drive some, although Dh uses it mostly for a commuter car.

 

I can drive on hills in Seattle with one, so I consider myself pretty competent.   :hurray:

[marbel]

I have driven and loved driving a stick.  I learned on automatics but when I was in my late 20's I decided to buy a 4-speed manual car because I wanted to learn to drive that way too.  It was quite a bit of fun for some of my friends, helping me learn to drive that car.  (My dad helped me buy it and drove it off the lot for me. I can't even say I test-drove the thing.)  I was able to tool around San Francisco with no trouble after a little while. :-)  My next car was a 5-speed.  I loved that little Escort.  :-)

 

But, marriage and family, you know, and we traded the Escort for a Suburban... it's been 18 years since the Escort was driven away and I haven't touched a manual since.  I'd like my kids to learn but not sure how that will happen, since we own two automatics now.

 

When we were looking for new cars this year, there were few manuals models available, and those were more expensive than comparable automatics. 

 

It's not a given anymore that people will have access to manual transmission.  My (older) sister and I got into a fight a while back over this topic. She was dissing some young men for not being able to drive a stick, as if that's a "thing" that boys need to do.    "Back in my day..." kind of thing.  Yeah, there were more manual tranny cars out there in the 60's when she learned to drive. Not so anymore.

[SparklyUnicorn]

other..heck no and I have no desire to

 

 

[Night Elf]

I drove one over 20 years ago. I'm not sure I still have the skills. I didn't enjoy it though. I hope never to have to go back to it.

[Sarah CB]

I said "maybe", but I think I'm more positive than that.  I learned on a stick shift and took my test on one.  I drove one for a couple of years as well.  I am pretty sure that after a little bit of trial and error I'd be able to drive around town without an issue.

[Cinder]

Yes. I learned on a stick and drove one for many years. My current car is an automatic but dh and ds1 both have sticks that I occasionally drive.

[FriedClams]

We own a manual! :-)

[Donna]

I learned to drive on a stick shift and drove stick for many years before purchasing an automatic. I haven't driven stick in maybe 20 years? I may have to drive one (or break down and rent an automatic) in Ireland in a couple months. The stick would be a friend's car...so free, meaning a large incentive to go that route. I am a little nervous about driving stick on the opposite side plus the hills in Ireland. We'll see how that goes.

[ashfern]

If there were an emergency and that was the only vehicle around I could get you to the hospital but it would be a jerky ride and I wouldn't park it. LOL! My parents tried to teach me and I gave up after one lesson. It didn't help that I had just gotten my license so I was trying to figure out how drive in general and then had a jerk behind me who kept beeping because I actually stopped at the stop signs. Guess I could try again next time my parents visit with their car.

[Guest]

I haven't driven one regularly in several years, but I'm sure I could manage once I got a feel for how touchy the clutch is. My first car was a stick, and I learned to drive on a stick. I do think it's a good skill to have, but it doesn't seem that many cars are manual anymore.

 

The truck DS will be driving eventually (old truck we have already for work) is a manual. I like that he will need to learn this skill.

[Wheres Toto]

Yes, I can.  I can also drive a semi, which is a whole 'nother world of shift.

 

I helped a friend move and the only truck they had available was a 24 foot box truck with a manual transmission.  I drove it for 100 miles on winding, hilly back roads on narrow streets with lots of stop lights.  THAT was an experience I have no desire to repeat ever. 

 

My first car was a stick and I did a ton of driving going to school down the Parkway.  I stalled out every time I left a toll booth the first few times, got stuck behind a stalled car on the upside of a steep hill in the fast lane on a highway that people are usually going about 90 mph when they hit that part of the hill (there's a steep slope down right before the steep slope up).  I had to pull from a full stop, out in to extremely fast traffic on a hill.  THAT was another experience I have no desire to repeat ever and probably wouldn't be much better with an automatic.

 

Until the past 5 years I've always had a manual.  Now we have been getting leases so everything is automatic.  I can still get into a manual and drive it with no problems.  I still occasionally go for that third peddle in certain situations.

[Rosie_0801]

I hate driving an auto. I drove my darling manual half way across the state today. :)  :driving:

[PrincessMommy]

yes I can drive a stick shift.  My dh prefers them and has only had manual trans. cars.  We're often swapping cars around.   It is getting harder and harder to find them.

[regentrude]

Oh yes. I prefer to drive stick shift. Way more fun. All our cars are stick.

Our kids learn to drive stick right away. If they can do that, it will take them three minutes to figure out how to drive automatic.

 

 

[craftyerin]

Yes, but with the caveat that we live on the FLAT gulf coast and my hill driving has not been tested. I can handle parking garages, though! LOL 

 

I learned when my kids were toddlers. My DH had a manual and I couldn't drive it. He started taking the kids out for a couple of hours on Saturday morning so that I could have a SAHM break, which was AWESOME! But then I was housebound because he had to take the van with the carseats in it. I wanted to be able to run around town in his car. I started fussing and he said we could replace his car the following spring when he got his bonus check. Well, I had that bonus check earmarked for new floors in my living room. LOL So I learned to drive his car. Now I love it! It's quite an old car now, and he says he's going to replace it in the next year, probably with an automatic. I'm going to miss it! 

[bettyandbob]

First car I owned was a stick. I was good at driving it, but I never loved it. However,I don't love driving. It's not a matter of manual or automatic. I say this as I get ready to pack for a 14 hour drive, of which I will probably do 11 hours. Dd will relieve me short periods when traffic is low (ok there may not be any light traffic we will be in I95 almost the whole time)

[callapidder]

No, not even a little bit. My parents only had automatics when I was learning and so I just never learned. Well...I did have a boyfriend in high school who attempted to teach me to drive his dad's stick-shift SUV. That did not go well, and his parents did not appreciate our experimentation. :) I'm guessing I would do a better job at this point in life, but we live in a very hilly area and honestly, I just have no desire to learn.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I miss driving a stick shift. ;)

[Catherine]

All I can observe is that reading the percentage of people (mostly women, I assume) who can drive a stick, I think we are a pretty unusual group.  I know at least 2 women at work who cannot drive AT ALL.  They are professionals with graduate degrees.  That frankly shocks me.  One uses public transportation and one is *driven to work and back every day* in one case.  Wow.  

[Denise in Florida]

Your poll needed one more option- the yes I can drive a stick with confidence  :auto:

 

I learned with a stick and drove many city and highway miles in the mountains.   Of course this was also back when your clutch foot also needed to operate the high beam button on the floorboard.  :P

 

Juggling all four pedals (if you count the high beams) makes you learn efficient foot work.  ha

 

 

 

 

[LifeLovePassion]

Yes. DH has always had a summer driver fun manual car that he stores winters. His daily driver (winter) was an automatic up until 2 years ago when we had to replace it. I let him get a manual knowing it would be my summer daily driver (2013 Ford Focus). I learned with 2 backseat drivers (ages 6 and 8 at the time). They would love to give "helpful" advice like "Killed it!". In the beginning they would keep track of how many times I killed it in a trip. It was awesome. This summer I am much more proficient. The only place I haven't gone is into parking ramps when we have to go downtown. 

[HRAAB]

Yup. I drive a manual daily. Automatics are so boring.

[Spryte]

I learned on a stick. My father insisted that I learn on stick, so I'd never be stranded if riding in someone else's car. He wanted me to be able to drive any car, if someone was incapacitated or drunk. I hated it. Until I loved it. Now I'm grateful. :)

[wintermom]

I`ve always had manual until we bought the van. If vans came with manual we`d have one now.

[Bambam]

We purposely purchase manual transmission cars. They are getting harder and harder to find. Love my stick shift!

(Honda Accord & Mini)