Can you drive a stick shift/manual car?

[JVL1018]

I know how, my first car was a stick shift.
My husband can as well. W
hen I met him he had a new Mustang 5.0-always drove him crazy when people bought sports cars that weren't manual,I don't know why-but anyway, I was glad I knew how to drive stick becaiuse very few people were allowed to drive his car and I was one of them. Loved it.

Vicki

 

[mom2boys77]

I do know how to drive one and once I learned, it was so much fun! Haven't had to drive one in about 10 years though.

 

[daannzzz]

Learned how to drive on both at the same time. Pop taught us how to hold the car on a steep hill with only the clucth,,,,mmmm good for the clutch. Have had both kinds of transmissions over the years. Hate driving a stick in San Francisco.

 

[georgina]

I have driven manual transmission cars since I bought my first new car 25 years ago! More control, more fun to drive. I don't drive in rush hour traffic though. Stop and go would be bad. In addition to all the plusses already mentioned, I think they are less likely to be stolen.

 

[PatsMom]

I learned to drive in a standard. Didn't own my first automatic until I started having troubles with my right leg and the clutch got tough to deal with. My husband still has a manual shift truck and I don't think he'll ever switch to automatic!

 

[Micca]

I am in my mid-50's and do not know how to drive one.

This would be me too. I learned on an automatic, never owned a manual, don't think I need to know how to drive one.

 

[GraysMom]

Nope. DH tried to teach me when he had a Mustang, but I couldn't push in the clutch without lifting my butt off the seat! Not a very safe way to drive!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We have matching FJ Cruisers, one is manual (DH's) mine is auto. We are both happy with our choices. I can drive either one.

 

[ElliePeters]

No want or need to.

 

[Golf4food]

Yep. Drove a stick Ford Ranger for many years during high school and college. Only had manuals since but mostly because DW doens't drive a stick.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I owned 3 cars in my life, and all were stick shifts. Like everyone else said, I love stick shifts since it gives better control in snow, more fun to drive, better gas milleage, and the engine holds up better. One of my cars is a manual 1994 Accord with 248,500 miles - I do think the fact it's a stick helped it last so long.

But most people I know don't know stick, and almost thinks of it as "beneath" them and a huge bother and incovinence to learn. Almost everyone that I know has a SUV, which are almost always automatics. They see absolutely no point in ever learning - stick shifts are a thing of the past to most people, a complete non-issue.

I first wanted a stick shift because my favorite math teacher in high school had one (a 1986 Honda Accord LXi, with flip-up headlights) and I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I walked by it everyday in the parking lot!! I also thought females who could drive stick were super cool, and I wanted to be one too!

If I get another car anytime soon, it will be a stick!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes I can (as can hubby).

My first stepdad, my mom, and my dad all tried to teach me to drive it. All failed. They just couldn't figure out the magical way for me to understand it. So I went off to college.

And then summer break, my little brother taught me! He found the way to get it through my head.


I even drove a stickshift in Ireland...other side of the car, other side of the road, shifting with the other hand...and I did just fine.

 

[vegasnative]

Yes I can. After I got my driver's license (many moons ago) my dad said "you need to be able to jump in any vehicle and be able to drive it." So, he taught me how to drive his little Toyota pick up that was a manual transmission.

About 8 years later I got a job as a valet parking attend., so obviously that is a requirement for that job.

Today, my husbands truck is a manual. I actually enjoy driving them.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

No want or need to.

What about if you travel to Europe, Asia or Africa, manuals are VERY abundant, automatics can actually be hard to find in some places?

 

[englishteacha]

I can't. I tried, and tried. Dh's old car was a standard. I wrecked the clutch with my attempts to drive it. I'll stick to my automatic and he will drive if/when we're on The Amazing Race!

 

[Nancy]

I can drive one but it's been a long time. I'm sure I could pick it up again if I had too. DH can not drive one, I tried to teach him and he just couldn't get the whole thing. So, once we started to buy the family cars no more stick shift.

 

[Art 1]

Yes.

 

[Squirlz]

I've hardly ever been without at least one manual trans vehicle in my garage in 35 years of driving. My wife and I both have manuals in our daily drivers.

 

[S. C.]

Yes

 

[kathie859]

It just depends on how attached you are to your transmission...but I 'can' drive a manual but it's just not pretty