Can you drive a stick shift/manual car?

[klacey1]

Haha-- me drive a stick? That's a laugh! My automatic driving skills are questionable at best!
My father knows, but neither do DBF, mom, brother, or anyone in DBF's family.
However, after a scare this winter with my new car (Saturn Ion) in the snow (brakes gave out on me), I think I'll try to learn how. My next car (hopefully not for 10 years!) will probably be a manual.

 

[bookgirl]

I know how, but it's not pretty, so I don't.

 

[NikitaZee]

Yes. My first car was a stick shift, as was my favorite car later on. I don't drive one now, though - sometimes I miss it.

 

[momrek06]

Absolutely. My parents bought me a used Toyota back in the early 70's for high school. It was a Toyota Corona. It had a stick shift. AND if I wanted a car, my parents said we will buy you this used one. You bet I learned FAST how to drive a stick shift. Once you learn, you never forget. Comes right back to you, I will say I always HATED hills.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Yes, I do know how to drive one. I taught my husband how to as well. I plan on teaching our kids. I believe it is one of those life skills that you need to know how to do it, even if you only need to do it an emergency or a once in a lifetime situation. Besides, it can be a lot of fun in a sports car on an open road.

A

This sums up my answer.

 

[mrsheppo]

Both DH and I can. 2 out of our 3 cars are manual transmissions. In fact when we bought my car 3 years ago, the salesman tried to talk me out of it telling me I couldn't possibly want one as they were harder to drive. The only reason he wanted me to buy an automatic because they were $3,000 more.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I learned how to drive stick when I was 10 on my grandpa's dune buggy.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Absolutely. My parents bought me a used Toyota back in the early 70's for high school. It was a Toyota Corona. It had a stick shift. AND if I wanted a car, my parents said we will buy you this used one. You bet I learned FAST how to drive a stick shift. Once you learn, you never forget. Comes right back to you, I will say I always HATED hills.

Me too! Now, if I am ever behind someone when we're on a hill, I will stop farther back than I normally would because I know what it's like to roll backward a little when driving stick. Plus, it's just hard to do all the shifting things when on a steep hill.

 

[samshane]

Yes - when I was 16 my parents were going to give me their old VW Jetta right after I got my license because they were getting a new car - it was stick. So I either learned or didn't have my own car. I learned pretty quickly.

We bought a 2008 Ford Focus 2 yrs ago and it was manual - we still always seem to have a manual transmission car. And my beloved 1975 convertible VW Bug that we will be fixing up this summer is stick... so if I didn't know I would certainly would be learning!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Yes. Both my wife and I do.

We've had manual trannies for years.

I think it makes one a better driver. You are one with the car, in tune with the engine, more in control. No zoning out as you are always alert to what you may have to do next, as you should be with any car.

It's fun to drive in Europe in those countries where they drive on the other side of the road... everything is opposite! LOLOL!

Keeps you thinking for sure then!

I think knowing how to handle a manual transmission is an important thing and every driver should learn how.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

I DO!! Just bought my Nissan Altima last year and they had to drive 150 miles away to find one for me Not really a hot thing around here. But I would not have it any other way.

It does make it challenging at the car wash I go to a specific one and if the one guy who can drive stick is not there, I drive on.

My neice specifically bought a manual transmission while in college so her friends would not drive her car

And, if you even think about going on The Amazing Race you better know how to drive stick!

Debbie

 

[Kathi OD]

Yes, and it's a good thing. When DS bought his first car and insisted on buying a car with a manual transmission, which was fine, except he didn't know how to drive one. I had to drive it home from the dealership. Crazy kid.

 

[castmemberb4]

Yep. Since I was 17. Both of our cars are manual shift, both sports cars. Can you tell we don't have kids ?? However I don't think it's essential to anyones life, it's a choice. If you chose not to learn tell DH to get over it, I don't know how to ride a motorcycle or drive a boat, but don't feel incomplete because of it

 

[Syrreal]

I can drive both. In Brazil, you don't have a choice but to drive stick. I'm not a huge fan.
When I bought my car, the guy offered to take extra off if I could drive a stick and would take it. I said that although I could, I didn't have to and wouldn't.

 

[TwinsinCA]

When I was 17 my dad gave me his old car (a mustang ) but I had to learn how to drive a stick. So I did. Dh and I can both drive one we both used to have cars with them. The SUV I have now is not a stick but I wish it was. Dh got tired of driving a stick in L.A. traffic -- and worse up a hill in traffic -- so he has an automatic now.

When we were in the UK about 10 years ago we rented a car and it was a stick. It was a good thing we both knew how to drive it (being on the other side of the car and other side of the road was enough to worry about!).

 

[castmemberb4]

When I was 17 my dad gave me his old car (a mustang ) but I had to learn how to drive a stick. So I did. Dh and I can both drive one we both used to have cars with them. The SUV I have now is not a stick but I wish it was. Dh got tired of driving a stick in L.A. traffic -- and worse up a hill in traffic -- so he has an automatic now.

When we were in the UK about 10 years ago we rented a car and it was a stick. It was a good thing we both knew how to drive it (being on the other side of the car and other side of the road was enough to worry about!).

I have a Mustang too! My second
Really Want the GT 500 !!!!!!!

 

[PaulaSB12]

In the UK most people learn to drive a manual, in fact I had never driven an auto until I drove in Orlando. If you learn in an automatic car that is all you can legally drive if you learn in a manual you can drive in both auto and manual. I prefer the manual transmission.

 

[bananda]

i've had 2 lessons in a manual. i can drive it ok, but we only have autos in my family so thats all i drive.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Yes. I use to drag race cars and manual was the only way. Haven't driven one in about 3 years but its kinda like riding a bicycle; once you learn, you never forget.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I learned to drive on a manual tramission (in the 90s). I prefer them too--I feel like I have more control over the car and they do get slightly better mileage as well. I had to wait several weeks to get my Ford Focus in mannual in '99 but I did not want an automatic. When we moved to Germany (where most cars are manual) DH's boss assumed we would be special ordering an automatic becuase his experience was that many Americans (especially women he says) cannot drive sticks. It was nice to shatter that image of his and tell him even in the US I drove a stick

BTW--I do think it is an important skill if for no ther reasons than it makes you more aware of how the car works (and therefore more likely to remember to use the lower gears available even in an automatic if you are on a steep downgrade, etc.) and that it allows you teh ability to drive just about any car in an emergency. My children will not be allowed to get a lisence (while they live with me--obviously if htey wait until they are adults they can do whatever they want) if they cannot drive a mannual.