Can you drive a stick shift/manual car?

[tink20]

I can if I need to, just don't like manuel, especially if I have to stop on a hill

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

my DH has a stick shift for his car. he tried to teach me once. it wasn't a "horrible" experience or anything, i never stalled the car, but i just didn't care for it. i didn't like having to keep shifting every few seconds while i'm trying to drive.

 

[Poppinsme]

I cant imagine not having a stick.
All my sports cars have had them. Its the fun of driving for gods sake.
Ah yes my top down and a 6 speed on the floor. Heaven!!!!

My Honda Si, 6 speed.

 

[Pikester]

Nope.

It will really stink if that is the only way I can get away from a knife wielding maniac!

 

[thewesterberg]

I learned how to drive one at 19 when my dad found me manual VW Fox at a local dealership. He brought me to check it out, I fell in love with it and he said, "Let's take it on a test drive!" I whispered to him "I don't know how to drive a stick" He whispered back "Then I suppose you should learn how. Now." ON THE TEST DRIVE!

I did okay, we bought the car and then I had to leave it at home until I could figure out how to drive it on the hills in the city I was living/going to college - Duluth sits on a big hill (it's called the San Francisco of the Midwest). I would have to come into town on the freeway (which is at the bottom of the hill) and then drive straight up the hill to get to my place. I went home on weekends for a couple of weeks to practice with my dad the fine art of gas/clutch/brake.

I was so nervous the first time I drove my car to my place. I had the option of taking a street that had multiple stoplights (and hope I hit them all green, but my luck I'd get them all red) or take another street that had one stop sign half way up the hill. I took my chances with the stop sign option and prayed I wouldn't roll backwards too far or kill it! I didn't roll into anyone and I didn't kill it - in fact, we still live in Duluth, and we still own a car with a manual!

 

[IDoDis]

Yes -- learned a stick in driver's ed because our car at home was a manual. The stick shift was on the steering column behind the blinker so it was a bit tricky to shift gears because nothing was marked. I just had to learn that the top was 1st gear, one click down was 2nd gear, push back and up for 3rd gear and push in and up for reverse. It was tricky learning the gears along with the foot pedal for the clutch when learning to drive, but I'm so glad I learned back then.

I also drove a motorcycle for a few years which also have manual transmissions where you shift gears with your foot and use the clutch with your hand. One of our cars is a stick shift. It's older (96 Geo Prizm) but will be DD's car when she learns to drive, so she's going to have to learn how to drive a manual transmission. It's good to know both.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm 50 and can drive a standard transmission (whether a stick in the floor or on the column - I've had both). I haven't driven one in years and much prefer the simplicity of an automatic transmission.

My daughter is almost 23 and cannot drive a standard transmission. We haven't owned one in years. Her new husband can drive one (his dad currently owns a truck with one).

OP, I think your husband is wrong. I think it is definintely a skill that is being acquired less and less.

 

[Poppinsme]

I'm 50 and can drive a standard transmission (whether a stick in the floor or on the column - I've had both). I haven't driven one in years and much prefer the simplicity of an automatic transmission.

My daughter is almost 23 and cannot drive a standard transmission. We haven't owned one in years. Her new husband can drive one (his dad currently owns a truck with one).

OP, I think your husband is wrong. I think it is definintely a skill that is being acquired less and less.

Pulled many a horse trailer with a 1 ton and 3/4 ton truck. With the shift on the column or floor. And NO power brakes or steering. Whew hard work backing up.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Nope.

It will really stink if that is the only way I can get away from a knife wielding maniac!

I think you'd learn in a hurry !!

 

[starlionblue]

Oh, and for the folks who said stop and go traffic is a pain with a manual? What is such a pain with letting the clutch out and having the engine idle pull you along at a constant pace rather than all the auto drivers mashing the pedal, then braking, then mashing the pedal, then braking continuously. I loved a manual when I was driving rush hour traffic in Pittsburgh. Stick it in 2nd gear and just let the car pull along. Simple, far simpler than constantly having to give it gas then brake.

I guess rush hour in Pittsburgh is WAAAYYY faster than in Dallas. Along the I-35, people are so RUUUUDE. The speed of the traffic is not only 20 miles under the speed limit for no reason but everyone just forces into your safety zone at the SLIGHTEST chance they have. They also pass on the emergency lane when entering the highway!

As a result, it's impossible to simply let the engine coast the car in 2nd. I have to constantly move from 2nd to 3rd and 4th over and over. I guess it's because the transmission has six gears. (It's a MINI Cooper btw) I wished there was a five speed available but BMW discontinued it. By the time I get home, my legs feel like rubber because I'm so tired. Stupid city needs to get off its rear and ticket the reckless drivers AND impound their cars. If they can't be reasonable about it, they shouldn't be allowed to drive. Remember, this is a city where people pass using the emergency lanes. I'm not kidding. I'm still amazed nobody has been killed yet but I know it's going to happen one day.

 

[mrodgers]

Just 20 mph under the speed limit? When I commuted into Pittsburgh, we crawled 15 mph on a 65 mph road. I left the car in gear and coasted along at 15 while everyone in front of me would mash the throttle to 25 then brake to 5, mash to 25, brake to 5.

 

[horseshowmom]

Pulled many a horse trailer with a 1 ton and 3/4 ton truck. With the shift on the column or floor. And NO power brakes or steering. Whew hard work backing up.

You poor thing! I don't even want to imagine how much fun backing up was...

Honestly, that was one of the things I was thinking about when I read the OP's post - how much I would HATE to have to pull a loaded horse trailer and wind up on a hill in traffic! A car I can deal with, but no thanks with the horse trailer!

DD's husband is like you however. Our truck is a 3/4 ton while the one his dad has (that he used for years) is a ton. He's hauled horses (and cattle from time to time) all over the southeast (and further) with that truck (think it's on the floor but not sure). He still says he would rather use it to pull a trailer, but DD disagrees strongly!

 

[OK!]

No. I'd like to learn how to, though.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

My current car (a Prius - so neither manual or automatic, technically speaking) is my and DH's first non-stick car. I'm not committed to driving standard, but I do feel it's something that everyone should learn. Try renting an automatic car in Europe!

 

[KiminChicago]

Yes, I can. My first three cars all had manual transmissions because they were less expensive. I agree with those who said that it is much easier to handle a manual transmission in bad weather -- every time we have a really bad snowstorm I cuss at my minivan and threaten to exchange it for something with a clutch!

My siblings all learned how to drive a manual transmission too -- I think all four of us owned cars with manual transmissions for our first cars. One of my nieces also can drive a manual transmission -- mainly because that's what my sister had when my niece got her license. Not sure about the other two nieces with licenses. My son is the next in line to get his license and I will probably encourage him to learn too. DH didn't know how to drive a manual when we got married, but he soon learned since he wanted to be able to drive my car if it became necessary.