Can you drive a stick shift vehicle?

[LoraJ]

I learned how to drive stick and automatic at the same time. I remember when I was learning,m I was driving around with my brother and I kept stalling. This was a little car with manual steering. I was so frustrated. When we got home, I couldn't (or didn't) turn the wheel hard enough and ended up driving on the neighbors lawn. I put the brake on and ran up to my room crying leaving my brother in the car on the neighbors lawn. hehe.

But I eventually got the hang of it. And the last two cars I have had have been manual (but at least now I have power steering. ). Although I think I may go automatic with my next car since I am commuting more and hit a lot of stop and go traffic. Ouch.

 

[GeorgeG]

Yes. In 1962, I learned on a 1952 Nash Rambler, which was also my first car. Automatic transmissions were something of a luxury back then. I seem to recall that if you took your raod test on an automaic, your license was restricted to that. I also learned to drive trucks when "double-clutching" was still around. Stick shifts today are so easy. Still, I now prefer an automatic.

 

[Marseeya]

The Hyundai Tucson I have now has a version of the "4-matic" where you can shift gears on the gear shift, but you don't have to use a clutch. It would be a good way to ease a beginner into learning how to drive a manual, and I plan on teaching DS how to use it when he learns to drive. Or should I say IF he learns to drive.

 

[jennyl772003]

When he was still my DF instead of my DH, he bought me a new car. He was all excited. "Jenny, I bought you a new car!"

It was stick. I had never driven stick before. It actually took me close to a year before I could drive it with any confidence. It was a miserable experience. I couldn't get the hang of it. I cried. I would much prefer an automatic for my everyday car.

Now, for a sports car, I think I would prefer stick.

 

[DVC Sadie]

My brother must have loved me! He taught me to drive a stick in his 1965 Mustang in City Park in New Orleans.

I drove sticks for years until I stopped driving altogether. Hopefully I can get my license again this year.

 

[holbear]

I also learned on a stick. The main reason was because my parents other car was a boat of a car (old Ford LTD) and I was afraid I couldn't parallel park it. My first couple cars were manuals, but my DH was never able to drive them (despite trying to teach him) and now I have a mommy mobile.. automatic minivan.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I learned to drive on a stick shift. I prefer to drive an automatic because I'm lazy. I had a stick pick up truck that I taught a lot of my girlfriends to drive stick on.

 

[powellrj]

one of my first cars was a stick. I taught my DH how to drive a stick after we were married because he needed to learn for his job at the time. While I enjoyed driving the stick when I was younger, with my knees the way they are now, I am not sure I could do it.

 

[ducklite]

This is my car:

You don't order a car like that in automatic unless you are just freaking weird.

My rainy day car is a mid-sized sedan, and it's auto. We call it "the Dad Car."

Anne

 

[Tink33]

I learned to drive in a Datsun B210 also. My first 3 cars were stick shift and I loved driving them. My first automatic was purchased when I was pregnant with my second child.

Last year we travelled to Costa Rica and rented a manual vehicle. My DH did most of the driving. When my son and I were headed out by ourselves, he looked at me and said, "How are you going to drive?" I scored 5 cool points when we drove off with no problems. (I lost the 5 cool points when I couldn't get out of the parallel parking spot headed downhill )

 

[NMAmy]

This is my car:

You don't order a car like that in automatic unless you are just freaking weird.
Anne

You are absolutely right, Anne! What a cool car.

 

[GoofyDad869]

This is my car:

You don't order a car like that in automatic unless you are just freaking weird.

My rainy day car is a mid-sized sedan, and it's auto. We call it "the Dad Car."

Anne

...and never ever drive convertibles around top-down with the windows up, either. Blab all ya want about 'it helps windflow to not mess up my hair'. whenever I see a convertible with windows-up I point and say "Look, dork!"

 

[Evil Genius]

Yes I can!! Dh can't.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Yep my current vehicle is a manual - love to drive it. I also scored a few points on the coolness factor when I test drove one with DS15. Lost mine too when I managed to kill it making a u-turn

 

[LisaNJ25]

Nope... cant drive a stick and I have never pumped my own gas.

 

[Sherri]

I learned to drive on a stick at 16. We have a car thats a stick as well as an automatic. DH for the most part drives the stick, but I love driving it, I always thought it was fun to drive a stick.

 

[T1130]

No dh and I do not no how to drive a stick shift. That is why we could never be on the Amazing Race. We would be one of the first teams kicked off.

 

[VSL]

Anne's picture just made me think of something...

In the US, it doesn't seem to be law that you have to have a number plate on the front of your car, only on the back. Here, we have them on the front and back.

 

[NMAmy]

Nope... cant drive a stick and I have never pumped my own gas.

So who pumps your gas for you? The one full-service station in our area is around the corner from my house. DH has a hissy fit when I go there in the wintertime. I'm sorry, but if it's 5 below zero, I WILL pay more for someone to pump the gas for me.

 

[Cruisin]

Yes, I can drive a stick shift vehicle.