Driving manual/stick

[Domo]

Do you know how to? Most cars over here are manual, but I chose to learn on an automatic, which means that because of my license, I cannot drive a manual.

 

[iivye]

One of my first cars was a manual so I learned when I was 17. My daughter will be 15 in a couple of months and the spare car we have for her is also a manual so she'll learn on that. It's not very common around here (Missouri) to have to drive a stick.

 

[BrianL]

I can drive a stick, but I'm not exceptionally good at it. I was trying to learn in this old beater Honda we had, and it was very difficult. I then was driving my sister's very new car on a road trip and I found it to be rather easy, so I guess that matters. The thing is that I don't practice it regularly, so I'm not super in-tune with it. I could do it competently enough if I had to though.

Does your license over there actually specify if you are cleared for automatic or manual?

 

[robinb]

I drive a stick. I just traded in my old manual transmission SAAB convertible .

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Learned on a manual when I was 11. Until this week, I hadn’t driven one in about 3 years since I sold our old company truck (4-speed with a 2-speed splitter) and replaced it with an automatic.

Test drove a little car with a manual Monday. Killed it on my first attempt to pull away

 

[RedAngie]

My father's company had half a dozen manual transmission delivery vehicles. I learned to drive a stick on the smallest one, a Chevy El Camino.

The first car I ever bought for myself was a 5 speed manual Chrysler Laser. The salesman was kind of shocked that a 24 year old woman wanted a stick shift.

I haven't driven a manual for about 20 years now, but I'm sure I could pick it up again with little problem.

 

[jrmasm]

Yes

 

[GreatLakes]

My current car is manual so yes.

 

[Domo]

Does your license over there actually specify if you are cleared for automatic or manual?

If you pass on a manual, you are cleared for both manual and automatic. If however, you only learn on automatic, you can't drive a manual.

 

[Jdbsfw]

Yep, learned on a stick and would often have a Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger in my right hand while shifting, driving through town. Nowadays I wouldn’t own a stick or eat a fast food burger.

 

[AuntieMe3]

Learned on a stick but prefer an automatic.

 

[BrianL]

If you pass on a manual, you are cleared for both manual and automatic. If however, you only learn on automatic, you can't drive a manual.

Wow. That is not the case over here. Then again, our driver's test is pretty much a joke anyway. If you can drive around the block and pull into a head-in parking space, you're good to go.

 

[Domo]

Wow. That is not the case over here. Then again, our driver's test is pretty much a joke anyway. If you can drive around the block and pull into a head-in parking space, you're good to go.

Our tests are pretty stringent. You are allowed a few minor mistakes but make one major mistake and sorry, instant fail. Major mistakes include not checking the mirror when changing lanes, not checking your blind spot, not getting the three point turn in one go and so on. And then there's the theory test, although that's fairly easy. Scariest bit for me? Driving on highways at 70mph.

 

[Squirlz]

I haven't owned an automatic vehicle for 20 years. All four of our cars are manual.

 

[superme80]

I can! I got a job once because I could drive stick. I applied to transfer to the accounting office, with no experience, and they asked if I could drive a manual for bank runs. I could and I got the job! I haven't driven one in a few years though.

 

[Erica_Haley]

I've never learned how to drive a manual. I had a rental car once that was an auto/manual. I was driving on the highway and my dog shifted it into manual as he was moving around. I thought something was wrong with the car!

 

[tvguy]

I can. But never owned a manual. Only 3% of the cars sold now have a manual transmission. http://www.latimes.com/business/aut...-disappearing-stick-shift-20161115-story.html

 

[Domo]

I can. But never owned a manual. Only 3% of the cars sold now have a manual transmission. http://www.latimes.com/business/aut...-disappearing-stick-shift-20161115-story.html

Yeah that's why I asked - you guy guys over the pond are more cultured than we are

 

[dotfurio]

When we were in high school my friend had a stick and she tried to teach me how to drive it. After several stalls she gave up.

It’s hard to even find a stick now. A couple years ago a friend of mine wanted a stick to save some money on her new car and they had to special order it.

As distraced as drivers already are Icant imagine them trying to text while driving a stick. Although maybe it would force drivers to pay more attention to the road?

 

[Alberta bound]

I learned how to drive with a manual transmission. Every car I have ever owned has been manual by choice. I will need another car soon and I will hopefully be able to get another manual.
Being able to use a manual transmission helped when I got my motorcycle endorsement too. ( I miss my Harley!!!!)
I love shifting. It gives me the feeling of being more in control.