Ladies, can you drive a manual shift?

[Heidict]

One of the smartest things my parents ever did was force me to buy a manuel for my first car.

I have had automatic for the last 15 years or so, but I will always know how to work with a clutch, even if it is a little jerky in the beginning.

 

[kirstenb1]

Yes, I learned when I was learning how to drive. Is there someone who can teach you?

 

[Cindy B]

Why shouldn't I be able to? It's not difficult. FWIW, I know quite a few men that don't know how to drive stick shift as well.

 

[StarLight StarBright]

Yes, and like others have said, it's more fun! I gave up my manual shift a few years ago, and I really miss it. When I got behind the wheel of an automatic after we sold the manual, I was so confused....kept trying to shift. So it really becomes like second nature. I don't know why it makes a difference about gender either, but guys seem to be impressed when we can drive a stick shift

 

[dawson5]

hubby taught me to drive in one. I don't think I've really tried since. I could get to where I needed to go in one, I'm sure I would kill the clutch though.

My car now has the option of using manual or automatic. Haven't had a need to use it but once in the snow I think.

 

[arminnie]

I'd just be careful if you drive in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic because shifting got really old for me. It just tires you out of having to ALWAYS be opertating the car every three feet.

You are so right. Heavy traffic for 2-3 hours a day shifting every 3 ft is HORRIBLE. There is NO fun to this at all. That work out to about a milllion times an hour. At least that's what it feel like.

It's not hard at all to learn. I know of at least two women who bought a sports car with manual when they had NEVER driven one. The salesman gave them a 10 min. training lesson and on they went.

Today's cars are so easy to shift that stall outs are rare even on steep hill. People who had to learn in the 40s like my mother had to learn how to move that clutch with precision.

 

[MissMet]

Didn't read the entire post, so sorry if this has already been said...

A lot of sports cars now have the option of "sequential" transmission. Basically you have to shift, but there's no clutch, so no stalling or anything like that. I had a Toyota MR2 Spyder a few years ago. It had a sequential transmission. Really easy to drive- I had only driven auto before this. Loved it. It was fun to drive but I really missed my automatic transmission for everyday driving.

Don't have the pics of mine on this computer but it looked identical to this one.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I love driving manual, the car we have has both minus a clutch. I know you could learn, go practice in a empty parking lot. Have some fun. Jo

 

[KristaTX]

I learned when I was 20, but I thought it was hard and frustrating to learn. After I learned, though, I loved having one and drove standards for years and years.

But living in a big city, I never want one again. As others have said, it's a total pain in stop-and-go traffic .

 

[KristaTX]

Also, it's WAY harder to do anything else when you are driving one. Like drinking, eating, or talking on the phone .

 

[Ephany]

Yep, that's all my parents owned growing up. I finally got an automatic when we lived in a city and all that stop-and-go traffic was killing my knee with the shifting. There were many times DH and I were the only people (male or female) in our respective shops who could drive stick, so we ended up being the one who was always using the truck to for work errands. I miss having a manual, maybe the next vehicle if we still live here in the boonies.

 

[Tinkermommy]

No, I can't.

DH tried to teach me many years ago and that was one of the biggest fights we ever had! I wish I had learned though.

 

[tzolkin]

I prefer to drive a manual.

We have a minivan and a small manual car and DH drives the van to work.


It was not difficult to learn. My first try it was constant stalling and jerking and I thought it was hopeless. But a few months later I had a guy friend in the car with me to teach me. He actually held my leg down so I couldn't let out the clutch as fast. Once you figure out the right combination of pushing down the gas and letting out the clutch, it is very easy to drive.

I did move from FL to a mountainous/hilly area. The first few times at stoplights going uphill I convinced myself I was going to stall or roll into the car behind me, but it worked out.


I don't really know why there is an assumption that women can't drive manual. When we were buying our last car DH said that we didn't want an automatic and the guy looks at me and then says "Don't you want your wife to be able to drive it?"

 

[TheRatPack]

Yes...but drive it well.....ummm, NO! If I could keep the car cranked/running while I'm switching gears then I'm doing really well....the whiplash is free

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes, I learned on a stick shift and it is what I prefer. In the US I special ordered my Ford Focus to have a manual transmission.

Most cars in Germany are manuals. DH's boss assumed that being American (and a women, he seems to have the same odd attitude about sex having something to do with driving that you do) that we would be special ordering an automatic over here for me. It was nice to tell him I had a stick in the US and I would not dream of having it otherwise on the autobahn

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It's not hard to learn but it does take practice. After a while, it becomes second nature. I learned when I was 16 and my first few cars had standard transmission. I only like to drive automatics now. I figure we don't have to beat our clothes against rocks to wash them anymore. Why should we have to shirt our own cars?

 

[beattyfamily]

Nope!

I gave it a good try for several days in my mid-twenties and I really wanted to get it but I just couldn't and I gave up. Now I'm 44 and I've never looked back.

Good luck!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Yes, and it's fun!!

I learned to drive on an automatic. Thats all we had at the time.

But when I went to buy my first new car I couldn't afford both automatic and air conditioning. Well needless to say I learned to drive a manual very quick!

 

[JessicaR]

Yes I can. I taught myself in an emergency situation. Liked it so much I bought a new standard Honda at the time. Drove that for a few years and haven't had a manual vehicle since.

 

[Kimberly]

My first car, which my parents bought for me was an automatic. Every car I've had since has been a manual. I don't think I could have it any other way.