Ladies, can you drive a manual shift?

[Kitten]

I know it seems like a silly question but I learned on an automatic and driven automatics all my life. Now I'm going through my mid life crisis and seriously want a little Mazda Miata. Trouble is most of the used cars I'm seeing have manual transmission and everyone is telling me a sports car should be a manual. So ladies....how hard is it to learn??

 

[AndreaDM]

Sure can! Drive one to work every day! It's a little 5 speed Ford Focus, great on gas which is why I drive it since I have almost an hour commute each way.

edited to add: I don't think it's hard at all, but I learned 20 years ago. Sometimes when I drive our other car, an automatic, I try to push in the clutch with my left foot. It just becomes 2nd nature. It is really hard to eat Taco Bell and drive a stick shift though!

 

[Faithful_Tink]

Can I? Yes. Should I? NO! Well, not unless I want to spend extra time with my chiropractor fixing the whiplash I’m sure to get from the many stall outs.

 

[natenapril]

I can, and I think it's fun!

 

[SC Minnie]

Yep. I learned how to drive on a manual transmission and my first 2 cars were manual shift. I haven't driven one in a couple of years but the last time I did it came back just like riding a bike.

I wouldn't buy a manual shift car now unless it was a sports car used only for recreation. I'm just too old and lazy to deal with changing gears every day.

 

[NotUrsula]

I prefer a manual. I've been driving an automatic for a year now and I *hate* it. I still keep trying to downshift at stoplights.

I normally keep my cars for at least 7 years, but I'm going to ditch this one as soon as it is paid off so that I can get a stick again. My family will just have to deal with a smaller vehicle.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes.

My first two cars were stick and it is so easy. You get a feel for it and it doesn't take long.

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.

But, if I lived in a less trafficy area, I'd buy one in a second.

And I do have a convertible now and I LOVE it. My first car was a convertible and I don't know what I was thinking in not always having one.

 

[jen0610]

I would much rather drive the 5-speed we bought for DS15 to drive when he gets his lisence then my automatic. And there will be those that disagree, but if I am spending money on a sports car, then it had better be a manual. Shifting is all apart of putting a sports car through it's paces.

And, no it wasn't hard to learn. As daddy told me when I was learning, If you can walk, talk, and chew bubble gum all at the same time, you can drive a shift. Once you get the clutch to gas timing down, you are good to go.

 

[kimblebee]

I've never driven a manual but I think it would be easy to catch on. I get what to do I've just never been able to practice. I can't find someone willing to sacrifice their car to be the learning vehicle

 

[PaulaSB12]

In the UK you can either pass your driving test with an automatic transmission or manual. If you pass on an automatic that is all you are legally allowed so most people learn to drive manual in fact I prefer manual to automatic.

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, I can. Its more fun IMO.

 

[dislaney]

Yes I can. All sports cars should be manual! Way more fun to drive!

 

[ktrain]

Yes, that's what I learned to drive in! I kind of miss driving one now.

 

[MushyMushy]

Love manual transmissions! I learned when I was 16 and have owned quite a few cars with manual.

I can even drive my dad's 1946 Ford, which is quite an accomplishment. It's a beast.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

My first car I purchased was a Jeep Wrangler, so I had to learn to drive stick... I found it very challenging...it took me a solid week before I felt somewhat comfortable. I liked it once I got the hang of it...but you can't really do anything else while driving a stick shift!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'm really confused as to what gender has to do with it.

Of course I can drive one, it's not hard.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Manual is easy to learn, and once you get used to it it's 2nd nature - very easy.

 

[bballmom56]

Yes, I can. I have had several sticks and they can be fun to drive. But I also like my automatics as well. It's a little easier to eat breakfast while driving an automatic than a stick

I didn't find it that hard to learn (and that was probably 35 years ago) and we had lots of killer hills, too!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I know how to if it was an emergency, but due to having a shortened achilles tendon on my left foot, it is extremely difficult for me to get the clutch right so I either end up grinding the gears or I make the car hop! My Dad actually ordered my first car as a standard transmission, and taught me to drive it in Southern California rush hour traffic. I am still surprised I didn't get an ulcer over that. He eventually got the picture and ordered me an automatic and my sister got the other car. I am forever grateful! It is kind of sad that the car I was named after - the Shelby Mustang Cobra GT 500 KR is not a car I will ever be able to drive because I can't drive standard. Oh well...

 

[BlueIrish]

Never had to learn manual.