# Can you competently drive a manual transmission car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774 "2017-10-24T23:45:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/61 "2017-10-25T07:57:30Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Gaak! I drove stick for most of my adult life. Finally my arthritis got the best of me and I gave up driving stick. Driving a stick in S. F. is… um, well, _challenging_. For some reason, the wise men of the city have deigned to put Stop signs on the uphill and downhill corners instead of the level corners. > > The last car I had was a stick, but it had a device they called a “hill-holder”. It prevented the car from rolling back on a hill when you took your foot off the brake — as long as the left foot was still on the clutch, the brake continued to hold. That made it a whole lot more possible to drive in places like San Francisco. This seems like a good place for Bill Cosby’s thoughts on driving in San Francisco: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOmayx2JBs8/hqdefault.jpg "Bill Cosby - Driving in San Francisco") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOmayx2JBs8) (Bill Cosby was funny, damn it! I used to worship him when I was a kid. I can’t stand that he’s also a sexual predator. I wish that weren’t so.) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/62 "2017-10-25T10:21:22Z")
Yes. Here in the UK if you pass the driving test in an automatic you get a restricted license. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/63 "2017-10-25T13:53:18Z")
Nope. Out here in the flatlands of the Prairie State and in the stop & go traffic of the Chicago area, it doesn’t offer much benefit. My wife moved here in Virginia with her manual transmission car, originally swearing by it and, by the time car shopping came around, had abandoned any thoughts of going manual with her next car. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/64 "2017-10-25T14:00:42Z")
Grew up driving farm equipment. Drove trucks and forklifts as young adult. Currently drive a manual Z3. So, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/65 "2017-10-25T14:02:06Z")
I learned to drive on a manual transmission. I’ve only driven for a little more than half of my adult years, so I’ve only actually owned 4 cars in my life, but 3 of those were manual transmissions: 1963 Ford Falcon was on the tree, my '87(?) Honda CVCC was stick and my '78 Blazer is 3 speed with a granny gear (and old-school hub 4WD). I still have the Blazer but I haven’t driven it in years. Keep trying to sell it but can’t find a buyer. As long as I have it, it’s my bug-out vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/66 "2017-10-25T14:08:35Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > First car was a “three on the tree,” Plymouth Valiant. Me too!!! 1974 I think :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/67 "2017-10-25T14:11:43Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > My car is a VW Passat with a manual transmission. > > I’ve owned a number of motorcycles in my lifetime, all of which had manual transmissions. As far as I know, nobody makes a motorcycle with an an automatic, not since the failure to sell much of the Hondamatic in the late 70s. the Honda Africa twin has a DCT, and the new Gold Wing just announced offers one as an option. that said, motorcycle clutches are a bit different in that they play a big role in low-speed maneuvers. The vast majority are wet (oil-soaked) clutch packs, so they can tolerate a lot more slippage. And being able to slip the clutch helps low-speed stability; one of the things they try to teach you in the basic rider course is how to work the clutch, throttle, and rear brake so you can crawl along as slow as the instructor walking backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/68 "2017-10-25T14:21:09Z")
Yep. My wife’s Camry is a stick. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/69 "2017-10-25T14:22:30Z")
Learned to drive with a stick and my first three cars were a stick. I hadn’t driven one for about 20 years but had occasion not long ago to drive one across town. It was like riding a bicycle and I had not forgotten how. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/70 "2017-10-25T14:25:10Z")
I’m 51, female, and learned to drive a stick. I barely remember a time when I wasn’t shifting for my dad, and I was driving stick down the back roads when I was 10, and in Seattle traffic at 14. I currently drive a manual Subaru Impreza. I taught both my girls to drive stick, and have plans to teach the grandkids. You know what rocks? Having your battery die\*, not being able to jump it, then push starting your car in the parking lot and going on your way. \*Happened a couple of weeks ago. I just got the Subaru from my daughter and I’m not quite used to the ways it differs from the Camry I was driving until September. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/71 "2017-10-25T14:34:22Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Everyone who drives stick claims to be really good at it, but few actually are. Do you blip the throttle on downshifts? Can you heel-toe shift? I admit even I haven’t mastered the latter. I wouldn’t say master, but I do it often. The early 2000s WRXs have a syncro issue that makes it difficult to get 1st gear engaged unless the wheels aren’t rolling. There are times that I need first while crawling, so I learned to double-clutch, heel/toe it when downshifting to 1st. It goes; lift, clutch in, neutral, clutch out, blip gas, clutch, push into first just as Rs start to drop, all this combined with some modulation of the brake pedal. For downshifts at speed I don’t blip, but I match rpms to wheel speed… smoooooooth as buttah! ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/72 "2017-10-25T14:38:02Z")
I learned to drive a tractor/combine at age 12 (which, of course, is manual) and the cars I had ages 16-40 were sticks. Yeah, I’m good! The only reason I don’t have a stick now is because they’re becoming difficult to find in BMWs (both my cars have a “manumission” option, which is a clutchless shift; but it’s definitely _not_ the same experience as a pure manual). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/73 "2017-10-25T14:40:42Z")
Didn’t learn to drive a stick until I was 32 years old, but that was \>30 years ago. Been driving almost nothing but sticks ever since. Currently driving a 2016 Honda Civic 6-speed manual, so I expect to be driving a stick for another 10-15 years. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/74 "2017-10-25T15:20:59Z")
Female, 46, have only owned manuals (and tend to complain about automatics whenever I rent a car). I currently drive a 6-speed Nissan 370Z. > [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Everyone who drives stick claims to be really good at it, but few actually are. Do you blip the throttle on downshifts? Can you heel-toe shift? I admit even I haven’t mastered the latter. > [@pulykamell](#): > > There’s really no point in doing so unless you’re driving like you’re on a racetrack or something. Who cares about rev matching? My Z has that [synchro rev match](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronized_down_shift_rev-matching_system) technology: I’ve had the car for almost 4 years, and have never tried it. I’ve never noticed a problem with the way I shift, and I’m not the least bit curious about it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/75 "2017-10-25T15:45:47Z")
The driving school I went to only had automatics, and I have only owned automatics. No. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/76 "2017-10-25T16:13:00Z")
Yes, all of my daily drivers (except for a 96 Ford Explorer for 6 months or so) have been manual transmission. It was second nature 20 years ago. If I drive a new manual transmission car it might take a couple tries to get used to the clutch feel and the shifter feel, that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/77 "2017-10-25T17:09:28Z")
Most of my cars have been manual. Managed to get 69.4 mpg on a 84’ Honda CRX with 5-speed that wasn’t a hybrid. That’s when it had 237,000 miles. Best in town was just over 63. I personally like manuals, lighter transmission, less parts, can push start car if battery is dead. I’m 59 now, one vehicle I own is an automatic, and gosh, I admit it is nice. Cars these days have 6 and more gears. I think 5 is my limit of what I want to shift. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/78 "2017-10-25T17:20:36Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > It is heel-and-toe _braking_; the left foot operates the clutch independent of the accelerator and brake. If we’re going to be pedantic, you don’t brake with your toe either. Also, you’re probably wrong: [Heel-and-toe shifting: What it means, and why you should care - Autoblog](https://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/07/heel-and-toe-shift-tutorial-video/) > [@](#): > > Virtually all modern transmissions are synchronized so they will match revs with the engine. Heel-and-toe braking is only useful in the context of performing forceful downshifts coming into a curve or radical movement change (drifting or slide recovery) maneuvers. Most drivers have no need for the skill, especially with synchronized or sequential/assisted manual transmissions Even with a synchromesh gear you don’t think there’s any value to minimizing the lurching when you downshift? Whether or not drivers have a need for it is irrelevant; I’m saying if you say you’re good at driving stick, you should know those techniques. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/79 "2017-10-25T17:26:50Z")
Only ever owned manual transmission cars. I did briefly own an automatic Ford F-150 once, but for cars it’s been 100% manual. I don’t fully trust an auto in snow and ice, and I like the ability to accelerate at full throttle without bouncing off the red line. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774/80 "2017-10-25T17:27:22Z")
Learned to drive in a 1972 F-150 with 3-on-the-tree and have driven manual transmission vehicles the majority of my life. I have been is a few situations where a vehicle needed to be moved for one reason or another and the question was asked “Can anyone drive a stick?”. I was able to do what needed to be done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-competently-drive-a-manual-transmission-car/799774.md?page=5)