Can you competently drive a manual transmission car?

In My Humble Opinion
161

In the '40s, my mother learned how to drive a manual transmission at her driver’s test. She did not realize that you had to bring your own car, so the fellow in line behind her loaned her his. She stalled repeatedly, and expected that she had failed, but the examiner passed her while noting the he didn’t know how to drive a manual either.

In the early 80s, I “taught” a friend how to drive a manual. I had to drop off a package at the First Canadian Place on Bay St in rush hour. As I was hopping out of the driver’s seat, I told him to keep circling the block. I didn’t realize that he had never driven a standard before. I returned about fifteen minutes later. He rolled up and stopped smoothly, with a shit-eating grin on his face, and an overheated clutch friction lining smell.

162

was he at Northwestern in engineering?

That was a fun transaction - I think I met every Turk in the Chicago area during the course of it.

163

Until my MD suggested a auto for my knee, a stick is all I drove for the last 50+ years.

164

The cars I’ve owned:
1981 6cyl Mustang, auto
1985 Firebird V-6, auto
1991 Dodge Colt, manual
1996 Plymouth Neon Sport, manual
1996 Ford Crown Vic, auto
2006 Scion Xa, manual
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, auto
2008 Mustang GT, manual
2014 Toyota Corolla, auto
2015 Buick Regal Turbo, auto

If I ever get another sports or muscle car it’ll have to be a manual. Regular car? Sticking with the auto tranny. A manual is supposed to be fun, and there’s little of that to be had in an underpowered manual tranny car.

165

Yes. The vast majority of people could do it if they wanted to and had some instruction. I’m not sure why there are people in the thread who feel it’s a point of honor.

166

It is a skill, and a disappearing skill. So yes, it is a point of honor-… but a rather minor one.

167

My current car is a five month old Subaru station wagon with manual transmission and this is at least my 5th manual.

I’ve done heal-toe shifting and driven non synchromesh transmissions as well as manual cars with a broken clutch.

But – why is the poll gendered?

168

I haven’t driven in a few years, but I could drive a manual right now. I’d struggle with a 3 on the tree or a left hand drive car, but I’m sure I’d figure it out.

169

I hadn’t driven a standard transmission in 20 years until recently on a trip to the UK. Jumped in the right side, fired it up and took off without even really thinking about it. Like riding a bike I guess.

170

I’ve driven stick-shift trucks for all of my adult life.

171

So per the polling here, 93% of males and 81% of females can drive stick.

I’m surprised (and somewhat gratified) it’s that high.

I wonder how that compares to the US population at large, and I wonder how our numbers were skewed by posters outside of the US.

172

It may also be skewed by people likelier to vote in a poll that lets them brag than in one that doesn’t.

173

Those confounding confounding factors!!

174

13 of the 22 (and all of the first six)cars I’ve owned have been sticks. Everything from three-on-the -tree 59 Chev to 3 on the dash (2CV) to 3, 4, and 5 on the floor (and a 4-on the tree SAAB). I can pretty much jump into just about anything and drive away smoothly. Both of my current rides are automatics, though.

175

Sure, if you post,* maybe *there’s a tiny brag. But wheres the brag in just clicking?

176

I haven’t driven a manual car for about ten years but had several before that. I have a motorcycle that I drive regularly and it’s the same general idea. I’m sure I could hop in a manual car or truck and be just fine.

177

The only cars I’ve ever owned, over 34 years of driving, have been manuals. I also ride a motorcycle, which is a whole different level of shifting.

I’m shocked that 54/66 women report they can drive a manual. Among my (cisgender) female friends, exactly 0% (of perhaps 50) can drive a manual transmission.

178

First car was a three-on-the-tree back in 1963, so yes. I’ve driven manuals up to and including a ten gear split tranny truck that required double clutching between shifts.

179

Female. No, I cannot. The only time I tried, my grandpa laughed at me, while my husband yelled at me. I got out of the car, crying, and went into the house. I never had the heart to try it, again.

180

There’s a lot to be said for learning at a women’s driving program within a racing school. Don’t let the boys on to what you are up to until you figure that you can trounce them on track day.