# Poll: Can you drive a stick? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316 "2008-03-30T21:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/261 "2009-01-14T15:11:19Z")
1. Yes. (1 truck and 2 cars were all manual) 2. Born & raised in USA, currently living in China (and not driving). 3. 29 ---
**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:** [January 14, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/262 "2009-01-14T18:29:53Z")
**(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?** Yes. I’ve never owned an automatic. **(2) What country do you live in?** USA. **(3) How old are you (roughly)?** 37. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/263 "2009-01-14T19:31:58Z")
(1) Yes. I learned on one (a '77 Pinto) and I’ve gone out of my way to only own standard-shifts. They’re more fun to drive. I currently drive a Kia Sportage, 5-speed stick. At this point, driving automatics get a little squirrely for me; I keep doing two things: reaching for a non-existant clutch with my left foot, and taking my foot off the break while idling on a flat surface and thinking I’ll stay there. (2) Live in the US of A (3) I’m in my very late 30’s … I’m 43. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Duct\_Tape\_Swordsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Duct\_Tape\_Swordsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Duct_Tape_Swordsman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/264 "2009-01-14T19:39:30Z")
(1) Yep, and I prefer them over automatics. I act similar to **Jack Batty** in automatics. (2) USA (3) 19 I learned how to drive half in an automatic and half in a manual. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/265 "2009-01-14T19:42:27Z")
Zombies can’t drive sticks. But I can. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/266 "2009-01-14T19:44:25Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > Zombies can’t drive sticks. But I can. What an excellent opening line for a book! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/267 "2009-01-14T21:13:51Z")
1). Yes. The first vehicle I learned how to drive was an old pickup with a “three on tree” (column) shift. Most of my earlier cars were sticks. My partner’s current car is a stickshift (although mine’s auto) 2). US. 3). 40 ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/268 "2009-01-14T21:23:58Z")
1. Yes. I’ve owned six cars in my life and all had manual transmissions. 2. US. 3. 39 Speaking to the OP, I rented a car in the UK this summer with a manual transmission and had a heck of a time operating the stick with my left hand. I can’t recall how many times I hit 2d looking for 4th or vice versa. Just plain unnatural, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/269 "2009-01-14T21:24:07Z")
1. Not only can I drive a regular stick, but I can drive a column-shift dump-truck (okay, I could 24 years ago…I might need some practice now), _and_ I can drive a right-sided stick, having lived in Japan for six years where we owned a stick. When both my son and daughter started driving, I insisted they both learn to drive sticks. My daughter now teases her boyfriend because she can drive a stick and he can’t. 2. USA, baby! 3)42 ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/270 "2009-01-14T21:58:56Z")
Yes, self taught on the first car I owned outright. A brand new '88 Ford Festiva. That clutch lasted the life of the car, 180+K miles. USA 38 I don’t understand the issue with learning to drive a stick. All I knew was the theory, and was able to do it the first time I got into a manual transmission car. I missed a gear here and there until I really got comfortable with the car… but I still miss a gear once in a while even now, and I’ve been driving a stick (with one 3 year interruption, which I hated driving from day 1 of that car) for 20 or so years). I do, however, wonder how it would feel to try to shift with the left hand, instead of hanging it out the window when not shifting with my right. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/271 "2009-01-14T23:02:58Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > I don’t understand the issue with learning to drive a stick. When I first started, first gear was a hit-or-miss proposition for the first few days. (I learned on a Mercedes-Benz 240D). I would stall that thing all the time at red lights. Once past first, though, it was no problem. The other thing that took a couple days to learn to get down pat was hill starts. When I was learning hill starts, I was at a red light somewhere in Bavaria or Swabia on a rather steep incline with a car behind me, and when it turned green, I kept stalling it out (using the parking brake technique). An entire sequence of lights (red-green-red) passed, and not once did the car behind me honk at me. I was so flustered and embarrassed, but impressed by the patience of the auto trailing me. I managed to get it the first time out once the lights changed again. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/272 "2009-01-14T23:37:17Z")
I think it was maybe the third or fourth time I’d driven the Pinto by myself, and I stalled out at an intersection. And then again. And again. And again. All in a row that is. Traffic behind me, traffic to the sides of me. I’m the cog in the gridlock, red-faced, trying to get my shit together. It was in third. I thought it was in first. It was more than 25 years ago and I can remember it like it was yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/273 "2009-01-15T00:02:22Z")
> [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](#): > > **GorillaMan** correctly pointed out that an automatic is WAY more expensive to rent over there. It’s also correct that an accident due to not being good at using a manual transmission would be even more expensive in money, inconvenience and possibly injuries. (Yes, I realize the OP and the quoted poster are not likely to see this response.) ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/274 "2009-01-15T00:19:29Z")
1. Yes, I’m very comfortable using a manual transmission. I’m even pretty good shifting with my left hand in a car with left-hand drive. But, it’s been 15 years since I’ve owned a car with a stick and there’s no reason for me to own one now. 2. Canada 3. Roughly 45. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/275 "2009-01-15T00:57:40Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > It’s also correct that an accident due to not being good at using a manual transmission would be even more expensive in money, inconvenience and possibly injuries. > > (Yes, I realize the OP and the quoted poster are not likely to see this response.) Sez who? 😃 …although I’m really surprised to see this poll get the Zombie treatment.. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/276 "2009-01-15T03:21:48Z")
> [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](#): > > Sez who? 😃 …although I’m really surprised to see this poll get the Zombie treatment.. I didn’t even realize this was a zombie thread; just saw a poll and responded. 🆒 And, I need to correct my earlier response in which I stated that all of the cars I’ve owned have had manual transmissions. My first car was a piece o’ crap 1970 Cutlass Supreme that was, in fact, an automatic. And may very well be the reason that all of my cars since then have been neither automatics nor Cutlasses. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/277 "2009-01-15T04:27:56Z")
> [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](#): > > In [URL=[http://boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) > I postulated that many if not most Americans under 35 don’t drive a stick. Time for an unscientific poll: > > (1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? > **Yes** > (2) What country do you live in? > **USA** > (3) How old are you (roughly)? > **Way over 35.** I’d have to see how that “shifting with the left hand” thing worked out, though. Sitting here at the 'puter, I can’t imagine how that would go. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/278 "2009-01-15T04:55:36Z")
OK, OP. We didn’t do this for nothing. Please compile the data and present it to us in graphical format. Otherwise, what was the point? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/279 "2009-01-15T17:20:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > When I first started, first gear was a hit-or-miss proposition for the first few days. You simply needed more gas as you lifted the clutch out. That’s the problem I’ve found & fixed with every one of the folks that I’ve taught how to drive a stick. (10 or so, women & men.) They all start with saying “I can never get it started without stalling in 1st… all the other gears are easy.” I tell them to give it more gas, and slip it a bit more as they engage the clutch. Works every time, gives a valuable skill, and their problems usually are resolved in their first lesson. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/280 "2009-01-15T17:22:13Z")
1. Yes 2. Midwestern USA 3. 30 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316.md?page=15)