# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/101 "2008-03-31T06:38:53Z")
As part of my work I drive a truck with an 18-speed manual transmission. I enjoy driving it. The stick has five physical positions (excluding reverse) but there are two first-level gear ranges and there is a second-level range nested on top of each of the first-level ranges. This means that each physical position has four available gears (except the first position, which has two). So this means that during some shifts, the driver needs to move the stick to the new position while sliding a switch to select a new range and sliding another switch to select the new gear in the nested range. And this needs to be done while matching the engine’s revs with the speed of the truck to determine the correct gear selection, as I choose to forgo the clutch. A bit of a challenge at times, but usually pretty interesting. Canada, 36 ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/102 "2008-03-31T06:46:55Z")
25/USA/The only reason I bought an automatic is because Dodge didn’t offer the Charger with a manual transmission. My motorcycle’s a standard, if that counts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/103 "2008-03-31T07:00:13Z")
1. Yes, I can drive a shift. 2. U.S. 3. 1. I used to much prefer driving a shift; I felt that I had more control over the car, and was less passive. But now that I’m older, and automatics are made better, I’m happy driving an automatic. ---
**Author:** ![svrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/104 "2008-03-31T07:02:03Z")
(1) Yes (2) Denmark (3) 31 Actually I have never driven an automatic, no idea if I can. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/105 "2008-03-31T07:08:20Z")
1. Yes. Actually, I didn’t learn to drive a manual well until about 15 years ago, when I started working more in areas where 4-wheel-drive was a necessity. 2. American living in Panama 3. 56 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/106 "2008-03-31T07:27:44Z")
I learned to drive on a stick and only sought out an automatic transmission when the arthritis in the knees ramped up. U.S. 52 ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/107 "2008-03-31T07:27:55Z")
1. Yes, As in the UK, in Australia if you pass your driving test in an automatic, you will have a restricted licence. 2. Australian living in the Middle East 3. 34, female ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/108 "2008-03-31T07:30:38Z")
Yes. I’m even licensed to drive heavy vehicles with the sort of transmission **Shamozzle** describes, though I haven’t done it for about 15 years. Australian, 40. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/109 "2008-03-31T07:36:59Z")
1. Have driven stick since 1984, when I got my first pickup - Taught myself how to do it, as I had to get the truck home SOMEHOW. 2. USA 3. 1. On a side note - When I worked for my college library back in the 80’s I had to drive a three wheel cushman delivery truck - it was a manual, with the stick on the left hand side. Didn’t take too much to get used to. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/110 "2008-03-31T07:50:18Z")
1. Not just comfortable with a manual, I hate automatics, there’s a feeling that I’m going to loose momentum and stall on corners. 2. Live in the UK. 3. 1. Is the term “stick” meant to be derogatory at all? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/111 "2008-03-31T07:54:31Z")
[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] (1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? It depends on what the meaning of is is. If by comfortable you mean “do I like to” then no I’m not; I hate them, especially on inclines. However I’m capable of driving a manual transmission if I have to. (2) What country do you live in? US (or Alabama, whichever you want to count) (3) How old are you (roughly)? [/QUOTE] 12 roughly, 41 biologically ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/112 "2008-03-31T08:27:53Z")
Yes (Automatics are boring and cost too much money) USA 25 (driving sticks since age 18) ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/113 "2008-03-31T10:12:40Z")
Yes, all of my cars have had manual transmissions USA 47 Anecdote time: Neither of my sisters (49 1nd 51) can drive a stick. They just never learned. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/114 "2008-03-31T12:24:21Z")
1. Yes; my daily drive is a six speed stick. I dislike automatics. 2. USA 3. I’m 50. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/115 "2008-03-31T12:42:41Z")
(1) Yes, I’m comfortable driving a manual transmission, and I have done so in Australia and in the UK. (2) I live in the US, but I’ve lived most of my life in Australia, and I learned to drive there. (3) 62. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/116 "2008-03-31T12:59:47Z")
**(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?** Yes, I am quite comfortable driving a manual transmission because that is what I learned on. I have never owned a car but knowing how to drive stick has helped me out greatly in college. For the past 6 years I have had at least one roommate with a manual transmission and each one has given me free reign with their cars. As a result, I have done distances, cities and mountains. While I find automatic to be a little boring, I do not really have a preference. **(2) What country do you live in?** USA **(3) How old are you (roughly)?** 23 ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/117 "2008-03-31T13:23:05Z")
1. Yes, and I prefer it to an automatic. My first car was a manual, and after having an automatic for a couple of years, I have a manual again. 2. U.S. 3. 30 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/118 "2008-03-31T13:24:53Z")
1. Yes. I’ve never driven an automatic, and I’m not sure how well I’d adapt. I don’t really want to try. 2. England. 3. 1. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/119 "2008-03-31T14:01:46Z")
(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? **Yes.** (2) What country do you live in? **USA** (3) How old are you (roughly)? \*\*40 \*\* ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316/120 "2008-03-31T15:02:16Z")
Can and do, drive a stick. With full synchromesh and hydraulic clutch the stick in my Ranger is far superior to the 3-on-the-tree '60 Chevy Biscayne I learned to drive stick in, 40 years ago. My location is the US and I’m 56. My Dad’s attitude was that no one capable of walking with both feet had any excuse not to know how to drive with both feet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-can-you-drive-a-stick/443316.md?page=7)