Poll: Can you drive a stick?

In My Humble Opinion
201

Believe it or not, even though the traffic looks really crazy, most of the driver are super courteous. I made the mistake of pulling off into what I thought was a parking space, but in reality was a lane that was for parking only at certain times, then not being one of those certain times. The cars behind me did not honk or scream at me, but merely pulled up next to me and politely told me that I was blocking a lane.

But yeah, it was a little nerve wracking.

202

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? Yep.
I think you’ll find most people who drive in in US can drive a standard. I would certainly think anyone who can’t drive a stick to be, if not retarded, than at least backward. ;>) I asked my 24 and 26 YO stepsons if they know anyone who can’t drive a stick, and they both said “just some dumb girls”. All their male friends can.

(2) What country do you live in? I live in Sothwest Washington State, USA.
It might be a regional thing. I guess the big cities may have a higher percentage of automatic only types. LA, SF, Denver, types, I can see not knowing how to drive at all let alone a stick. I’m rural/city blend and I’d be very surprised to learn that more than 5% or 6% of folks around here can’t go stick. 80% of 'em can’t merge though… that’s another subject.
I have taught several people to drive, a sister, a brother, two stepkids, a neice, and the 2 kids of a good freind (who is a great guy, but you wouldnt want to learn how to drive from him).

(3) How old are you (roughly)? I’m 53. My pickup is 20. (89 Ford F150 4wd Shortbed regular cab 185000 miles) is an auto and I wouldnt have it any other way. All my previous trucks were 4 speed rockcrushers. Wife’s Subaru is a 5 speed, and the 69 Firebird I’m building is getting converted from auto to a 6 speed.

Matt

203

I drive a manual always unless I have to rent a car.

I am in the US and 47.

204

  1. I can drive a stick well enough to do bootlegger turns.

  2. USA!

  3. 45

205

I learned to drive on a VW beetle, and have driven stick ever since. Traffic, bad weather, no matter what, I feel safer with a stick. My few experiences renting automatics (while car in shop) confirm this.

206

What I didn’t note when I previously replied to this thread is that I am fully capable of using a manual transmission vehicle to run over zombies. I imagine this will be useful in the (near) post-apocalyptic future.

207

I’m late to this.

  1. Yes, I’m comfortable driving a manual. Have no preference between the two.
  2. Canada (born and raised)
  3. 37, learned to drive stick when I was about 28.
208
  1. Yes, and I prefer manual, though I currently drive a Prius.
  2. USA
  3. 35
209

(1) Absolutely. Much more fun to drive, except in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
(2) USA.
(3) “Roughly” 54 years old.

210

Bugs are great. Too bad they’re fading off scene. I still love to see someone who’s never driven a Bug try to git it into reverse. Even when you explain, they don’t believe you. Gotta show 'em.
Big Fun.

Matt

211

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?

Yes. I drive one every day.

(2) What country do you live in?

USA

(3) How old are you (roughly)?

41
the only problem I *might *have would be the “shifting with the left hand” bit, and I don’t think that would take me much time to get the hang of.

212

Well, I may as well chime in. I can’t believe there are 5 pages of answers to this question!

  1. Yes.
  2. Canada
  3. Male 46.

I tried to teach my wife about 14 years ago. She was OK driving straight, but throw in braking, down shifting, turning, etc. and it was too much multi-tasking for her to handle, so she gave up. (My CRX was happy that she did.) :wink:

213
  1. Nope, never learned how to. My parents’ cars were always automatics. I don’t know whether they can drive stick – my mother I’m sure can’t, my father probably can’t. And after I left home there was never a reason for me to learn.
  2. USA
  3. 46

Ed

214

1There’s another type of transmission?!? :wink: Yes, I’m very comfortable driving a manual, in fact, I refuse to own a sludgebox.
2 United States
3 39, male

215

1 - Yep (I also made our sons learn to drive using a truck with a manual transmission)
2 - US
3 - 56, M

216

1 - Yes
2 - U.S.
3 - 38, M

217

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? yes
(2) What country do you live in? American currently in Indonesia
(3) How old are you (roughly)? 42

218

  1. Yup, three on the tree, three, four, five and six speed on the floor, paddle shifter, thinking of learning to drive semi’s as well.

  2. Pacific Northwest USA

  3. 50

219

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?
Yep, only kind of car I’ve ever owned.

(2) What country do you live in?
United States

(3) How old are you (roughly)?
33, Female. Learned to drive (on a stick-shift) when I was 18.

220

Hmm. I wonder if SmartAleq knows how to drive stick. Did she mention something about it back when she was 49? :slight_smile: