Poll: Can you drive a stick?

In My Humble Opinion
41
  1. Yes. I learned on a stick, and both cars I’ve owned have been manual.
  2. USA
  3. 26, male
42

I love sticks, learned on them.
Mrs. Danalan also learned on sticks, in fact could not drive an automatic until she was over 35 (she would always hit the ‘clutch’, which in an automatic is the brake).
We’re both in the US, almost 50 (yikes!)

My kids both can drive a stick, because I made them learn. Both US, 25 and 27.

To compile all four:
1 - Yes x4
2 - USA x4
3 - 49, 48, 27, 25

43

  1. Yes, I learned on a stick and have only owned manuals. I hope to only drive manuals for the rest of my life, but I doubt it will happen.

  2. US

  3. 30, female

44

Fond memories of my first time driving an automatic, all the way through south London, Friday evening. How I didn’t end up with somebody hitting me from behind, I’ll never know.

45

I can’t drive a stick but I can ride a broom but I digress.

  1. Yes, completely. My first vehicle was a small pickup with a manual transmission. I have racked up more than 150K miles on manual transmissions.

  2. U.S.

  3. 34

I think the people in the UK make too big of a deal about the types of transmissions. There is the simply fact that, if you can’t drive a stick, you aren’t going anywhere anyway.

46

Yes, learned on a stick, all mycars but one have been stick.
US
49

47
  1. Yes. I learned on a stick and I prefer them, though I haven’t got one now (I have a used mommy van).
  2. American

The car I often drove in high school was an old station wagon K-car that was a manual. It was quite tricky to drive and very fussy. My best friend was learning to drive and bugged me to let her drive my car around the parking lot. I told her that if she could start it, she could drive it. I knew the car was safe, she’d never be able to do it!

Edited to add that when my husband and I went to the UK, we did indeed rent a car, and of course it was a manual. All fine and dandy, but it gave us a kick to see that the car had a “sporty programme!” We still refer to using the sporty programme. :smiley:

48

(1) Yes, learned in my teens and still perfectly comfortable driving a stick whenever the need arises. Fun, actually.

(2) U.S.

(3) 59

49
  1. Yes, and prefer manual to automatic transmissions. Learned the technique by driving company pickup trucks while working for a railroad.
  2. USA
  3. 53
50

(1) No
(2) Australia
(3) 43

51

  1. Yes, I learned on a stick, as does everybody in the Netherlands. Sticks are the default here. Since last year, I drive a Toyota Prius, which came only in automatic. While I still occasionally play air-stickshift, I have to say I much prefer automatic. I’ve heard automatic is more environmentally sounds and saves fuel as well.
    Really, everybody here drives stick for no other reason then that all cars are stick, and the only reason for that is that everybody has learned stick. It’s a circle, much like the circle that prevents ergonomically better keyboards then Querty from catching on.

  2. Netherlands.

52

This is obviously skewing towards people who can (and I think that among my friends, it’s about 50/50), but I’ll add mine anyway.

  1. Yes, and I refuse to buy an automatic. I’ve only owned one, and it drove me nuts. When we moved to Japan, they were very difficult to find, but we finally got a couple. Japan drives on the left side of the road, so having the stick on the left was an adjustment, but you get over it. I still prefer to have it on the right–it feels more natural to me.

  2. US citizen, now in Japan

  3. 27

53
  1. Yes.
  2. U.S.
  3. 41
54

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?
I learned on a manual and it is my preference. Autos make me mentally disengage with driving.

(2) What country do you live in?
USA

(3) How old are you (roughly)?
27

55

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? Yes
(2) What country do you live in? USA
(3) How old are you (roughly)? 28

56

Yes
USA
40

My wife:
No
USA
53

We were discussing this the other night, I was sure she should have learned to drive on one. Apparently not though.

57
  1. Yes
  2. USA
  3. 25
58

I can’t drive an automatic :wink:

1; Yes (exclusively manual, never owned a sludgebox, never will)
2; U.S. (Maine)
3; 36

I love driving manuals, only thing worth driving

59

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission?
Not in a car. I do drive a motorcycle to work every day though. I think that it’s easier to feel the clutch with my hand and shift with my foot than vice-versa.

(2) What country do you live in?
USA

(3) How old are you (roughly)?
26

60

  1. Yes - learned to drive on one. I have a CDL and way back when, used to drive some interesting transmissions with lots of gears.

  2. Canada

  3. 40

I used to be one of those people who would say that I prefer the standard transmission and couldn’t imagine wanting an automatic.

Then, about 5 years ago, I was looking for a new vehicle and realized that I kind of liked the convenience of an automatic. So I got one. And I like it.

I don’t understand how someone can’t drive an automatic. The learning curve is pretty easy on that particular skill.