Poll: Can you drive a stick?

In My Humble Opinion
101

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

102

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. :smiley:

103
  1. Yes, I can drive a shift.
  2. U.S.

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.

104

(1) Yes
(2) Denmark
(3) 31

Actually I have never driven an automatic, no idea if I can.

105
  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
106

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

107
  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
108

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.

109

  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

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.

110
  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.

Is the term “stick” meant to be derogatory at all?

111

12 roughly, 41 biologically

112

Yes (Automatics are boring and cost too much money)
USA
25 (driving sticks since age 18)

113

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.

114

  1. Yes; my daily drive is a six speed stick. I dislike automatics.

  2. USA

  3. I’m 50.

115

(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.

116

(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

117
  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
118
  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.
119

(1) Are you comfortable driving a manual transmission? Yes.
(2) What country do you live in? USA
(3) How old are you (roughly)? **40 **

120

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.