Poll: Can you drive a stick?

In My Humble Opinion
161

I learned on a '55 Willys thanks to my Dad. Then took my test on his truck which was a standard.
I’ve always preferred standards; if I could have got my truck in a standard, I would have. But it was only available in an automatic unless I wanted to spring another 6k for a Cummins diesel.
My commuter car, and my own Jeep, are both standards, and I wouldn’t then in an automatic.

33, US, male.

162

[QUOTE=svrider]

Actually I have never driven an automatic, no idea if I can.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t know if you’re serious, but I do have one piece of advice if you ever have to drive one. Make sure your left foot is on the floor, not the brake peddle (oboelady notwithstanding). At least if you drive a clutch like me. When I knew I was going to stop ahead (say at a traffic light), the first thing I would do is push in the clutch. The first time or two I drove an automatic, my left foot just naturally ended up on the brake peddle. Made for a quick stop.

163

I drive a standard. I actually prefer it.
USA
22/female

164

I drive a stick. Much more fun.

USA/M/53

165

I’m 38, female in the U.S. I can, but I haven’t in many years.

166

[QUOTE=Will Repair]
I can drive a stick, without using the clutch…
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Starving Artist]
I can see how you came by your screen name.
[/QUOTE]

Betcha I can synchronize the sound and feel of gears better than you can duplicate the colors of life onto canvas!

…

167

[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan]
I suggested that an American visiting the UK…
[/QUOTE]

BTW, the best thing a driving American visiting the UK could do is pick up a hitchhiker to remind when driving on the right side of the street.

…

168
  1. Learnt on a manual, so totally comfortable with it. My daily driver is a manual but we also have an auto in the family, and I have no trouble switching between the two.
  2. India
  3. 30
169

[QUOTE=Will Repair]
Betcha I can synchronize the sound and feel of gears better than you can duplicate the colors of life onto canvas!

…
[/QUOTE]
Perhaps. But at least my paint won’t have metal shavings in it and I’d be surprised if you could say the same for your tranny!

But no offense in any regard. I was only joshin’ ya. :wink:

170

[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog]
The best way to learn to drive a manual is to study up on the theory of it (it honestly isn’t that hard), and then have a day ON YOUR OWN in an old beater in a carpark somewhere.
[/QUOTE]

My older brother taught me to drive, but he’s very even tempered. I agree with your advice. I tried to teach the (soon to be) Mrs Princhester to drive but we stopped before we were both tempted to kill something other than the clutch.

171

(1) Very
(2) Currently Stateside, but have obtained license in right handed countries-the stick’s always in the middle.
(3) Corvettes and Strats

172

[QUOTE=Will Repair]
BTW, the best thing a driving American visiting the UK could do is pick up a hitchhiker to remind when driving on the right side of the street.

…
[/QUOTE]
I had my chronically terrified over-70 mother in the passenger seat for the 750 miles I drove over there… She more than met her obligations in this regard… :slight_smile:

173
  1. Yes.
  2. U.S.
    1. I learned when I was about 24 or 25. My college girlfriend taught me.
174

[QUOTE=ZenBeam]
I don’t know if you’re serious, but I do have one piece of advice if you ever have to drive one. Make sure your left foot is on the floor, not the brake peddle (oboelady notwithstanding). At least if you drive a clutch like me. When I knew I was going to stop ahead (say at a traffic light), the first thing I would do is push in the clutch. The first time or two I drove an automatic, my left foot just naturally ended up on the brake peddle. Made for a quick stop.
[/QUOTE]

Yep. I had that happen when I was asked to drive somewhere in my parents car. I kept braking hard at stop signs, while my hand was busy trying to shift.

Yes I can drive a manual transmission.

175

Yes
UK
66 all man

176

I have always driven manual transmission cars-because i have had mostly cars with small 4-cylinder engines. I don’t think that most small engined cars work well with automatics-they tend to waste too much power.
However, if SATURN comes out with a good CVT-equipped car, i might go for it.

177

[QUOTE=tetranz]
I think the dealer was having trouble selling it because of the stick.

[/qUOTE]

This was my experience also. I worked next to a mechanic’s/car lot and noticed a cute little Sentra sitting there, and went over to take a look (I was in the market for a more fuel efficient car because of gas prices, which at the time were about 1.81 hah!).

The mechanics warned me it was a stick, which excited me greatly, and they said they hadn’t been able to sell it because everyone that stopped to look at it couldn’t/wouldn’t drive a stick.

178

[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe]
everyone that stopped to look at it couldn’t/wouldn’t drive a stick.
[/QUOTE]
I will not shift it on a hill,
I will not shift it for roadkill,
I do not like to drive a stick,
I do not like it, Sam, you… dunderhead.

179

Yes
US
37

180
  1. Yes, every daily driver except for one have been stick. Autos are boring. Daily drivers have been 78 MGB, 74 Fiat 124 Spyder, 90 Mustang GT, 98 Ford Explorer, 98 Ford Contour, 08 Mazdaspeed3. All stick except the Explorer, which I only kept about 4 months. It was really nice, but not as a daily driver.
  2. USA
  3. 35-40