Can you drive a manual transmission (stick shift)

[Prospekt 10,984]

I've never driven a stick shift before. I learned to drive solely on automatic transmission vehicles, just to get the basics down before worrying about not stalling the car. I've had my license for a while now but since then, college has just gotten in the way of giving a manual transmission a try. I don't really need to learn yet. Now, I would like to in the future, but I'm focused on other things at the moment.

[Anonymous Old User Who Has Left 599]

I've never driven yet, so no. But it's definitely something I'll be looking into as I really really REALLY want a blobeye STI.

In case those last three letters confuse you:

 

Edited February 18, 2018 by Shabb3r

[Roughtek 54]

Not only can I drive a Standard Stick Shift in a car, I also drive a semi truck locally in the bay area in California.

[Victoria Sponge 1,014]

Pretty much all cars in the UK are manual, so most of us learn to drive so. I think it's better to learn manual because then you can drive both. If I learned automatic and there was an emergency where I had to drive someone and only a manual car was available we'd have a problem. But since I learned manual it doesn't matter what kind of car is available in an emergency. I've only driven one automatic car and only round a car park but even from that small experience I think I prefer manual. You feel more like you are driving the car, with an automatic you are basically just steering it. Cruise control is taking even more control away from us, in a cruise control manual car you literally are only steering.

[Once In A Blue Moon 894]

I've only ever really driven manual cars, and whilst an automatic would be easier when crawling along in heavy traffic (constantly holding the clutch at biting point gets annoying after a while) I make quite extensive use of engine breaking and so appreciate control over the gears*. The other problem with an automatic is that if I ever switched back to a manual I'd have to re-learn clutch control, which isn't hard (I actually found steering harder, for various reasons) but would result in a fair few stalls until I remembered the third pedal. 

 

*there are certain techniques for driving in more challenging situations, such as using a higher gear in snowy conditions, that a standard automatic would struggle with. Given that I'm not very good at such techniques, and that some (usually the 4x4s) have settings that factor that in, I wouldn't hold that as a particularly important reason, but I think if you're a good driver on a low budget then you'll do better with a manual.

Edited February 18, 2018 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Here No Longer 5,270]

I can't drive an automatic, so I'm pretty sure I couldn't drive a standard either.

[Rhythm Red 6,484]

My car is automatic, and I've never driven a manual one. So I guess I can't.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,283]

I can drive a stick. My father taught me. Once you get the hang of it, it makes driving more fun!

[King of Canterlot 9,588]

When I visit my grandparents, my grandpa has me drive him around in his 1947 Ford Super Deluxe, which is a stick shift with no power steering either. I'm not very good at driving stick, but I can do it, I just need more experience before I'll be able to drive it out of town. I've only practiced in-town driving so far with his stick shift.

This photo isn't actually my grandpa's car, but it's pretty much exactly what it looks like besides paint color

 

   

[Mirage 24,140]

Yeah I can drive a manual - don't like them though. When I drive I don't want to work doing it!

[Rainbow Cloud 16,323]

I learned to drive in a manual and have never driven an automatic, the majority of the cars in the UK are manuals.

[KatonRyu 1,026]

I'm from the Netherlands. As far as I know, everyone here needs to learn how to drive stick shift, although I've seen some ads for driving schools recently where you can have an automatic transmission instead. I personally prefer stick to automatic, not because I believe it's better but simply because I like it. Next best thing would be a flappy-paddle gearbox, or a racecar-style semi-automatic transmission if you've never seen Top Gear. In any case, shifting manually just feels better to me, even if it might not be as efficient as a modern automatic transmission would be.

[Appley Hooves 136]

Auto only for me, wouldn't mind learning standard but it's one more thing to worry about aside from the other boogers you share the road with, got enough problems avoiding being smooshed by the "I have ABS and airbags, it's all good" crowd lol

[CypherHoof 26,479]

Never owned anything but stick shifts (default really here in the UK) - driven a "smart car" (think roller skate with a lid) which was automatic, but not voluntarily

[Le Trotteur Sauvage 13,049]

That's funny because only american people have this kind of problem 

Here in the real world we all use manual transmission ! 

[Fhaolan 4,468]

Yes, and I've also driven some old cars that were *fully* manual, with non-synchronized transmissions, manual chokes, and even one that had to be cranked to start it, which was something of a challenge. I have *not* driven any of the 8+ gear transmissions used in bigger commercial/military vehicles, oddly enough. My dad was a trucker for awhile, so I'm aware of the *concepts* of running a rig like that, but it's just something that hasn't come up for myself. I think about going and getting certified on that class of vehicle occasionally, just for the experience.

[Narcissus 352]

I can't drive a typical stick shift. My cousin has an automanual transmission in her car and I sometimes steal borrow it, but it doesn't even have a clutch, so it's a manual for beginners so to speak. I can handle that but I wouldn't want to go with traditional manual, it seems like an antiquated idea that distracts attention unnecessarily while driving. 

[Sketchywolf-13 15]

On 2/17/2018 at 5:04 PM, Roughtek said:

Not only can I drive a Standard Stick Shift in a car, I also drive a semi truck locally in the bay area in California.

Thats a 10 speed, I drive a 13 speed, so im better

[Roughtek 54]

47 minutes ago, Sketchywolf-13 said:

Thats a 10 speed, I drive a 13 speed, so im better

Okay there buddy, but you drove for swift

[Dreambiscuit 8,024]

I drive an automanual Smart. I don't/can't drive a traditional fully manual stick (I just can't get past all those convulsions the car always makes getting into first gear). I prefer automatic when possible, but if I elect to switch my car to manual, it tells me when to shift which is a big help. 

[Rising Dusk 26,083]

My very first car was a stick shift.  It's suppose to be like riding a bike, but I've yet to run into a situation where I've had to do so again.

[Longhaul 6,470]

I can, and do, but mostly when I'm at work.

[DubWolf 16,619]

I’ve been driving a Hyundai Accent pretty frequently, I’ve been getting better. I could play it safe by staying on the “extra gas” side so the car doesn’t stop when driving slow, but I’ve been trying to perfect it to the point where the changes and slow driving is as smooth as it would be on an automatic.

[Twiggy 2,965]

I exclusively drive manual transmission. Really fun to take offroading and drifting.

[Silenz Veritas 171]

Yes, I can. It's not my preference, but it is something that I can do.