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Post by deekaye on Apr 25, 2016 17:04:03 GMT
Farm girl here and if I hadn't learned how to drive a stick, then I never would have driven anything growing up! (I even know how to "double-clutch" the cattle truck!). My little commuter car is a stick and I still love driving it. In fact, it takes me a minute to adjust when I jump in my automatic SUV. I tried to get both of my girls to learn how to drive a stick because I think it's just something everyone should learn. Oldest DD half-heartedly learned and I think, in a pinch, she could do it. Youngest DD just flat out refused! Oh well, her loss...  |
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879 
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Post by likescarrots on Apr 25, 2016 17:27:54 GMT
Both of our cars are manual transmission.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by anniebeth24 on Apr 25, 2016 17:32:04 GMT
My first car was a manual, but I haven't owned one since high school and would be way out of practice. I guess it would come back to me in an emergency.
My kids would be in trouble, I don't think they've ever even seen a car without auto transmission.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,340
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Apr 25, 2016 17:37:39 GMT
Yes I can.
My first car was a stick shift.
I have had one car during my adult life that was also a stick.
Driving a car with an automatic transmission is a lot easier though!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 25, 2016 17:40:30 GMT
Yes. DH taught me when I was 19 (and he was NOT a very patient teacher, LOL). Most of the cars I've owned have had a manual transmission, but the last two have been automatics so I haven't regularly driven one in over a dozen years. Stick shift cars are getting harder to find.
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Post by holly on Apr 25, 2016 17:47:35 GMT
I learned to drive with a manual. My first few cars were manuals. I lived in CA so no worries about hills unless we went to the mountains. We even had manuals when we lived in Okinawa so besides driving on the left side, had to drive a stick, most cars were a stick over there. Many wives didn't drive because of that.
We have a 76 MG that's a stick so we taught DS to drive it and my DD is starting drivers Ed next month so we'll teach her to drive it as well. I think it's an important thing to know. DS picked it up quick.
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Post by auntkelly on Apr 25, 2016 18:01:15 GMT
Yes I can drive a manual.
It has come in handy because every time we've been to Europe and rented a car it was a stick shift.
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Post by PepsiGal on Apr 25, 2016 18:06:25 GMT
I learned to drive a stick in Birmingham, Alabama with all those hills many years ago. Haven't driven a stick in ages but I beat it would all come back. I enjoyed changing gears and felt I was in command.
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Post by lostwithout2peas on Apr 25, 2016 18:07:00 GMT
My first car was a stick shift and any opportunity I get to drive one again I do! I think it's fun, but for everyday use, heck no! I own an automatic. My DH kinda knows how to drive one, but doesn't get the chance if we have the opportunity to drive one cause I always wanna drive!!
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Post by Chips on Apr 25, 2016 18:08:08 GMT
My first car was a stick shift and even a few more after that were. It is an easy way to save money on the price of a car and it gets more mpg too.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 25, 2016 18:19:21 GMT
My father insisted we learn on a stick shift because "you may be in a situation someday where the only car to drive is a standard". When I was 42, DD and I took a trip to Belgium and rented a car. The only car available was a standard. Dad got a good laugh when I called him and told him he was right all those years ago!  I really enjoyed driving a stick shift and only switched to an automatic when we moved to Houston. The traffic here isn't that compatible with a stick shift. When we lived in Johannesburg, the car we owned was a stick shift. While the general knowledge was there, I had to learn how to do it on the "wrong" side of the road. It was an adjustment to doing the clutch and shifting with left hand/foot (vs right hand/left foot), but I finally got it down pat! |
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Marina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,504
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Post by Marina on Apr 25, 2016 18:22:12 GMT
My first two cars had manual transmissions. I loved those cars. But when I had to drive the hills in San Francisco on a regular basis I switched to an automatic.
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Post by mrsp on Apr 25, 2016 18:31:43 GMT
This is a such a hot button issue with me-- I can't drive a stick.
Three years ago my husband bought a Jeep Wrangler-- stick. We keep the top off, it is a fun car to drive when it's not too hot or cold. My husband assured me I he could teach me. He is a patient teacher and did all he could have done but I was terrified of killing massive amounts of people in a horrible accident. SERIOUSLY. I am not a nervous driver... But I get behind the wheel of that Jeep and I panic and over react and just generally act like an idiot. The thought of being alone in that car makes me sweat.
My shared my struggles with my dad the summer we bought the car and he sort of gave me a look -- he said "I didn't want to tell you this" and then told us that he had a stick shift car when he and my mom got married. He tried to teach her for a year... And failed, so he had to sell the car. My mom has passed so I can't get her version. My dad taught me to drive an automatic and is a good teacher as well. That story was the kiss of death to me -- I can't learn because I am genetically limited to only being able to drive an automatic!
It honestly makes me mad that I can't learn but I am *so* afraid of hurting someone because of my driving.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 25, 2016 18:33:24 GMT
My first two cars had manual transmissions. I loved those cars. But when I had to drive the hills in San Francisco on a regular basis I switched to an automatic. We had a manual when we lived in the SF area. It was a bear to drive it there! Fortunately we took BART to/from work every day. |
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Post by cmhs on Apr 25, 2016 18:43:56 GMT
My first car was a manual but I haven't driven one since about 1991. Maybe it's like riding a bicycle -- you never really forget.
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Post by anniefb on Apr 25, 2016 18:44:21 GMT
Yep! My first few cars were all manual. Same with me. I only started driving an automatic in about 2005! |
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Post by lucyg on Apr 25, 2016 18:53:36 GMT
I am comfortable with a manual transmission, but I'm old and lazy, and prefer an automatic. My kids both know how to drive a stick shift, too (DS's first car was a stick) but DD is never happy about it. I agree it's a good skill to have, just in case, and I also agree, stick shifts are for boys. P.S. I only read the first few responses. If the discussion has devolved over three pages into how sexist it is to say stick shifts are for boys ... okay. whatever. I'm not going to argue about it. |
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carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by carhoch on Apr 25, 2016 19:04:28 GMT
When I learn to drive in Switzerland 30 years ago almost all car where stick shift so yes I can.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
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Post by StephDRebel on Apr 25, 2016 19:11:30 GMT
My mini is a manual but the bigger car is an automatic. I don't love it in traffic but in my area they're isn't much of that.
I decided to learn last year, faked it enough to test drive a car and then drive two more before deciding on mine.
I live driving that little car, it's definitely more cute than fast but it's just super fun to drive.
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Post by peano on Apr 25, 2016 19:12:02 GMT
The summer before my junior year in HS, I got an MGB. So I had to learn. I liked driving a manual because of the increased control it gives you and I just liked being more involved with driving. But it's hard to find Mom-mobiles that aren't automatics...
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 25, 2016 19:16:39 GMT
stick shifts are for boys.  P.S. I only read the first few responses. If the discussion has devolved over three pages into how sexist it is to say stick shifts are for boys ... okay. whatever. I'm not going to argue about it. While stick shifts might be for boys, my experience was that they were very impressed when they found out I drove one! Of course, it could have been the '67 Mustang I was driving at the time as well!   |
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Post by scrappysurfer on Apr 25, 2016 19:16:53 GMT
I learned later in life because we were given a free car which was manual, so I had no choice. We've had a manual ever since until just the beginning of the year when we traded a 20yo manual Jetta for a 2014 Jetta.
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Post by txsweetpea on Apr 25, 2016 19:21:40 GMT
The first "brand new" card I owned was a 1970 Cougar with a manual transmission. Although the car turned out to be a lemon, I loved driving it. The skill has come in handy a couple of times during car issues when a manual needed to be driven and no one else knew how.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 19:41:15 GMT
I loved driving a standard. That's what I learned on, and I'm really good at it. We lived in a very hilly area, so it was extra fun! Eventually they became more difficult to find, so we drive automatics now. It's a shame, neither of my kids has driven a manual because we don't have access to one.
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joelise
Drama Llama
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Post by joelise on Apr 25, 2016 19:41:31 GMT
In 35 years I've only ever driven a manual (stick shift) car (except when I borrowed my dad's car). But now my knees and back are starting to give me problems I'm thinking that I should move on to an automatic car. Although I love driving a manual car especially when it's a powerful one  |
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Post by melanieg on Apr 25, 2016 19:44:19 GMT
Yes I do. My dad taught us kids at the same time we were learning automatic. All of my vehicles since have been manual.
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blue tulip
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Post by blue tulip on Apr 25, 2016 19:45:07 GMT
i can drive one, but i'm not absolutely fluent in it.. my solution to not rolling backwards on hill stops is to chirp the tires.  but I have driven one for days at a time and it is fun! I wouldn't want to own one as a daily driver. i would however like to have my boys drive one for their first vehicle, as you can't really text and drive a stick shift and it helps keep you focused on driving. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Apr 25, 2016 20:05:40 GMT
My first car was a manual and we've owned at least one every year since. My husband and I both like driving a stick. I also drove a right side stick when I lived in England so I can shift with both hands! I prefer a stick except in snowy weather. I love our automatic with a snow button. I can get up any hill from a stop. |
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Post by JoP on Apr 25, 2016 20:05:49 GMT
I would guess that 80% of cars in the UK are manual and most learn on a manual as I did and still drive one. If you pass your driving test on an automatic over here you have to re-take your driving test on a manual cars to be allowed to drive one. You are allowed to drive an automatic with a manual licence though but not the other way round. As @dottycrapper said above  |
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Post by stampinbetsy on Apr 25, 2016 20:19:20 GMT
I know how, but because I've never had to do it, I'm not very good. But if DH and I went on Amazing Race and we had to drive a stick, either one of us could do it.
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but I have driven one for days at a time and it is fun! I wouldn't want to own one as a daily driver. i would however like to have my boys drive one for their first vehicle, as you can't really text and drive a stick shift and it helps keep you focused on driving.
