Can You Drive A Manual / Stick Shift Vehicle?

[+ BlueSky]

I can drive a stick, but why? Such a pain in the tushie.

[bigvalboy]

I can drive a stick, but why? Such a pain in the tushie.

 

It depends on the car...

[BaronArtz]

I LOVE driving stick! You can control the car so much better. No comparison!

[liubit]

I learned to drive on stick, and I had my first automatic car many years later. Of course, I have not forgotten how to change gears....

[actor61]

I can't. I've only driven automatics all my life.

I've never owned an automatic. I've only driven them when I've rented cars out of town and my left foot kept reflexively pushing down the non existent clutch!

[Nvr2Thick]

All of my cars have been manual five-speeds. Now my second vehicle is a big SUV/pickup with an automatic; every time I drive it I feel so out of touch with the road. A lot of my friends bought stickshifts because of the cool factor, but gave them up because of the nuisance of perpetually engaged two-handed driving. I've driven in some horrendous stop-and-go commutes, and it's never felt like an inconvenience. It's second nature to me.

 

I occasionally end up with a loaner from the dealership with paddle shifters or the toggle on the console shifter. I almost wrecked the first two trying to figure them out while I was at speed. Now when I get one I just live with the automatic mode.

[+ Charlie]

When I drive in England or Australia, I find it harder to stay on the correct side of the road when I am driving an automatic. Somehow, shifting gears with my left hand helps me stay properly oriented.

[+ not2rowdy]

Grew up in a farm type environment and learned on old tractors about age 11. Remember one truck that had a 5 speed main with a 3 speed auxiliary transmission (both non-synchronized) and a 2 speed rear axle. 30 forward and 6 reverse gear possibilities. It could be a bit challenging.

[+ nycman]

Been driving a stick since I was 26. When I bought my first manual transmission I didn't even

know how to drive a stick...my boyfriend had to drive it off the lot for me. He took me to a

stadium parking lot and taught me all day. At the end of the day he said..."oh yeah, I forgot

to tell you....kiss blow jobs while driving good bye".....still....I never looked back.

 

Also, I stopped buying Mercedes several years ago because they stopped making stick shifts

on their high end sports cars.

[gallahadesquire]

My first six cars were all stick. I went to a 4Runner, and had to buy automatic. Same with the hybrid lexus.

 

Last stick shift is a 1991 Miata in British Racing Green. Along with hardtop!

[RM]

I usually leave my car at my sister's house when I go on vacation. If my nephew drives me to the airport, we take his car because he can't drive mine.

[amused1]

My current car is an automatic, first one I've owned in decades. I dread the coming winter. Nothing handles snow like a manual transmission.

 

If you think manual transmission is out of step with the times, I'll pit a stick shift against an automatic in snowy weather any day. In my area winter road maintenance is lousy so yeah, it's still timely.

[bigvalboy]

I love a stick shift, I mean who doesn't like to side step clutch, but the new paddle shifters are mo-better...

[Epigonos]

I got my drivers license in 1956 and my first car was a 1939 Dodge Coupe which I had painted candy apple red. That was the first year the gear shift was moved from the floor to the steering column. I have NEVER owned an automatic transmission car and hopefully never will. I love driving and for me that means a standard trans.

[Despardo]

Most of my cars have been stick. I learned on a VW Beetle. Had a Ford Maverick with shift on the column which sucked, and a Dodge Dakota. The vintage 72 Cadillac was of course automatic. When I bought the Scion XD, I reluctantly caved and got the automatic. Glad I did, because I subsequently broke my left ankle.

[+ Charlie]

Worst manual shift story: on our 1972 Renault 12, the entire floor stick came off in my spouse's hand as he started to downshift at a light.

[+ sf westcoaster]

Learned to drive on the hills of San Francisco with a floor stick