Can you drive a manual transmission?
Can you drive a manual transmission?
And where are you from? And how old? Not "do you" but just if you know how.
I'm in the US, mid 30s and can (and do) drive a manual transmission.
23, US. Yes, but I find them pointless for daily driver cars. Modern automatics are more fuel efficient and just make more sense because they're much easier to operate and less annoying in stop and go traffic.
They're great for off-roading and racing, but outside of those use cases automatics are just better.
Yes.
In Europe you basically have to be handicapped to not learn to drive manual. Most people get the manual driving license because it allows you to drive both, whereas the automatic one doesn't.
Manual transmission was and often still is cheaper, often cheaper to repair, often more reliable, often uses less fuel, and in cheap and less powerful cars the combination is often better. Because there are so many manual cars here, including at rental places, it's a no brainer to learn to drive manual.
This being said, that's changing. Also, less and less young people are getting a driving license due to affordability and cars no longer being the status symbol they once were.
31, Germany, I can't drive at all. City kid.
Yes. Europe. We pretty much all do. Automatics are becoming a bit more common in recent years, but 90% of cars here are still manual. Especially the old beat-up cars we learn to drive on are all manual. And if by chance you learned on an automatic, and pass your driver's test on automatic, it says so on your driver's licence and I think you're not actually allowed to drive/rent manual cars.
This thread is an amusing display of sample bias. Only people that want to respond yes and brag about it bothering to respond.
In reality only about 2/3rds of people in the US can drive stick and almost no one owns manual cars.
I've never driven a manual car. I've had people be like "You can't drive manual?!" and then I would respond "So are you going to teach me?" The answer is always No, of course not, not in their car (assuming they even owned a manual, which none do anymore). My parents had manual cars but sold them 10+ years before having me.
I understand how a clutch works. It wouldn't be difficult to learn. But what reason or motivation is there to learn when almost no cars are manual? They total something like 2% of new car sales. If you're buying something like a 718 GT4 RS or a 911 GT3 RS for maximum driving engagement that's great, but those cars are priced for the 1% of the 1%.
Even if you had a fun car, which I do, the drive to work is stop-and-go, roads are full, even the fun country backroads are filled with traffic on weekends, forests are burned down, gas is eye-watteringly expensive if you have a slightly performant vehicle. The time to have fun driving cars was 40 years ago.
Of course, 28, French. 99,99% of people here drive manual (or at least know how to).
I'm pretty sure North America is the only part of the world where automatic is the default.
I'm American and learned on a manual, which I drove for a decade and a half. But I'm one of the few people I know my age who can drive a stick.
Plenty of Boomers can drive stick though.
Mid 30s Aussie living the the US. Yes I can drive a manual, yes I do drive a manual and yes I think it should be mandatory for 100% of learning drivers regardless of whether they plan to daily drive an automatic or manual when licensed.
The quality of driving here is considerably worse here than what I've experienced in Australia or Europe and I'm convinced requiring people to drive in a machine that forces them to consider the next ~100m leads to higher quality, more mindful drivers.
Yes, but only on motorcycles. That's because there's no such thing as an automatic motorcycle[1][2][3][4][^5], so you have to learn manual if you want to ride one. Unfortunately this skill doesn't transfer well to manual driving because on bikes you operate the clutch with your hand and the shift with your foot. I'm not terribly worried about that, though... I've literally never even been on the inside of a manual drive car before!
For context: I'm mid-20s from the American south.
[^1]: No, electrics don't count. [^2]: No, semi-autos don't count. [^3]: No, three-wheelers don't count. [^4]: No, the 2006 Yamaha bikes don't count because that line was a sales failure. [^5]: Ok, fine. Honda's DCT bikes do count, but holy shit are they expensive!
Germany, 25, yup
24, always driven manual, EU.
From my experience most people in the EU can or at least could: This is because many (if not all, not sure) countries make a distinction between manual and automatic licenses (see e.g. https://www.learn-automatic.com/qualified/automatic-driving-licence/).
I.e. if you want to drive manual, you have to take the test manual, but if you take the test on manual transmission, you are allowed to drive automatics as well.Yes, unless you want to still have an engine, then no.
Female, 34, from Indiana, USA. Currently driving a 2020 Honda Civic SI and I love it. My bro taught me to drive stick at 16 so that I'd never be in a situation where I needed to leave but couldn't because I didn't know how to drive manual. I've had both automatic and manual transmissions, manual being my favorite.
I'm 237 years old, a retired phosphate miner in Nauru. I learned to drive on manual transmissions but now refuse to drive anything not powered by a turbo-encabulator, with the exception of Starfleet shuttlecraft. I also hate questions that encourage people to give away personal or census data without considering that is what's happening.
Early 40s from Australia. I can drive a manual, but my present car is automatic. My motorcycle is manual though. :p
Italy. 21, We only drive manual here
US. I can and have. Learned on a crappy stick shift truck where I had to nudge the clutch up with my toe. Launched boats with it.
Drove drunk friend home in his stick shift car. VW because of course he did.
Swapped cars with Mom when she hurt her clutch leg. Drove stick for a summer, a little Echo that shifted nicely.
So I can and will if I need to but I have no desire to. I have never really liked cars, just used them for utility. Now that I drive hybrids I do like them more. CVT, no gears at all!
France, 30s, and I almost always drove manual transmissions. But I rent an automatic, and now I don't understand why manual cars still exist.
I can from Texas. Just turned 40. I was taught on a manual transmission and have owned several vehicles with one. I prefer it, except for in traffic!
German, late 30s. Automatic cars are rather uncommon in Germany, we sure like our manuals. Not being able to push my car into high RPMs when needed to overtake or accelerate quickly takes the fun out of driving. I'd never switch to automatic as long as I still have both arms and legs. And yes I know kickdowns are a thing, but it really doesn't compare.
I can and do drive a manual transmission. I'm 34 and in the US Midwest. It's just more fun to drive. My car isn't even fast, but dropping a couple gears to pass someone never gets old.
Germany, mid 30s, all the cars I've owned were manual so I would say - yes :D
First time I drove a rental automatic I did an accidental hard stop at about every second crossroads as I intended to hit the clutch with my left foot and lacking one just hammered the breaks instead >.>
When driving combustion I prefer manual but I've recently driven some EV, I could get used to that feel :)
28, Germany. Yes I can and I dont know anybody with a drivers license who cant.
Belgium, 48. I drive a manual transmission. I never had a car with an automatic transmission.
Yes. 44, Australian, drove a manual until very recently actually.
In Australia (Queensland at least) you have to pass a manual driving test in order to be legally allowed to drive a manual vehicle. At the time I was getting my license (1995 - 96) manual vehicles were still extremely common, plus I like driving a manual so it made sense for me.
Yes, it's very common here (Czechia), in fact I don't know a single person who doesn't know how to drive manual.
Until recently I even preferred it, but nowadays I'd like automatic more. Well, my next car is gonna be automatic, that's for sure.
Yes, 28, Northern europe, dad taught me how to drive when I was 16. In my country you have to do your driving test in a manual, unless you're fine with a limited license that only allows you to drive automatics. Nobody that I know has that kind of license.
In Finland synchronization in gearboxes is starting to become a thing nowadays. Double clutching for 20 years now (38).
Just kidding, got my first automatic two years ago, so yes.
Yes, I'm 45 and from the US.
Unfortunately, although my current car (Mazda3) is available in a manual, I was looking to buy a 2018 model in 2019. My options were limited to remaining inventory, which did not include any manuals. Will be looking for a manual next time, but it's becoming almost impossible to find here.
India, been driving manual since 20 yr old , been a while and planning to get an auto
Late 30s, Canada, and absolutely I can.
Yep. 27, Finland. I learned on a manual (in the EU, if you learn on an automatic, you're restricted to automatics only until you pass the driving exam in a manual) and drove manuals until a few years ago when my late grandma's health started declining and her car got passed down to us because she could no longer drive.
US, mid thirties, and I not only drive a manual transmission, I go out of my way to insist upon it. For example, I own a truck and an SUV made in the '90s because it's difficult to find newer ones without an automatic.
I can’t. Lots of people my age can. My teenage years there was only one car in the household and it’s an auto. I couldn’t afford to pay for extra lessons to learn manual with their car.
I was into cars and really wanted to get a manual car later on. But just never needed it. Auto cars are just more available so 10+ years later I still can’t drive manual and hasn’t affected my life at all
Mid 20s, Poland, very much can, but currently driving automatic.
Fun fact: in Poland you normally take the driving test in a manual gear shift car, but you can optionally take it in an automatic one. The deal is you have to provide the vehicle for the testing center yourself (driving schools lend them) and your driving license will have an annotation that it's only viable for this type of gearbox.
I'm in the US and drive manual.
Yes (early 30s) drive a manual VW polo. I’m from Australia. I have always had a manual car.
35, Canada, and manual is my preference although my current car is an automatic.
I learned to drive on an automatic, but bought a manual for my first car and got my ex to teach me how to drive it. It was important to me that I be able to get into pretty much anything and drive it. After driving an automatic exclusively for the last year, I miss having that level of gearing control, especially on hills and corners.
Does a motorbike count?
Yes, 40, Germany. And I actually do.
Yes Midwest, U.S. 40y
USA, 33, daily drive a stick.
Bought my first car with my own money in 2013, a 2014 WRX, it only came in manual. I've been driving it since.
Nope, never learned. I'm 31 in the US. Never had the need to learn as I was raised with automatics only.
I'm 19-20 and I'm from the eastern part of the US.
In a car, I have about 8 hours of experience and could do it in a pinch, although I'd feel unconfident with it.
On a motorcycle, I have about 20 hours of more recent experience and I feel fairly comfortable with it.
US late 20s. Yes I can and every car I've owned for the last 8 years has been manual
I go out of my way to find them.
I can drive a manual yeah, I don't feel like I'm in total control when driving an automatic, I'm 20 and live in the Netherlands
I'm 36, I live in the UK, and I've driven a manual car since I was 17. I've only driven an automatic twice in my life and I'll probably never own one.
30 years old. US. I can and do drive a stick shift.
Really hard coming from a family with only automatic cars. Very few people have stick cars, and even fewer are willing to teach you in their own car.
Can't even rent a stick shift to practice on. Your best bet is to sign up with a driving school that offers stock shift lessons, which I almost did.
Instead, a buddy of mine was kind enough to let me practice for 2 hours with him in a beater he had. Then I went and picked up my brand new WRX. Stalled like 12 times on the way home. But I figured it out!!
I'm in my 30s grew up in FL and I can
...american; when i learned to stick-and-clutch fourty years ago (driving fifty-year-old used cars) we still called it a standard transmission...
...we like to say that i married my wife because she drove a standard, but when she traded in my last hatchback the manufacturer only offered automatics in the new models; would've been a dealbreaker for me but she liked the car...
From India, late 30s and I drive manual. I learned to drive less than an year ago in a manual that I own. Manual cars are cheaper and I bought one since I believe switching from manual to auto would be easier than the other way around. I don't feel comfortable driving an automatic; and it is only recently that I realised that ALL of my friends and family drive automatics! I live in a large crowded city with terrible traffic problems and I sometimes wonder if driving an automatic would be easier.
Yes, almost 40, USA. I don't currently own a manual, but used to. It was a great way to save a few thousand on a car and it's a lot more fun to drive. But very few cars in the US have a manual option these days.
My brother always use to tell me that driving manual is just driving with extra steps. Lol
I'm in my 40s and live in Europe (NL), and in my country, if you don't take your driving exam in a manual transmission car, you receive a restriction on your license that prevents you from driving manual transmission vehicles. As a result, both I and nearly everyone I know can drive a manual. Automatics are also a fair bit more expensive, so most people don't opt for them. Tho I expect this will change with the rising popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles.
All my cars, bar one, have been manual transmission, as is my current one. To be honest, as I'm lazy, I do prefer auto, but it's easier to buy a car with manual transmission here in the UK, as you have more options.
Yes, but after having an electric car for about two years, I never really wanna go back to ICE, manual or auto. The acceleration is addictive
And electric cars don't really need manual transmissions.I drove ICE auto for about 8 years, then 3 years manual and electric for the last two.
Nope.
Some people in my family tried to teach me when I was young, but I didnt immediately and perfectly absorb the knowledge of how to master it from the atmosphere, so obviously I was just a piece of shit that was trying to ruin their transmission/car/life and cant appreciate a single fucking thing anyone does for me and that i'm an ungrateful piece of shit and to just get the fuck out of the car and never ask them for anything again (not that I asked them to teach me stick in the first place.. They insisted, i suspected then, and continue to do so to this day, that it was just a trap.)
Which really helped my desire to drive, much less drive stick.
Yep - been driving for around 30+ years here in Australia (I'm late 40s). Grew up driving manual, have owned several manual vehicles, including my current one.
I’m 26, from the US and I learned manual when I was 22. I live in Mexico now and im glad I learned because manual is still very common here, and that’s what I’m driving now
36, Canadian, 10/10 would recommend. Winter driving is way more fun with manual, and it can be a lot easier on gas if you're in the mood.
- 5 speed '93 Suzuki Sidekick 2006-2009
- 6 speed '05 Jeep Wrangler 2009-2021
- 5 speed '10 Mazda B2300 2021-Present
Yes, 29 from Belgium. I got my first automatic transmission in January. Everyone around me drives a manual
Italian, 45 here. Always driven manual.
I drive an automatic but I learned with a manual and used it for years. I find manual impractical for daily use but I can use it if I need to.
32 years old, Italy
German, mid 20s, can and do
UK, early 30s only ever driven manual, automatics are still more expensive here than manuals but are slowly becoming more common esp with the rise of electric cars. Although I doubt ill get one any time soon.
Netherlands, thirties, own a manual transmission car. In fact, I have only ever driven manuals.
In the UK it's pretty standard to learn in a manual. I currently have an automatic and honestly I don't want to go back. I like to think I'm a pretty good driver and gears were never an issue for me, but man is it nice to have one less thing to think about when driving.
Oh and I'm 39.
Yup. Learned from my dad. Actually, for a little bit, I taught folks in the military to drive stick as well. US mid 40s
Mad respect for my 60+ aunt in the UK; when I visited she drove me around various hilly roads for sight seeing and some stop and go traffic uphill. She definetly mastered the handbrake, clutch, gas combo for uphill stops/starts. Meanwhile my mom has smashed into a few storefronts in an automatic in flat Canada.
Big yes! Mid 20s and currently daily drive my miata
Yes, manuals are incredibly common here in Sweden.
No one I know owns an automatic.
Yup, I daily a 2021 MX-5 RF (Miata). Luckily I work from home most days so it's not too bad.
In the bay area, 26yo
37, Eastern PA. I CAN drive a stick, but I don't like to. It's another distraction I don't need while driving. Can pay attention to all the other idiots on the road when not worrying what gear I'm in or when to shift.
In Norway where hills are common I prefer either manual or fully electric. Automatic tends to wear down the breaks down hill, and you often forget to enable the manual mode on automatics
Yes. Learned to drive with one. Got my license with one.
Sadly, don't own one right now, but, will prob get one in the future again. Every 2nd or 3rd car I have picked up, has had a stick.
I'm from the mid-west USA.
Late 20s and in the Midwest US. I daily drive a manual 1994 Mazda Miata.
Nearly 40, male from Canada- I can but I’m rusty.
Mid-late twenties, US, I know how but have only ever done it on a motorcycle. I don't even know anyone who owns a manual car.
I think I'd like a manual sports car. Automatics are boring.
Yes! I'm in my early 20s, and bought a manual transmission car just 2 weeks ago. It was also my first time driving alone, so it has been quite stressful
US, late 30s. The answer is "yes" but I've only spent a few hours behind the wheel of a manual car. I wouldn't feel comfortable with it without more practice. I don't prefer it as it's more thinking and stress for me in a commute that is already stop and go traffic. Automatic requires less work from me. Just my opinion and I know more people prefer manual because of the extra work it takes to drive. I'm just not interested in adding that to my driving experience.
Yes, US, mid twenties, I learned when I was 16 and I've really only driven manuals since. I taught myself how to heel toe four years ago. I'm not under the impression that I can shift gears quicker than a performance auto or more efficiently than a modern auto. I don't think either has been true for at least a couple decades, not for driving in a straight line. It's just fun. Manual transmissions make shitty cars bearable. I was surprised after leaving my home town to learn that hardly anyone knew how to drive stick. Not all of my pears growing up dailied a manual, but they all knew how.
Zoomer from Mexico, I can and I prefer it. I daily drive a manual car.
Mid 40s from the Midwest USA. Ever since my first car in the mid 90s every daily driver of mine has been a manual. I just flat out enjoy driving them.
Gonna miss it when I eventually go electric after my current car dies and needs replaced.
Yes. 39 y/o male. But 99% of the people I know, don't know how. So now it's easy to guess what country I live in.
Yep, I'm 36, mid Atlantic US, started driving stick when I was 18. I inherited this little Geo Metro for college, so it was learn stick or no car. (I really liked that car dispite it not having air conditioning, no tachometer, and manual everything)
Next car I bought was a manual. Now since my spouse can't drive stick we only have automatics.
Whenever we need a new car it'll be electric, which unfortunately (by design) are not manuals. So no more stick for me.
51, I can drive a semi, but before I took some training for that I learned on a standard from my grandma.
I have had only manual transmission cars for the passed 19 years except for 4 years, at which time I had a manual transmission motorcycle. I don't know what I'm going to do once internal combustion cars are phased out. I need a manual tranny. Luckily, my new car only has ~12k miles on it, and it's a make that is typically known for lasting over 200k miles. My only threat is accidental damage.
Edit: I live in the USA
40 Florida I drive a manual everyday. My mother insisted I learn on a manual. I'm grateful
Germany, 20s, yes (and up until recently exclusively drove manual transmission cars from like before 2010)
US, 40s. Gave up my manual a few years ago to get a bigger car when I became a single dad. The ol Mazda 3 wasn't cutting it
Yes, 29m from Hong Kong, where our license are categorised as manual or automatic, with the latter restricting people to driving only automatic
37, Switzerland, and I can drive a manual as much as I enjoy an automatic from time to time. The former is still the most common type of transmission even though the trend has been reversing over the years.
First time I drove anything but a manual was driving the shitty trucks of the Swiss army. It felt weird and wrong, but then again driving with standard issue boots makes using the pedals a bit harder sometimes, so it's probably good I didn't have to use the clutch.
These days I mostly drive rented cars so it's whatever is available, who cares.
45, Georgia, USA (though Florida born) and I daily a 5 speed xB.
I'm from the UK and after driving one about 100 metres I refuse to drive an automatic car, it's one of the main reasons why I don't want an electric car either. Automatic cars are horrible twitchy things that just aren't enjoyable to drive and you can't change gears to anticipate a change in the road before you're already on that bit of road.
38 Ireland, yes, it's the main transmission type here, the same as most of Europe.
Yes, 46, my first car that was "mine" (my mom's old car) was a manual. The first car I ever bought had a shitty automatic (I think the seller may have pulled one over on young me). Since then I only buy stick shifts for myself. (My wife's is an automatic.)
It's like a family tradition that the first car is a cheap manual, I am definitely continuing that with my daughter.
If you go to take your drivers license test in a manual in the US, the moment they see the stick they completely relax and already know your going to pass and barely even pay attention.
France, early thirties, I can. Automatics are still pretty new on the market, most people I know cannot operate one. It's easier of course, but kinda throws you off at first. My wife owns one and it's great for traffic and keeping a low fuel consumption, since the thing is made to shift gears exactly when necessary. The tradeoff is no sportsy driving, of course, but I can live with that for some time.
Here in Italy we only drive manual
I'm 42, and can drive manual, but I've had an automatic the last 5 years.
My son is now learning to drive, but he will most likely not need to drive a manual ever.
I only learned on a riding lawnmower but I can do it. I actually went looking for a car with a manual, figuring that it would be cheaper up front, cheaper to fix and cheaper to run. I couldn't really find one in any model of car I wanted, so I ended up having to go with a manumatic with paddle shifters, the worst of both worlds!
UK, early 20s, can and do drive manual.
The UK has a separate driving license for auto and manuals. If you pass your test with an automatic car, you get an automatic only license. If you pass eith a manual car you get a licence to drive both types, so most people decide to drive manual (although there is a slow increase of people getting auto only licenses). I prefer manual because they're more fun to drive in my opinion.
Yes because here you can't get a driver's license without learning how to drive a manual transmission. All your lessons and final driving exam are always in a manual transmission vehicle. (Portugal, 28 years old)
However I know many people who switch to automatic after they're done with their exam because they don't want to deal with it. I've always heard that manual is for people who like to drive and auto is for people who just need a car to get from A to B.
Yes, early 40s, midwest.
My mother wouldn't let me take my driver's test without leaning to drive manual. My first car ended up being a manual, which ensured that no one ever borrowed my car.
No. Midwestern United States, elder millennial.
I'd be willing (even curious) to learn, but manuals just aren't as common here, so it never came up. Meh. It's not a pride or identity issue for me. It's just driving. Whatever.
I get the gist of it, though. I imagine I'd just have to get into the habit and muscle memory of it. Then again, maybe I'm underestimating it. Again, I don't particularly care. It's just a machine to get me to work.
Scandinavian, mid-40's. The vast majority of cars in Europe have manual transmission, in my country you can't even get a driver's license if you can't handle it. I prefer manual, whenever I drive automatic I feel like there's something missing.
Yes, Australia, 20 years old. A lot of cars around where I live are still manual, newer ones tend to be auto though.
Yes, late 50's US and I drive a 6 speed Jeep daily. Taught my 23 year old son to drive a stick and he just bought a Tacoma stick shift.
I learned on my grandfather's 3 on the tree 1968 Dodge camper van. If you can drive a 3 on the tree, you can drive anything.
Yes. European. It's the norm.
Yes, early 40s from the UK so most people here learn in a manual car. I drive electric now so it only has forwards and backwards to choose from. Can't say I miss the old manual much, it's just so much more chill driving an auto.
USA, mid-40s. My husband made me buy a manual car 20 years ago and taught me how to drive it. I’ve been driving manual since and love it.
I’m 25 in the US and I can
Yes, but switched to auto for ease of use.
The worst manual gearbox, other than my MK1 Golf, was a single seater Formula Renault I did some track days in. Tiny little gate and very easy to hit 1st when going for 3rd
Early 30s, US. Yes I can drive a manual. They have their moments when they are better than autos.
20’s, Canada. Only ever owned manual transmission vehicles.
Mid-30s. Yes. I used to daily drive a manual when I was in college, but I haven't touched one in like 10 years so I'd probably be pretty rusty.
German, just 18, and I drive a manual.
Not learning manual would mean extra courses in order to be allowed to even make the license to drive larger trailers or trucks.
Also, manuals are cheaper, or actually, automatics are probably newer and therefore more expensive.
Yes, I even have a class A CDL. However, I don’t do it much so I’m not the greatest in a big truck and am competent in a regular vehicle
Sweden, late 40's. Manual since I had my driving license (18). Driven automatic maybe 2-3 times in my life
My first 4 cars were standard. As is every motorcycle I have owned.
Learned on a farm truck when I was 13.
Southeastern US, and yep. I sort of just figured it out during a test drive. The woman showing me the car was attractive and I didn't want to look bad in front of her.
My wife's car is a manual, and we find that it takes a while sometimes to get our car back from the valet because they have to find someone who can drive stick.
Yep, I actually learned how to drive on a manual. Before I got married all my cars were manual transmission as well. In my late 30s from Midwest USA.
Yes, 32, USA Started learning to drive on my dad's old early 70s Chevy C20. My first car was an automatic but second car was a manual 89 camaro and that's where I really learned manual. The only time I drive manuals now is at work and it's only around the lot
I am 17 and don't even have a driver's license (I already could). However I don't want that in the first place. I don't feel comfortable about being in control of a heavy vehicle moving at relatively high speed. I know I'd drive over a pedestrian the first month because I got lost in my thoughts and completely forgot to pay attention to being in a damn car.
Or just fall asleep. Being in a train, bus, or even just playing a bus simulator on my phone immediately makes me sleepy. Sleeping driver is not a good driver.
Additionally there's the high prices of gas to consider, low prices of bus transport, and for me as a student non-existent prices for trains.
Why pay extra to create additional traffic and kill people?30s in the US and I can't drive a manual. I honestly don't even know where to go to even get a manual transmission vehicle. My dad had one 25 years ago and that's the last time I've been in a personal vehicle with manual transmission. I don't see why anyone would want one either. Who wants to make driving even more difficult and tedious than it already is?
Yes. Almost 50 in US. Owned over 100 manual vehicles.
Had to be able to start on a hill to get my license.
Yes, 43 year old in America. Work in the DMV.
I've only owned one automatic. Currently drive a Fiesta ST. I can heel toe brake too.
Can drive manual, 30s, USA.
I had a particularly bad automatic transmission in my first car and went with a manual shortly after.I drive a manual transmission to work every day. [20, US]
Late 30s, learned to drive in NL and now live in SE. Initially learned about transmissions by running around on four wheelers. I drive a manual car every day. There's a lot of fun and connection to driving manual, though I see the ease and efficiency of the automatic transmission as well as the general trend.
Yes, California, late 30s. I drove a manual transmission when I was a teenager. I was proud of how practiced I got with it. I don't drive manual anymore, but my dad recently switched back after some decades driving automatic. He found out he's out of practice lol
Yes (US, 35), and it’s something I can do autonomically in appropriate situations. I also enjoy being an integral part of my car’s operation.
And when you’re flogging it on a nice mountain road or a track, there’s nothing quite like nailing that heel-and-toe downshift as you’re clipping the apex.
British, Yes, Most people here can, In fact in my 47 years I have only met 2 people who had automatic only licences. And I ran a garage for 7 years so met a lot of drivers. I have personally only owned manuals and haven't done more than 100 miles in Automatics.
US, late 30s here, and I can drive a manual transmission. It's been a very long time since I last drove a car like this. I learned from a family friend that only verbally told me what to do. I stalled out many times in traffic while being on my own, not very fun when learning. But I then watched a lot of YouTube videos which was much more efficient than the family friend.
I had to put in extra effort to find a manual (USA), but I was successful. I'm going to hold onto this thing in perpetuity until the wheels fall off or (reliable) fully autonomous vehicles are "standard".
I can, older than you.
i dont even know what manual transmission means if that tells you anything about me.
Yes. It’s my daily.
Canada.
31 — Learned how to drive manual at 18.
Yes. If I hadn't learned to drive manual while getting a license, I wouldn't have been able to drive them legally, which I figured would have been unnecessarily restrictive.
That being said, I prefer driving automatic, since you don't really gain anything from driving manual anyway these days. Also I don't own a car and drive maybe 4 times a year, so it's really whatever.
In the US, in my late twenties, and yes I learned how to before I was even legally allowed on the roads here. I do still infrequently drive manual cars as I'm a bit of a car enthusiast. I prefer automatic for a daily driver, but any sports cars or older vehicles are more fun with a manual transmission!
Mid 60's in the US. I've always driven manual transmission cars. Fairly common for folks my age to know how to drive manual transmissions, since most of us had economy cars in the 70's and 80's. At that time, automatic transmissions were an expensive option and had a negative impact on acceleration and mileage.
My daughter is 29 and doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission and I don't think most of her peers can, either.
EDIT: Accidentally a manual.
I'm in my late 40's and have been driving manual transmission since I got my license at 16. But I'm also one of those freaks that always loved driving manual cars in any situation, I used to drive one daily in downtown Chicago rush hour traffic.
Cars were always a passion of mine, my family had two cars when I was a teenager, one auto and one stick. I begged to be taught the stick as soon as I got my license. I definitely fall into the "enthusiast" category of car owners. In the last 25 years I've had 6 cars, all of them manual transmission, and all of them I take to the race track for HPDE events whenever I can.
In Australia, near 40.
Love a car I can push start and I have more control over power.
That being said, I want an EV for my next car when they have 1000km or more range (which isn't far off at all)
Yes, 47, Georgia, USA. I've only ever bought manual transmission cars for my personal use. I just think they're neat!
Western Europe, and yes I can drive manual. Mostly because that's how I practiced for my driving exam.
I switched to hybrid, and later electric, driving and haven't really used manual transmission anymore.
The only exception is when I have to borrow my mother's car. Then it's a lot of grinding gears before the muscle memory comes back to me :)Yes. F, mid 50s, West Virginia.
US - 30s Yeah, but only once and I was like 16 Could I still today? The phrase grind it til you find it comes to mind
Yes, I even passed my driver's test in a manual while needing to do a 3 point turn on a hill. I am almost 30, born and raised in the suburbs of New York.
I haven't driven manual in years, ever since that car fell victim to black ice and a guard rail, but I have done recent test drives of manuals without stalling, so I guess it is something you never forget once you know how.
Drove a manual for 15 years before I got a more family friendly car.
I learned manual on a car with a fucked up transmission.
Canada, 36M, can and do.
Yep, I'm in Sweden, 30 and both know how to and do drive a manual car.
EU and I most definitely can (that may not be surprising). But funnily enough, I bought my first car a few months ago (I drove family cars only before - all manuals) and that one is the volume knob automat. I wanted to stick with manual (pun intended), but my fiancee convinced me and I have to agree that there's a certain comfort in automat.
No, but I also don't have a drivers license.
Does shifting on my bike count?
Probably, I've tried a few times, but I'll ask you, why would you want to? Esp if you vehicle has paddles/slap shift?
Yes. I'm from Wisconsin, USA and bought my first manual car (2018 Focus ST) in 2021. I'm 29 years old and was 27 when I bought the car.
I'm actually about to sell that car but replace it with another manual car. My other car is an (automatic) 2020 Supra.
US, mid 30s, and nope. (I learned on a friend's car but didn't spend enough time for the muscle memory to build in, even way back then)
Yes, only ever driven manuals. Wouldn't have the slightest idea how to drive an automatic though!
Midwest US, 48, and it's all I drive.
Yup, although I don't currently. It's my preference, but not a strong one. I'm 48 and American.
I don't really have a good reasofor preferring it. I guess I just feel more involved and in control. Fun story, I didn't learn to drive a manual until I was in my mid thirties.
I made it to 39 without ever learning to drive a manual. At that time though my girlfriend had a manual. And one night she was too drunk to drive. So I managed to make it work well enough to drive us maybe a mile through luckily mostly empty nighttime streets home.
I later learned to drive her car for real.
Yes, Italy, 36 (since I'm 18).
PNW US, late 30s, and yes. I learned how to drive a manual on an ATV when I was around 11 or 12. From there it was easy to adapt to doing it in a car and I've owned a couple of manuals over the year, though I prefer an automatic for the comfort. I think if I were doing any high performance driving/racing, I'd prefer a manual for the control, but I'm not, so I don't currently own one.
55M, Australia. I have a manual license, always drove a manual until my new-to-me car. I have osteo-arthritis and my knees hurt when I drive a lot, but I drive it like a manual with automatic clutch.
Mid 40's, Northeast US.
Learned to drive on manual, and only owned manuals until early 2000s. Would be driving a manual now if it was available in vehicles that otherwise meet my wants/needs. Currently have a DCT with paddles, and a manual transmission motorcycle.
Yes, US, late 30's.
Yes. Houston TX. Mid 30s. I learned around age 15-16 on a 1940's Willys jeep my grandpa owned. Steering wheel had about 90° of play in it. Also drove a manual is Mexico. If I win the lottery, I'll buy and build a Caterham kit car.
When I was 15 my grandfather took me out into the woods to teach me to drive stick in a 30,000 lb dump truck. I had never driven anything bigger than a golf cart before. My space to work with was a clearing maybe three times the size of the truck. I did not learn to drive stick that day.
My dad made me learn on one and take my test with one. I've had a few over the years, I really like them. Looking for a cheap one now so I can teach my partner how. Mid 30's Canada.
No. I'm 25 and from Florida.
I'm SE Asian, early 30s, and I was taught to drive using a manual transmission van with a column shift. 3rd gear would just randomly disappear too.
I miss driving manuals, but my knees thank me every day whenever there's traffic.
25 years old, I live in Alberta, Canada. I learned on automatic and then my first car was a manual. I have only owned cars with manual transmissions since. So much more fun to drive imo
USA, 40, and...it's complicated? Haha. I've never driven a manual car, but I have ridden a motorcycle which generally has a manual transmission.
And because this is as good a place as any--I suspect once self-driving vehicles are common, the number of people who can drive even an automatic will plummet.
Why? Because kids will be born, then grow up with parents driving them places for their entire life experience, and then will go into their teens using driving services (like some futuristic Lyft company) with automated driverless cars that drive for them. And if that works fine to get you everywhere you need to go...why bother to learn how to drive a car? Do you really NEED it?
I think there'll be a generational divide, with older generations boggling that the damn kids on their lawns are "so lazy" they never even learned to drive, and I think there'll be an urban/rural divide where rural kids might not have access to AI cars that can drive for them so are forced to learn in order to be able to get anywhere, while city kids can have a car summoned to them by their phone at a drop of a hat to get wherever they want to go.
But I think the younger generations, once one is born where self-driving vehicles are ubiquitous and being able to summon such a vehicle to you using your phone is commonplace (I think it'll be a generation or two after the Zoomers...we're on the horizon but not there yet), will not see why THEY have to drive when they can instead be driven. Driving is a waste of your time that you could use to be doing work, schoolwork, or something fun like a game. I know I would ditch it if I could go exactly where I need to go anytime I wanted while reading a book or something.
Edit: Self-driving cars would also be a HUGE boon to the elderly, giving them some sort of independence even once their reaction times dull. "No, grandpa, I can't let you drive yourself, but the car will totally take you wherever you need to go. Just put in your destination." There'll be a lot of bitching at first from some of the older people, then they'd figure out how easy it is to go places without worrying about their eyesight or something, and give in.
I suspect my generation might be the first in this position, of giving up keys and instead just ordering a car to take me somewhere without me being a danger of running someone over because my reaction times have degraded. I think it's reasonable to suspect in 40 years, when I'll be 80, cars will drive themselves.
USA, late 20s, I've driven manual for almost a decade and have had a bunch of stick shift cars.
Yeah man. Australia. Mid 40s. My nieces have just started learning (we start here at 16). When I asked whether they were going to learn manual they said what's that?
Yes, Europe.
42 Aus and this is a great way to get age and location details on accounts
My daily is an automatic but my old Magirus-Deutz is a special kind of manual. I’m 37 from Germany.
US, 36, and I've only ever owned manual vehicles. I think I've drove automatic maybe 5 times in the past 20 years I've had my license.
Southern Europe, 34. I only know how to drive with manual transmission (I tried an automatic city car once, and I literally couldn't exit the parking spot). I'm too used to control the car with the clutch. I should learn though, because I use car sharing services, and they are progressively replacing their cars with automatic transmission ones.
I can drive manual, but I hate it. I don't want to worry about releasing the clutch just right to avoid jerk, so I bought an electric car. Certainly was expensive, but it's infinitely more smooth than a manual transmission could ever be. 23 year old, living in Germany.
35, American, can only drive automatic but have been trying to learn manual. My barrier is never having a car available to me to practice on. 🙃
I'm 40 and have never used a manual transmission, and have no desire at all to ever use one.
Yes. Mid thirties UK. I've actually never driven an automatic.
Late 20s Israeli. Can and do, though overall manuals are in a steep decline.
I think most people here still drive them as learners though - mainly to have more variety when renting a car abroad.Yes, early 20s USA. Learned at 18 and drove manual every day until I sold my last car in November
26 y/o from Sri Lanka. Hate automatics. Daily drive manual cars and motorcycles with gears.
My friend taught me for the most part in college when I was 22, and then when I bought my first manual it was 5 hours from my house. If I didn't figure it out I wouldn't have gotten home 🫣
Only killed it a couple times, and only when I was getting on/off the freeway. And once in stop and go traffic, but I don't think anyone noticed
37m, USA
I can. The first new car I bought was a manual, because it was less expensive. I embarrassed myself for a bit, but that's when I learned.
I'm 36. Yes, I can. I learned on a stick shift.
Old guy in the USA. My first car was a sport motorcycle so six speed with clutch and shifter. I have a sedan with an auto trans, but also a 4WD truck with manual. When I learned to drive in my teens automatic transmissions were not as nice as they are now, just three speeds and not very smooth. Now they're typically six speed and much nicer. I really dislike a manual trans in heavy traffic, quite a chore.
Yes but rusty since haven't done so in few years but it's not hard. In metropolitan US as a 30yr old.
My first car was a manual, drove that thing an additional 150-170,000 miles over 7 years. Been 2 years but I'm sure I could pick it right back up
I learned on a manual when I was 17 but only had that car for maybe 6 months before I got an automatic and haven't had one since. I'm now in my 30s. Was in the USA west coast.
Yes. im a 26 year old from sweden.
Yes. 40, Canada.
Yes. (I live in Europe)
Yes i can, but I don't
Us (Arizona) yes I can, though I haven't in some years because my wife won't, and we don't need 2 cars... But I ride a motorcycle so I do get to handle a clutch still.
Late 30s and no. I did learn to long ago on a pickup that had difficulty getting into 2nd gear. I did not really see the point of continuing with a manual transmission, especially here in Seattle.
Been driving stick since 2000, all my vehicles I have owned or driven were stick until last year. Plan to get a little two seater stick shift for a summer car though. From Canada, 39yrs old.
See username. USA.
Never learned. I can ride a motorcycle so I'm comfortable with a clutch. So the learning curve probably isn't too steep. But probably never will, if I'm honest.
Middle aged, Central Europe. Yes, manual is the default here and I learned it. But I drive so rarely that it's not completely in my patterns and every so often I forget to switch at intersections.
In my 40s, from MI. Funny enough, I learned how I drive a stick in the arcades playing Hard Drivin.
36 & US Midwest based, have only bought stick shifts my whole life. My wife also had only ever driven stick.
Yes, Midwestern USA. 46
I haven't driven one in years, but I can and will.
Yes? If you don't like your clutch? Mid 30s in the PNW. Now to be fair, one of my cars is an ev, the other is a cvt transmission.
Ireland and yes learned with a manual but now drive with an automatic because I don't understand why anyone would bother with the hassle
As a red blooded man, manual transmission gets my dick hard. That stick is throbbing when I hit the pedal, gotta work it real good.
Mid 40s in the UK. Driven manual all my life up until a few months ago when I had a stroke leaving me with reduced use of my left leg and arm. Swapped to an auto and wow it just makes the driving experience so much simpler
US, 30s, yep. When I needed a new car decided to get one cause I was driving an hour to work and thought it would help me with driver's trance (cue sad laugh track...). Ended up having to order a new car cause I couldn't find one I wanted that was manual within a reasonable driving distance that wasn't complete junk. Didn't really help my problem, but I do love driving it lol.
Kind of weird because automatics make me uncomfortable to drive now, they accelerate so easy I feel like I have less control (though I'm sure this is just a skill issue on my part).
I'm 16 and live in Sweden. I know how to drive bikes with manual transmissions and I can manage driving a car with a manual transmission.
37, California. I've never owned an automatic. More control, easier to repair, and a lot more fun if you live in the mountains like I do. Not so much fun when I have to drive in city traffic though.
Yes, 35, UK. Drive an automatic now, but drove Manual until last year.
I can and used to drive one regularly. I actually miss the control of a manual transmission (especially in the snow) but it's harder to find a newer car that has one
I'm in the US and in my 30s as well. My dad taught me to drive on a manual
My dad has a 2017 Suzuki Swift which is a manual and that's the only car I've ever driven. So, I only know how to drive a manual lol as I haven't tried auto transmission yet.
Texas, 24, just learned a few months back. Bought myself a stick shift car and sold my automatic so my only options were to learn or use public transportation. Public transportation is a joke in the US (for most major cities) so the rest is history.
Montreal, I'm 34 and I drive manual.
Switzerland, 34. I learned how to drive with manual and had a couple of cars with man transmission. Now I drive an automatic one. What‘s funny is that now younger people can do their drivings license with an automatic, but then still are allowed to drive manual without sny experience.
US - Ohio 50+ Yes, and because I can always have owned and driven manual transmission cars. Daily driver has always been a manual. As long as I drive an ICE powered vehicle it will be a manual.
Yes. US, Midwest. 36 years old.
Yes, 46. USA
Im from Germany. Im almost done with my license and I feel rather comfortable driving with a manual transmission.
Keep in mind that here in Germany, some people study months for the theory test and driving lessons are driven with an instructor and are mandatory (including things like driving at night/on the highway/on country roads etc.)
No, and nobody in my immediate family has owned a manual since the early 90s. I’m 34 and in the US.
US, 41, can (don't)
I don't drive at all, so no?
Canada, mid 30. Can, but don't. First car was manual. 2003 Malibu v6
I have an EV now and plan to stay with ev
40-something, Eastern US, can drive manual, haven't for years because I threw my back out in DC traffic driving stick.
Midwest, 40, and yep. First three cars were manual.
In the UK there are two classes of license. One if you take your test in an automatic, and one that let's you drive either. So everyone learns in a manual.
Yes. I'm in my mid 40's, in the Midwest US. I drove manuals almost exclusively from when I was a teen until last year, when I bought an EV.
US, yes but haven't owned a manual for years. If Honda sold an Odyssey Si with a 6-speed and a turbo I would drive the hell out of it.
Yes, learned to drive on a manual, first car was manual, etc.
My Dad made me learn to drive in a manual. I'm in the US.
Yes and here in the UK if you fail your test enough times with a manual transmission you get to try with an automatic.
USA, mid-30's, yes I can drive cars and bikes with manual transmissions.
Chile, 38, and I've been driving manual all of my life... Well, until a month ago when we finally sold my old trusty 2005 Yaris for a new automatic car so my wife can also drive (my old car was manual and had no drive assistance, it was heavy to turn, and I was the only one in my family that was capable of parallel parking it)
Finland. I've been driving for a bit over 20 years. I got my first automatic two years ago. At first I had to focus hard not to look for the clutch when braking - especially if slamming the brakes.
I had to focus a bit when I drove a manual rental van about a year back, but I'm sure it'd come back to muscle memory if I daily drove one for a week or two.
AUS, 32. I had to learn manual for my job and for years my daily driver was a manual. I still have that car, I nice V8 sports car, but I prefer an automatic these days due to ease of use especially with how far modern automatics have come from the stigma developed during the 80’s/90’s.
37, US, and yes. I prefer manual for keeping my attention actively on the car and driving.
41, Oklahoma, yes.
43m, US, yes....it's been a while but I'm certain I would have no problems.
42, U.S. I can, very well. I used to race cars on the track. I don't do that anymore, but it's a useful skill to have when I'm in Europe. Manual transmission is the norm for any rental car.
53m
Learned how to drive synchro'd transmissions on a 86 Ford Escort.
Learned how to double clutch and rev match on a non-synchro'd transmission in a 49 Willys.
47m ,from Maine.I got my car, 18 wheeler and motorcycle license on a standard shift.
Mid 40s and USA. I still drive a manual Jeep 4 door and it’s probably my last manual. The new 10 speed transmissions in some vehicles have gotten so smooth that I think I’ll switch to that or electric whenever possible get a new car in the future. I like manual but it feels like they are going the way of the dodo.
US, 35 - yes can and do drive manual.
36/m US. I learned to drive a manual when I was 18. I prefer it now to automatic and even more fun in a little econo shit box. I rented a Kia Picanto in the U.K. and had the time of my life.
I learned to drive on a 1942 John Deere in the early 70s. No on-the-fly shifting but the basics of steering, clutch, and throttle were there.
In 2017 I bought my first automatic; that vehicle was not available in manual or I def would have bought it that way.
39 US, yes, I learned on manuals but I own both an automatic car and a manual pickup, also the dump truck I drive at work is a 10 speed standard; it's a 2012, any of our trucks newer than 2013 are automatics and several of the people I work with can't drive standard trucks.