this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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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.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

47m ,from Maine.I got my car, 18 wheeler and motorcycle license on a standard shift.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Yes. As someone from the UK where near enough everyone I know knows how to drive a manual. If you learnt auto only you'd get absolutely hammered by your mates. However this will probably start to change now hybrid/electrics are mostly auto or single gear

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Up until a year ago only drove manual transmissions cars. Early 40s US.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

No, and nobody in my immediate family has owned a manual since the early 90s. I’m 34 and in the US.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

32m, American - No I can’t, as except for a short stint on a leased automatic gas car, I’ve owned only electric cars. And EVs are by definition automatic!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You can get manual electric cars, they're just rare. A lot of electric conversion cars can still be manual too.

https://youtu.be/gW2etNIcegc

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

You left gender off of your list of questions. That'd be interesting. I can drive manual transmission. My first 5 cars were all manual until I got married and had to give it up "for safety". I'm from all over the US, but learned to drive in the Midwest. I'm old by internet standards.

One fun fact for y'all; There seems to be evidence that supports the claim that driving a manual transmission vehicle is actually safer for individuals with ADHD, contrary to popular belief.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

33, Canada, yes I can drive standard.

I learned on a 1990 corolla, my partner can't drive standard so when we downsized a few years ago we kept her car. I miss it for the around town trips but I'm not upset to drive automatic when I have to (rarely) commute. I also really liked it for winter driving, definitely felt more in control, that little corolla could plow through snow and ice like it was nothing.

Pretty much everyone on my side of the family learned on standard, drove for a while, but now more or less has a vehicle with automatic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I know how. I learned ony dad's old pickup. Havent used manual since (in my 30s)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

30, Chile, yes, I prefer it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I'm 42, US, learned on a stick and have driven many. My daily driver is an E-bike, cause I can. If I need a car I have a Chevy Bolt. If EV manuals become common, I'll definitely get one

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Canada, 28. Yes, probably

I did one driving lesson in a manual car, have done plenty of sim racing, and ride a motorcycle.

So although I might not have a lot of real world experience with a manual transmission in a car, if I was put in one, I don't think I'd have any problem with it at all

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

54, Germany. Drove stick almost all of my life, but now I'm driving an automatic. Much better in city traffic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

But still the majority of cars in Germany are manual.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

No. Meanwhile they're DSG, so sort of automatic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

35 and haven't owned/driven a standard in over a year. Yet I still frequently stomp on my own foot trying to downshift or find myself mindlessly searching for the shifter exiting turns.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

40+ here, from the Netherlands and been driving stick (manual) for over 25 years. Only since the last 2 years or so I've been driving automatic because manual transmission cars are harder to find

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

US, 25, and I drive a manual. I feel it gives me more control than an automatic.

Also, I got my license driving an automatic. Learned manual after. Didn't need to retake the test though which I always find funny.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Yes. 50s. Canada.

I taught myself. I was 19 and working for a small company (3 employees total) and had a van for work for hauling around equipment. My boss called me to his house one day and told me that he was taking the van for a six-week fishing trip. "You can take my BMW. You know how to drive stick, right?" I shook my head "no." "Well, you'll figure it out". Fortunately, he lived in the country so it was all quiet backroads for most of the trip home. By the time I got into the city, I (usually) didn't stall it at traffic lights.

A couple years later, I took a three-day motorcyle (newb to driving licence) course. Three out of fifteen students knew how to drive a manual transmission car. Only the three of us passed and got our licence - the others were having trouble stalling 'cause it was the first time they had ever dealt with a clutch. (note: this was typical, the ones who didn't pass could come back and try the final test again the following weekend).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Yes I do. I'm in my early thirties, Australian lady. I drive manual by choice because it is more fun and I appreciate the mechanics of vehicles. Most cars here are auto I guess.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I've only done it twice but it went surprisingly ok. I could do it if I had to. USA in my 30's

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

My Dad made me learn to drive in a manual. I'm in the US.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

MontrΓ©al, QuΓ©bec, Canada. Early 40 years old. Yes I drive a manual transmission car.

I've always owned manual cars. I'm going to keep my car for an long as I can. I'm not to keen on cars with lots of technology in it. It's prone to too many problems.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

20s, Southern US, and yes. It's weird seeing folks who don't since most of the shitboxes we drove were

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I'm from the Netherlands. I've been driving since 2009 and I've never driven an automatic car. I drive (semi) truck since 2019 and have never driven a manual truck.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

US, 47, and nope.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

19, Vermont. I learned to drive stick on a big Kubota tractor at 14 lol.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

US, 21, and can kinda drive a manual.

I'll stall out a few times cause I don't have practice but I'll be able to get where I need to go

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

29 southern US. I've been daily driving since 2014. People get obsessed or weird about it. There's valid reasons to drive automatic or manual, just don't go huffing and puffing one is better than the other

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Indiana and Wisconsin USA here. Approaching 50, and learned back in high school, as well as driving old tractors. My first car, a classic even when I got it, was a 63 Chevy Bel Aire manual. Drove manuals all through college and didn't buy an automatic until 2013, when the type of vehicle I needed didn't come in a manual.

I really miss driving stick, especially in snowy Wisconsin winters.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

California. 62. Been driving a manual for over 40 years. Most recently a six-speed.

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