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.
this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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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. 40, Canada.
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
Yes. (I live in Europe)
Yes i can, but I don't
Yes. Although automatic transmission is more efficient, I still prefer manual.
Almost 50. Southern US. I use one every day that I ride my motorcycle.
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.
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.
45, Georgia, USA (though Florida born) and I daily a 5 speed xB.
Yes, Midwestern USA. 46
I haven't driven one in years, but I can and will.
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.
In my 40s, from MI. Funny enough, I learned how I drive a stick in the arcades playing Hard Drivin.
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.
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.
40F from the West coast, USA and the first car I bought was a manual Toyota Camry. Man, I loved that car. Up until I got T-boned by a Bronco. All of my cars afterwards were automatic for convenience and safety, but I miss my little manual car. It had great gas mileage.
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36 & US Midwest based, have only bought stick shifts my whole life. My wife also had only ever driven stick.
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
28, from France. Yes and I prefer manuals, I've even bought a manual sport car which are less common these days.
Does a motorcycle count? USA
how about a bicycle? that has two gear shifters, not just one
Quite a bit less risky and easier, as someone who rides both. I used to think it was comparable before riding a motorcycle though.
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
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.
UK here, I do. Only a few people I know cannot because they simply couldn't pass the test and so only drive automatics.
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Yes, 35, UK. Drive an automatic now, but drove Manual until last year.
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.
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