From the US and yes I can
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Yes. I'm from the USA and in my late twenties. I learned how to drive on an old Jeep Wrangler on a farm.
Learned to drive stick when I was 12. You can get away with a lot when you live on a farm/ranchβ¦
I learned how to but haven't been behind the wheel of a manual transmission car since the 90s.
In my family you couldn't get a drivers license until you know to drive any car and also the basics of maintenance. Other things I have't done since (roughly) the 90s: change my oil/coolant/brake/transmission, change various filters, replace pump seals, or replace hoses/belts. But I have to admit, its handy to know how to do all that.
US, close to fifty, and I've driven stick since 1992
43, in the US. I drive a vehicle to work that was never sold with an automatic transmission.
I taught my wife (age 35) to drive one, and she daily drives another manual transmission vehicle.
US, late 30s drove a manual for almost 20 years. Switched a few years ago when buying a new car and nothing that still had a manual was appealing. I do miss it sometimes, but others I'm just happy to cruise.
Yes and it's quite fun, feels like you're driving a racecar. It's not actually that hard though once you first figure it out. United States, for reference.
American here. My first car was manual and I would love to still be, but I'm a musician minivan user and they don't make manual minivans.
just turned forty, upper Midwest, yes I can but I prefer not to
Late 30s, US, nope.
Not very well but I'm sure I could figure it out after killing it a few times.
There are very few manuals still sold in the US. The holdouts are ultra-budget models or pretentious sports cars. I can count on one hand the number of people I know who can drive manual.
I can drive one because my dad had an ultra-budget hatchback that I learned on, and later I had one of those pretentious sports cars, which I swapped for something more practical when I had kids. Age: old enough to have kids.
Yes, and I love it. It's so much fun.you have more control and I find it more responsive when putting your foot down compared to the cars with stop and go.pedals
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.
Early 30s, US.
Technically I learned how to drive manual when I was first learning to drive, but then everyone in my family got rid of their manual cars. I didn't get a car of my own until I graduated college and got a cheap beater for a gift that was auto. I've never had a manual car of my own and since it's been over 15 years I don't think anyone would want me to test my skills on their clutch, but in an emergency I could drive one.
I thought about getting a manual for my next car but my wife is just learning to drive and it's already very scary for her, so I don't think I will add that to her stressors. She's also early 30s, US, but born and raised in a major city so never had to drive. I'd like to sign us both up for manual lessons later on though.
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).
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.
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.
Yes and here in the UK if you fail your test enough times with a manual transmission you get to try with an automatic.
My Dad made me learn to drive in a manual. I'm in the US.
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
No, and nobody in my immediate family has owned a manual since the early 90s. Iβm 34 and in the US.
I know how. I learned ony dad's old pickup. Havent used manual since (in my 30s)
US, 53. I can, but don't. The cars I want aren't available with a manual transmission.
Switzerland, 34. I learned how to drive with manual and had a couple of cars with man transmission. Now I drive an automatic one. Whatβs 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.
25, bought a 1992 jeep YJ back in 2019, it's a 5 speed and soo much fun to drive!
66, UK. Passed my test in manual in 1982. My current car and all but one of my previous cars are the only automatics I've owned.
Italy: when I took my license I had to learn on a manual car because the exam car has a manual transmission but my first car was automatic (a bit uncommon here 15 years ago) so I forgot how to drive a manual, then I bought my first RV and I had to re-learn on a 30+ years vehicle but after that I never forgot. Now I like driving manual cars but if you live in a city itβs better an automatic one
US, 41, can (don't)
In Germany, driving with a manual is pretty standard. Although I did a special driving license (B197) which allows you to learn driving on a manual for 10 lessons and then switch to automatic for the rest of the course and the driving exam while still being allowed to drive a manual. It's pretty new tho. I did it because I really sucked at shifting. I now drive a manual and I'd say I'm okay with it although I'd really prefer an automatic.
First car i bought, in 1988, was a manual. The day before i bought it, i checked out a book from the library (no internet, you know?) that told me how to drive it and "practiced" in my bedroom. I bought it and drove it home, terrified traffic would stop as i was going over a big bridge. I have an automatic now because i need an suv for work and manuals are hard to find in the US.
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?
30s. I was learning, and could drive with little to no traffic. I have an anxiety thing where my right side tremors, and learning to drive manual with traffic would always set it off. :(
Yes, 46. USA
Austria, mid 20s, yes
South East US (bible belt), 27, yes.
I learned shortly after getting my license, because I wanted to be versatile. My first car was a manual, but unfortunately decided to go back to automatic so I could lend my car without having to give a crash course.
I love driving stick it makes the most boring car that much more fun.
39, Philly. Up until my current VW, yes. Couldn't get a manual GLI when I was buying in 2021 and needed to make a decision. At least the dual clutch 7 speed DSG auto is fun as hell to drive and feels like a manual.