Do you know how to drive a stick shift?

[Tryharder62]

My husband had a Chevy Chevette. (His was blue) When we were first married I had to drive it once about 35 miles to work. It was a stick shift. Yep, that was it for me. Not coordinated enough. He used to pack everything he needed and drive to college in that thing. I don't know how he did it. He loved that car though, because before cars became so computerized, he could fix everything on it.

https://cdn-0.barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/040919-1977-Chevrolet-Chevette-Scooter-1-630x390.jpg

 

[Aphroditiac]

No. I never learned. Just never had the opportunity. Didn't have any friends or family who had one for me to learn on.

My friend's hubby has a Mustang convertible that's his baby, but I somehow doubt he'll agree to let me practice on it.

 

[haventdonethat]

Hell, besides my dad’s car the first vehicles I drove were military. They had two, sometimes three, stick shifts. My ’98 truck had two sticks.
Double clutching became a breeze.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

Yep, still prefer a "standard transmission" over an auto.

 

[WiserSoutherner]

Yup, had manual on my old Jeep

 

[DWW]

Lots of Practice A Long Time Ago

Took Driver's Ed in school on an automatic because it was easier to schedule it. But could only afford a cheap stick shift car back in 1968 - so learned to drive a stick shift driving it home from the east side of Detroit to the west side with a buddy along for the ride. Keeping the car still on an incline was the biggest challenge - once you learn to feather the clutch, its a blast.

Have not owned a stick shift car since I got rid of a Mitsubishi Eclipse sports car in 1993.

 

[raindancer]

Yes but I still stall at long stoplights.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Does a tractor count?

 

[FL30]

grew up riding motorcycles and having to shift with the hand and foot action so transferring that to a car was super easy.

I actually prefer manual but they're had to find now.

I think there are only a few cars that come with standard transmission now and on some models you have to order it to be built with a standard versus an automatic, if you prefer the standard. (standard - manual)

Also, know how to drive - "three on the tree"

 

[FescueFan]

Yup.

Also dog boxes.

H pattern and sequential.

Foot shifted (motorcycles).

I don't have any tracked or uber huge vehicle experience though.

 

[haventdonethat]

Does a tractor count?

It most certainly does! Do you drive one?

I have an old Massey Ferguson with two sticks.

 

[silver gurl]

Yes! I don’t mind driving stick at all.
My car is automatic but I have access to a stick.

 

[Saint_Ann]

It most certainly does! Do you drive one?

I have an old Massey Ferguson with two sticks.

Im not in a position to need one any more. Dad was a ford man but he also had either an MF or an IH, I forget.. Once I weighed enough to push the clutch down with just one foot, I was drivin'.

Wait...you dont mean you have 2 dicks?

 

[neci]

Yes.

I like a good stick. Preferably on a fast little car or a big tank.

 

[adrina]

Yes. I miss it.

 

[haventdonethat]

Im not in a position to need one any more. Dad was a ford man but he also had either an MF or an IH, I forget.. Once I weighed enough to push the clutch down with just one foot, I was drivin'.

Wait...you dont mean you have 2 dicks?

Wait . . . no I don't mean I have two dicks, just one that is as good as two!

 

[Bottomlover]

It most certainly does! Do you drive one?

I have an old Massey Ferguson with two sticks.

My tractor is a 1964 M-F 135. It has 2 sticks plus multi-power for a total of 12 gear combinations. It's an absolute beast of a work horse. If you can drive this while working PTO implements, a stick shift car is a piece of cake.

The going price for these old tractors is more than they cost new. We're talking work tractors, not prettied up "antique tractors".

 

[thør]

The Land Cruiser has a 5 speed stick. First is too low to use on the road, and 5th is an overdrive.

 

[PaxNurgle]

I think it is essential for driving steep mountain roads, where you don't want an automatic shifting out of first or second gear, particularly when descending. And I'm actually really questioning the wisdom of many automakers to discontinue standard shift transmissions in vehicles- especially SUV's, sports cars, 4 wheel drive vehicles and vehicles designed for off-roading.

So yes, I do know how to drive one. It's crucial. Automatic transmissions make perfect sense for sedans or luxury cars, but not sports cars or rugged 4wd vehicles.

 

[TheWhiteBull]

I learned how to drive a stick growing up. Never owned one though. The most stickshift driving I’ve actually done is some large forklifts for work.

 

[Conager]

Prefer it.

 

[rae121452]

i learned to drive on a stick shift. every car i've owned until the present one was a manual transmission. i still find myself unconsciously reaching for the gear shift sometimes. on my last car, i waited a month for delivery so that i could get a manual transmission and if i have to get another car, that will be my choice.

 

[Comshaw]

I learned to drive at 12 years old in a 1943 army surplus 2 1/2 ton truck helping my father chop silage. That one wasn't bad, a 4-speed main transmission with a two-speed hi/lo auxiliary gearbox. Later I learned to drive a 5 speed main with a 3-speed splitter, then graduated to Roadranger transmissions 8, 10, 12, 15 and finally an 18 speed. My favorite to drive was the 12 speed behind a dual turboed 8V92 two-stroke Detroit diesel. WhoooWaaa!

Edited to add: I also learned how to shift without using the clutch.


Comshaw

 

[MidTownBob]

Yup. Learned to drive on a 1961 Ford Econoline with three on the tree. The first car that I bought was a Mustang with a four speed.

 

[Sean]

Manuals are far more common over here than autos.