Asklemmy

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.

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

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.

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

US, 53. I can, but don't. The cars I want aren't available with a manual transmission.

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

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 it’s better an automatic one

US, 41, can (don't)

Don't answer these. They're attempts at pinning ur account with a specific demographic and or phishing attempts.

Not very well but I'm sure I could figure it out after killing it a few times.

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.

No, but I also don't have a drivers license.

Does shifting on my bike count?

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.

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. :(

Austria, mid 20s, yes

Yes, 46. USA

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.

I'm in the US in the Pacific North West, mid 30s, and I can (and do) drive manual transmissions. My last two cars both were manuals. I hate CVTs, but could live with an automatic if it was quick enough with paddle shifters.

19yo from france, and i do too

Yes I can. Southern AZ. Mid 50s.

Not well, but I got some practice with an old beetle back when I was learning. I've kept the practice of keeping lefty on the dead pedal because of it.

Yes, NYS, learned in PA as a teen and then got i proficient in college with my used wrangler. Taught my wife after college when we had to share a vehicle. Now late 30s and one of our two cars is manual, but it's 12 years old and it is looking likely that the replacement will sadly be an automatic. Needs change!

Yeah, I'm 24, from Finland. Most people have manuals here.

35, WI, can. Haven't had one in a while because the wife doesn't want to learn.

I tried twice and it went poorly.

Yes, I'm 32. Back in 2010 I got my licence in Norway. Norway has separate licences for manual and automatic transmissions, such that the automatic transmission licence is more limited. In 2010, nearly all cars were manual, and getting a licence for automatic transmission meant that you would basically only drive your own car.

Today, Norway in huge on EVs and hybrids, and I think you'll have to search hard to find a new car with manual transmission. I think the stats are that ~70% of new licences are for automatic transmission, which makes a lot of sense.

Enough to get a drunk friends car home in one piece.

Yes. The first car I bought was manual and I had no experience driving manual. So my cousin test drove it for me near the sellers place and also drove it home. Then I taught myself over the next couple days on my home street before venturing further. It honestly wasn't hard, and I'm so glad I went with that vehicle too looking back as it was a great car at a great price.

45, US. Yes since I learned to drive at 16 and insisted on it on all my ICE vehicles. Only stopped driving them when I went electric and now I don't miss it because one pedal driving is the electric equivalent of control+fun that I liked about manual transmission.

29, Canadian, drive stick. I’d say maybe 30% of people I meet can? Much much less so for the under 25 group.

I’m 25 in the US and I can

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.

36, Scotland. Been driving almost 20 years manual. Briefly had an automatic Volvo XC90, it was great, didn't have to put down my cup of tea while approaching roundabouts.

My daily is an automatic but my old Magirus-Deutz is a special kind of manual. I’m 37 from Germany.