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POLL: Can you drive a manual transmission?

ExiledInIllinois

By ExiledInIllinois
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Operating Manual Transmission Vehicles  

102 members have voted

  1. 1. Can you operate a manual transmission vehicle with enough proficiency to pass a road test administered in 1959?

    • Yes
      85
    • No
      17

  2. 2. If answering: "Yes", what is your age?

    • 0-19
      2
    • 20-29
      4
    • 30-39
      19
    • 40-49
      24
    • 50-59
      24
    • Older than dirt
      13
    • I answered: "No"
      16

  3. 3. If answering: "No", what is your age?

    • 0-19
      0
    • 20-29
      4
    • 30-39
      5
    • 40-49
      3
    • 50-59
      4
    • Older than dirt
      2
    • I answered: "Yes"
      84

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ExiledInIllinois Hall of Famer

ExiledInIllinois

Posted
Posted (edited)

I was reading somewhere that around 7% of the US driving population knows how to drive a manual transmission (ie: "Stick Shift) vehicle.  I figured a poll of the board can be asked to see what the percentage here is.  I expect the numbers to be higher than 7% of the drivers here.

 

This is NOT a public poll. If you want to divulge who you are, you can in a post.

 

I added the 1959 profiency requirement because we all know how soft we've become.  Back then they actually failed people for driving like poo.  LoL... Long story for possibly later in this thread (if this thread even goes anywhere before the usual suspects wreck things). 

 

Feel free to critique my poll-making skills/methodology.  This is one of the few polls I have ever done. Go easy on me.  Also, free-form... Add anything you want (within reason people! ? )... Stories, crashes, rolling back into another vehicle, stalling on train tracks and running from your vehicle the wrong way while a speeding train is approaching, stories about learning, starting the vehicle without clutch pedal pressed down (pre-safety days) and almost crashing through garage door, etc... etc... You know, "good stuff."

 

Only one rule:  @BringBackFergy and his ilk are NOT allowed to wreck this thread and all my not so hard work.

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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Pine Barrens Mafia
Pine Barrens Mafia

I learned how to drive a manual in a US Army deuce-and-a-half.      

SlimShady'sSpaceForce
SlimShady'sSpaceForce

FB must be watching   

Nanker
Nanker

I got my license in NYS. Took the test in a manual transmission car. Had to parallel park, do a K turn, park the car on a hill at the curb, and use hand signals for turning. The road test was on the c

LeGOATski Hall of Famer

LeGOATski

Posted
Posted

The car I learned to drive in was a manual. In a snowy climate. Idk what the 1959 test was like, but I assume I could pass it. Who knows.

 

I remember my dad getting super-frustrated with me. He wasn't a good teacher because he lacked patience and I learned better by just doing it alone. When I still didn't quite understand how the transmission functioned, I downshifted through a hairpin turn and my dad was like "you didn't need to do that, you're going to ruin the car."

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Nanker Hall of Famer

Nanker

Posted
Posted

I got my license in NYS. Took the test in a manual transmission car. Had to parallel park, do a K turn, park the car on a hill at the curb, and use hand signals for turning. The road test was on the city streets - not in a plaza like parking lot. 

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LeGOATski Hall of Famer

LeGOATski

Posted
Posted
Just now, Nanker said:

I got my license in NYS. Took the test in a manual transmission car. Had to parallel park, do a K turn, park the car on a hill at the curb, and use hand signals for turning. The road test was on the city streets - not in a plaza like parking lot. 

Is that a thing?

 

I've never heard of a road test not being on the road.

1 hour ago, unbillievable said:

How do you shift gears and text at the same time?

You have 4 limbs. Use them.

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Gray Beard Veteran

Gray Beard

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

The car I learned to drive in was a manual. In a snowy climate. Idk what the 1959 test was like, but I assume I could pass it. Who knows.

 

I remember my dad getting super-frustrated with me. He wasn't a good teacher because he lacked patience and I learned better by just doing it alone. When I still didn't quite understand how the transmission functioned, I downshifted through a hairpin turn and my dad was like "you didn't need to do that, you're going to ruin the car."

This echoes my thoughts. I drove a stick almost exclusively for many years, something like 1977 to 1997.  Since then it’s only been occasionally.  I took a hard driving test on the city streets of Lowell, Mass. in a giant station wagon (with an automatic).

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ExiledInIllinois Hall of Famer

ExiledInIllinois

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Nanker said:

I got my license in NYS. Took the test in a manual transmission car. Had to parallel park, do a K turn, park the car on a hill at the curb, and use hand signals for turning. The road test was on the city streets - not in a plaza like parking lot. 

My 17 year daughter was telling me they don't even take them out on road anymore.  Not sure how true it is?  Liability issues???

 

Son 20, goes in for road test and gets the brother of one of his teachers... Doesn't even make him parallel park, 3-point turn... What a little shhhhhh     it!  /smh

 

Brother inlaw in MA was amazed my nephew passed.  Was telling my Sister inlaw: "Don't worry, we got time, he won't pass, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will never pass him right now!"  Dude comes back from test smiling that he passed, BiL almost dropped dead!

 

LMAO... Why I put the 1959 stipulation in there!

 

Ut oh... @BringBackFergy signal just went off!  Too the Carp Poles!

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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SlimShady'sSpaceForce Hall of Famer

SlimShady'sSpaceForce

Posted
Posted (edited)

I was maybe 16 years old working at Anderson beverages on Hudson Ave loading trucks with pallets of pop after school (HS) and the manager said go bring in a truck.  

 

I started to say I don't kn..  GET THE F OUT THERE and bring in a F ing truck..     Like this BUT 

eb56e3046f0e295331484e155a6a07ad.jpg

 

This vintage.  No power steering or power breaks 

 

005.jpg

 

Edited by ShadyBillsFan
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Cripple Creek Veteran

Cripple Creek

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I was reading somewhere that around 7% of the US driving population knows how to drive a manual transmission (ie: "Stick Shift) vehicle.  I figured a poll of the board can be asked to see what the percentage here is.  I expect the numbers to be higher than 7% of the drivers here.

 

This is NOT a public poll. If you want to divulge who you are, you can in a post.

 

I added the 1959 profiency requirement because we all know how soft we've become.  Back then they actually failed people for driving like poo.  LoL... Long story for possibly later in this thread (if this thread even goes anywhere before the usual suspects wreck things). 

 

Feel free to critique my poll-making skills/methodology.  This is one of the few polls I have ever done. Go easy on me.  Also, free-form... Add anything you want (within reason people! ? )... Stories, crashes, rolling back into another vehicle, stalling on train tracks and running from your vehicle the wrong way while a speeding train is approaching, stories about learning, starting the vehicle without clutch pedal pressed down (pre-safety days) and almost crashing through garage door, etc... etc... You know, "good stuff."

 

Only one rule:  @BringBackFergy and his ilk are NOT allowed to wreck this thread and all my not so hard work.

Where is the ***** you option? Older than dirt? How dare you you little snowflake?

2 hours ago, Gray Beard said:

 in a giant station wagon (with an automatic).

Clark, is that you?

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Augie Hall of Famer

Augie

Posted
Posted

When I met my wife she had a powder blue Ford Pinto (yes, the rolling bomb) that had a stick shift and sunroof, but no AC while living in the Deep South. I learned to drive it....with sweat pouring in my eyes for an extra degree of difficulty. 

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LeviF Hall of Famer

LeviF

Posted
Posted

Dad taught me how to drive manual.  My road test was on the road, through the mean streets of Catskill, NY. 

 

Don't have a manual transmission car myself now, but I do have to dust off those skills once in a while for work. 

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Seasons1992 Veteran

Seasons1992

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

Ford Escort, 4 speed. Passed road test in Warsaw NY the day before Prom. 

 

Was she (or he) impressed?

 

I learned stick in Orchard Park in both a Camaro and Pontiac Sunbird............BOTH without power steering. That was an adventure.

Edited by Seasons1992
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Augie Hall of Famer

Augie

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

My 17 year daughter was telling me they don't even take them out on road anymore.  Not sure how true it is?  Liability issues???

 

Son 20, goes in for road test and gets the brother of one of his teachers... Doesn't even make him parallel park, 3-point turn... What a little shhhhhh     it!  /smh

 

Brother inlaw in MA was amazed my nephew passed.  Was telling my Sister inlaw: "Don't worry, we got time, he won't pass, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will never pass him right now!"  Dude comes back from test smiling that he passed, BiL almost dropped dead!

 

LMAO... Why I put the 1959 stipulation in there!

 

Ut oh... @BringBackFergy signal just went off!  Too the Carp Poles!

 

I already had my license when I took Drivers Ed, but took it to lower insurance and drive at night. A kid in my Drivers Ed. car took his test, but got stuck in the snow and had to walk back. The next time he slid through a stop sign and had a wreck. That doesn’t get you a license either. Maybe he should have waited until spring.....

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ExiledInIllinois Hall of Famer

ExiledInIllinois

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

One person ground some gears in the poll.

 

Last two answers in last two questions should equal totals of first question.

 

I know who it is... It happened early.  They are as old as dirt and only drive automatics... LoL... Just giving you a hard time, who shall remain nameless.

9 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I already had my license when I took Drivers Ed, but took it to lower insurance and drive at night. A kid in my Drivers Ed. car took his test, but got stuck in the snow and had to walk back. The next time he slid through a stop sign and had a wreck. That doesn’t get you a license either. Maybe he should have waited until spring.....

My older sister drove home from getting her learner's permit.  Father in wagon, '77 Caprice Classic.  Well, she missed the turn into driveway and drove over front lawn... My father almost had a cow... LoL... It left an indelible mark on my young brain for 5 years later.  Good to be third born! 

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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Augie Hall of Famer

Augie

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

One person ground some gears in the poll.

 

Last two answers in last two questions should equal totals of first question.

 

I know who it is... It happened early.  They are as old as dirt and only drive automatics... LoL... Just giving you a hard time, who shall remain nameless.

 

I will say, when I said Yes, I didn’t pay much attention to the “If answering “NO” section”. Then I saw at the bottom the “I answered yes” option. Maybe the poller didn’t lead the pollsters clearly? (I’m not quite older than dirt, but defending myself in case I’m the idiot. I’d like to share that credit!) 

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ExiledInIllinois Hall of Famer

ExiledInIllinois

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  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I will say, when I said Yes, I didn’t pay much attention to the “If answering “NO” section”. Then I saw at the bottom the “I answered yes” option. Maybe the poller didn’t lead the pollsters clearly? (I’m not quite older than dirt, but defending myself in case I’m the idiot. I’d like to share that credit!) 

It's not you.  It's one of the pollers who can't drive stick... LMAO... Coincidence?  I think not.  They are too busy texting.

 

Sorry... For subtle stick shaming!  

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ExiledInIllinois Hall of Famer

ExiledInIllinois

Posted
  • Author
Posted

First time making polls.  It seems you have to answer all questions, why I did that.

 

Not sure what the check box "Poll-Content only" means.  I left it unchecked.

Just now, KD in CA said:

The data points to the conclusion that this board is mostly comprised of old guys.

Ha!  One really old guy that can't drive stick, which is shocking!  That's 60+ years ago.  Most cars were stick on column back then.

 

They must have been the rich kid!

 

Back in the day... Some ladies couldn't even press the clutch.  Had a family member that just gave up trying.  My MiL, 90 pounds... But my FiL bought VWs in 1960s & 70s.

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row_33 Hall of Famer

row_33

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've read that in England for your visa/immigrant road test they take you up a huge hill and make you stop in the middle, and if you roll back at all in your manual trans you fail.

 

Keep in mind everything is opposite as well.

 

I grew up on Omnis and Horizons for my first 12 or so years of driving, the worst shitboxes out there, I can pass any test you throw at me.

 

 

Edited by row_33
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row_33 Hall of Famer

row_33

Posted
Posted
11 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

I voted no.  Only drove a manual trans when on a cross country trip many moons ago.  I’m convinced though if I had a week of practice driving a stick, I could pass the test. 

 

probably

 

learning everything about driving from ground zero with a stick is a more demanding task for a 16-year old, especially when friends are mean to you if you jackrabbit the vehicle

 

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LeviF Hall of Famer

LeviF

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, LabattBlue said:

I voted no.  Only drove a manual trans when on a cross country trip many moons ago.  I’m convinced though if I had a week of practice driving a stick, I could pass the test. 

 

Had a friend who bought a car sight unseen.  Went to pick it up only to realize it was a stick...and he had never driven stick before.  With a little coaching from one of the mechanics he limped it to an empty parking lot and taught himself well enough over the next hour or so.

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The Real Buffalo Joe All Pro

The Real Buffalo Joe

Posted
Posted (edited)

When I first moved to Texas, my first car was going to be a Mustang. It was manual, but my uncle that I lived with at the time was on a very small back road and had no problem teaching me.We made a verbal agreement, and told him we'd be there in the morning with cash, and the dude sold it to someone else without telling us, over a $200 difference. After that I got an Explorer, and just never got around to buying one.

 

I'm also not a car guy whatsoever. Don't know why. My dad is. My brother is a licenced mechanic. When my car breaks down I only care about two things. How long will I be without a car, and more importantly, how much will this cost me? I know how to jump a battery ( from the multiple times I forgot to turn my headlights on), and change a tire. But other than that, I'm clueless.

Edited by The Real Buffalo Joe
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