POLL: Can you drive a manual transmission?

[teef]

i don't.  my 78 yr old mother made fun of me recently for it.  we just never had a manual car in our family, so i never learned.  I want to if i ever get a bad ass sports car, but i have no idea.  i even bought a roadster years ago and figured it would be a great opportunity to get into it.  it was actually difficult to find one.  with the engine size, color, options, etc...they all came with  paddle shifters.  my dad bought a zr1 (zo6?) two years ago, and same thing...paddle shifters.  I'm sure he could have gotten a manual, but he had so much trouble getting the car, he just took it.

[Steve O]

Both my cars are 5 speed manual Civics. Half the time don't even bother locking them, read the same article as the OP, only 7% of population can drive them. Judging from the poll people on this board are way above average (judging from some comments, perhaps not?)

[teef]

2 minutes ago, Steve O said:

Both my cars are 5 speed manual Civics. Half the time don't even bother locking them, read the same article as the OP, only 7% of population can drive them. Judging from the poll people on this board are way above average (judging from some comments, perhaps not?)

that's pretty insane.  

[row_33]

13 minutes ago, Steve O said:

Both my cars are 5 speed manual Civics. Half the time don't even bother locking them, read the same article as the OP, only 7% of population can drive them. Judging from the poll people on this board are way above average (judging from some comments, perhaps not?)

 

A population of mostly men who are football fans isn't a surprise for this stat.

 

[Jauronimo]

38 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

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.

After you've wrapped the car around a mailbox or put her in the lake I presume?  Not sure what jumping the battery will do in those situations.

[Gugny]

Bought a car in Norfolk, VA whilst in the Navy.  I was sharing an apartment with my brother at the time (he was also stationed there; on a different ship).  The car was a Ford Escort GT Manual Transmission.  I'd never even attempted to drive stick.

 

My brother said, "buy it.  it's a good deal and I'll teach you."  So I did.

 

Learned in one day.  He taught me in parking lots then got me right out into traffic.  Learning curve speeds up when you're at a red light and can't get the car to move without stalling it out!!

 

Those skills made learning to ride a motorcycle very easy.  I can't imagine learning to manage clutch, gas and brakes for the first time on a bike.

[SinceThe70s]

The first car I ever bought new was a manual even though I had only driven automatics and neither of my parents had a manual since I was born. Dad drove it off the lot for me.

[707BillsFan]

Never learned. My parents cars, in which I learned to drive was a sweet 77 Monte Carlo w/ a gorgeous Landau top / interior - automatic. My first car was '66 Mustang, also auto. Followed up by a series of SUV's and now a Subaru, each an automatic. Never been in a situation where I need to drive a stick. Not an issue. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

LOL  all of you wimps in cars 

 

 

[row_33]

11 minutes ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

LOL  all of you wimps in cars 

 

 

 

i walk and take the subway and put about 40 miles total for 350 days of the year on the car

 

 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

1 minute ago, row_33 said:

 

i walk and take the subway and put about 40 miles total for 350 days of the year on the car

 

When I lived close to work I walked and in the summer I would ride a bike 10 miles.

 

I was referring to the truck I had to drive that I posted on page 1.  

[Mr Info]

We still have a 2007 6 speed special order Accord w 150k on it. Really enjoy driving it when traffic is not an issue. But learned how to drive a manual quite a while back. My first 2 girlfriends post college had cars with sticks so helped I knew how to drive one.

We taught our two boys how to drive a manual because you never know when you are stuck @ college where somebody should not be driving & nobody knows how to drive a manual.

[row_33]

16 minutes ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

When I lived close to work I walked and in the summer I would ride a bike 10 miles.

 

I was referring to the truck I had to drive that I posted on page 1.  

 

i'm 6 miles from the office, but there's no impetus to walk or jog or take a bike....

 

and i like it that way!!!

 

 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Just now, row_33 said:

 

i'm 6 miles from the office, but there's no impetus to walk or jog or take a bike....

 

and i like it that way!!!

 

let me clarify   I lived less that 1/4 mile from work   
cross the street, hot the train tracks and poof I was at the front door. 

 

other times I lived roughly 10 miles from work.  the bike ride (after a week) was relatively easy 

[row_33]

26 minutes ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

let me clarify   I lived less that 1/4 mile from work   
cross the street, hot the train tracks and poof I was at the front door. 

 

other times I lived roughly 10 miles from work.  the bike ride (after a week) was relatively easy 

 

no need to clarify.....

 

good posts!

 

[GoBills808]

10 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.

7% seems ridiculously low, cite your sources asap.

 

I can drive a damn rig w/a 16 speed gearbox, who are these 93%ers who can't find 1st?

[ExiledInIllinois]

Just now, GoBills808 said:

7% seems ridiculously low, cite your sources asap.

 

I can drive a damn rig w/a 16 speed gearbox, who are these 93%ers who can't find 1st?

We are a skewed buch here.  The Ladies need to chime in!  But I am Googling as we speak!

[PromoTheRobot]

It's been a while since I've had to but I could probably do it.

[ExiledInIllinois]

 

EDIT:  Ooops.  I had #s reversed.  Yet, I didn't recall how many manual trannys were sold.

 

18% is still weak and worthless.  We are going soft!  MAMA!  Make America Manual Again!

 

The report from U.S. News and World Report show only 18 percent of U.S. drivers know how to operate a stick shift. It says that because of advancements in automatic transmissions and fuel economy, only about 5 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. today come with a stick shift.Oct 11, 2016

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

It's been a while since I've had to but I could probably do it.

My wife will drive manual... But I have to be 3 States away! LoL...

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

It's been a while since I've had to but I could probably do it.

I've only had standard vehicles since driving age so I'm biased but I have to think if you know/knew how to do it you could relearn fairly easily.

 

I mean, I had to drive a little right hand Toyota diesel the other day, shifting w/my left hand...now that is a task. Still managed though, pedal configuration was still the same re clutch brake...like riding a bike imo.

[ExiledInIllinois]

 

Automatics have come a long way.  Vehicles already bloated and heavy... Computers react faster... Even 4 wheeling they are more efficient and quicker say on a rock crawl... BUT the big disadvantage 4 wheeling is water crossing.  Automatics can hydrolock, manuals superior getting wet.

[LeviF]

56 minutes ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

When I lived close to work I walked and in the summer I would ride a bike 10 miles.

 

I was referring to the truck I had to drive that I posted on page 1.  

 

I walk to work.  About 15 minutes each way.  I kind of like it, clears my head.

[Gary M]

First car was a standard, once drove a double pump clutch for work.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Yes, 60+.

[BuffaloBud]

Learned in my mid-teens long ago on a 3 speed (yes - 3 speed) Chevy Monza.  Had my permit taken away from my mother after stalling out the car 3 times on a very slight incline.  Dad took me out and just let me practice on how to slip the clutch.  Nailed it the next time out with mom.  Then progressed to driving manual transmission fire trucks - no issues.

 

Went to Germany fall of 2017.  Realized that they now have hill assist clutches so no clutch slip.

 

Back in 1987 went to Australia.  Had to stop and think a bit to see if the pedals were reversed like the steering.

 

When I get in a car with manual trans, my heart brightens up.

Edited February 15, 2019 by BuffaloBud

[Seasons1992]

1 hour ago, Mr Info said:

 

We taught our two boys how to drive a manual because you never know when you are stuck @ college where somebody should not be driving & nobody knows how to drive a manual.

 

Good man! Half the guys in my fraternity house couldn't drive stick, so our driveway with 6 cars was always half full of sticks that only half of us could move properly. 

[RochesterRob]

  I drove standard transmissions while very young off road.  I had no trouble driving standard equipped cars and pickups over the years.  I even drove a Corolla with 3rd gear out while driving expressway and the Thruway.  The car had enough bottom end torque so once I was up to 27-28 MPH in second I would go to 4th and it would handle it at 30-35 MPH in generally flat going.  I never fixed 3rd gear and drove it another 60,000 miles until it rotted out.

[ExiledInIllinois]

50 minutes ago, Seasons1992 said:

 

Good man! Half the guys in my fraternity house couldn't drive stick, so our driveway with 6 cars was always half full of sticks that only half of us could move properly. 

One of the reasons I sent my kid to school with a stick! 

 

Though, those are key words highlighted there!

 

Anybody can move anything... But properly is another question!

[MarkyMannn]

62.  Have driven 3 on floor, 4 on floor, and 3 on a tree.  My son's 6 speed, too many gears what a PITA.  No interest going back to a manual

 

Also, 4 up, one down, and 5 up, one down.  Quads and Harley's

[ExiledInIllinois]

55 minutes ago, BuffaloBud said:

Learned in my mid-teens long ago on a 3 speed (yes - 3 speed) Chevy Monza.  Had my permit taken away from my mother after stalling out the car 3 times on a very slight incline.  Dad took me out and just let me practice on how to slip the clutch.  Nailed it the next time out with mom.  Then progressed to driving manual transmission fire trucks - no issues.

 

Went to Germany fall of 2017.  Realized that they now have hill assist clutches so no clutch slip.

 

Back in 1987 went to Australia.  Had to stop and think a bit to see if the pedals were reversed like the steering.

 

When I get in a car with manual trans, my heart brightens up.

Hill Assist is nice!  The new style Cooper S, F-56 (+2014 hardtops) have "rev matching." It will match rpms on downshift.  No blipping the aaccelerato through neutral.

2 minutes ago, MarkyMannn said:

62.  Have driven 3 on floor, 4 on floor, and 3 on a tree.  My son's 6 speed, too many gears what a PITA.  No interest going back to a manual

 

Also, 4 up, one down, and 5 up, one down.  Quads and Harley's

6th is overdrive.  4th power, 5 high speed.

[BUFFALOKIE]

8 hours ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

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 

 

This vintage.  No power steering or power breaks 

 

 

A buddy of mine at work likes to tell his story of having to drive a similar vintage freezer truck with swinging beef in the back.

 

If you know about old time trucks and Newtons first law of motion. Then you will understand.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Who doesn’t know how to drive a car with a manual transmission.  Freaking hippie, liberal, millennial, snowflake, tree hugger, everybody gets a trophy, aholes!

[Helpmenow]

With 4:10 gears too.

[row_33]

1 hour ago, MarkyMannn said:

62.  Have driven 3 on floor, 4 on floor, and 3 on a tree.  My son's 6 speed, too many gears what a PITA.  No interest going back to a manual

 

Also, 4 up, one down, and 5 up, one down.  Quads and Harley's

 

haven't seen 3 on a tree for at least 35 years

 

[BuffaloBill]

I learned to drive in a manual and had a manual shift for the first five or so years of my driving life.  It took me forever to stop stomping on the nonexistent clutch pedal in my first automatic.

[mead107]

He’ll yes and both my kids can also 

 

 

[Turk71]

Learned to drive in my brother's yellow 74 Dodge Dart Swinger, 3 on the tree. I ended up buying it from him. Loved that car.

[Foxx]

14 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.

is it surprising that 93% of the population can't walk and chew gum at the same time? 

[keepthefaith]

I started racing motocross at age 10 and have owned a manual transmission car (a whole bunch of them) every year of my life since getting a license (late 50's now). 

[boyst]

Yes

 

I'm 12 what's this