Can You Drive a Stick Shift?

[TickTockMan]

I wish I could, but I can't.

 

[The_Reaper]

I can, but poorly. If the car doesn't help with a reminder to shift, chances are I will forget. I also tend to have 'foot placement' trouble, when on an incline...As such, I'm always the idiot who slides back a bit when shifting from a stop on an incline to drive...

As such, I'll spare myself the trouble (and potential accident) and stick with an automatic.

 

[HunterM]

Yes, I can drive a stick shift!

 

[ChickenGuy]

Can You Drive a Stick Shift?

^ This really sounds like some sort of sexual innuendo.

I was tempted to say, "No, I haven't tried that position with a guy yet."

Anyway....



What do you mean by a stick shift? A manual gear change where you put the clutch in with your foot and your hand changes the gearstick? Sure, all my cars were like that. Most British cars are still like that.

96% of American cars are automatic????

I've NEVER driven an automatic and I'd be uncomfortable doing so, I'm not used to it.

EDIT:

I see that HunterM thinks the same as me.

Great minds think alike.

 

[Saybrooke]

I love driving stick! My first car was a stick shift, and it took forever to learn lol

 

[ChickenGuy]

I love driving stick!

Who on here doesn't?






P.S....

JohannBessler, in the U.K. we simply call them 'manual' or 'manual drive'.

 

[Aymotin]

The only automatic car I ever drove was in the US, other than that I always drive stick shift.

It becomes natural with a bit of practise. First time I drove automatic my left foot hit the big brake in a reflex to press the clutch. almost smashed my head trough the windshield.

 

[Nishin]

Shouldn't they be the default cars on which one learns how to drive?

 

[T-Rexx]

The only automatic car I ever drove was in the US, other than that I always drive stick shift.

It becomes natural with a bit of practise. First time I drove automatic my left foot hit the big brake in a reflex to press the clutch. almost smashed my head trough the windshield.

I do that almost every time I try to drive an automatic! Those things are so hard to drive!

 

[Aymotin]

I do that almost every time I try to drive an automatic! Those things are so hard to drive!

Yes, when I did my advanced driving courses the instructor even had a word for it . He called it "Performing a Garfild" because your client will look like this on the front windshield

 

[secondmonkey]

I have a big old 1979 GMC dually with a 4 speed. Last time I drove it with a trailer I got about 6 MPG. (on premium!) Big block baby! I can't hardly drive it anymore though, since it's got a manual clutch (instead of hydraulic like newer vehicles) and I fucked up my knees...hurts to push the pedal.

 

[star-warrior]

I've driven eight cars in my lifetime, and they're all manual gear shift cars, however, I've never driven a car that requires me to pull a lever called a 'choke', but have ridden in some.

 

[Benjoe]

Silly Americans

 

[blackbeltninja]

The only automatic car I ever drove was in the US, other than that I always drive stick shift.

It becomes natural with a bit of practise. First time I drove automatic my left foot hit the big brake in a reflex to press the clutch. almost smashed my head trough the windshield.

Likewise.

Very few .za cars are automatic. And, if you pass your licence in an automatic, you are only allowed to drive an automatic here.

-d-

 

[Paws]

And, if you pass your licence in an automatic, you are only allowed to drive an automatic here.

In Switzerland as well. Therefore the majority learns to drive with manual gear. Plus, automatic needs more gas than manual.

 

[lockeroomguy]

Most of my cars, including my current car, have been manual. I enjoy the driving control and the extra fuel economy. I guess I'm a rarity in the USA.

 

[Falcon16]

I learned how to drive with a stick.

 

[gsdx]

I grew up with sticks and could drive one before I was 10 years old. Automatics were for rich people back then. The best car I ever drove was a black Studebaker Lark. Man, that car could fly!

 

[Alistair]

I've never driven a manual and don't intend to do so. I can't understand why anyone would want to go through all that extra work. I just put it in gear once and go. The gas savings aren't there any more either. The newer cars get just as good gas mileage or better in automatics than in sticks. A lot of them have 6-8 gears now.

 

[gsdx]

I can't understand why anyone would want to go through all that extra work.

It's not just about gas mileage. It's about control. You have a lot more control of the vehicle with a standard transmission, and a standard can do a lot of things automatics can't.