Asklemmy

37m, USA

I can. The first new car I bought was a manual, because it was less expensive. I embarrassed myself for a bit, but that's when I learned.

My friend taught me for the most part in college when I was 22, and then when I bought my first manual it was 5 hours from my house. If I didn't figure it out I wouldn't have gotten home 🫣

Only killed it a couple times, and only when I was getting on/off the freeway. And once in stop and go traffic, but I don't think anyone noticed

I learned to drive on a 1942 John Deere in the early 70s. No on-the-fly shifting but the basics of steering, clutch, and throttle were there.

In 2017 I bought my first automatic; that vehicle was not available in manual or I def would have bought it that way.

Yes. Mid thirties UK. I've actually never driven an automatic.

British, Yes, Most people here can, In fact in my 47 years I have only met 2 people who had automatic only licences. And I ran a garage for 7 years so met a lot of drivers. I have personally only owned manuals and haven't done more than 100 miles in Automatics.

Yes, early 20s USA. Learned at 18 and drove manual every day until I sold my last car in November

39, Philly. Up until my current VW, yes. Couldn't get a manual GLI when I was buying in 2021 and needed to make a decision. At least the dual clutch 7 speed DSG auto is fun as hell to drive and feels like a manual.

US, 35 - yes can and do drive manual.

I'm 40 and have never used a manual transmission, and have no desire at all to ever use one.

Yeah, here in South Africa most cars are manuals so you need to know how to drive them to get a full drivers licence. If you do your driving test in an automatic car, your licence only allows you to drive automatics. I'm in my mid 20s.

I made it to 39 without ever learning to drive a manual. At that time though my girlfriend had a manual. And one night she was too drunk to drive. So I managed to make it work well enough to drive us maybe a mile through luckily mostly empty nighttime streets home.

I later learned to drive her car for real.

Late 30s, learned to drive in NL and now live in SE. Initially learned about transmissions by running around on four wheelers. I drive a manual car every day. There's a lot of fun and connection to driving manual, though I see the ease and efficiency of the automatic transmission as well as the general trend.

20’s, Canada. Only ever owned manual transmission vehicles.

35, American, can only drive automatic but have been trying to learn manual. My barrier is never having a car available to me to practice on. 🙃

Yup, although I don't currently. It's my preference, but not a strong one. I'm 48 and American.

I don't really have a good reasofor preferring it. I guess I just feel more involved and in control. Fun story, I didn't learn to drive a manual until I was in my mid thirties.

Yes, only ever driven manuals. Wouldn't have the slightest idea how to drive an automatic though!

Yes. I'm from Wisconsin, USA and bought my first manual car (2018 Focus ST) in 2021. I'm 29 years old and was 27 when I bought the car.

I'm actually about to sell that car but replace it with another manual car. My other car is an (automatic) 2020 Supra.

Yes. F, mid 50s, West Virginia.

Yes (US, 35), and it’s something I can do autonomically in appropriate situations. I also enjoy being an integral part of my car’s operation.

And when you’re flogging it on a nice mountain road or a track, there’s nothing quite like nailing that heel-and-toe downshift as you’re clipping the apex.

US late thirties

I can but haven't in few years. Never been great at it though.

I'm 36. Yes, I can. I learned on a stick shift.

I learned how to but haven't been behind the wheel of a manual transmission car since the 90s.

In my family you couldn't get a drivers license until you know to drive any car and also the basics of maintenance. Other things I have't done since (roughly) the 90s: change my oil/coolant/brake/transmission, change various filters, replace pump seals, or replace hoses/belts. But I have to admit, its handy to know how to do all that.

US, mid 30s, and nope. (I learned on a friend's car but didn't spend enough time for the muscle memory to build in, even way back then)

I can drive manual, but I hate it. I don't want to worry about releasing the clutch just right to avoid jerk, so I bought an electric car. Certainly was expensive, but it's infinitely more smooth than a manual transmission could ever be. 23 year old, living in Germany.

No. I'm 25 and from Florida.

I drive a manual transmission to work every day. [20, US]

Midwest US, 48, and it's all I drive.

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.

Yep, my family only had manual vehicles growing up so I had to learn stick just to start driving. AZ here, also mid 30s.

Southern Europe, 34. I only know how to drive with manual transmission (I tried an automatic city car once, and I literally couldn't exit the parking spot). I'm too used to control the car with the clutch. I should learn though, because I use car sharing services, and they are progressively replacing their cars with automatic transmission ones.

Yep, I'm in Sweden, 30 and both know how to and do drive a manual car.

I'm from the UK and after driving one about 100 metres I refuse to drive an automatic car, it's one of the main reasons why I don't want an electric car either. Automatic cars are horrible twitchy things that just aren't enjoyable to drive and you can't change gears to anticipate a change in the road before you're already on that bit of road.

Canada, 36M, can and do.

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

Does shifting on my bike count?

Sweden, late 40's. Manual since I had my driving license (18). Driven automatic maybe 2-3 times in my life

42 Aus and this is a great way to get age and location details on accounts

I learned manual on a car with a fucked up transmission.

US, 36, and I've only ever owned manual vehicles. I think I've drove automatic maybe 5 times in the past 20 years I've had my license.

Mid-late twenties, US, I know how but have only ever done it on a motorcycle. I don't even know anyone who owns a manual car.

I think I'd like a manual sports car. Automatics are boring.

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

Yes, Europe.