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I'm learning to drive in a manual at the moment and i'm taking my test next month. I know I've left it a bit late - I'm 26 now.

Initially I learnt in automatic because I tried out my parents car and got really pissed off with clutch control because I've got clumsy feet. But after a while I changed my mind because I wouldn't be able to drive a manual at all if I got my licence in an automatic. I just stuck with it and I've got the hang of it now. I was going to get an automatic car once (if) I pass my test, but now I've changed my mind, I much prefer driving a manual now. Feels like I've got more control, as other people have said.

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
An automatic is too much like driving a dodgem car

I wouldn't go as far as that. :S

So far I owe two stories....the MRAP through the front door and the smoke grenade going off in the back of my aircraft. For me to go into those stories and more....well that would involve Gentleman Jack and coke and on pain meds at the same time......

We kind to had to due to the two knuckleheads would have shot someone....besides we have a SWAT thread going on......

Edit

Of course we were listening in on another engagement about a month later..

"HEY WE HAVE INSURGENTS IN THE MUDHOUSE!"
"Wait One"
............
"Spartan 3 this is 4. We talking the mudhouse on the right with the left window shutter busted?"
"4 this is 3. Good Copy. Want me to smoke for identification?"
"3 we be 4. No need. We're putting one through the door. Gunner has eyes on AK sticking out the right window."
BOOM
"2 we be 4. Did we have one go out the back?"
"Spartan 4 this is 2. Good shoot. One out the back was negative upright"

Most definitely. My first car had a manual transmission. Everyone thought I was crazy taking my driving license test with it. Passed first time.

I wouldn't, by choice, drive any other way. I drive a Honda S2000 though, which doesn't come automatic...

I had a 2006 Pontiac GTO 6-speed. Greatest car I've ever owned. Loved driving it, but when I had to take a crappy job, I could no longer afford to maintain it, and had to get rid of it. I regret that decision everyday I'm not driving it.

"American" car built in Australia with a Corvette power train that didn't share parts with pretty much any other vehicle. Yeah. Even normal maintenance was fething expensive.

Totally worth it.

It's actually one of my biggest embarrassments that I never learned. My family sold their last stick shift before I was tall enough to reach the pedals.

I'm a redneck from Idaho darn it, I should know how to drive a manual...

I'm a redneck from Idaho darn it, I should know how to drive a manual...

and being corn fed.....

 Jihadin wrote:
You never know true fun unless your driving a Deuce and Half...in South Korea....

Oh yes. The old Deuces with the double pump clutch. Kids playing in narrow streets with giant dumptrucks breaking off your mirrors as they pass, cars parked on both sides of the street. Brakes on fire after going down a mountain. Joy.

Meh,
Auto boxes are for girly-men.

 notprop wrote:
Yep, it's really quite straight forward.

Most vehicles in the UK are Manual Transmission as standard.

I never quite understood the American prevalence for Automatic. I'm sure there's some historical reason?

Drive in San Francisco and you'll see why automatic transmissions are needed.

 Zathras wrote:

 notprop wrote:
Yep, it's really quite straight forward.

Most vehicles in the UK are Manual Transmission as standard.

I never quite understood the American prevalence for Automatic. I'm sure there's some historical reason?

Drive in San Francisco and you'll see why automatic transmissions are needed.

Shoot man... it's more FUN driving in San Fran proper with a manual!

Unless... there's stop & go traffic... in which case, sucks major balls.

This might sound kind of strange, but I've been able to drive a full-size tractor since I was probably like 12, but I'm still not completely comfortable driving a car with a manual transmission. I can drive one, and I've even driven for a couple hours in a single stretch in one before, but I don't do it often enough to be able to do it without always having to think about what I'm doing.

I don't even drive.
I sold my car about 20 years ago.
Does that count?

Is zero correct, the poll is odd. . .

"How many. . ."

1 "Yup. . ."
2 "I can. . ."
3 "Never. . ."

Manual or Automatic transmission is just a question of local custom.

My understanding is that in the US, it is the norm to sell cars full option, power everything with automatic gearbox. If that full option car doesn't meet your budget, get it used or get something else. Even when you look at an oldtimer from the 60's you can see that. Of course, having such an expectation set and selling more cars with an option makes that option as cheap as it can be with mass production.

In Europe, it's common to have a long list of options between bare bones basic equipment in a chassis to full option, with full option being the exception. Considering that an automatic gearbox just like many other options are just sunk cost and dead weight/drag when you don't want them, that kinda makes sense. It doesn't put any strain on the manufacturers to squeeze cost from options though, which isn't in the consumers interest. Another point is, that unlike in the US with the low fuel prices there, it's not really practical to add a ton of scrap metal to your vehicle and pay for that at the pump each time you fill up.

You might just as well compare how an American land steamer and an European car corner. ;-]

Yep, it's really quite straight forward.

Most vehicles in Germany are Manual Transmission as standard.

I've never driven a manual car.

We have an automatic transmission in the car.
The wife got it when she had a left ankle reconstruction (RHD. Clutch is left foot. For city driving, it was just not suitable.)

I've never actually held a CAR licence. When I had my bike licence, they were separate things. There not being such a thing as an automatic transmission motorcycle at the time meant I had a manual motorcycle licence by default.

Now, the systems got merged in the decades since. The system shows me as previously holding a manual licence (the difference is that if you learn to drive a car with an auto, you are restricted to ONLY driving auto UNLESS you have a manual licenced driver with you whilst driving).

This is going to cause them no end of headaches when I reapply for a licence at the end of this year.
(I don't need a licence where I live. PT is good, and I can get most places I need to using it. When I need to get somewhere else, usually the missus is also going, and will drive anyway.)

 Mr. Shine wrote:
I wouldn't, by choice, drive any other way. I drive a Honda S2000 though, which doesn't come automatic...

This. Will never drive an auto, ever ever ever. They are just so boring and dull to drive. Unless you classify paddle shifting as auto. Learned to drive on a manual, only 21 and had 6 cars already, all of them manual, next ones will be manual

I would rather walk than have to drive an auto

I learned in a manual, as I think most people in the UK do. After I passed my test, before I got my own car I drove my Mum's automatic for a while. It was alright, but I preferred the manual. And since I've had my own manual car, I don't think I want to drive automatics again. I dislike driving at the best of times, but somehow manual makes it that little bit more manageable!

Haven't even seen an automatic transmission car here yet. You lazy bums on the other side of the ocean are the ones crazy about it

This being said, automatic is a god-send though. Our current car is automatic and it's SO. MUCH. BETTER. You basically don't have to worry about...anything besides breaking while driving. Much more relaxing.

 Monster Rain wrote:
My first couple cars were manual but that was kind of a while ago. I'm probably a bit out of practice, but I could drive one if I had to.

I never did quite get over the fear of being stopped on a hill with a car close behind me when I was driving a standard, though.

Put the parking brake on, gas into first, release parking brake.

 Seaward wrote:

 Monster Rain wrote:
My first couple cars were manual but that was kind of a while ago. I'm probably a bit out of practice, but I could drive one if I had to.

I never did quite get over the fear of being stopped on a hill with a car close behind me when I was driving a standard, though.

Put the parking brake on, gas into first, release parking brake.

Pretty much, hill starts aren't bad once you get the hang of them.

 motyak wrote:

Pretty much, hill starts aren't bad once you get the hang of them.

Yup, my city sits on top of some 53 volcanoes (Auckland volcanic field) so there are hills aplenty, but rarely do I ever feel the need to use the handbrake when hill starting.

 whembly wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
If you can't drive stick, you can't drive.

Hush, you live in a land of bikes and... dams...

Wooden shoes... and weeds... and most importantly... women field hockey!

Like I said, dames! God bless the Netherlands Women's national field hockey team!

My new car is a hybrid that uses a continuous transmission system to get better mileage. There is no shifting done, manual or automatic. And it cuts over to electric power at times too, which is weird to be driving with no engine noise.

But I'm averaging upper 40s MPG, which given the cost of gas is pretty nice these days