Asklemmy

When I was 15 my grandfather took me out into the woods to teach me to drive stick in a 30,000 lb dump truck. I had never driven anything bigger than a golf cart before. My space to work with was a clearing maybe three times the size of the truck. I did not learn to drive stick that day.

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.

Old guy in the USA. My first car was a sport motorcycle so six speed with clutch and shifter. I have a sedan with an auto trans, but also a 4WD truck with manual. When I learned to drive in my teens automatic transmissions were not as nice as they are now, just three speeds and not very smooth. Now they're typically six speed and much nicer. I really dislike a manual trans in heavy traffic, quite a chore.

I learned on a manual when I was 17 but only had that car for maybe 6 months before I got an automatic and haven't had one since. I'm now in my 30s. Was in the USA west coast.

Yes. 40, Canada.

In Australia, near 40.

Love a car I can push start and I have more control over power.

That being said, I want an EV for my next car when they have 1000km or more range (which isn't far off at all)

Yes, 43 year old in America. Work in the DMV.

I've only owned one automatic. Currently drive a Fiesta ST. I can heel toe brake too.

Yes but rusty since haven't done so in few years but it's not hard. In metropolitan US as a 30yr old.

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.

i dont even know what manual transmission means if that tells you anything about me.

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

Mid 60's in the US. I've always driven manual transmission cars. Fairly common for folks my age to know how to drive manual transmissions, since most of us had economy cars in the 70's and 80's. At that time, automatic transmissions were an expensive option and had a negative impact on acceleration and mileage.

My daughter is 29 and doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission and I don't think most of her peers can, either.

EDIT: Accidentally a manual.

In the US, in my late twenties, and yes I learned how to before I was even legally allowed on the roads here. I do still infrequently drive manual cars as I'm a bit of a car enthusiast. I prefer automatic for a daily driver, but any sports cars or older vehicles are more fun with a manual transmission!

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

My first car was a manual, drove that thing an additional 150-170,000 miles over 7 years. Been 2 years but I'm sure I could pick it right back up

Yes, 47, Georgia, USA. I've only ever bought manual transmission cars for my personal use. I just think they're neat!

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

Yes. Mid 40s UK. I have never owned an automatic vehicle, and it looks like there's not much in the way options when it comes to electric cars with manual transmissions.

I had to put in extra effort to find a manual (USA), but I was successful. I'm going to hold onto this thing in perpetuity until the wheels fall off or (reliable) fully autonomous vehicles are "standard".

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.

Yes, Europe.

US - 30s Yeah, but only once and I was like 16 Could I still today? The phrase grind it til you find it comes to mind

Yes, US, late 30's.

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

My dad made me learn on one and take my test with one. I've had a few over the years, I really like them. Looking for a cheap one now so I can teach my partner how. Mid 30's Canada.

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

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.

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

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. 🙃

Yes, 24, army taught me on deployment. It was fun! I'm tempted to get a manual on my next car, but I'd like my wife to be able to use it :P

I'm from Mexico I'm 22 years old and I have been driving since 14 or so (rural Mexico). My family has not own a manual since I started driving and I gues we will not buy one soon lol

25 years old, I live in Alberta, Canada. I learned on automatic and then my first car was a manual. I have only owned cars with manual transmissions since. So much more fun to drive imo

Yes. It’s my daily.

Canada.

31 — Learned how to drive manual at 18.

Yes, early 40s from the UK so most people here learn in a manual car. I drive electric now so it only has forwards and backwards to choose from. Can't say I miss the old manual much, it's just so much more chill driving an auto.

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

I am 17 and don't even have a driver's license (I already could). However I don't want that in the first place. I don't feel comfortable about being in control of a heavy vehicle moving at relatively high speed. I know I'd drive over a pedestrian the first month because I got lost in my thoughts and completely forgot to pay attention to being in a damn car.
Or just fall asleep. Being in a train, bus, or even just playing a bus simulator on my phone immediately makes me sleepy. Sleeping driver is not a good driver.
Additionally there's the high prices of gas to consider, low prices of bus transport, and for me as a student non-existent prices for trains.
Why pay extra to create additional traffic and kill people?