Asklemmy

Late 40s, from the US. My mom drove a manual so I learned on her car. Then my first car was an old VW Bug, and my next couple of cars were also manual.

Now that I live in a city with soul crushing traffic and a completely broken public transit system, I drive an automatic. Driving a manual in stop and go traffic is just not fun. Plus, it's gotten hard to even find a manual transmission anymore. But when we went on vacation to Costa Rica a few years ago they gave us a car with a stick shift and I had a blast bombing that thing around.

Yes, learned to drive on a manual, first car was manual, etc.

37, US, and yes. I prefer manual for keeping my attention actively on the car and driving.

US, learned to drive on the east coast, early 40s, and I can and prefer to.

My wife, however, does not, so I live in the auto world.

Late 20s Israeli. Can and do, though overall manuals are in a steep decline.
I think most people here still drive them as learners though - mainly to have more variety when renting a car abroad.

Yes. Germany, 20 years old

I haven't tried in over 10 years, but I was able to back then. It would probably take a bit of practice to get it back, but I'm sure I could figure it out again.

Since then I have owned two cars with paddle shifters, which I think is the best of both worlds for a casual driver who likes playing racing games, but has never driven on a track and doesn't really plan to.

Yes, my cars have mostly all been standard. Northeast US. Mid-20s. Current car (2000 Honda Insight) is manual.

26 y/o from Sri Lanka. Hate automatics. Daily drive manual cars and motorcycles with gears.

Yes.

I own a car with manuel too and its all my family has ever had.

Only driven automatic at a job.

Automatic gearboxes cost a lot more. So most people opt out, here.

I see that its the opposite in the US. Where they are often cheaper. Which makes little sense..

In the UK there are two classes of license. One if you take your test in an automatic, and one that let's you drive either. So everyone learns in a manual.

In Germany, driving with a manual is pretty standard. Although I did a special driving license (B197) which allows you to learn driving on a manual for 10 lessons and then switch to automatic for the rest of the course and the driving exam while still being allowed to drive a manual. It's pretty new tho. I did it because I really sucked at shifting. I now drive a manual and I'd say I'm okay with it although I'd really prefer an automatic.

Not very well but I'm sure I could figure it out after killing it a few times.

First car i bought, in 1988, was a manual. The day before i bought it, i checked out a book from the library (no internet, you know?) that told me how to drive it and "practiced" in my bedroom. I bought it and drove it home, terrified traffic would stop as i was going over a big bridge. I have an automatic now because i need an suv for work and manuals are hard to find in the US.

Yes. I bought a manual car a few years ago having never driven one before. I taught myself how to drive it in my driveway and with the help of YouTube videos. I really enjoy it and hope that even in the future when EVs are the final nail in the coffin for manuals that I still have at least a "fun" car with a manual. I'm in the US and a millennial.

41, Oklahoma, yes.

30s. I was learning, and could drive with little to no traffic. I have an anxiety thing where my right side tremors, and learning to drive manual with traffic would always set it off. :(

Don't answer these. They're attempts at pinning ur account with a specific demographic and or phishing attempts.

Austria, mid 20s, yes

US, 41, can (don't)

Italy: when I took my license I had to learn on a manual car because the exam car has a manual transmission but my first car was automatic (a bit uncommon here 15 years ago) so I forgot how to drive a manual, then I bought my first RV and I had to re-learn on a 30+ years vehicle but after that I never forgot. Now I like driving manual cars but if you live in a city it’s better an automatic one

AUS, 32. I had to learn manual for my job and for years my daily driver was a manual. I still have that car, I nice V8 sports car, but I prefer an automatic these days due to ease of use especially with how far modern automatics have come from the stigma developed during the 80’s/90’s.

43m, US, yes....it's been a while but I'm certain I would have no problems.

66, UK. Passed my test in manual in 1982. My current car and all but one of my previous cars are the only automatics I've owned.

Yep, own a manual, driven manuals prior, and learned when I was young (conceptually at least, I grew up racing motorcycles, and the idea of clutch+shifting became a thing when I was about 8). Never formally was "taught" in a car, just got in and started driving one. Am 32 in Appalachia.

42, U.S. I can, very well. I used to race cars on the track. I don't do that anymore, but it's a useful skill to have when I'm in Europe. Manual transmission is the norm for any rental car.

Yes, Poland, 18 and I prefer (and drive) it

53m

Learned how to drive synchro'd transmissions on a 86 Ford Escort.

Learned how to double clutch and rev match on a non-synchro'd transmission in a 49 Willys.

I know how. I learned ony dad's old pickup. Havent used manual since (in my 30s)