Asklemmy

Yes, US, mid twenties, I learned when I was 16 and I've really only driven manuals since. I taught myself how to heel toe four years ago. I'm not under the impression that I can shift gears quicker than a performance auto or more efficiently than a modern auto. I don't think either has been true for at least a couple decades, not for driving in a straight line. It's just fun. Manual transmissions make shitty cars bearable. I was surprised after leaving my home town to learn that hardly anyone knew how to drive stick. Not all of my pears growing up dailied a manual, but they all knew how.

Yes, early 40s, midwest.

My mother wouldn't let me take my driver's test without leaning to drive manual. My first car ended up being a manual, which ensured that no one ever borrowed my car.

Scandinavian, mid-40's. The vast majority of cars in Europe have manual transmission, in my country you can't even get a driver's license if you can't handle it. I prefer manual, whenever I drive automatic I feel like there's something missing.

In the UK it's pretty standard to learn in a manual. I currently have an automatic and honestly I don't want to go back. I like to think I'm a pretty good driver and gears were never an issue for me, but man is it nice to have one less thing to think about when driving.

Oh and I'm 39.

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.

30, german, yes I can, no I do not. I drive a hybrid, so no manual transmission.

55M, Australia. I have a manual license, always drove a manual until my new-to-me car. I have osteo-arthritis and my knees hurt when I drive a lot, but I drive it like a manual with automatic clutch.

Yes! I'm in my early 20s, and bought a manual transmission car just 2 weeks ago. It was also my first time driving alone, so it has been quite stressful

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

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 (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.

Yes. F, mid 50s, West Virginia.

Yes, California, late 30s. I drove a manual transmission when I was a teenager. I was proud of how practiced I got with it. I don't drive manual anymore, but my dad recently switched back after some decades driving automatic. He found out he's out of practice lol

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.

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.

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

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.

Yes. I'm from the USA and in my late twenties. I learned how to drive on an old Jeep Wrangler on a farm.

Yes. German. When I learned to drive, it was mandatory to do so on a stick.

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

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.

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

Does shifting on my bike count?

Canada, 36M, can and do.

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

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.

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

Yes, had to learn when I moved to Europe.

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

Yes, but I don't because I've lived in Korea for the past twenty years, and you need a special license to drive manual here. I'm in my forties. From Canada.

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)

USA, late 20s, I've driven manual for almost a decade and have had a bunch of stick shift cars.

I've only ever driven a manual, but having heard how good automatics have gotten, I think driving manual is pointless nowadays unless you're doing it for fun. It definitely feels better when you're going on a highway, but if you're driving in the city it's unbearable.

Drove a manual for 15 years before I got a more family friendly car.

Yes, I even passed my driver's test in a manual while needing to do a 3 point turn on a hill. I am almost 30, born and raised in the suburbs of New York.

I haven't driven manual in years, ever since that car fell victim to black ice and a guard rail, but I have done recent test drives of manuals without stalling, so I guess it is something you never forget once you know how.