Asklemmy

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.

Currently learning, it's useful for a lot of the light industrial jobs here

UK, early 20s, can and do drive manual.

The UK has a separate driving license for auto and manuals. If you pass your test with an automatic car, you get an automatic only license. If you pass eith a manual car you get a licence to drive both types, so most people decide to drive manual (although there is a slow increase of people getting auto only licenses). I prefer manual because they're more fun to drive in my opinion.

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! 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

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

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.

38 Ireland, yes, it's the main transmission type here, the same as most of Europe.

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

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.

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 (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, 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)

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.

Early 30s, US. Yes I can drive a manual. They have their moments when they are better than autos.

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, 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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Yes, Europe.

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.

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

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.

Yes, had to learn when I moved to Europe.