What percent of Americans can drive a stick shift car? (diesel, Volkswagen)

[SubieGuy]

At first I was going to say 50% since my car is stick and my wife couldn't drive it. Instead we went out and I taught her. As ugly as it was, she is now capable of getting from point A to point B in a stick. So I say 100% of people can drive a stick if needed just some will never try.

After a while it becomes second nature.

[Rapom]

I for one will NEVER own an auto, can't properly control the car with it
In say a FWD car in order to take a corner fast, you need to keep your foot mashed on the gas pedal, in order to transfer weight to the rear of the car and balance it out better, while at the same time using your left foot to control the vehicle speed with the brakes...dosen't work with an auto.
Autos are for lazy fools who don't care about having fun in their car, nor have they ever experienced a perfectly timed heel-toe double clutch down shift (not quoting Fast and Furious here, It is a VERY useful trick)
Plus in a stick shift you have to drive, you cant be talking on the phone, or putting on makeup, or texting, or eating a cheeseburger, you have to focus on the road...
I wish we did what europe does, if you cant take your driving test in a stick, no license for you :-)

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by SubieGuy

At first I was going to say 50% since my car is stick and my wife couldn't drive it. Instead we went out and I taught her. As ugly as it was, she is now capable of getting from point A to point B in a stick. So I say 100% of people can drive a stick if needed just some will never try.

After a while it becomes second nature.

i taught my wife to drive a stick, in a vega, 27+ yrs ago lol. At least over the years "her" cars have included some sporty ones with manual trans mixed in with the family sedans. She now has as much fun driving our s2k as i do, and we made sure our daughter learned to drive on a stick as well (she now has a scion tc being modded and her hubby has a 500hp s2k she's also driven).

I agree as long as one is taught they can pick it up. But i remember when we taught our daughter, most of her friends all learned on AT's as that's all their parents owned. So i bet as more cars drop the manuals and fewer families own them, it will be harder for future generations to learn and to enjoy driving with one


"After a while it becomes second nature" Exactly!

[PDD]

Originally Posted by Rapom

I for one will NEVER own an auto, can't properly control the car with it
In say a FWD car in order to take a corner fast, you need to keep your foot mashed on the gas pedal, in order to transfer weight to the rear of the car and balance it out better, while at the same time using your left foot to control the vehicle speed with the brakes...dosen't work with an auto.
Autos are for lazy fools who don't care about having fun in their car, nor have they ever experienced a perfectly timed heel-toe double clutch down shift (not quoting Fast and Furious here, It is a VERY useful trick)
Plus in a stick shift you have to drive, you cant be talking on the phone, or putting on makeup, or texting, or eating a cheeseburger, you have to focus on the road...
I wish we did what europe does, if you cant take your driving test in a stick, no license for you :-)

So I own a six speed manual and a four speed automatic, I guess that means I am lazy when I drive the auto and a control kind of guy when I drive a stick.

Makes absolutely no sense.

While heel and toe are very useful when entering a corner at high speed on the track it is of no useful purpose on the street.

[Merc63]

Originally Posted by Rapom

I for one will NEVER own an auto, can't properly control the car with it

BS. You're in just as much control over where you go, how fast you get there, how fast you stop, cornering attitude, braking, accceleration in an automatic. I drive an auto and a manual on the same roads/commute back to back and am in just as much control of my automatic BMW as I am in my 5 speed Mustang or 6 speed MINI.

You have slightly DIFFERENT controls to use, but are just as much in control of your car either way. And my last fast autocross car used a built automatic and went faster on the track than most. And I was in complete control of it. I just didn't wiggle my left foot occasionally.

Sorry, but that slight push of the left foot every few minutes does NOT constitute the difference between being in control and not being in control of your car.

[Arctic Samurai]

Originally Posted by acrylic

I've never driven a stick shift car, and I sort of refuse to. I don't want to ruin someone else's stick shift practicing. I also live in a very hilly city, so manual is not all that ideal. Only way I'd ever drive a stick shift is if I absolutely HAD TO, and I lived on flat terrain and never planned going up a hill again in my life. Plus, it just seems to be too much of a pain. You have to think about shifting all the time.

Trust me, once you get the hang of it, it doesn't matter if you have to drive up Mt. Everest with a stick shift... it'd be piece of cake, even with a thousand stops on the way up
Always driven stick shift (though I'm not American), so I find it just as natural as walking - not that I don't prefer automatic transmission, due to its convenience...

[CaptainNJ]

i also like to use a typewriter to write my letters and memos

[hdwell]

Recently purchased a 1994 Ford Ranger with a 4sp/OD and enjoy the mileage I'm getting with it. It's my 4th manual in my driving history. I'm pushing 60 but the shifting bothers me less now than when I was in my thirties. Go figure

[13 Letter Crap Spreader]

I will never drive another automatic!

I have driven a 3 on the tree, 4 speed, 5 speed, 6 speed, 8 speed, 9 speed, 10 speed, super 10 speed, 13 speed, 15 double over and an 18 speed! Oh and a 5x4 twin stick (2 stick shifts in one truck).

[Checkered24]

I can drive a stick, have owned sticks, and do enjoy them for spirited driving. I would have no problem owning one as my only car. However, I still prefer an automatic for my normal daily commuting and driving.