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submitted 2 years ago by raptir@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

And where are you from? And how old? Not "do you" but just if you know how.

I'm in the US, mid 30s and can (and do) drive a manual transmission.

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[-] thisfro@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 years ago

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

Does shifting on my bike count?

[-] JonnyRobbie@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[-] rm_dash_r_star@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[-] ninjaturtle@lemmy.ninja 2 points 2 years ago

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

[-] Jaywarbs@artemis.camp 2 points 2 years ago

No, and nobody in my immediate family has owned a manual since the early 90s. I’m 34 and in the US.

[-] themaxmethod@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[-] archomrade@midwest.social 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

[-] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Southeastern US, and yep. I sort of just figured it out during a test drive. The woman showing me the car was attractive and I didn't want to look bad in front of her.

My wife's car is a manual, and we find that it takes a while sometimes to get our car back from the valet because they have to find someone who can drive stick.

[-] Squirrel@thelemmy.club 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[-] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

Western Europe, and yes I can drive manual. Mostly because that's how I practiced for my driving exam.
I switched to hybrid, and later electric, driving and haven't really used manual transmission anymore.
The only exception is when I have to borrow my mother's car. Then it's a lot of grinding gears before the muscle memory comes back to me :)

[-] Auzy@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

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)

[-] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, but switched to auto for ease of use.

The worst manual gearbox, other than my MK1 Golf, was a single seater Formula Renault I did some track days in. Tiny little gate and very easy to hit 1st when going for 3rd

[-] EarthBoundMisfit@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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!

[-] MrTHXcertified@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 years ago

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)

[-] andthenthreemore@startrek.website 2 points 2 years ago

Yes. Mid thirties UK. I've actually never driven an automatic.

[-] LongPigFlavor@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

No. I'm 25 and from Florida.

[-] benpo@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

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.

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[-] Starb3an@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

Yes. Houston TX. Mid 30s. I learned around age 15-16 on a 1940's Willys jeep my grandpa owned. Steering wheel had about 90° of play in it. Also drove a manual is Mexico. If I win the lottery, I'll buy and build a Caterham kit car.

[-] OldFartPhil@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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.

[-] Rockslide0482@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 years ago

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".

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

I can, older than you.

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

My first 4 cars were standard. As is every motorcycle I have owned.

Learned on a farm truck when I was 13.

[-] dbilitated@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago

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

[-] adamth0@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[-] tebro@lemmy.tebro.fi 2 points 2 years ago

Well EVs only really have forwards and backwards. No additional gears.

[-] TheButtonJustSpins@infosec.pub 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Late 30s, US, nope.

[-] kinttach@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

There are very few manuals still sold in the US. The holdouts are ultra-budget models or pretentious sports cars. I can count on one hand the number of people I know who can drive manual.

I can drive one because my dad had an ultra-budget hatchback that I learned on, and later I had one of those pretentious sports cars, which I swapped for something more practical when I had kids. Age: old enough to have kids.

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[-] Kosh@hexbear.net 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, had to learn when I moved to Europe.

[-] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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.

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this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
393 points (93.6% liked)

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