Poll: Escapist: Can you drive a Manual?

[crimson5pheonix]

I learned on a manual. I learned to drive a manual jeep around a course for weeks, then I learned how to drive a manual with a trailer on a course for weeks, then I learned to drive a manual in reverse around a course for weeks, then I learned to drive a manual with a trailer in reverse around a course for weeks.

I drive an automatic now.

 

[InfernalPaladin]

There's a lot of auto's here in Australia. I learnt on a manual, and have only ever owned manual cars. I find that it's a more enjoyable drive, and you have more control over the car, when using manual.

 

[legend of duty]

There's not much point in learning where I live (Georgia,USA). So I don't bother trying to learn. I would rather spend that time learning skills that I want to learn like surfing. Also, I have a feeling that if I buy a manual car then my possibilities of selling it drop by 95%.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I HAVE driven a manual, and even considered one for my last car purchase, but as far as I know the only manual version of my truck was the XTreme package for the Chevy blazer, which is 2WD ONLY, and 2-Door ONLY. No 4-door, and forget 4WD. At least in the US. I know that over in Brazil, Argentina, and Indonesia the 4-door models come with the 5-speed manual box often found in XTremes, S-10s and Isuzu Hombres here, but as much as I like some of them(The late-model Brazil-spec ones have some really nice features, like a better gauge cluster and the like) import fees are way too high for broke students like myself, and I like US-spec ones better aesthetically. Plus 4-wheel drive is really good for off-road excursions, which are surprisingly common in my life. Hard as hell to find something that I like the looks of, has good gas mileage, has 4WD, 4 doors, AND a manual here. My trucklet ticks the first four boxes, and that's enough for now.

Like I said though, I've driven a few manual vehicles before, most of which were agrarian(old dump truck, a couple tractors, bulldozer, and a battered S10 pickup). Never driven anything fast with a manual though.

 

[Colour Scientist]

My husband tried to teach me, I just couldn't get it. I didn't even manage to get my license until the beginning of this year, because it finally became necessary - I'm 26 and just popped out a baby in May. I just needed to learn to drive, so automatic was the fastest and easiest way for me so I could get the baby around to her appointments and running errands. Also, the car that we had for me to learn on, that I would be driving the most, was an automatic. So, *raspberry*

I've already posted so this is completely OT but congratulations. :3

 

[Chemical Alia]

My car has that feature where it's automatic but you can put it into a mode where you can manually switch gears, and I actually have no idea how to use that and never bothered to try. Maybe it would be better for gas, I dunno.

Its so that you can shift up for wet and icy conditions, and forcing a down shift for bigger hills. The one big advantage manuals have is being able to start in second gear for traction in snow and ice, so its not a bad thing to have.

Yeah, that used to come in handy when I was commuting a few hours to school in the wintertime in rural, hilly areas. I guess I wouldn't have much use for that here, seeing as it never rains and it's completely flat v:

 

[devotedsniper]

I live in the UK so drive a manual which I love to do, will always drive a manual car, don't know why anyone would want an automatic unless they physically couldn't handle a clutch.

Hell with some manuals you have to be really trying to even stall the thing, my 6 speed coupé will crawl up steep hills just coasting with no gas. Also one thing to note is in the UK if you pass in an automatic you have to take another test in order to drive a manual.

 

[Belaam]

American here. Learned to drive a manual and my first two cars were manual. Currently only have automatics because my wife hasn't driven a manual in decades and wanted us both to be able to drive both cars. I don't really see it as an elitist thing, but it is much harder in the US to find modern cars with manual.

When my daughters are old enough to drive, I will probably buy them an old manual so they will know how to drive one if they encounter one.

Don't really have a preference except that I dislike that you can't jump start an automatic if the battery is dead.

 

[Willstown]

UK again, so pretty much only driven manuals. When I have driven and automatic I find the lack of clutch weirds me out. Especially on hills. Even paddle gear shifting is just weird and feels wrong, nice to not have to take your hands off the wheel in that case though

 

[an annoyed writer]

Don't really have a preference except that I dislike that you can't jump start an automatic if the battery is dead.

What is this nonsense? My last car was automatic and I had to Jump-start it multiple times from a deader-than-dead battery. and that was a 1993 Saturn SW.

 

[Belaam]

Don't really have a preference except that I dislike that you can't jump start an automatic if the battery is dead.

What is this nonsense? My last car was automatic and I had to Jump-start it multiple times from a deader-than-dead battery. and that was a 1993 Saturn SW.

Sorry, I meant push start it: put it in neutral, go downhill or push it until you're doing 5mph or so, pop it into first, and it starts. Totally used the wrong word,you can jump start either with the aid of another car.

 

[Seraj33]

In Sweden it is law for all driving schools to do their tests and such with manual.

 

[an annoyed writer]

Don't really have a preference except that I dislike that you can't jump start an automatic if the battery is dead.

What is this nonsense? My last car was automatic and I had to Jump-start it multiple times from a deader-than-dead battery. and that was a 1993 Saturn SW.

Sorry, I meant push start it: put it in neutral, go downhill or push it until you're doing 5mph or so, pop it into first, and it starts. Totally used the wrong word,you can jump start either with the aid of another car.

Ah, okay. That makes much more sense.

 

[loc978]

I cannot.

My father went out of his way to not teach me, and the Army doesn't have manual trucks, so I never had a reason to learn.

Back in my day...

I had to drive a lot of deuce-and-a-halfs... or M35 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M35_2%C2%BD-ton_cargo_truck]s, if you wanna get technical. Most of the ones I used were built in the 50s. Very odd granny low on those things. I guess the active army finally retired 'em... but they're still in use by my local guard unit.

Not that I'm here to extol the virtues of the cable clutch (though my daily driver has one. Makes maintenance cheap and easy)... I'm more of the mind that we should be moving away from internal combustion engines, and electrics don't need transmissions. My ability to synchronize foot and hand movements in a seated position will be academic soon enough.

 

[asinann]

The real question is how many of you can double clutch.

 

[Zipa]

Manual, but live in the UK so its the norm here. Having driven both I much prefer manuals you have far better control over what you are doing.

As for the hill start thing well it is going to become a moot point sooner or later, more and more cars are now coming with electric handbrakes as standard which release once you reach a certain amount of revs going forward which makes hills easy, my current car has one and its like using cheatmode or something.

 

[Major_Tom]

Manual. I have never driven an automatic, how do you do it? Just put in "D"? What are those other number and letters?

The real question is how many of you can double clutch.

I do it when I need to downshift from 4th directly into 2nd, I don't think it's otherwise necessary in modern cars.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I cannot.

My father went out of his way to not teach me, and the Army doesn't have manual trucks, so I never had a reason to learn.

Back in my day...

I had to drive a lot of deuce-and-a-halfs... or M35 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M35_2%C2%BD-ton_cargo_truck]s, if you wanna get technical. Most of the ones I used were built in the 50s. Very odd granny low on those things. I guess the active army finally retired 'em... but they're still in use by my local guard unit.

Not that I'm here to extol the virtues of the cable clutch (though my daily driver has one. Makes maintenance cheap and easy)... I'm more of the mind that we should be moving away from internal combustion engines, and electrics don't need transmissions. My ability to synchronize foot and hand movements in a seated position will be academic soon enough.

We used FMTVs [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Medium_Tactical_Vehicles] and M939s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M939_Truck], both of which were automatics (And the M939's were the 'new' deuce and a halves).

Loved the M939. Driving one of those felt like you were at the wheel of an Apocalypse. If you drove off road, you have to drive standing because the seat's had too much spring to them.

 

[Sealpower]

I drove an automatic once... it was the second worst experience of my life, felt like I had no control over the car what so ever, like the bloody vehicle had a mind of its own and intended to kill me!

So, yes. Manual all the way!

 

[PleaseDele]

I drove an automatic once... it was the second worst experience of my life, felt like I had no control over the car what so ever, like the bloody vehicle had a mind of its own and intended to kill me!

So, yes. Manual all the way!

Right there with ya. I had no idea what to do with my right hand. It just kept going for that stick to shift gear. At other times I just got so bored driving I noticed I wasn't paying enough attention to other drivers.

So yeah, driving stick for me!