Poll: Escapist: Can you drive a Manual?

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loc978

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Sep 18, 2010
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asinann said:
The real question is how many of you can double clutch.
No synchros in most M35s... and I once drove a 1960 Morris Minor (for about a week, actually. I was borrowing it) with no synchros. Not the most efficient shifting, but doable.
 

Zakarath

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Mar 23, 2009
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Yep, my Subaru is a stick-shift. took a little getting used to but now the only thing I don't like is getting moving from being stopped on an incline. That moment before you engage the gears and the car starts to roll backwards...
 

Not Lord Atkin

I'm dead inside.
Oct 25, 2008
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I don't drive. I do have a driver's license and I did learn on a manual transmission. This was almost 5 years ago though. So technically, I CAN drive and I CAN drive a manual, it's just that I hate driving.

Plus I got my licence in mainland Europe and I now live in the UK so attempting to start driving again would most likely get me killed.
 

Serinanth

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Apr 29, 2009
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I learned with a sloppy three on the tree. I don't care for automatics, stick is way more fun and engaging.
 

RicoADF

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Jun 2, 2009
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Over here most people seem to drive auto due to lazyness, I however will only drive manual and considering my car is a Holden Commodore SSV Redline, getting it in auto would have been criminal :p (It's a sports car like a Mustang for those none Australian's out there).
 

sandangel

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Jan 2, 2011
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I know hypothetically, since my brother showed me how the pedals work, but I have no practical experience with a manual transmission.
 

Stg

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Jul 19, 2011
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It's odd. I work in the oil field and as such, I had to get my Class A CDL with HazMat, Tankers, etc. and I can drive a 90,000lb semi-truck (tractor+trailer) with no problem, but when I tried to drive my girlfriend's standard Honda Fit, I barely made it one block.

Then again, semi-trucks are geared much lower than standard cars so you can just let off the clutch slowly and the truck will drive itself.
 

Vicarious Reality

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Jul 10, 2011
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Who the F is Steve McQueen

I cant not drive a manual gear car, i can not even remember seeing an automatic gearbox in real life
 

shootthebandit

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May 20, 2009
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Vicarious Reality said:
Who the F is Steve McQueen

I cant not drive a manual gear car, i can not even remember seeing an automatic gearbox in real life
Steve mcqueen is only like the coolest guy ever. He was the american guy in the great escape and he was in a film called Bullit where he drove he mustang through san fransico

 

frobalt

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Jan 2, 2012
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I'm another Brit, so of course I can.

As for those saying it's harder to drive manually: I originally passed my test in 2009 and only drove once between that and getting my 1st car in August last year, and it didn't take me long at all to re-learn clutch control. I've been driving just less than a year and shifting gear is second nature to me. It takes me less than 2 seconds to shift gear, easily.

Also, how many auto drivers that think manual drivers are elitist are just feeling insecure about themselves?
 

Tiger King

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Zakarath said:
Yep, my Subaru is a stick-shift. took a little getting used to but now the only thing I don't like is getting moving from being stopped on an incline. That moment before you engage the gears and the car starts to roll backwards...
that's what the handbrake is for :D

shootthebandit said:
Vicarious Reality said:
Who the F is Steve McQueen

I cant not drive a manual gear car, i can not even remember seeing an automatic gearbox in real life
Steve mcqueen is only like the coolest guy ever. He was the american guy in the great escape and he was in a film called Bullit where he drove he mustang through san fransico

ford did an advert for the puma based on the film if I remember right?

my fave film quote of his was from a film whose name I cant remember sadly. But anyway, in the film the girl he had been with tells him she is pregnant, and after an awkward moment he says 'well, congratulations' before walking off.
he really did a good job of showing how much of a douchebag that character was.
 

Qwurty2.0

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Apr 21, 2011
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frobalt said:
Also, how many auto drivers that think manual drivers are elitist are just feeling insecure about themselves?
Probably the same number of manual drivers who think auto drivers are inferior to them. :/
 

I am only a man

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Feb 25, 2011
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I learned how to drive in a stick, and took my driving test in an automatic. It was an odd adjustment to make so suddenly.
 

cathou

Souris la vie est un fromage
Apr 6, 2009
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i drive a grand caravan minivan, i think those things doesnt even come with a manual transmission. but most of the new cars i've tried were auto, but you could force the system to gear up and down if you wanted to.

i had a manual car once. for 12 hours. one fo my freind give me his dad old car, a 1985 rabbit diesel VW (we were in 2003) that havent been on the road at all for at least 3 years. he learn me how to drive manually, wich i had some trouble with, then i tried to come home with my new car, and the transmission fluid began to leak everywhere. it sums my manual experience...
 

Random Argument Man

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May 21, 2008
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I tried to learn. The thing is that my dad is a terrible teacher and I only have a 1986 suzuki samurai.

The thing is we still understand how the Samurai managed to work to this day.
 

Unia

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Jan 15, 2010
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Well considering in my corner of the world I would not have gotten a driver's licence at all without knowing how to shift gears, yes. Never driven automatic.