Clicky poll: Can you drive a stick?

Mrs.E.07

IHO my current quest to get a swedish driver's license, which includes having to learn stick.
[Poll]

Avion22

I learned to drive a stick shift, and my first several cars were stick shifts.   I've only driven automatics for the last few years.   Living in the UK, I'm DEFINITELY glad that I know how to drive a stick shift, because it makes renting cars here so much easier and less expensive.   I actually find it kind of embarassing how few Americans (especially women) know how to drive stick shifts.

Mrs.E.07

Up until a few months ago, I couldn't drive a stick even if my life depended on it. But now I can do it, pretty well, but I still don't like it and I would MUCH rather drive an automatic. I'm proud of my progress, though! I wish I had learned to drive on a stick shift, because I think it's much easier to learn from the getgo than to do what I did, which is drive an automatic for 10ish years and then have to basically re-learn how to drive.

azure_azure

I took a 2 hour lesson when I was in Canada this summer. So now I can move the car if I really have to.

I haven't had the chance to practice yet, hopefully soon, both H and I will have some time without M to go practice somewhere without traffic.

The roads here are so narrow and hilly though, I'm really really scared!

PittPurple

My parents made me learn on a stick and I was super annoyed at the time as I definitely wasn't a natural! but they were totally right. DH's car in the states was a stick and I borrowed it all the time. We don't have UK licenses but we're talking about it and at least it's one thing I know already (although shifting with the left hand will probably be challenging!). I'm so, so terrified of roundabouts though!

Jetur20

Yup, I learned on it and my first (and only) car was a stick.  I actually drive better in a stick because I have more control and am more used to it.  For instance, if I want to slow down, I can downshift instead of brake, so when I'm in an automatic I forget and wait too long and then have to slam on the brakes.  

I am a bit rusty though.

Pitt - roundabouts in the UK scare the crap out of me, too! 

Mrs.E.07

PittPurple:

My parents made me learn on a stick and I was super annoyed at the time as I definitely wasn't a natural! but they were totally right. DH's car in the states was a stick and I borrowed it all the time. We don't have UK licenses but we're talking about it and at least it's one thing I know already (although shifting with the left hand will probably be challenging!). I'm so, so terrified of roundabouts though!

oh yes, they have crazy traffic circles here, too! (and like a million of them).  I have to work on those. Also, my biggest problem with stick shift is still the steep uphills, they are killing me. Especially if I'm stopped, like at a light, on an uphill with someone right behind me. EEEEK! it's awful. I'm terrified of hills now, it's crazy.

MouseInLux

I drove an automatic until I was 19 or 20 when my emergency vehicle for the riding program that I was running was a stick, I had a crash course and been driving them since. This is my first automatic in close to 5 years!

TTC76

I learned to drive a stick , but can really only drive an automatic. I am not sure I could get a stick from point A to B at this time in my life.

rpic81

I drive stick but I had a lot of trouble on the super-steep hills in San Francisco. I could handle an incline, but those hills where all you see is he hood of your car? No way. I got stuck on one once and the poor people in the car behind me kept having to reverse so I wouldn't roll into them. When they were finally able to get around me, they gave me the thumbs up and yelled, "It's OK! You can do it!" and took off. It was so California, I loved it.

wise_rita

The point A to point B answer is perfect.  I always say I could escape a serial killer chasing after me, but only then.

Shekels831

I can barely drive an automatic.

My stepdad tried to teach me when I was 13 or so in his old truck, but it was just for fun and I think I scared him a good bit that day.

kelly321

After my first year in Germany, when I was mocked for not being able to drive one, I got a stick shift upon my return to the States. I voted that I rock at it, although that's actually only in the States. In Germany I prefer an automatic (that's what we have here now) simply because I have a hard enough time dealing with the really narrow roads and found it really stressful in our old stick shift car to have to constantly worry about starting on hills after having to pull halfway off the road because an oncoming car otherwise wouldn't fit.

sushisamba

I learned to drive with a stick, and all the cars I've owned have been a manual.  I also prefer it to an automatic because I feel more in control.  It was a big help when I got my license here, since that was one less thing I had to worry about.

And Pitt, the roundabouts still make me nervous. 

allibally

wise_rita:

The point A to point B answer is perfect.  I always say I could escape a serial killer chasing after me, but only then.

This!

Pseudonim

rpic81:

I drive stick but I had a lot of trouble on the super-steep hills in San Francisco. I could handle an incline, but those hills where all you see is he hood of your car? No way. I got stuck on one once and the poor people in the car behind me kept having to reverse so I wouldn't roll into them. When they were finally able to get around me, they gave me the thumbs up and yelled, "It's OK! You can do it!" and took off. It was so California, I loved it.

That's what the hand brake is for!! Click it on, find the bite point, release hand brake and you're off and away, no rolling. Walla.

I learned on both manual and automatic, I much prefer the manual though. 

stever

SS - I learned to drive on a stick and kicked all kinds of stick-driving ass, but now that I have MS it's a million times easier to drive an automatic.

Jetur20

rpic81:

I drive stick but I had a lot of trouble on the super-steep hills in San Francisco. I could handle an incline, but those hills where all you see is he hood of your car? No way. I got stuck on one once and the poor people in the car behind me kept having to reverse so I wouldn't roll into them. When they were finally able to get around me, they gave me the thumbs up and yelled, "It's OK! You can do it!" and took off. It was so California, I loved it.

Yah.  Those are tough for anyone except those who live in SF.  But it is SO California and now I'm off to listen to my Joni Mitchell "California" song that I always listen to when I'm nostalgic for home.

A tip for those hills: use the e-brake until you are starting to move.   

rpic81

Jetur20:

rpic81:

I drive stick but I had a lot of trouble on the super-steep hills in San Francisco. I could handle an incline, but those hills where all you see is he hood of your car? No way. I got stuck on one once and the poor people in the car behind me kept having to reverse so I wouldn't roll into them. When they were finally able to get around me, they gave me the thumbs up and yelled, "It's OK! You can do it!" and took off. It was so California, I loved it.

Yah.  Those are tough for anyone except those who live in SF.  But it is SO California and now I'm off to listen to my Joni Mitchell "California" song that I always listen to when I'm nostalgic for home.

A tip for those hills: use the e-brake until you are starting to move.   

The e-brake! Of course. Hm, I was still in the early stages of learning at the time and I don't remember trying to use it. Rookie's mistake, I guess. I generally found the flatest ways to get to wherever I was going, which meant making a 20 minute drive take 30 minutes, but it was less stressful, so I didn't care. 

oneslybookworm

I learned on a manual, then didn't drive on again until we moved here (so...12 years later).  I sucked at first...took me a bit to get used to it, and now I rock it like a star.  In fact, I think we'll get a manual when we move home because I like driving them so much!

dpdw

I love, love, love driving stick, makes me feel like a race car driver :-)  But with kids in the car (and all the additional distractions that they bring) the only safe choice for me (and them) is an automatic. 

AmericanInOz

I only drove a stick a few times - when I got my license my Dad has a sports car & I drove it a few times, then he sold it cause he didn't want a teenager driving it

haven't really driven one since - I think it would be REALLY hard for me to do that!!!

it's hard enough just driving on the other side of the car/road & with roundabouts (although I must say I'm pretty good at them now:) I think the worst thing here is how darn narrow the lanes are!!! I got honked at a LOT when I first started driving here.....