Poll: Escapist: Can you drive a Manual?

[clippen05]

Manuals are tiring for long trips. In the US, many individual states are larger than the UK

If by many you mean Alaska and Texas, lol.

OT: I only know how to drive automatic. Have thought about trying to learn manual, but there's no real reason to for me.

 

[Daygall65]

Well. This exploded more than I thought it would >_<

As for can I?

Yep, started driving when I was 10 on stick tractor, got to drive parents cars on driveway *1.2KM driveway* both sticks. One was a 80s Honda Accord, the other was a 96 Subaru Legacy Wagon. So two completely different cars in terms of how the clutch reacts *also different wear levels* So I got used to different pedal feel.

My cars have been an 01 Legacy Wagon and an 07 Legacy Wagon *I like my Subys* Both manuals. Every time I drive an automatic I feel like I can't control the car... I don't like how sluggish the transmission feels, and I habitually try to hit the clutch at a stop sign and reach for my shifter...

I like my stick shift!

ROCK ON STICK SHIFT DRIVERS!

 

[Chemical Alia]

I live in the US where it's not that common these days for people to drive manual, but yeah. One of my old cars from college was manual. I like it better than automatic except for in traffic and on long trips. When my boyfriend first bought his car, I had to drive it across New Jersey for him cause he didn't know how to drive it yet, it's kind of rare to see manual these days, especially with new cars.

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.

 

[Robert Marrs]

Never had the opportunity. I would like to learn just so I know how if I ever need to but I think I will still prefer automatic. Im not a race car driver I just need to get where I am going and its generally within reason of the speed limit.

 

[x EvilErmine x]

I learnt to drive in a manual and I have driven one ever since. I've had a go of an auto a few times but I really don't like it. I feel like I don't have full control of the car. I like my gears, they let me control the car in a way that just feels natural, that's probably because I've been driving manual for over 10 years now though. My last two cars have had six speed boxes and honestly six speed is the way forward.

Once when I was driving an auto I nearly caused a crash coz I pushed the brake (thinking it was the clutch) to change gear[footnote]When you drive a manual you learn to change up or down based on the sound of the engine, so in my mind I was like 'oh revs are sounding high...time to change up'[/footnote] so I'm really not a fan of them.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Manuals are tiring for long trips. In the US, many individual states are larger than the UK

If by many you mean Alaska and Texas, lol.

There are eleven states that are more expansive then the UK. Six more are in spitting range of it's size. The US could fit thirty-three UKs in it, if you only count the continental 48.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Can I drive manual? Do I live in Europe?

Yes.

I've been getting back to it due to my job at the moment, and find it actually kinda fun. It adds another layer of thinking into the driving process when you can assess whether or not you should shift to higher or lower.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Yep but I'm under no illusions that they are better. gas mileage is pretty much the same nowdays some autos even get better hwy. Performance humans can't shift faster than a dual clutch and even slushboxes with the manual mode are pretty much insta shift(ie I hit the paddle and its in the next gear before I even release it)

That said while I my drive an SMG for my next car all my bikes with be traditional. Nothing like upshifting at 13k rpm so crisp like a fine gun trigger or rev matching downshifts before laying it over into a turn.

 

[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.