how many people know how to drive manual?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I'd say around 50%, or exactly the number of licensed males in the country.

I'd be stunned beyond belief if it was that high.

My first car was a manual and I've owned various manual transmission cars for decades thereafter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
in the US...25%?

Europe...90%?

other parts of the world -- 75%?

Why would other parts of the world be less than Europe?

I'm guessing that 95% of the non-US and Canada world knows how to drive manual...if you know how to drive, you learned on a manual. If anything, Europe would be lower, since they have newer cars with modern SMG/manumatic/etc. transmissions.

I was in Spain in June and nearly ever single car there is manual transmission...hell, most of the trucks and buses are too.

 

[Baked]

Come over and drive around the hills of San Fran and see how awesome your MT skill really is. KEK

 

[state 08]

the Jeep in the profile is manual - my first car too.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Originally posted by: Baked
Come over and drive around the hills of San Fran and see how awesome your MT skill really is. KEK

We tipped all cabbies extra to "catch air" at the tops of hills. No one of them spoke English however, so it was quite funny to see that they all knew what it meant.

 

[Shawn]

I drove a manual for the first 5 years I drove a car. I drive an automatic now and I hate it. I really want a manual again.

My sister's junker is an 89 accord with 250k miles on the original automatic engine and it's starting to slip. I want to swap it out with another cheap car, but the only cheap ones I can find that are cheap and still reliable are manuals. I want to teach her manual but she is resistant.

 

[joesmoke]

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS

Originally posted by: Baked
Come over and drive around the hills of San Fran and see how awesome your MT skill really is. KEK

We tipped all cabbies extra to "catch air" at the tops of hills. No one of them spoke English however, so it was quite funny to see that they all knew what it meant.

SF is a hoot to drive in. The way people drive in the city is nuts, but it suits me fine

i have fond memories of my dad doing down lombard in a van and my mother screaming at him that it was illegal and people were staring :laugh:

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
I know how to drive one, and I own one.

 

[MichaelD]

I just did something I don't often do anymore; I LOGGED IN. JUST to post this reply.

Are you kidding me? Not only are you admitting you don't know how to drive a stick (set your Mancard on fire now), but you're asking "Who can drive a stick?"

You're like a typical, needy woman, dude. "Ooooh! Here's this (bug to be squashed)/(screw to be tightened)/(doorknob that twists the OTHER WAY)...how will I ever survive?"

:roll:

I hate to break it to you, spaceman; your Mancard has obviously expired.

AND nobody better give me any shit about "Oh, in the US, manual transmissions only account for XY% of total new car sales vs. Blah-my-ass-I-can-do-math-as%automatic transmissions..."

If you can't drive a stick, you have have no dick. That about sums it up.

 

[queenrobot]

I own a manual AND I know how to drive it! I am awesome.

 

[imported_Imp]

I've ridden a motorcycle, and read up a lot on manuals, but that's it. My theory is good, but put me in a standard car, and I'll stall it everytime I'm in first gear.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
in the US...25%?

Europe...90%?

other parts of the world -- 75%?

Why would other parts of the world be less than Europe?

I'm guessing that 95% of the non-US and Canada world knows how to drive manual...if you know how to drive, you learned on a manual. If anything, Europe would be lower, since they have newer cars with modern SMG/manumatic/etc. transmissions.

I was in Spain in June and nearly ever single car there is manual transmission...hell, most of the trucks and buses are too.

In Ecuador ALL of the trucks and buses were manual, and almost all of the cars. The only ones that weren't, were being driven by ex-pats and/or embassy people.

 

[BoomerD]

"three on the tree"
4-speed
5-speed
6-speed

8, 9, 10, 12, 13 speed RoadRangers

3 & 4, 4 & 3, 4 & 4, 4 & 5 speed Brownies

6, 7, and 12 speed Spicers

There aren't TOO MANY manual transmissions in the USA that I haven't driven at least once or twice.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I just did something I don't often do anymore; I LOGGED IN. JUST to post this reply.

Are you kidding me? Not only are you admitting you don't know how to drive a stick (set your Mancard on fire now), but you're asking "Who can drive a stick?"

You're like a typical, needy woman, dude. "Ooooh! Here's this (bug to be squashed)/(screw to be tightened)/(doorknob that twists the OTHER WAY)...how will I ever survive?"

:roll:

I hate to break it to you, spaceman; your Mancard has obviously expired.

AND nobody better give me any shit about "Oh, in the US, manual transmissions only account for XY% of total new car sales vs. Blah-my-ass-I-can-do-math-as%automatic transmissions..."

If you can't drive a stick, you have have no dick. That about sums it up.

the f-hell are you talking about
my 1st fuckin NOT total peice of shit car in '93 WAS MANUAL!
i was curious to know stats
!!!!!!!!!
jeez read the thread!

 

[SlitheryDee]

My first vehicle was a manual. When I finally got an automatic I kept trying to clutch to change gears and hit the brake pedal instead. Every drive was an adventure until I got used to it.

 

[sdifox]

Learned on a Peugeot 505, never driven stick since then though.

 

[Oceandevi]

These are the MT vehicles I owned in the past

88 nissan truck 4 speed
90 something neon 5 speed
old celica 5 speed
old mx6 5 speed
83 bmw 320i 5 speed

I now drive an auto focus. MT will always be fun though.

 

[yh125d]

I learned to drive in a 1989 ford f-350 quad cab dually. Manual of course, and diesel. Best car I've ever driven and I can't wait to get it running again

 

[JulesMaximus]

Learned on a '73 SAAB 99 (4spd manual)
'86 Mustang GT Convertible (5spd manual)
'94 Mustang GT Coupe (5spd manual)
'05 WRX STi (6spd manual)

Other manual transmission cars I've driven worth noting:
'06 Lotus Elise (6spd manual)
'05 Mustang GT (5spd manual)
'89 Porsche 911 Targa (5spd manual)

 

[SmoochyTX]

I know how to drive a manual -- drove one for many years. Haven't driven one lately but I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to pick it back up again.

 

[Clair de Lune]

Mazda 6i (5speed manual)

5 years old and going strong.

 

[LtPage1]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
in the US...25%?

Europe...90%?

other parts of the world -- 75%?

That seems pretty likely, but WAY lower among Americans under the age of 30, I'd say. I can count on one hand (okay, two if you count me) the number of my friends who know how to drive them.

I'll never own an automatic.

Originally posted by: Baked
Come over and drive around the hills of San Fran and see how awesome your MT skill really is. KEK

I've done it more than a few times- looks scary as hell, but it's really not that difficult.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Baked
Come over and drive around the hills of San Fran and see how awesome your MT skill really is. KEK

I learned to drive on a stick in San Francisco, the Triple-Black Diamond of Driving.

My first car was a stick - I got rid of it in 1995 and I have no desire to ever own one again.

MotionMan

 

[WobbleWobble]

I don't know how to drive manual, never had the opportunity to learn. But I would guess I would learn fast.

City traffic is horrible, so that's why I never considered a manual.

 

[zanejohnson]

everyone should learn..


my first car was an auto, it was an 88 Plymouth Reliant wagon, yes wagon lol... bought it with my own cash for 800 bucks when i was 16...i loved it...

that car got me to and from work at mcdonalds, where i saved up 2500 to buy a 91' Eagle Talon TSi AWD, black on black, 5 speed.. needless to say i learned quickly because it was either learn or let it sit in the driveway and keep driving the wagon rofl. after that i had a 92 Eclipse GS-T, and then a 98 Accord Coupe EX, all 5MT's... wifey can drive stick too, but she would rather drive an auto..she's had an Impala SS, and now a Jeep Cherokee.