Can you drive a stickshift (manual transmission)?

[kentonio]

Driving manual is fun - end of story!

This.

[C0ckney]

it seems strange that anyone would learn to drive in an automatic, even if you go on to drive one, surely it's better to have learnt how to drive a manual, should an occasion ever arise when you need to.

[C0ckney]

that's true, but passing the driving test is not that hard.

[Dauphin]

I haven't driven a manual in over 10 years. Driving a manual is an auto-pilot activity once you've been doing it for a while, but prefer automatic for convenience - even it does cost a bit more to run.

[N35t0r]

I've driven both, and automatics are certainly better when you drive a lot. I still prefer manuals, because you have some more control over the car.

[MikeH]

I can. In fact I've never driven an automatic.

[Lorizael]

I bet he learned real quick.

Indeed he did.

Me too. The dealer taught him how to drive it on the lot.

He managed to jerk himself out of the dealer lot, find an empty parking lot, and teach himself.

[rah]

I agree that manuals are more fun, but you don't want fun all the time. Plus driving bumper to bumper on the morning commute in a manual is not what I consider fun.
While you can shift an automatic manually, it's just not the same. It would be cool if there was a true version of both combined.

[Dr Strangelove]

I drove manual transmission cars for 41 years, but it has become increasingly difficult to find them in this area, so when I bought my current car 5 years ago I went with an automatic.

[-Jrabbit]

I really enjoy driving stick, especially here in Illinois where hills are not an issue. I learned on my dad's manual, 3-in-the-tree.
My previous car was a 5-speed Ford Contour, but the current one (Mazda 6) is auto.

[Sava]

THE HILLLS ARE ALIVE>>>> WWITH THE SOUND OF MAZDASSS

[pchang]

I agree that manuals are more fun, but you don't want fun all the time. Plus driving bumper to bumper on the morning commute in a manual is not what I consider fun.
While you can shift an automatic manually, it's just not the same. It would be cool if there was a true version of both combined.

Paddle shifters

[Hauldren Collider]

You can get "manumatics" where the transmissions are fly-by-wire (I think that's what pchang is talking about with paddle shifters). But since the two places I drive are Fairfax County, Virginia, where bumper to bumper traffic is the norm at all times, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the whole place is just a bunch of ridiculously steep hills, I can't see a manual transmission adding much fun to my driving experience.

Of course, when we're all driving electric cars, there won't BE transmissions

[Sava]

Myths about stickshifts:

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/five-myths-about-stick-shifts.html

[Aeson]

I find manual very handy for off-road driving. Also it's nice for push (or for those who plan ahead, hill) starting. We do one or both of those things on a daily basis here.