[LiteraryLark]

My Papa (grandfather) took me out today to teach me how to drive stick in his old pickup truck. I didn't get very far and we had to stop because my foot kept shaking on the clutch because I was so nervous and kept killing it.

But I'm excited that he's teaching me!

How many of you know how to drive stick-shift?

[seeker1950]

I was in my 30's before I learned to drive manual. I was scared of it. Once I learned, I liked it muchly!
It's great that your grandpa is willing to teach you!

[Crazy Hitch]

That sounds awesome LiteraryLark.

Yes - I can drive using both a drive stick or an auto.

First learnt how to drive usiing drive stick-shift.

I'd recommend knowing how to use both - I mean we really don't know if a situation might ever warrant needing to just know both at some stage.

So congrats to you and keep persevering.

[fishin fool]

Its good to know how to drive stick.
I have not had to in many years but I am sure it would
come right back to me if I had to

[lizardlady]

I drove a stick for years. The only reason I switched to automatic was the arthritis in my knees. It was getting way too painful to have to work the clutch.

I learned how to drive a Model A Ford when I was 10. 3 speed transmission that was not synchronized, so you had to double clutch each shift. I would love to drive one right now.......

[hannabee]

I learned to drive one the first time when I was just 16. My sister wanted something from the store and asked me if I knew how to drive one. She had a 1966 Mustang. I lied and said yes, I had driven one that a kid we both knew owned. She believed me and off I went. I made it to the store and back!! And I would say that I recommend being alone when you are learning, if at all possible, as like you said, the fear of killing the engine is nerve wracking. Maybe your grandpa would take you to an empty parking lot and turn you loose?? Good luck!

[eskielover]

I drove stick shift from the time I learned to drive though my Dad initially taught me in an automatic in the middle of the California desert where I couldn't hit anything at the age of 13.....I was actually shifting for him in his VW bug when I rode in the passenger seat so I got the hang of the sound before I ever got the hang of the coordinating feel....LOL...I have always shifted by sound.

I never owned an automatic vehicle until I bought my truck in 2007 & the only reason it's an automatic is because I had to buy a used one rather than new & I didn't have the option & I needed a truck for my farm & to haul my horse trailer with.

It was hard getting used to driving an automatic....I kept trying to use the clutch that wasn't there & kept waving my hand in the air trying to find the stick shift.....but I have sense become used to it....but I honestly LOVE stick shift better than automatic.

Always felt like I was in so much more control of my vehicle especially in snowy weather when driving to wyo for winter vacations. LOL...with my automatic truck, it's a V8 & it's got power & I find that I will step on it more than I would if I were starting off shifting & I spin my wheels in wet weather quite often....much more control with a stick.

[Maven]

My boyfriend has twice tried teaching me stick, but we didn't keep up with the lessons. I got frustrated easily, too. I wish I'd learned, but both of us have automatics now. Well, I don't right now, because I hit a deer last night, so my car is wherever they towed it. I'll post about it in a minute, for anyone who cares.

[kindachaotic]

Got license at 16 & my mom taught me to drive a stick at 17.
First car was a 5 speed. The novelty of it wore off after a couple yrs.

I learned on a 3 on a tree I have a 6 speed now. It isn't much fun in stop & go traffic but in any other situation it's a huge kick.

[Webgoji]

Been driving a manual transmission for years. I learned in high school and haven't owned a car with an automatic transmission for ... 20 years?

That said though, my next one is going to be an automatic. My S-10 is a manual and it's not the slamming-through-the-gears-dropping-350-hp-to-the-ground fun that my previous cars were. It's become more of a chore pushing that asthmatic little truck through the gears. So it's time to take the work out of it and get an automatic.

[lizardlady]

posted by Eskielover

It was hard getting used to driving an automatic....I kept trying to use the clutch that wasn't there & kept waving my hand in the air trying to find the stick shift.....but I have sense become used to it....but I honestly LOVE stick shift better than automatic.

Oh yeah! When I first switched to an automatic I was forever stomping on the floorboard trying to step on the clutch. Even hit the brake pedal a few times!

I've been driving the automatic for eight years now. There are still times when I'm really tired and running on autopilot myself that I try to "shift."

[goodnessgracious]

I learnt how to drive using an automatic.

[Rainydaiz]

We all do here in the UK. Guess it will take some getting used to!

[LiteraryLark]

Today my Papa took me out again. This time I did really well. He taught me step by step: first, we do the start and stop where all I do is clutch and gas to get the car moving, then come to a stop, clutch and gas, come to a stop, start and stop, etc. Then once I got the hang of it we worked on getting into second gear, then stop, clutch and gas, get it to second gear, then stop again.

I'm going to practice with him as often as I can. I want to be able to master it and to be able to take the truck on the freeway.

[*Laurie*]

Absolutely, drove a stick for many years and would prefer it over a manual any day. I feel like I have more control with a stick, and it's such fun to drive. It's all about relying on the sound of each gear.

I've always driven stick, right from the start. I find automatics disorienting. I can drive them, but it feels like I'm not really driving. George H. you are so right! Despite being a stick fan, I've got to admit they're a drag in heavy stop and go traffic.

One of the times I went to Ireland, I rented a car for half the time (just a few things we couldn't work with transit). Anyhow, there was a mix up on the date. No big deal, but they wanted to offer an upgrade to a little bit larger car and automatic. I said, "nah, little's great and definitely a shift. They joked, "Are you sure you're an american?" LOL! For any who might not realize, it is not only driving on the other side of the road-- in driving from the other side of the car, you're shifting leftie. Totally adjusted right away. Except for ONE thing. I kept looking up outside the window for the rearview mirror. Hahaha!

[Umbral_Seraph]

I drive an automatic and have no desire to practice driving a manual.

[Fresia]

I learned to drive on a manual transmission, driving them for years. I had a horse accident that injured my left leg and could not drive for some time unless it was an automatic. I have not gone back to it. I do like the control better with a manual than an automatic except when I moved to a mountainous area, then I did enjoy having the automatic. However, I still try hitting the imaginary clutch and shifting regularly though ; my niece laughs at me. Some habits are hard to break.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Today my Papa took me out again. This time I did really well. He taught me step by step: first, we do the start and stop where all I do is clutch and gas to get the car moving, then come to a stop, clutch and gas, come to a stop, start and stop, etc. Then once I got the hang of it we worked on getting into second gear, then stop, clutch and gas, get it to second gear, then stop again.

I'm going to practice with him as often as I can. I want to be able to master it and to be able to take the truck on the freeway.

Once you get the hang of it, you should have Papa show you how to double-clutch. Us old-timers used to have to do that on cars that came before the days of the synchromesh transmission. Clutch, gas, get moving, clutch, go to neutral, clutch again, gas, shift ... wait ... dang it ... grind, grind ...

[gayleggg]

I learned on a stick shift. My dad insisted. lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My brother and I shared a stick shift Camaro in high school. It was fun.

[pachyderm]

My present car has a 5-speed manual transmission: 1997 Honda Civic. Got over 41 mpg on a 2000-mile mostly highway trip in 2009.

So there!

[Row Jimmy]

I used to drive a Celica GT 5 speed - loved it. I had a chance when I first got married to buy a 67 Camaro "three on the tree" but my wife said "no". So now I drive a Mercury Milan, a nice reliable automobile!