Can you drive a stick shift ?

[Professor]

Like many here, I learned to drive on a stick… in my case, a 1962 VW Bug.  With the exception of two vehicles, a 2014 BMW 550i and a 1974 AMC Hornet station wagon, every single vehicle I have used as a daily driver has been a manual transmission.

 

Currently I drive my 1936 Chrysler Airstream: 

and a 2014 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited.

 

I love being engaged when I drive because I love driving.  An automatic just does not trip my trigger.

 

Joe

 

[kings32]

I learned on army trucks in vietnam in 1964  Kings32

[hook]

Yes, I think I can. In my 76 years I have owned 60 cars and trucks from every decade from the 1920's to the 2010's. 25 of them were manual transmissions. Did you know there is a difference between standard shift and manual shift? In the early days of automobiles up to the late 20's all vehicles were manual shift but not all standard shift. Standard was a term for the H shift pattern we know today. Many early cars had their own shift pattern, like Dodge for instance had the Dodge shift which was opposite of the standard H shift we know today. I'm not sure when the term standard shift came into being, but I think it was in the late 20's.

[Walt G]

I bought my 1931 Plymouth PA sedan when I was 13, and turned 14 by the time we towed it home behind a freind's 1941 Plymouth coupe.  Once we got the Plymouth running ( it hadn't run since being parked in 1935) my Dad drove it and when I was learning to drive in "Driver Education " in high school I was also learning to drive stick in my Plymouth .

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Great stories.  Elsewhere 35Packard related one of my favorite 1st time stick shift stories.  Since my earlier post referred to Mrs. Mack, who earned her "this lady drives a Model A" patch last year, here is mine.

Learned on my 41 plymouth, age 14, 15 mainly confined to grandmas driveway, yard and occasionally on her quiet road.  As a teen I worked at a gas station managed by a schoolmate's dad.  He taught me how to drive the stick shift wrecker on the road, we went on exactly one road call, I drove and he showed me how to hook up and tow.  Two or three nights later he sends me across town to pick up his wife, stuck in rush hour, at dusk, on an uphill incline, 4 lane commuter artery (New Britain Ave for those I know from my neck of the woods on this forum.).  Sweating bullets the whole way over, but managed the task successfully, and got to do more than pump gas from that day on.  I took a lot of pm road calls which freed up time for the mechanics, not many of us after school pump jockeys got to do that... 😊

 

 Note:  This post made think about HJ Larsen, my old boss at the gas station.  A man's man.  Gruff, but very fair to work for.  Career mechanic and garage man.  I often thought he would have been a great teacher, if one showed any ability and interest he was generous with his time and knowledge.  We need more people like that.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Steve_Mack_CT (see edit history)

[John348]

A few weeks ago my Life Insurance Agent's assistant called me up to schedule his annual meeting with him, which is now a Zoom meeting.  I told the assistant I am not much of a 'Zoom' guy, and then went on to tell me how easy it is. Nathan the assistant sounds like he is in his mid to late 20's, I asked him if he could drive a vehicle with a clutch? He answered, no, and never the need to. I pointed out how growing up around certain products makes it necessary to know how to use them, and most time that knowledge becomes obsolete. One day he will be in my shoes.

 

How many technician's in a dealerships ever drove clutch?  

Edited November 11, 2021 by John348 (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

I learned stick on my brothers Kawasaki 100. I was in third grade (1973). I was too small and could not hold the bike up, I would have to stop where my brother was standing to keep me upright. After that Pop let me drive the '68 F100 with a 3 on the column. I was about 14 or 15 then. My first vehicle was a 65 f 100 with a transplanted corvette 350 4 speed. I have had a CDL before they were called CDL's. Drove many a mile grinding gears in a dump truck. As someone approaching 60 with bad knees, I could care less if I ever drive another stick shift!  However my current resto project is a 4 speed so hopefully I will get the chance before too long, LOL.

 

We bought my wife a brand new '85 Fiero. All we could afford was the stripped down version, it had a 5 speed. She had no idea how to drive it and took over my '82 Firebird until she learned. After which she loved driving a stick.

 

 

[EmTee]

We had a '59 Apache 1-ton stake bed lot truck when I was a kid.  Also had a foot-operated starter.  Used to hate lugging that 5 gallon gas can out to the back of the lot after misjudging how far past 'E' it would go...

[JV Puleo]

You've reminded me of a good story...

A friend of mine has three daughters. When the oldest was in graduate school she often had to deal with friends, roommates or just acquaintances who would ask to borrow her car. She wasn't comfortable with this but was always faced with the problem of being polite to people who gave no thought to the possible consequences if something should go wrong. John solved the problem for her by buying her a car with a standard transmission. After that, when asked if they could borrow her car she'd say "Sure, can you drive a stick?". No one ever could.

Edited November 11, 2021 by JV Puleo (see edit history)

[Buick35]

I asked my new son in law who's in his early forties if he wanted to drive my 74 mgb.I was surprised that he said he couldn't drive a stick. My son and his wife can both drive stick shift cars.They have old v.w.s and a 66 mustang. I offered my son in law to let me teach him but he didn't seem to interested.My mom never drove until she was about 65 and then she had to because my dad died.She had to learn in his v.w.wagon which was a stick, and we lived on a hill.

[pfloro]

This is a fun & nostalgic post...!  Thanks...

 

In high school (early 70s), a friend had a '57 Chevrolet "210" sedan with the 6 cylinder engine and 3 on the tree.  I learned how do drive that car and double clutch into 1st without coming to a full stop. After a short while, I was downshifting into 1st at 5-10 mph without any clashing...  It was a good experience.

 

Shortly after HS, I was driving my brother's '68 Firebird (350 2 bbl & 4 speed).  Although the clutch was heavier than the Chevy, the 4 speed was fully synchronized...  That car could move swiftly even with the "smaller V8".   The car was the GM green of the era and developed lots of small bumpy rust areas.  His wife called this car "The Pickle"...

 

Paul

Edited November 11, 2021 by pfloro (see edit history)

[avgwarhawk]

I learned a manual transmission in a 1978 Chevy Chevette.  I have Geo 5 speed as well.   My 54 Special is a 3 speed manual.  

[TexRiv_63]

I took my driver's test in my Mom's 55 Ford Customline with Fordomatic. The first car I owned was a 55 Ford Victoria, I scrapped the automatic and swapped in a three speed stick, I taught myself how to drive stick the first morning I had to get to work! Later I had a few 4 speed musclecars and much later had four prewar cars with both synchro and non-synchro three speeds. I taught my wife to drive stick on a 76 Honda Accord 5-speed, it cost me a new clutch but she was quite adept. Neither of my sons has ever owned or driven a stick.

[huptoy]

Yes & I drive my 1931 Hupmobile weekly unless rain or snow.  23 thousand miles in 23 years and it currently has 47,700 miles

[TTR]

I learned to drive in a COE 3-axle dump truck w 10-spd gearbox, air brakes, etc. Does that count ?

First lesson (and occasion ever operating any motor vehicle on a public roads) in above truck was a 1 hr drive in and around downtown of a major metropolitan city, fortunately in the middle of the day and not during rush hours. It was exiting, to say the least.

 

While automatics are "convenient", let's not forget they were one of the first steps into "vehicle control nannies" most modern cars/small trucks are now plagued with. 

Again, most of the the blame belongs to my generation (baby boomers).

Next step will be self-driving cars, which I had hoped not to see take over the roads in my lifetime, but...

Edited November 12, 2021 by TTR (see edit history)

[huptoy]

In 2020 3 guys in their early 20’s hijacked a 2005 Honda from young woman forcing her give up the car.  She got away but they had to abandon the car as none of them knew how drive a stick.  She kept her car and I believe the cops got the guys.

[KVP]

Being raised on a farm, I was driving a tractor solo at age six.  First car with a clutch was my grandparents' 1949 Dodge Coronet equipped with the Gyromatic fluid drive.  Drove our 1953 Chevy farm truck with the floor shifter and a granny gear.  No one got through driver's ed without mastering a manual transmission, as the cars were always a six cylinder Chevy with the three on the tree from the local Chevrolet dealer.  

[alsancle]

All my kids can drive sticks because their first cars were Tacoma trucks.   I took a lot of crap for the first couple of weeks they were learning.  "Dad,  what is the point of this?".   My answer was "so I can tell my friends my kids know how to drive a stick".

 

 

I fully promote them driving any of my collector crap boxes.   It wouldnt' be hard to drive them better than their dad,  right Ed?

[plymouthcranbrook]

Learned to drive in my Fathers 1954 Plymouth three speed stick.  Now the only stick shift I have  is my 1952 Plymouth. Two years short of a full circle.

Edited November 12, 2021 by plymouthcranbrook (see edit history)

[1935Packard]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a used 911, something maybe in the 2012-2014 window, but only want one with a manual. Other than the completely nuts used car prices these days -- a decade old 911 is not that much cheaper than when it was new -- it's surprising how few are manuals.   Most of them are the PDK automatics, the "paddle shifters." I get that they're quicker, but sheesh, who wants a 911 with an automatic?

[TAKerry]

My brother was driving an over the road rig. His 'day off' was at the terminal helping out with new drivers. The new guy would get into the truck and drive across the yard. One fellow got in, looked perplexed for a few minutes then asked him where the shifter was to put the truck in gear. This guy had achieved a CDL and had no idea how to drive a stick. I have another buddy that was in the trucking industry, said its not uncommon at all for truck drivers now that have no idea how to drive a stick.

[Guest]

 I have driven over 10,000 different trucks in my repair business and at one time I noticed that there were over 18 different shift patterns, including up to 3 shift levers on some trucks.

                                            

[alsancle]

47 minutes ago, 1935Packard said:

I've been toying with the idea of getting a used 911, something maybe in the 2012-2014 window, but only want one with a manual. Other than the completely nuts used car prices these days -- a decade old 911 is not that much cheaper than when it was new -- it's surprising how few are manuals.   Most of them are the PDK automatics, the "paddle shifters." I get that they're quicker, but sheesh, who wants a 911 with an automatic?

 

You can buy a 356,  or a very early 911.  Anything else and I will be forced to give you crap, or worse turn Ed loose on you.

[1935Packard]

11 minutes ago, alsancle said:

 

You can buy a 356,  or a very early 911.  Anything else and I will be forced to give you crap, or worse turn Ed loose on you.

 

Yeah, my toying with this idea has gone through every iteration of the 356/911 lineage from a '59 Convertible D onwards.  The latest idea was for this to be my daily driver, so a more recent car with modern safety/emissions/reliability would be best.  And it has to be cabriolet, of course, because it's California.  Would certainly make the commute to work entertaining.

[28 Chrysler]

I started at about age 12 in my father's 1947 International KB2. Then moved up to a 1947 1 ton Chevy boom truck at age 14.

[Terry Harper]

Yup! I think learning to shift a Farmall M on the move might not count but At 14, driving a bulk potato truck would fall under this. License?? Its harvest man! 

[Rivguy]

My Dad taught me to drive his '61 Rambler three on the tree before I was old enough for my license. After H/S. I would drive his '61 Dodge Dart Seneca w/3 speed. I started out riding motorcycles so I was used to using a clutch. My manual transmission cars have all been modern; '66 Mustang, '77, '92 Datsun/Nissan Zs, '90 Honda Civic SI. The last time I owned a manual  car was over ten years ago. A couple of weeks ago I drove my Son's Porsche Boxster fifty miles in commute traffic to his house. Just like riding a bike you don't ever forget. My Oldest Daughter and Son both drive sticks. I'm lucky that my youngest Daughter even drives at all.

[1957Birdman]

I learned to drive on my parents' 1965 Volkswagen Beetle (a great car to take the parallel parking test in).

Owned and drove the following:

1974 Mustang II - Four-on-the-floor

1974 Capri - Four-on-the-floor

1986 Mercury Topaz - Five speed manual

Have driven other stick shifts including 1966 MGB, 2004 Chevy Cavalier, 1965 Dodge Pickup, and a dump truck during summer employment.

My wife also knows how to drive a stick; my regret is not teaching my daughters to drive a stick shift car.

Edited November 12, 2021 by 1957Birdman
added additional word (see edit history)

[RAH]

Listening to all you young bucks driving lessons is interesting. I give credit to my MOM for teaching me the basics of clutch, etc. and officially taking me down to a local race track one Sat in our '47 Plymouth 3 on the tree. I recall her saying "Anyone can drive forward. Go around the track three times clockwise. Now, go around three times counter clockwise. Now in REVERSE". That was interesting but now credit her with my ability to operate a vehicle in forward OR reverse equally well. 

My first 'Antique' car was a '31 Model A FORD Murray Body Town sedan which I purchased in my Sr. year of High School (in 1958) Yes I am officially an OLD fahrt!  My first official personal car was a '52 Plymouth Cranbrook which she cosigned for me. 

And the rest, as they say, is History! LOL

[Roscoe]

My preference is ALWAYS a stick shift. Still get to enjoy them because of the '52 Chevy truck I'm redoing and my slightly street rodded '46 Chevy truck. My 15 year old daughter has learned pretty well with her soon to be driver, a '94 Miata. Only problem is she likes to wind it out before shifting. Ok in the Miata, a recipe for disaster in a higher powered sportscar like we like.. She made my day recently, I asked her which car she would want in the event I buy myself a C5 Z06 Corvette as I've been plotting on. Her choices were the '94 Miata or my '98 C5, a very nice car, but an auto... (it was too good a deal to pass up). I expected she'd say the 'vette since she's a corvette nut whose helping me work on her own '79 Corvette. but no... "The Miata, dad. It's a stick and the c5 is cool but boring. If you buy the Z06, though, I'll take that". Um, I think not! 

[prewarnut]

12 hours ago, 1935Packard said:

I've been toying with the idea of getting a used 911, something maybe in the 2012-2014 window, but only want one with a manual. Other than the completely nuts used car prices these days -- a decade old 911 is not that much cheaper than when it was new -- it's surprising how few are manuals.   Most of them are the PDK automatics, the "paddle shifters." I get that they're quicker, but sheesh, who wants a 911 with an automatic?

 

I had a '13 and a '17 C4S. My advice is to test drive it thoughtfully. While I enjoyed the "package" the '12-'16 have little low end torque and the damn 7 speed had me missing gears once a month. I knew I wasn't crazy.....The '17 was more refined and the twin turbo now standard on most Porsches gave it more low end torque. Yet, coming from a big V8 (and for those with prewar cars that have a lot of torque) the 911 is annoying to drive unless you wind it up past 4000 all the time - a style of driving I just don't do. My solution: looking for a V12 something or other right now.....

 

[Ed Luddy]

Pretty much every car I bought in the 70's was a standard. Most of them column shift "bolt action" 3 speeds and a few 4 speed English Austin's, Morris' and a French Peugeot weird column shift.

 I've always hated the GM Power Glide "slush box" and Buick Dyna Flow's when I was young. Thankfully a majority of the cheapo Canadian cars had the manual transmissions in them. My 1st Mustang was a 67 with a 200 c.i. inline with a 3 speed stick "3 by the knee" as we called them in the early 70's.

 I made sure my daughter learned to drive a standard and the 1st car I got for her was a Ford Escort 4 speed. I explained to her that if you are ever caught somewhere in an emergency and the only available car is a standard you need to know how to drive it. She still drives a stick shift almost 20 years later.

[MikeC5]

My aunt's 71 Beetle.  My current DD is a 2002 Subaru Outback 5 speed.  

[1912Staver]

15 hours ago, alsancle said:

 

You can buy a 356,  or a very early 911.  Anything else and I will be forced to give you crap, or worse turn Ed loose on you.

 

Those ones all have the engine in the wrong place. Go mid engine or go home. Beck 550 is a good place to start.

[pmhowe]

I learned to drive on a Ford 8N tractor, when I was twelve. When I was 18, I bought a 1938 LaSalle sedan and drove that regularly several years. It was a very nice car to drive.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

I thought the Boxster was kind of a fresh return to simplicity but they seem to be pretty pricey these days, a few generations on..  

Would have to be a stick though, and I believe the early cars had a big defect with throw out bearing or other key part.

[JV Puleo]

When automatics started to be available in used cars (new cars were out of the question when I was young) I remember my late father, who was born in 1916 and had no interest in cars as anything but appliances, saying something like "who would want to shift when you don't' have to". That was his opinion until his first automatic failed and it cost him a bundle to get it fixed. Then it happened again...after that he refused to have a car with an automatic. I still have his last car - one of the very few he bought new - a 1992? Subaru with a 5-speed. He'd learned to drive on an early 20's Gray. Toward the end of his life always shifted from first to second much too soon, lugging the engine as if he was still driving that 1920s car.

[STEVE POLLARD]

My Grandfather always had manual transmissions cars...I remember his 1962 Chevrolet Nova with the three speed on the column. When time came to replace his Nova in 1977, he went to the local Chevrolet Dealership in Fishkill, NY, they only had automatics on the lot. The salesman was determine to sell him a new Nova with the automatic, but my Grandfather was persistent and he ordered a new Nova with the three speed on the column.... I think it took almost six months for that car to come in !

 

Steve

Edited November 12, 2021 by STEVE POLLARD (see edit history)

[rocketraider]

My parents always had three-speeds. Mama learned to drive on a 1951 Chevrolet and drove sticks for years until my folks bought my Uncle Malcolm's 1966 Ninety Eight in 1969. Mama took to that HydraMatic like a duck to water.

 

Keep in mind the aforementioned 68 ElCamino was in the picture. My dad wanted Mama to move the EC for something or other, and she says "I can't drive gears". My dad's eyes flashed as they always did when something didn't sit right and he says "you drove gears for nearly 30 years and now you tell me you can't?"

 

Truth was she just didn't want to fool with it, and there I was, 14 years old and dying for the opportunity to drive it. Dad snorted and moved it himself, muttering the whole time.

[rocketraider]

Steve, that reminds me of my friend Marshall who grew up in Oxford NC. In addition to being a dyed in the wool Chevrolet guy he's also a dyed in the wool manual transmission guy.

 

Marshall needed a new car in 2007 and couldn't find a Chevrolet he liked, so he branched out to Pontiac. The GM dealer in Raleigh had several automatic G6's but Marshall wanted a stick. Salesman kept trying to push the automatic to make a sale and Marshall wasn't having it, finally saying "if you can't get the car I want stop wasting my time". 

 

Salesman called Greensboro to make a dealer trade and told Marshall he'd have a burgundy G6 five-speed the next day.

 

What does my wily friend do? He left Raleigh, drove to Greensboro and wrote the Greensboro dealer a check for the new G6. Greensboro says "we're supposed to be working a dealer trade on this car with Raleigh". Marshall says "I know. I'm the customer they're doing that for." He ended up getting a better deal on top of it.

 

Don't mess with guys who grew up on a tobacco farm!😏