How many of you still drive a manual?

[tier3]

If you own a car that has a manual transmission either as a weekend car or daily driver - answer yes.

If you know how to drive manual but don't actively do it - that counts as a no.

All of my current cars are manual, as well as past cars. I think it's the only way to be if you like driving.

 

[xmontrealer]

If you live and drive most of the time in Toronto, I think you would soon get tired of the manual gear shifting and clutch effort in bumper to bumper traffic.

Especially in hilly areas...

 

[xmontrealer]

Back in 1971 my brother had a 454 Corvette with a manual transmission. I drove a regular automatic sedan.

The clutch on that thing was a beast. Whenever I took his car out, I always had it back in an hour or two because my left leg was worn out, even in regular traffic.

The worst was in the rain during the summers, cuz he had no A/C, and with the roof being narrower than the doors you had to keep the windows rolled full up to stay dry.
The car was like a furnace in that situation.

 

[bazokajoe]

It's pretty hard to find any new car being sold as a manual transmission these days.
Even some high end sports cars don't have a manual transmission option. It's all gone to paddle shifters, which are optional to use.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

97 Camaro V6 with a 5 speed. I like it. My weekend car.
Alan Arkin used to put "Can drive a stick shift" on his resume.

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

I love manual shifts but now just want to get from point A to B without the effort in traffic.
So prefer automatics now.

 

[JeanGary Diablo]

Glad to see there's some of us here who still drive manuals.

I've been driving 35 years and have only ever owned manual transmissions, and as long as I can help it, I will ONLY drive manuals.

Manuals make me feel like I'm controlling the car; automatics feel like the car is controlling me.

 

[shack]

I drove manual for 30 years, but then my achilles started hurting.

 

[Ponderling]

Not any more, but first vehicle many years ago was a 1977 Ford F-100 pickup with a 'three on the tree' shift.
Wickedly stiff clutch.
Steel shank work boots were almost mandatory if you had any sort of a trip to make.

Have not driven a daily driver manual for 20 years now, but am not put of driving manuals
Tow motor and fork lift were the most recent occasional drives that had a clutch.

 

[tier3]

It's pretty hard to find any new car being sold as a manual transmission these days.
Even some high end sports cars don't have a manual transmission option. It's all gone to paddle shifters, which are optional to use.

It's funny because it used to be called standard because an automatic was the upsell... Now the standard is automatic and some car companies offer the manual as the more expensive upsell because of low requests for them.

 

[LTO_3]

Not anymore. My first car was a manual and drove it for 14 years before I sold it. Wanted to buy another one but was having knee, ankle and other issues so I've stayed with automatic ever since. Besides it's almost impossible to find a reliable standard anymore.

LTO_3

 

[dvous11]

Manual gearbox is the best theft deterrent.

 

[Pussytickler]

Car manufacturers and journalists can argue all they want that today's automatics are faster and / or more efficient or whatever. That's doubtful in the first place if you know how to shift, but there's absolutely zero chance that they're more fun. And what's the point of buying anything other than the most utilitarian, basic transportation if it's not fun to drive?

As for theorizing that it's less practical in Toronto traffic, I'm sorry but I gotta call bullshit! I've been driving in Toronto for almost 40 years, I've owned stick exclusively for almost 20 of those, and I won't ever go back to automatic unless forced to do so.

Bottom line for me is that if you're not using your left foot to operate a clutch, you're not truly driving.

(Now why the fuck doesn't my phone have a gearshift emoji??)

 

[GameBoy27]

Bonus points for those who know how to heal and toe.

Been driving standard since I was 16 (which was a long time ago) and have a car with a 5 speed that I still track.

 

[Goodoer]

I do! Stick shift 4 Life.

(Bonus: My wife drives stick too).

 

[HEYHEY]

97 Camaro V6 with a 5 speed. I like it. My weekend car.
Alan Arkin used to put "Can drive a stick shift" on his resume.

Now if you got that with the lt1 or ls1 5.7 v8 you would have a car

 

[HEYHEY]

My weekend toy is a gated 6 speed V10 RWD

 

[wigglee]

Manual is hell in Toronto traffic with all the congestion and stopping and starting, but cool in good driving conditions.