this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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And where are you from? And how old? Not "do you" but just if you know how.

I'm in the US, mid 30s and can (and do) drive a manual transmission.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I can and do drive a manual transmission. I'm 34 and in the US Midwest. It's just more fun to drive. My car isn't even fast, but dropping a couple gears to pass someone never gets old.

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Italy. 21, We only drive manual here

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm 237 years old, a retired phosphate miner in Nauru. I learned to drive on manual transmissions but now refuse to drive anything not powered by a turbo-encabulator, with the exception of Starfleet shuttlecraft. I also hate questions that encourage people to give away personal or census data without considering that is what's happening.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I can from Texas. Just turned 40. I was taught on a manual transmission and have owned several vehicles with one. I prefer it, except for in traffic!

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

France, 30s, and I almost always drove manual transmissions. But I rent an automatic, and now I don't understand why manual cars still exist.

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

UK, always driven manual. I just enjoy it more.

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Germany, 25. Always driven manual, don't even know how to drive automatic.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My parents forced me to learn in case I ever needed it.

I'd buy one again in a heartbeat if I could. Love the fact that it was easy AF to rock myself out of snow banks

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm in my 40s and live in Europe (NL), and in my country, if you don't take your driving exam in a manual transmission car, you receive a restriction on your license that prevents you from driving manual transmission vehicles. As a result, both I and nearly everyone I know can drive a manual. Automatics are also a fair bit more expensive, so most people don't opt for them. Tho I expect this will change with the rising popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Yes. 44, Australian, drove a manual until very recently actually.

In Australia (Queensland at least) you have to pass a manual driving test in order to be legally allowed to drive a manual vehicle. At the time I was getting my license (1995 - 96) manual vehicles were still extremely common, plus I like driving a manual so it made sense for me.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes I am 25 and in Germany that is the default so nearly anyone can drive with a stick shift.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Mid 20s, Poland, very much can, but currently driving automatic.

Fun fact: in Poland you normally take the driving test in a manual gear shift car, but you can optionally take it in an automatic one. The deal is you have to provide the vehicle for the testing center yourself (driving schools lend them) and your driving license will have an annotation that it's only viable for this type of gearbox.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, but after having an electric car for about two years, I never really wanna go back to ICE, manual or auto. The acceleration is addictive
And electric cars don't really need manual transmissions.

I drove ICE auto for about 8 years, then 3 years manual and electric for the last two.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, it's very common here (Czechia), in fact I don't know a single person who doesn't know how to drive manual.

Until recently I even preferred it, but nowadays I'd like automatic more. Well, my next car is gonna be automatic, that's for sure.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I'm Italian and it's mandatory to learn how to drive stick in order to get a license. This could explain why we think driving at 16 is absurd: it would probably be difficult for a 16 years old to learn stick.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I can drive a manual yeah, I don't feel like I'm in total control when driving an automatic, I'm 20 and live in the Netherlands

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I'm in the US and drive manual.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Belgium, 48. I drive a manual transmission. I never had a car with an automatic transmission.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Yes, 28, Northern europe, dad taught me how to drive when I was 16. In my country you have to do your driving test in a manual, unless you're fine with a limited license that only allows you to drive automatics. Nobody that I know has that kind of license.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mid 30s, used to drive stick all the time but I wouldn't go out and get one anymore. This seems like one of those things people clutch onto (pun intended) because it was at one time a useful everyday skill not everyone could do but now is completely antiquated.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Yes (early 30s) drive a manual VW polo. Iโ€™m from Australia. I have always had a manual car.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

i dont even know what manual transmission means if that tells you anything about me.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm Danish and I drive a manual transmission car every day. Most cars here are manual transmission and you legally can't take driving lessons in an automatic transmission car here so everybody who knows how to drive knows how to drive manual.

I don't get why so many Americans try to make it seem like some amazing feat of traditional blue-collar masculine excellence to able to do it. It's not that hard, anybody can learn it in an afternoon.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

In Finland synchronization in gearboxes is starting to become a thing nowadays. Double clutching for 20 years now (38).

Just kidding, got my first automatic two years ago, so yes.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes, I'm 45 and from the US.

Unfortunately, although my current car (Mazda3) is available in a manual, I was looking to buy a 2018 model in 2019. My options were limited to remaining inventory, which did not include any manuals. Will be looking for a manual next time, but it's becoming almost impossible to find here.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

i am a manual transmission

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, I learned to drive in one, got my license with one. I'm 38.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

40 Florida I drive a manual everyday. My mother insisted I learn on a manual. I'm grateful

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

23, German, yes I can and I do

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[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Big yes! Mid 20s and currently daily drive my miata

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I'm 36, I live in the UK, and I've driven a manual car since I was 17. I've only driven an automatic twice in my life and I'll probably never own one.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Yep - been driving for around 30+ years here in Australia (I'm late 40s). Grew up driving manual, have owned several manual vehicles, including my current one.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Yes. European. It's the norm.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

US late 20s. Yes I can and every car I've owned for the last 8 years has been manual

I go out of my way to find them.

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