Are you able to drive a stick shift in a car?

Post Reply New Topic

My dad tried teaching me on a manual pick-up we had at the time I was 13, but it was too much, after a near miss just backing out of the driveway I wrote off learning stick.

Now that I'm comfortable with the basics of driving I would like to try learning manual again. But with the rising gas/petrol prices I'm wanting an alternative to a gas/petrol fueled car, so may never bother to get to it.

I only know how to drive an auto. Due to laws in Australia, I am only legally allowed to drive one type of transmission of my choosing (an auto) until I am on my unrestricted licence in three years time.

As of now the answer is no. However due to a combination of a 30 minute commute to college starting in the fall, really high gas prices, and an insanely fuel efficient stickshift that we happen to own (it's on the level of most hybrids but it's not a hybrid at all) I'm going to have to start learning really soon. Possibly today.

I never tried to use a stickshift. I am too afraid of getting stuck on a hill or some such, or slipping and hurting the clutch.

I got a little experience with it the fast way--- I helped a friend a few years ago drive his car a couple of towns away while he drove another vehicle there ( we had to get both vehicles to this location). Both were stickshifts. I did stall out a few times, but I made it there--- I think that if I were to have enough practice, I might become good at it. OR I might burn out a clutch. OR both. But I think I could do it again, if needed.

"Stick shift"?

What the douche you talking about?


You mean a car with a gearstick?
I've never seen a four-wheeled automobile without one!
I CAN drive them, but I haven't driven for years and don't have a full license. Don't need one in London anyway.


I've heard about those "automatic" cars, but I've never seen one.

I doubt this has something to do with AS.
In Europe, AT represent maybe 2% or 3% of cars.
I learnt on a stick as all the people I know.

Using the gears is the easy bit, if you're sensitive to touch then you can easily feel when the gears need changing or if your hearing is good, if both then its super easy.
Its all the other things that are hard watching the road and your speed, I couldn't do that.
Hill starts...those are the hardest if you find multi-tasking difficult.
For me reversing was impossible, I could not get my head around left and right.
Judging distances is also a problem for some, including me.
Everyone thinks that gears are going to be hardest but I really don't think it is.

My dad never taught me (he never taught me how to ride a bike either) but I could learn.

Stick shift? I can barely drive a automatic, LOL! I knew a number of people and even relatives who use to drive stick shift. They all loved it and said there were many benefits such as better acceleration and fuel economy. I don't think I can ever learn to drive a vehicle with a stick shift.

Yes. I am (reluctantly) driving an automatic now, because manuals are becoming too hard to find and also too expensive to repair. I started out driving a stick because the car I had my heart set on had one, and even though I had no experience driving one, I made myself learn. All my cars since until this last one have been sticks. I am glad that I learned out even though there were a lot of people who predicted my failure when I bought my first car. They said, What if you can't learn? and I said I had a lot of money invested, I had to learn. It was tricky at first, but I actually liked the hand-foot coordination, it gave me something to do. Besides I did not know I was Aspy, so I did not know I was not supposed to be able to do it.

Moral of the story, just because something might be more difficult for some of us because of ASD does not mean it is impossible!

Never driven with a stick shift, so I wouldn't know.