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

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I drive a manual. When I got into an automatic car after driving the manual for a while I still went for the clutch even though I knew it wasn't there. So driving manuals is easy.

I don't see how you came to that conclusion? Manual transmissions are very exact and logical mechanisms. Just look at pictures that show how a clutch operates, and how gear ratios change the final drive. Maybe because you're doing two things at once? Still I always enjoyed shifting cars and motorcycles

I assume you mean manual; sure. I just can't drive on the road; too many uncontrollable variables for me.

It's easier to maximize mileage with a manual. You can put it in neutral and coast, or keep the revs low. Of course, it also makes it easier to drive really fast. I used to be obsessed with performance, aftermarket exhaust, lowered suspension, lightweight pulleys, but with gas prices now it seems wasteful.

Yes, no problems.

I only drive stick - the day they stop making cars with manual transmissions is the day I stop buying cars.

My friends have always made fun of me for refusing to buy automatics, so I would have guessed it was an aspie thing for me to prefer the mechanical entertainment value.

Also, manual cars cost a couple of thousand less, and you get much better mileage, never get stuck in snow, and have much better maneuvering capability.

I have no idea why anyone would prefer to use automatic, other than that it was all they were exposed to, which is fair enough.

Been awhile, but I used to be able to. Have to admit it took awhile (almost toasted the clutch and got stuck on a few hills) learning.

Had no choice but to learn, only car I could afford at the time was a 5 speed VW GTI...it was either learn or walk...I so hated that car when I was trying to learn...now I wish I still had it, it was alot of fun.

I am a terrib;e multi tasker.. I tried for a year to drive a stick shift with little improvement.. it freaked me out.. then I started learning in an automatic and it was so much better... I was lucky that I was able to sit my licence in the automatic. I am happy to leave manuals to those who love them...

Yes. It feels more "definite" or connected to the road/machine somehow. I remember somebody referring to an automatic trannny as a "slushbox" and could relate. As someone else said a motorcycle was even better; could lose all awareness of being separate from the machine.

Weirdly, that extra bit of "involvement" seems to keep me better focussed on what I'm doing.

Can't talk at all when driving, regardless of transmission type.

I can drive with a stick shift but never found it easy. If I get another car, I will get an automatic instead. I too find it harder to drive if the radio is on or people are talking loudly and don't like city/town driving because there is too much other traffic on the road.

Stick since I was 17 so over 20 years now. I prefer a stick as I love to have that feeling of being connected with my machine. When I have to drive my husband's automatic, I feel lost.

I own a manual car. i know this'll probably sound stupid to some of you but i like heel-and-toe braking when driving normally. i just wanted to learn at some point so i did, then got into the habit of doing it and now i do it all the time.

p.s. heel and toe is when you double clutch, rev match, and brake at the same time. so you're working two pedals with one foot. takes some practice but it's not that hard.

I've only driven two cars before. One is my car (an '05 Hyundai Accent) and the other one was a Ford Focus for driver's ed). Neither one of them had a stick, so I wouldn't know if I'm any good at it or not. In the meantime, I'm going to say no, but I'm not voting in the poll as it's not official until I actually do drive one.