Spinoff: Do your kids (or you) drive a manual transmission?

[I Lean]

Some discussion in another thread made me wonder about this:

My guess is a higher percentage of people on this forum (compared to the general population) have kids that can drive stick shift vehicles. (I'd also be curious what percentage of genpop can....I think it's a slowly-dying skill)

For myself--I've been driving a stick shift since I could drive. I enjoyed the challenge in drivers' ed class, and my first car was a manual--since then I've never been without a manual transmission in some vehicle I've owned. I required both my kids to learn how to drive one before getting their license, and now my son chose a stick-shift for his first car. My daughter is proud to be able to drive one when talking with her friends, who are sometimes amazed. (OMG, you can drive that?!?!!)

 

[Stephen]

I learned to drive @bobn's manual Samurai in the fields up around my grandma's house in Heber when I was 7. Always chose the manual Geo Metro on the driving range during drivers ed (though I had to take my driving test in the auto Taurus).
My wife also learned to drive on a manual and her first car, a '90 Pathfinder, was a manual that she drove for 10 years all over the country. So I lucked out there. She can even drive a manual in heels, which I find quite impressive!
Of the four cars we currently own; Samurai, Miata, Kizashi, and Armada, only the Armada is an auto. I plan on keeping the Samurai and Miata until I die, so my boys will learn to drive those, but I suspect that by the time they're old enough to drive finding a suitable daily for them with a manual will be a tall order.

 

[N-Smooth]

I learned to drive manual first and have had probably a dozen or so of them. I currently don’t own one and it bums me out tbh. Especially after driving my BIL’s ZR1 a couple weeks ago. I’m hoping to get a YJ or something with a manual in a few years so I have a few more years to get it dependable-ish for my oldest to drive (he’s 10).

I taught my wife’s nephew to drive manual some years ago with our Acura in the CHHS parking lot. I’m hoping that teaching my own kids will be that carefree but I doubt it 🤣

Edit: the wife also knows how and that makes me happy.

 

[I Lean]

I forgot to add, neither of my kids wanted to drive a manual....I had to force the issue. So to have them both change their view of it is pretty rewarding.

My wife knew how to drive one when we got married, but was not good at it. We bought a manual 4Runner first thing, and that was what she was forced to get used to driving.

 

[jeeper]

Started my young kids on one recently. Not old enough to drive yet. I think their dirt bike riding allowed for an easy understanding. They all did fine for the first times.

 

[I Lean]

Started my young kids on one recently. Not old enough to drive yet. I think their dirt bike riding allowed for an easy understanding. They all did fine for the first times.

I would 100% agree, having knowledge of what a clutch does would make a much easier learning curve.

 

[Gravy]

I learned on a B series Dodge delivery van with a 3 on the tree.
I think my boys will have no problem after riding dirtbikes with clutches at a young age.

 

[anderson750]

My first vehicle was a manual. Both my son and daughter have driven manuals. I agree with the above about riding motorcycles. They both started riding at a young age and that experience helps with the coordination needed to operate a manual even though they are different.

 

[The_Lobbster]

Out of the 32 cars I’ve owned, only 8 have been auto. Manuals are more fun to drive in my opinion.

My daughter is too young to drive, but once she’s older I will definitely teach her. I think everybody should understand the basic concept in case of an emergency scenario where the only vehicle available to use is a standard trans.

 

[DaveB]

I learned to drive with a 59 Chev Apache 4x4 truck and a 68 Camaro which both had manuals. The 59 also had no power steering and driving off road taught you how to hold the wheel so your thumbs wouldn't get ripped off when you hit rocks. My oldest daughter drove a manual toyota and my son has learned how. My grandkids have only used clutches on their dirt bikes.

 

[DesertRam]

I learned to drive a manual, and most of my vehicles have been manuals. My two primary vehicles now, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata for commuting and a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD for towing and hunting, have manuals. Of my three kids, two are driving and both can (more or less) drive manuals. My oldest does okay, but her truck is an auto, so she doesn't get much practice. My son's truck is a manual, and he's getting better every day. Both can drive the Cummins with no issues, but it's pretty hard to screw that up with the torque it has. No real clutch finessing there; just ease out on it at an idle and go.

 

[Houndoc]

I try to encourage them, but not much luck when I don't have one for them to practice in.
I have pointed out that the majority of rentals I have had in other countries have been stick shifts.

 

[Hickey]

My son learned manuals, but not my daughters.

I still have that C10 truck for sale with a manual transmission, in case any of you want to reminisce for $6k. 😂

 

[dutchman]

I've got two manuals in my driveway. Wife knows how to drive them and my daughter will for sure be learning.

 

[Stephen]

I try to encourage them, but not much luck when I don't have one for them to practice in.
I have pointed out that the majority of rentals I have had in other countries have been stick shifts.

I've always rented a manual when out of the country. Often to persistent questions from the rental agent because they don't think Yanks know how to drive manuals!

 

[1969honda]

My son's TJ was a manual and he learned in my commuter TDI. He only wants a manual to replace the white TJ. Both of my other boy want manuals as well.

Reminds me, the TDI is currently parked needing a clutch that should be here tomorrow...😅

 

[SoopaHick]

My son learned manuals, but not my daughters.

I still have that C10 truck for sale with a manual transmission, in case any of you want to reminisce for $6k. 😂

Ya... I learned when I had to drive the Jeep home from Carl's house the day we bought it.... and then when we went to Moab like 2 weeks later. I think that qualifies as a "Baptism by Fire" learning experience.

 

[Unimog]

Sons all drove and preferred manual. Daughter not so much.

 

[ID Bronco]

Learned in drivers ed back in the day, I have had a handful of manual pickups and still have one now. My kids have/will learn but only one of them prefers it and has a manual.

I used to love them, but over the years I have realized unless it's a fast car, I want to be lazy with an auto. I get tired of shifting my low geared dually pretty quickly.

 

[Kevin B.]

I drive a manual, I prefer it, but none of my current vehicles are so Oldest has not had a chance to learn. He wants to learn