Does everyone here also know how to drive a manual in case they ever need to? Party, only way home is someone overserved, you stumble upon the only vehicle in range and it is a stick? And not to offend the ladies but how many signifigant others can drive them?

I had an exact conversation about this and my lady and she simply asked WHY.... I alsmost keeled over.

Everybody in this household, that holds a Driver's License,learned how to drive manual transmissions before they were allowed to even look at an automatic transmission.

My first pickup truck was a Standard Transmission, and I have had no trouble since when required to drive one.

My wife would have great difficulty and her starting to drive was the reason we sold the Standard for an Automatic.

Mike

Thats what I'm sort of asking, should driving a manual be considered training? If the designated or intial driver cant drive and one of the passengers needs to... Yes, I know guy friends that cannot drive stick nor have ever seen one as well.

PS- this is by no means to single out the female population as not being able to drive stick. My GF in HS was actually the one who taught me how to drive it.

How many speeds, how many ranges? Single or multispeed axles? (Air shift, electric or hydraulic? for bonus points)

I have no problems but I know a few people who would be totally lost on a manual transmission.

I agree that everybody should at least be able to clutch and shift.

I've been driving a manual since learning at age 15 on my brother's '53 Willys (3-spd, V-8 short block). My first car was a 3-speed, second was a 5-speed, third was a 6-speed and now I drive an automatic (which would be a manual had I been able to find the right color at that time in this area).

One of the reasons I liked driving a manual is that it's become a deterrent to car theft. Young thieves don't all know how to drive stick.

Well I wasn't exactly thinking split axle delivery truck for getting through zombies, or Rambo: First Blood Troop Transport Truck, more along the lines of something from as simple as a Pinto or a Dart up to some type of manual 4X4...

It would be the complete opposite in the UK, the response would be 'Where's the gear stick' if some one came across a rare automatic. I thought automatics were for partially disabled folks, i.e. those missing a leg or left arm.

I've got a Commercial Drivers License, a Boating Endorsement, and a Motorcycle endorsement. I figure I can drive most common vehicles (though I still have a bit of trouble with old dual-stick trucks).

My father has me beat though, he still has endorsements for tanker trucks and double trailers. He's also a much better driver than I am and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Paul810-

what about your wife, friends or present or coming children?