How many women know how to drive a manual transmission?

Question

Just out of curiosity, inspired by the stereotype question.

And who taught you, and have you taught anyone else how to drive one?

Answer 1

I am a car salesmen. There are just as many women who drive a "stick" as there are men who do.

Answer 2

My dad taught me to drive a stick when I was 16. The first vehicle I had to use was a Ford Ranger truck. Unfortunately, it crapped out after just a few months and my parents kindly replaced it with a Ford Tempo.... automatic. I forgot a lot of that skill because I had only done it for a few months, but when I was in college, my first serious boyfriend really taught me the ins and outs of it. He drove a '66 Mustang, so I not only needed to learn standard gearing, but classic gearing as well.
I'm so thankful that I was taught. It's actually a really important skill. You never know when you might be out and have to drive someone else's car, and if you can't change gears then you're really stuck.
Since I've moved to Europe, it's really difficult to find automatic cars here; most people drive manuals, and so when I drive in Britain I need to be even more confident about driving stick. Everyone should be able to drive manual cars, not just girls. :O)

Answer 3

I do. I insisted on having my mother teach me when I started driving more than 30 years ago. Years earlier, she learned how to drive on a stick shift. I did not want to put in the embarrassing position of getting behind the wheel of a car with a manual transmission and not knowing what to do so I learned. Since then, I have taught my 17-year-old daughter how to drive a stick shift and she is only one of a handful of people she knows who can drive one. I actually prefer driving these types of cars because I like how I can control the acceleration and how one of these transmissions can make a car seem more powerful than it is.

Answer 4

My grandpa taught me how to drive a stick when I was about 10 years old. ( I am now almost 30) He owned cows so at times I could drive his work truck down to the pastures ( at 11...sooo much fun! :) to go feed the cows. I learned on an old 1967 dodge coronet! I cannot remember what kind of truck he had but it was so old that the gear shifter was on the steering column! :) I taught my little brother how to drive a stick last year ( he is turning 17 next month). He says that he will always prefer a manual transmission. ( I do as well.)

Answer 5

i bought a car in 1987 that had a manual transmission--i learned how to drive it on the trip home from the dealership--i learned how to drive it very quickly.
my last 2 vehicles have also been "sticks".
i prefer a manual transmission although i`m not sure why; maybe because it makes me feel that i have a tiny bit more "control" over the vehicle?
i would recommend that everyone, especially women, learn to drive a "stick". in an emergency situation you should be able to drive whatever vehicle is available.
it`s not that hard to learn, and it is a good thing to know how to do.
i taught my friends` daughter before she went away to school. she caught on very quickly, and i feel better knowing that she can use this knowledge to possibly keep herself safe, and she can teach her friends....

Answer 6

I have had cars and pick up trucks that were manual. I didn't like stopping on a steep hill in the pick up though. My younger brother taught me when I was 18. I haven't taught anyone to drive.

Answer 7

I am a women that prefers manual shifting...I have only owned 1 car that was a automatic.

My twin brother taught me on a his old 1970's Chevy van. It had " 3 on the tree". That means 3 speed with the shifter up on the steering column.
I learned in about 1 hour. A few days later he took me out in his 1979 Camaro z28 ...That had a 4 speed straight H shifter on the floor.
I needed to learn cause he had picked me up a $300.00 beater Datsun Car that had a stick shift to drive to my new job.
Anyhow 15 years later and I only have stick shift car now.

I taught my old boyfriend to drive the Datsun. I also taught his nephew to drive it too. I did have one female coworker ask to learn on a new car that I had just purchased ... I told her no cause I did not want a newbie burning out my clutch!

Answer 8

The first car I learned to drive was a Volkswagen Beetle with a stick shift. My father taught me how to drive in the school parking lot!

I have a 1984 Toyota Landcruiser with a stick which I use for 4-wheeling and a car with an automatic transmission for cruising.

I taught my son how to drive a stick shift!

Answer 9

Probably all farm wives, and most women who took drivers Education before the 1970's.
My brother taught me on the back 20 acres before I went to the required , part of the school curriculum, drivers ed in the early 1960's. A Program that is more important than music and football, that has been relegated to a for profit system before or after school or during the summer, and is paid for straight out of parents pocket..and is not even required in many states.
Off my soap box, yes I taught my son and daughter and my niece.....I think everyone should know how to even if not proficient. I would hate to have my life depend on whether or not my companion/whomever, knew how to shift gears...
BTW......how many men know how.....surely not 100%

Answer 10

I'm not a woman and I don't drive, but did you know that in the UK, you HAVE to learn to handle a manual to even get a license? So, women there all know how if they drive at all.

EDIT

Ooops, my bad. Britain has two license for manual and automatic and almost everyone prefers manual. Women and men.

Answer 11

My car is manual, and of course the motorcycle!

My Dad taught me how to drive standard...boy, was that a challenge of wits. lol.

To date, I have only taught one friend how to drive standard, with good results. I have another one wanting to learn in the worst way, and I will begin the training session shortly. Biggest test is if they can start while facing up hill.