Manual Transmisson: not Female Friendly?
 

This is really random, but whatever...

I realized something the other day: I don't know any girls who can drive a manual transmission car. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?

I personally hate automatics, and I'm worried that in the comming years they won't make stick-shift cars anymore. Seems fewer and fewer people bother to learn how to drive them...

I sure hope I'm wrong about all this...

I don't know a single girl who drives an automatic, they all have manuals... :edgartpg:

My aunt learned to drive in a manual transmission car, and that's all she drove for years - an issue that was rehashed when she tried to teach me to drive... but eventually we both gave up and went for automatic.

I don't really see why anyone would have a big issue with a manual transmission: it's not much harder than automatic, unless you count the fact that you're making more motions while driving.

I learned to drive in a car with a manual transmission, but then again so did most people I grew up with - male and female. Maybe it's a southern thing, but people around here really love to change gears.

I've had a couple of cars with manual transmissions since, but I hated them. I'm a multi-tasker and it's really hard to put on makeup, change the radio station, eat lunch and slap at your kids in the backseat while simultaneously changing gears. I prefer an automatic.

Why do you have to put on make-up while driving? Seems like something James Bond would do, was he female.

I don't know Aardark. There may be many things here we don't yet know about James Bond. He is a man of mystery afterall.

In which case most women in the James Bond world are lesbians.

I don't have a good excuse and it's dangerous, I'm sure. But I do it every day. I have a 45-minute drive to work, and just driving seems like a waste of time, being the multi-tasker that I am. I'm always doing a million things while I drive. =/

And only one thing when the husband is driving.

I don't know many people around here with manual transmissions. I don't have one, nor would I want to.

I vastly prefer manual transmission. Heck, I wish everyone drove one SPECIFICALLY so they couldn't talk on cell phones, put on makeup, eat, etc. while driving.

I can drive a manual, but only minimally. I've never OWNED one, but I was taught how to DRIVE one because I felt it was really important.

All members of my family, both male and female, know how to drive stick. My sister owns a stick, and she loves it.

I really want to own one at points. They say it makes driving feel more like "driving." But I also like taht when I drive my automatic Chevy Blazer, I don't have to worry about always having one hand free. God forbid I couldn't smoke while driving. ^_^

Both myself and my sister learned to drive on stick and my sister still drives stick to this day. She sucks at downshifting, but she gets the job done.

I'm actually saving for an automatic to manual swap here pretty soon. I get so bored driving around in an automatic having learned on a stick :(

Am I the only one who finds that female drivers are, in general, far worse drivers than men?

I was thinking about this topic. Women seem to want to take "the easy way out," maybe because they just don't want to know how the fucking shift gear works. Its just TOO MUCH WORK for them while they're talking on the phone or telling the kids in the back to SIT THE FUCK DOWN.

And they drive really badly. I am almost ALWAYS behind one who doesn't know what a goddamned signal light is for. And I end up screaming at her.

Or maybe its because minivans are almost all made with automatic transmissions. WHO KNOWS.

I learned how to drive on with a manual transmission. I really enjoyed it myself. I drove my stick shift truck for close to 7 years before it finally died and I ended up with an automatic. I'm very much tired of the automatic though.

I'm looking to buy a new Civic Si, which is only available with a 6 speed manual transmission, which will be 100% awesome and cool.

Double Post:
Yeah it does seem like women are not as good at driving as men, on average. Maybe it was because they spent their teen years, instead of driving themselves around, having their boyfriend drive them everywhere.

{:rock: @ generalizations}

Everyone in my family is required by my father to know how to drive a stick.
He has been holding onto an old (98?) Plymouth Neon with a stick just for the purpose of teaching my younger sister how to work a stick shift, when she got old enough.
I honestly love driving stick shifts, and interestingly enough, so does my sister... but then again she is a rather sporty and agressive individual.
My mom on the other hand is not too fond of them.

I've never learned how to drive manual but my sister has driven only manuals. (I think...I'm not sure if her Civic is a manual or not.)

Well they are, I thought this was a given? I especially have a beef against soccer moms in rediculous SUV's after a lady in a hummer ran me off the road on I-10 while she was on her cell phone =/

First off, I am very jealous. Second, make sure you get the Limited-Slip Differential so you can put all that mad power to the wheels yo. Seriously though, the LSD is a god-send for a car like a Civic.

I've got a handful of female cousins who have no problems with manual transmission, but outside my family, I know a grand total of two girls who can drive stick, and one of them just bought a new automatic.

It's come to the point that it's actually sexy to see a girl drive stick. It's like watching a girl kick ass in Street Fighter. We all know how often that happens.

You mean this?

I know that I can get the 18 inch alloy wheels, the front, side, and rear bottom moulding {they call them bottom spoilers on the site}, and the ipod link for like $23,000. If I just get the 18 alloys and ipod link, that will drop the price under $22,000, which wouldn't be bad at all, if I can sell my current car and put together a couple grand down payment. And then if I get a decent finance rate, I'll be looking at like $350 a month which is like no problem. I probably don't need to get the moulding since I have a deep water drainage gutter between the highway and my apartment and I'd just end up tearing the car up.

I've never met a female besides my Mum who could drive stick, and my Mum hated it. Recently I had to learn because the vehicles I drive at work are stick shift, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun they are. It makes you feel more powerful, and there's just something magic about getting onto the highway and shifting into fifth.

Stick shift cars are funner. More power and control. I am going to start learning stick since the new Camaro will be out and I want it in stick. Currently have an automatic, but would prefer stick.

As for women, well, it just really depends. Around here most like automatics, very very few drive stick.

I would rather drive a stick, because of that whole quicker acceleration thing, and it would also mean that I could finally drive my dad's s2000 and my boyfriend's camero, and there's nothing I love better than fast cars. Also better gas milage would be awesome. Unfortunately, since my mom can't drive stick, nothing at my house but the convertible is manual and no way am I learning on that. Joe promised he'd teach me on his truck at some point, but hasn't delivered yet.

Alot of girls I know CAN drive stick, but choose not to. Which is probably a good thing, cause driving while on a cell phone is dangerous enough without adding a manual into the mix as well.

It's called running late. I don't put on anything but lipstick in the car, but my boyfriend still gets annoyed at me for doing it.

I used to own a manual transmission car. I loved it! I don't like automatic cars because it's boring, just sitting there and hitting the gas and the brakes ocassionally. From here on out, every car I buy is going to be manual.

Well, over here at least there are insurance companies that only take women because they're considered safer drivers. Some of the adverts for such companies however don't really suggest this to be true, but there must have been some research carried out somewhere to suggest this.

Anyway on topic, I've never actually met anyone who drives an automatic. Manual is the norm over here - so I wouldn't exactly say it's fair to say that men or women are "better" at using it, considering most people do.

My parents know how to drive a stick, and they could if they wanted to, but they definitely prefer automatic, and never bothered to teach me to drive a stick. I'm actually thinking of getting a stick for my next car (have a '95 Civic EX with auto right now) and teaching myself. Until then, I'm going to have to content myself with pseudo-manual... :(

Agreed, if anyone over here aged below 30 or so admits to owning a automatic they are pretty much guaranteed to have the piss taken out of them.

Personally I cant stand automatics, dont feel that I have anywhere near as much control over the car as I do in a manual,

It's hard to even get a manual transmission car anymore unless you either...

a) get one that's really really old, has a bazillion miles, and will die in 6 months
or
b) get a brand spanky new right off the assembly line one special ordered with all the extras for a ton of extra money.

But almost everybody in my family was taught how to drive a stick, save for my youngest stepsis. Babies of the family get it so lucky.

I drive an automatic and know how to drive manual should the need arise (although expect gears to grind), but I'm much more familiar with automatic for the obvious reasons. I have no personal preference, as manual gives you more control over the engine but automatic is a lot easier and eliminates the concern of rolling into the car behind you on hills.
However, my girlfriend swears by manual transmission >.>

When I first started driving I only drove automatics, then I got my first car a few years ago and had to learn how to drive stick shift. I think I am the only girl in my family who knows how to drive a manual. I tried teaching my mom once, but she couldn't do it, it scared her and my sister dosen't care for it at all. ._o
I find it fun to shift gears and when it comes time to buy another car I think I want another car with a stick shift. =D

No, I don't know any females who drive stick in this day and age. When I was too young to worry about that my Aunt had a manual transmission Camaro.

On the other hand, I know only two boys who drive stick regularly. I learned on it personally but dont prefer it unless there's a reason for it (Muscle Cars, Sport Cars etc)

I've always thought it was pretty cool that my mom drives standard. I suppose it's because my parents grew up in Europe, where apparently automatic cars aren't very common at all, combined with standard transmission being cheaper than automatic.

I also like my mom's taste in cars. We got a new car a few months ago, and I definitely enjoy driving my mom's Mazda 3 more than my dad's Focus station wagon. :p

I know girls who drive stick. My aunt is the one who taught me how to drive stick and she's freaking wild!! If you were to sit in her car you'd be scared but if you watch her drive instead of looking at the road you'll see that she is very attentive and has excellent control. I wouldn't be surprised if she did street racing.

My mother-in-law drives manual and my sister'd love to but her car doesnt have it.

I hate MT.... I'm such a scatterbrain I dont need to be remembering to shift gears while I'm driving.

Interesting. Any women I know that can drive knows how to drive a manual. I also know as many people with a manual car than an automatic, and it wasn't some "special order" >_>

For myself, I went to pass the theory test to get my temporary driver's license and I failed the exam! :O I suck... ;_;

I drive an automatic and I've only met one female who drove a stick. Most males I know tend to drive both automatic or manual. I've always wanted to learn how to drive manual cars though.

I only one one person who drives a manual (It's a Porsche, awesome as hell too), most of the others have an automatic as far as I know.

I'm currently learning to drive a manual and I'm pretty awful at it. To my credit though, I've only been out twice and the Nissan I'm trying to learn on is a lot more powerful than the Mazda I currently drive. It's funny because the manual is MY damn car and since I can drive a stick yet I had to swap with my sister in law.

I can stay in place on a hill if I try hard enough. ;__;

Whoa!?! '98 is old?

The newest car I've ever owned was an '87

My current car is a 1978 VW (I really love this car by the way), here is a pic:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...516/VWSide.jpg

Anyway, the main complaint I hear about manuals is that they make it too hard to do things like talk on your cell while driving. But is that something you should really be doing anyway? Driving a manual keeps me out of trouble by forcing me to focus on driving, not eating to chatting on the phone... I see that as a Pro, not a Con...

And why is insurance cheaper for female drivers? That seems really unfair to me. I've been driving for the last 6 years, and in that time I've had 0 accidents and 0 tickets, yet I pay more than my fair share to the insurance company... because I'm a guy.

My mom drove a manual for a while; 90-something Dodge Colt. Then my sister crashed it while running a red light, which was uncool.

So I guess women can drive a stick.

As well as they can drive anything else.

My mom knows how to drive stick. She just prefers automatic because "America has too many damn stop signs".

That brings back memories. My first car was an '86 Dodge Colt...

My mother also used to drive manual for more than 8 - 10 I presume years ago, which was good when she wanted to go to the nearby mall (with us). She handles the wheel pretty well and just keeps her cool behind the wheel (of course, she flares up after driving though. It's all good though since she never goes aggressive.. well, behind the wheel at least).

Of course though, in contrast to my father driving, we would never talk to our mom. She'd get distracted easily.

I find a woman who drives a manual sports car quite sexy and attractive.

I smoke while driving my manual car all the time, it's really not much different from an automatic. I mean, f you can manage typing with a cigarette in your fingers, you can manipulate a steering wheel as well. Of course, I smoke with my left hand while driving so I can flick it out the window, but it might be a different story if you're using the ashtray.

Because teenage boys have more accidents than teenage girls (probably because they have a greater tendency to show off). Insurance companies have to go with the statistics. Who can blame them?

There aren't really any compelling reasons anymore to drive a manual other than for 1) greater control over your acceleration or 2) elitism. It seems like almost everyone in this thread would rather have manual for the latter. Which is stupid. It's like, "Hey, guys, look at this typewriter I have! You still send out stuff on computers?? Pshaw, that's so EASY. It's so NEW. Why would you want to use that stupid PC thing?!" Automatics used to consume more gas, but that's not true anymore.

If you say 1, well, fine, but I don't really know many people who need acceleration or should be trusted with a car that can go fast. I live in a city with a shitload of traffic, it's not like I can go anywhere all that fast anyway.

After having driven cars with both types of transmissions I prefer manual over automatic. I feel like I've more control over my car and it's defintely a far more interactive experience than simply sitting on your ass whilst watching the road pass by. And since I don't apply make-up, eat, or talk on the phone while I'm driving I don't have to worry about not being able to shift in time.

Me. Girl.

Me drive Manual/Standard/Stick WELL for past 6 months.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3..._good_side.gif
'83 Toyota...

It's my pride and joy. I hate automatics. Let them rot in hell. *+1 to transmission prices*

Anyway, I used to drive an '03 Dodge Ram. I prefer the '83. It actually makes me feel like I'm in control of the car, rather than just the speed. The only problem with it is it's lack of a drink holder thing. You wouldn't believe how much of a hassle it is to eat and drive without a cup holder.

It's probably better for women to know how to drive standard anyway. It allows you to drive pretty much anything. Although, everytime I cross intersections, I hope I don't let up on the clutch too early. Calling people when needing to shift is halarious as well.

"Hang on. Gotta shift."

"So yeah, what as I say--hang on. Sorry 3rd gear."

"Yeah, so---God damn it! Hang on."

Perhaps invest in some hubcaps or something.

Nah, I don't really care about it's appearance too much. I'd rather invest that money in a CD player or anime, rather than hubcaps. Maybe on my next car or truck.

My first car was a manual... I currently own an automatic and will never own one again, fuck it is boring driving that thing around. Besides it doesn't help my gas mileage.

If you are talking about any care made after, oh, somewhere in 1995 to 2000, automatics don't get worse gas mileage anymore. In fact, they probably get better since, as we've seen from this thread, people with manuals want to gun it.

The old thing about manuals being cheaper is going away too. The price difference is almost nothing at the time of sale and, with so many manual transmissions on the road, if there are any problems it would be akin to trying to find a Mac repairman in a world full of PC repairmen.

I have a 94 Honda Civic, the automatic gets worse gas mileage. Newer cars it is about the same because as I understand it they changed the torque converter with something that provides a more direct link.

While there might be a small price difference between an automatic and a manual, the cost of repair on the automatic is still much higher than on a manual.

I don't know anyone that drives an automatic except the old woman over the street. Automatics are fucking gay. You lose power, you lose responsiveness and they're just generally annoying. I honestly can't understand why they're so popular in the US.

I can't stand manual transmission trucks. Not at all. I borrowed my friends F-250 piece of shit manual transmission truck...That thing didn't get 50 feet without having to shift. I would never drive a manual TRUCK.

I don't mean that as a personal attack on Dreamshadow at all, I just did not like the feel of it at all.

Plus they encourage things like chatting on the phone while driving (thank God that's illegal over here)...

stick shift is the only way to go! it's much more exciting than an automatic. in traffic, it can be a hassle, but it's worth every penny of it.

as for women driving a stick, if you can find 'em, grind 'em. my sister and step-mom can drive a pretty mean stick.

Am I the only one deeply disturbed by the combination of those two sentences?I've driven a manual F-250 (2004). Just start the thing in 2nd. 1st is a super-low "creeper" gear used when you're pulling stuff.

Yeah I can't see why a lazy culture would rather drive an automatic than manual, in most cases.

For a 2006 Honda Accord, an automatic costs $800 more than a manual. Not a huge difference, but not an insignificant difference either. I like how they're charging $800 more for something far less fun than the alternative and people think it's a good deal.

I've only ever met one female who drives stick, as far as I'm aware. My mom doesn't know how, and my sister has no motivation to learn how to drive, period.

I, on the other hand, hope my first car has manual. Even though I have no driving experience, driving manual seems like it will keep things interesting, and give me something to do while I drive >_>

No it's definately NOT a southern thing. I mean I am a southerner born into a northern family transplanted into the south, but eh. I tried driving a manual and I absolutely hated it. I've had Automatic cars since I started driving and that's all I have for as long as I can help it.

Of course I'm a guy that drives SATURNS so I guess my opinion doesn't count for much anyway.

For those reasons, I have a lot of friend's who have recently gone over to stick shift now that they're buying cars for themselves.

As for why it's so popular, let me put it this way. Although technically I know how to drive stick thanks to driver's ed., I have little desire to practice with it. Mainly because I'm not really a car person and just need one that'll go from point A to point B without falling apart. Therefore, to me, automatic seems easier, because I don't have to deal with shifting gears constantly. I might be wrong, I might get used to it and do it automatically once I started actually doing it, but I'm lazy and have no desire to go out and find one.

As for the topic, I think I only know one woman driver who uses stick. From the four years I've been driving though, I think both genders have their share of shitty drivers.

Ironic, because the Saturn SL Automatic sucks so much it's not funny. I drive a Manual SL myself, but the Automatic is hideous. The Ion's not so bad, though.

Because many people drive cars to get from place to place, not to have fun. And people want convenience. Comfort and convenience is a hell of a lot more important to me than being able to get off the line faster (especially considering that I'm usually stuck behind someone to begin with) or having to focus on what the car is doing rather than, say, talking on the phone or enjoying the radio.

What's wrong with it? I had an SL1 and an SL2 and I had no issues with the transmission.

I drive an Ion currently which is fine too.

Being from Wyoming, it's pretty weird if you know someone that can't drive a manual.

That's because you don't have to pay for the "onboard computer" that handles shifting in an automatic since you're doing it yourself in a manual.

Now that I've finally gotten the hang of using a manual, I can't quite see the advantage of an automatic unless you're doing like a million things at a time while you drive (you really shouldn't do that anyways, I hate people who don't pay attention to the road). Plus, faster acceleration <3.

haha automatic transmission is getting so advanced that soon they'll be little difference in effieciency. Manual = gear stick + clutch, just takes co-ordination for some people

All the ones I've driven it seemed like you had to floor it (or have a huge engine) to accelerate at any reasonable speed. Getting onto the freeway was hell.Of course, the more advanced they get, the more expensive they are to repair.

That's not multitasking, that's reckless endangerment. Consider this your warning.

Double Post:
I'm looking forward to widespread use of Continuously Variable Transmission. It'll be perfect for the autosissies and even more efficient than manual.

But then again you gearheads will probably hate it because the engine's RPM will hardly change at all while you're driving.

Well i'm in no way any expert on cars, but what do you expect from a tiny car with a 4 cylinder engine? They're not really built for speed or anything of the sort.

Dreamshadow, will you marry me :p

I find that I too prefer older cars. Of course finding a car that old that is still in good shape isn't easy, but whatever. Of course cup holders are not standard in older cars... my '87 is the only car I've owned that had them, but the ones that it came with sucked, they weren't deep enough to really "hold" anything, as soon as you turned a corner whatever is in there is gonna spill...

I also like the manuals in older cars more than the newer ones. I learned to drive on a 4 speed, and my current car is a 4 speed. I've only owned one 5 speed, and while it still beats an automatic, I liked the 4 speed better. The gear ratios are just too low in the 5 speeds...

You get greater contorl PERIOD. It's not just over acceleration. Also, I don't agree with your computer vs typewriter comparison. Just because something is new doesn't automaticly make it 'better'.

Maual gives you better milage, better contorl, more power, and all that for less money. I honestly have no idea why someone would want an automatic, unless they do alot of "multi-tasking" while driving, and thats a bad idea anyway...

I think I only know 3 girls that know how to drive manual. The rest drive automatic. The thing is, I only know 1 guy that drives manual so I know more girls that drive manual than guys.

David4516: Manual does NOT give you better mileage. It gives you better CONTROL over gas mileage. You can go way above the average MPG or go way below depending on how you drive.

The same can be said of an automatic too... if you floor the car alot you'll use more gas.

I'm simply saying that, in general, a manual is more efficent than an automatic...

Then again, if your car is an old beater with an automatic tranny and 200,000+ miles on it. You can always use the gears on the automatic like a stick and let each gear wind out to higher rpm for more power before you shift. (I live in a foothill/mountain region.) It helps a lot, conversely when I go to the San Francisco bay area once week I don’t have to shift in and out of 1st gear repeatedly a few hundred times when spending hours in heavy traffic.