I learned to drive in Canada as a teen-on an automatic. Some years later, at London airport, I picked up a car-stick shift, a type which I had never driven. I sat in the agency yard, grinding the gears, stopping and starting-so embarrassed. I went into the office asking how to operate the car. The manager came out, and told me I was not licensed to drive a stick shift, all the while laughing. He gave me an automatic which was more expensive. Driving off, I got on the A4, scared at the traffic driving the 'wrong way'.

To me, the important thing is that the steering wheel be on the side of the car appropriate for the traffic. Next month I'll be in a LHD car in the UK and expect to be terrified.

That is not correct - visitors from most (all? ) countries can drive (legally even if not in practice) a manual on their foreign licence in the UK. I always rent in the UK using my US license, the test for which I took in an automatic.

I usually make a point of alerting the rental office a week or two ahead of my arrival that I know I booked a manual, and that is what I want! The last two visits I was given a free upgrade to a 4×4/SUV, with manual transmission, of course.

I can and I love it. My car is a stick and I won't have it any other way
In terms of my friends, i've had one say "It seems like a lot of hassle I don't understand why you'd want to learn it." then when I got the car changed to "Hmm this seems kind of fun." Another friend who's a bit of a car nut like me and loves it, he can drive stick himself, and another who'd like to learn.


Haha, your son seems exactly like me. Thats what I did when I turned 16 and got my learners. How did you get a 2CV over here??

I agree with you, learning on a stick is the best. Its a good skill to have and hey you might even enjoy it
I learned on an automatic because thats what my parents drive, and took both road tests in one, but a family friend took me out in his a couple times before I picked up my car. The test drive on my car was a little rough but by the time I drove one off the lot I was fine.

Driving a manual car on fast curvey roads is the best, in congested traffic, along the 401 at 5pm, not so much fun. I like the auto box as it's a lazy mans car and easier for my work.

However, if I was a new driver and my line of work was robbing or car jacking, I would make sure stick shift was on my resume

I suspect that the manager was trying to be diplomatic with a customer who didn't know how to drive stick, and perhaps didn't realize the default booking was for a manual transmission at that particular rental agency (most rental agencies in Canada are automatic transmissions by default, and you have to specify you want a manual transmission)

Similarly, I had an experience a couple of years ago in Iceland, where my rental vehicle was dropped off at my accommodation (rather than picking it up at a depot). After doing the walk around inspection of the vehicle etc, the rental agency person then hopped into a waiting car and left. All of the cars I've ever driven have used a dogleg to drop the transmission into reverse. In order to get the car out of the parking spot at my accommodation, I had to reverse out, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the car into reverse. Checked the owner's manual - no help. Eventually, I had to call the rental agency and ask. They explained that there was a 'ring' on the shaft of the shifter, that you lifted upwards, then push the shifter straight forwards (I think), and that would engage reverse. Once I learned that, it was easy, but I felt like an idiot for those 20 minutes or so that I was trying to get the car into reverse with a 'dogleg' that didn't exist.

I wonder if phasing out the stick applies to all the muscle cars too....the Mustangs, Challengers, Cameros etc....I cant imagine they would - personally i don't see the point of an automatic muscle car!!

I bought a used Mustang, and it took me quite a while to find what i wanted, as i wanted stick, i have no interest in an automatic Mustang! ..utter sacrilege!!

It was a bit strange driving it at first, shifting right handed but im fine with it now. Although the few times ive been stuck on the 401 at the wrong time of day (heavy slow moving traffic) not so good; thankfully that isn't very often.

I think you are correct.
I think my father's Vauxhall Astras had that lift-ring device to access reverse.

When Chrysler Dodge reintroduced the Charger a few years back - I was appalled that the only transmission option was automatic (it still is the only transmission option). The Challenger at least has the option for a manual transmission.

When the C5 Corvette came out a few years back, it had the option of a 6-speed manual, or a 4-speed automatic transmission as options. The dealer nearby apparently refused to stock the automatic transmission - if you wanted to buy a Corvette, but didn't know how to drive a stick - they offered to teach you for free (presumably after you had signed the purchase agreement of course, and I'm assuming that you'd do your initial 'whiplash' learning on a non-Corvette)

Took me a day or two to get used to changing gears using my right hand, another lefty here, but it's not too bad.

Is it still the case in the UK that if you pass your test in an automatic you are then only licensed for automatics?

I've been very lazy over the years and bar my first Canadian car, I've been driving automatics. Current car would have been a manual, but they didn't offer it in the spec level I wanted

I do recall, when taking the practical test the first time over here (before you could do a straight licence swap) and the chap did commend me on my excellent shifting technique. twas a little annoying as he'd failed me (basically not doing 120 down an on-ramp to match the speed of the traffic. hmm, that'd mean I'd be breaking the speed limit, and thought it might be prudent to not do that during a test, seems I was wrong!) and replied that I'd been driving stick for about 12 years. He seemed somewhat bemused by that.

I also recall having a sudden panic moment on a fairly recent trip back to the UK. I was in the passenger seat, Dad was driving, and we were about 2 minutes away from home. As we approached a junction I thought he was trying to kill us, as I believed we were on the wrong side of the road. Not had that since, thankfully!

These are both large American family cars, I'd no more expect a manual gearbox in these than in a Ford Country Squire. If the Lotus Elise only came with an automatic then I'd be surprised.

In 1970 my first driver training course was offered through the department of education, and our driver training car was a 1970 Challenger with a 383 in it, and an automatic. It still moved out pretty good.

I had a similar experience in Spain a few years ago. We picked up a rental car from the roof of a large train station on the west edge of Barcelona and I drove it through city streets and on to the motorway. We were heading to meet people at a seaside resort about an hour and half away. As we were getting closer to the destination I needed to pull over to figure out things on the map. I basically pulled in her between the lamp post and the large residential bins.
https://goo.gl/maps/8MTbKoDB3LL2

I figured out where we were going and then tried to reverse. Needless to say the rental people had never explained how reverse works and instead of reversing I was going forward. Finally figured it out with about 2 cm to spare before I would have hit the bins.

I've been driving a manual for nearly 33 years. Have only ever owned manuals. I don't have any trouble driving a manual on the "other" side of the road on the continent, but I think the last time I had a manual rental in North America was in 1991 in Utah!

That said - my next car, when I emigrate to Canada, will be an automatic. I've rather tired of driving an manual in traffic (the most common state of Melbourne roads) and as I'll be living in Vancouver, I'm thinking the traffic won't be that much different. So it's time to reduce the stress on my knee and ankle!

Good for that dealer! At least he believes in what he is selling!

Scenario....

Customer: Hi yes im interested in purchasing a new Challenger

Dealer: Oh yes sir, come and take a look, we have the choice of three colours in at the moment

Customer: Oh they are beautiful, Ill take the red, but could I have automatic transmission?

Dealer: Automatic??

Customer: Yes

Dealer: Get out!

<dealer walks off shaking head in disbelief>


Its like going to a very high end steak house restaurant and asking for your steak well done! .... again.....get out! lol