Less than 20%

[wcd]

It has been said that now less than 20% of Americans can drive a Standard Transmission Vehicle.
Really that seems like a understatement?

 

[Creedmoor]

I don't know, all of us and my sons were brought up with clutches on just about everything. Motorcycles, 4 wheelers, tractors, cars, trucks and a power unit.

 

[dieselrealtor]

I imagine that a lot of the over 50 crowd helps keep that number as high as it is.

 

[loudgroove]

I can believe that. about 7 or 8 years ago when I was on tour. We were playing the Mertle Beach Speedway and were told that as soon as we got everything on the stage set up. they would let us drive the cars around the track. Between the band and crew over half couldn't drive a standard. I was shocked.

 

[wcd]

I don't know, all of us and my sons were brought up with clutches on just about everything. Motorcycles, 4 wheelers, tractors, cars, trucks and a power unit.

Same here our son was operating a tractor when he was 8.

 

[Max Volume]

I'd like to see youngsters drive 3 on the tree.

 

[NHT3]

That's why they call it a millennial anti-theft device.

 

[Creedmoor]

I'd like to see youngsters drive 3 on the tree.

My Mom had a 4 on the tree when we were kids.

 

[indyblue]

Don't any of them ride motorcycles? They still mostly have clutches.

I won't consider anything without a clutch.

 

[KellyinAvon]

It's been a while since I was in Qatar (19 years?? HOLY ****!!!,) but I saw a lot of troops learn to drive stick-shift over there. Probably half the vehicles were Euro-specs/had a stick-shift.

 

[Lpherr]

Don't any of them ride motorcycles? They still mostly have clutches.

I won't consider anything without a clutch.

If it doesn't sync with an iPhone, people haven't a clue.

 

[Talkinghalls]

Millennial here: nope, no clue on how to drive stick shift. Tried to learn when I was 16, but my Non-millennial father wouldn’t teach me.

Now at 33 years old I teach him how to sync his iPhone to his automatic Ford F150

 

[deo62]

Most of the new cdl drivers we hire for dump trucks have an automatic only license. So they get the newer half of the fleet.

 

[Max Volume]

Millennial here: nope, no clue on how to drive stick shift. Tried to learn when I was 16, but my Non-millennial father wouldn’t teach me.

Now at 33 years old I teach him how to sync his iPhone to his automatic Ford F150

That way you couldn't ask to use his vehicle. He was thinkin'.

 

[wcd]

Most of the new cdl drivers we hire for dump trucks have an automatic only license. So they get the newer half of the fleet.

I was unaware they had an auto only endorsement, learn some of the strangest things around here.

 

[wcd]

My Mom had a 4 on the tree when we were kids.

I remember seeing an Dodge Duster at a car show that was like that.

 

[deo62]

I was unaware they had an auto only endorsement, learn some of the strangest things around here.

Evidently now if they test in an automatic, they get auto only. If they test in a manual, it covers all.

 

[Creedmoor]

I remember seeing an Dodge Duster at a car show that was like that.

My Mom had a Mercedes that had 4 on the tree.

 

[Route 45]

Only 1-2% of new cars in the US are stick shifts. I didn't bother to teach my kids because they are, for all intents and purposes, obsolete. I used to enjoy them in small, sporty cars when I was younger, but now it just seems like they would be a pain in the ass in traffic. If EV technology ever matures to attractive pricing, 400 mile range and 5 minute charging, transmissions will be irrelevant anyway, other than enthusiasts clubs and such. Kinda like horses or black powder pistols.

 

[KellyinAvon]

My oldest son is 36. His first car had a 5-speed. He learned to drive a stick-shift in about 3 days.

My wife, who is 2 years younger than me, who I did teach to shoot, cannot drive a stick-shift. The first time I tried was in our neighbor's Chevy S-10 (4-cylinder/4-speed.) She shifted into neutral going up a hill. Nuff said.

In my days as a USAF Base Supply type, I taught a lot of young troops how to drive forklifts. I'm thinking I could've taught my wife to drive a forklift. Forward and reverse, keep the forks low, how hard is that?