Why should you bother to learn to drive a manual transmission car? In America, it’s a skill that has been relegated to the dung heap of history. As dated as morse code, using a payphone, cursive writing, and watching your favorite tv shows when they actually air.
However, stick shift cars are still quite common outside of the 52 states. Kidding! just making sure you’re paying attention. Manual transmissions are mechanically straightforward and more easily fixed than automatics, so are generally preferred in the developing world. So if you don’t garner this skill, and are on a vacation to distant lands and need to rent a car...you are going to find yourself up a certain unpleasant creek without a paddle. Or so the saying goes. Besides, wouldn’t you like to join an elite fraternity of race car drivers? (And truckers)
Making It Happen
If you have any coordination at all, it’s surprisingly easy to learn to drive a stick. Your best bet is to a driving school and learn from a professional instructor, although that can be expensive. The second way is to have a friend or relative teach you, assuming you can find one with a manual car, the patience of a saint, and a good insurance policy. Lastly, if you don’t have any money or friends, you can try to learn online.
Either way you choose, you’ll want to start in a large, pedestrian-free, open space. At first you’ll stall the car and miss gears, but after a little practice, you’ll be cruising like Parnelli Jones. Just be sure to include some instruction going up hills, which can be tricky. Next thing you know, you’ll be able to heel-and-toe like a pro.